Topic: who wants to meet for a curry ?

[natterjak]

Sorry for not making it to this, I was in two minds but in the end it was just a bit too far. Glad it went well for you.

[curryhell]

So glad you had a great time guys  ;D.  I was disappointed with having to miss the London bash due to personal circumstances.  I would really have liked to have attended the Brum gathering too.  Sampling a "real" balti which would at least have provided me with a yardstick.  It would have been good to meet up with all of you and talk all things curry as well as eating the stuff 
Thanks Jerry, I raised a glass to you all yesterday eve and then proceeded to raise several more afterwards  I had to make do with crumpets for supper with lashings of butter.  No substitute for a good ruby I know, but i was saving myself for the trip to my local BIR tonight which of course will feature their North Indian Special 
Hopefully, you'll have a repeat performance early in 2014 which i can attend 

[chewytikka]

Sounds like you all had a real good time. ;D

Kudos to all involved, shame there's no photos
and Rob, try your best to get in their kitchen and find out
the Balti Myth/Mystery.

cheers chewy

[Micky Tikka]

Thank you Bob and Jerry for the great company
You really do see people in a different light meeting the forum characters in the flesh and is well worth the effort
I got to Birmingham a few hours earlier than Jerry so Bob took me out for a Traditional Bangladeshi buffet caf

[Kashmiri Bob]

Loved that buffet!  Full on trad Bengali, courtesy of the Mishti Desh on Coventry Road.  Held back as next stop was the balti triangle.  After a few starters we sampled meat bhuna, chicken bhuna and chicken jalfrezi, all on-the-bone, with basmati rice. The mixed olive salad was also very tasty.  Echo the meet-ups are a great experience.  I'm thinking perhaps early Spring next year for another one in Birmingham, or sooner.  Manchester would also be great. 

Rob   

[Garp]

Sounds like you had a great time guys.

My brother lives in Solihull - maybe can combine a visit to him with meet up. Would have to bring Mrs G too though

[George]

Michael - you're a star - attending both events. How did the main meal you had in Birmingham compare - taste quality wise - with what we had in London?

[Micky Tikka]

Hi George for me driving for a couple of hours is not a big effort 
To compare the 2 would be hard as I would say they were completely different 
Jerry asked the waiter if he could bring us some GM from the kitchen to analyse which he kindly did
 Now after tasting the balti and smelling the GM I would say the GM is a crucial part
After Meeting Jerry I can picture him at home right now breaking that GM right  down to the final grain and spice for us all to share 

[George]

Michael - your finding on the garam masala is of interest. What a good idea of Jerry's to ask for a sample.

But I thought he was one of quite a few people who'd virtually written-off garam masala. Take his comment here, for example, in 2009:

Hi Eamon, welcome to cr0 

to my mind, you can easily live without garam masala when making BIR curries.

Eamon,

if it's BIR taste u are after then garam is really not what u want at all. i've tried to use it on many occasions over a long period of time using my home made and recently branded. the taste takes the dish away as opposed towards BIR taste for me. i do use it in the ashoka korahi bhuna but i've also swapped the garam for Kushi spice mix and it works just as well.

curry powder is what u need. u may struggle to make a good spice mix (mix powder) without coriander seed and cumin though.

[JerryM]

George,

tgad2007 put me right on GM. i've followed those teachings for some time now ie roasting in the oven. i only used what i call chef garam in the base though being sure it has an impact on the oil. i still don't use GM in what i call BIR mains though ie just mix powder. the mix powder may have a small amount in but it's so small it's not out of balance and the key BIR tastes still come through.

Garam  as michael has picked up on is key to Balti taste (abundantly clear from the sample). i'm currently using 50:50 mix:CGM in balti.

ps Michael - yes i could not resist - i made a portion on the sunday. i've even followed h4ppy-chris in buying a set of jewelry scales (ebay) to continue with more accuracy. very best wishes sir. we did have real good time.