Topic: Hello all, please allow me to introduce myself

[Steven Heap]

My name's Steven Heap and I'm 39 years old (40 on the 4th March) and I'm fanatical about South Asian food.

The fascination began as a toddler watching (and smelling) my grandfather cooking curries regularly. As I grew older I learnt that my grandfather has spent quite a bit of time in India during WW2 (Bombay, Calcutta, Chennai, etc) and the curry recipes he was using where all given to him by other servicemen from various Asian Commonwealth countries comprising different religions and from various regions. I didn't know it then but he was actually cooking authentic Indian food and it wasn't until I was around 20 and living by myself that I decided to cook my first curry based on what I had seen my grandfather cook.

My passion for cooking Indian food sprang from that first curry cooking experience. As an avid reader I read every book I could my hands on about Indian food and also about the geography, cultures and history of the food.

After graduating from university I finally had money in my pocket and could actually go and visit these wonderful places that I'd been reading about and visited 34 countries. My food knowledge and passion increased considerably but each time I came back to the UK to stare out of an office window and see that murky grey sky I decided I wanted a more full-time experience of Asia.

I sat 3 English teaching qualifications and finally in 2009 during the recession, my company needed to make some redundancies. This was my big chance for adventure. I actually volunteered my redundancy and was quickly going back to explore more of India and Sri Lanka. I soaked up the food and discussed recipes and cooking techniques with anyone who could speak English, including people in their own homes and restaurant chefs. What's great about exploring food in Asia is that a lot of the cooking in done outside and there isn

[gazman1976]

cheers for the intro, enjoyed reading that, hope to see some recipes posted to try out

[Madrasandy]

If Carslberg did introductions....

Welcome Steven, great post, I do find myself very envious of your travels though, something I wish I could do.
You must have picked up some great culinary skills along the way, which hopefully we can learn from.

Dont forget to post some photos, we all love curry porn on here 

[curryhell]

You're very welcome on board Stephen.  If your intro is anything to go by, I'm sure you have loads to contribute here.  Perhaps even something that will enable us to create BIR dishes from the 70's and 80's, about which some remeniss and also crave but thusfar have never been able to recreate 

[Steven Heap]

Thank you very much for your approval guys. I appreciate that. It's a great site and full of interesting reads.

I'm actually in the process of trying to get hold of some older curry books. I'll be definitely upload any worthy recipes.

[Ghoulie]

A lot of the BIRs come about I am certain from waiters with ambition ( & little else when it comes to the kitchen 'skills' necessary) who are able to raise the money to open up a little place.  The curries are indifferent taste-wise, look the same - and probably all based on the same sauce with a few bits added as the 'differentiation'.

All in all Steven a general disappointment to anyone who knows the taste of the real McCoy.

I rate very few Indian restaurants worth a re-visit in the UK - I am more interested in the authentic taste based on my experience of living in the middle east (where asian food is fantastic and varied) and travelling all over the middle east, far east, asia in my work.

I live Manchester way - home to the 'famed' currry mile - and for the most part - disappointing.

[ScottyM]

A lot of the BIRs come about I am certain from waiters with ambition ( & little else when it comes to the kitchen 'skills' necessary) who are able to raise the money to open up a little place.  The curries are indifferent taste-wise, look the same - and probably all based on the same sauce with a few bits added as the 'differentiation'.

All in all Steven a general disappointment to anyone who knows the taste of the real McCoy.

I rate very few Indian restaurants worth a re-visit in the UK - I am more interested in the authentic taste based on my experience of living in the middle east (where asian food is fantastic and varied) and travelling all over the middle east, far east, asia in my work.

I live Manchester way - home to the 'famed' currry mile - and for the most part - disappointing.

Agreed, Authentic all the way.
Lucky that i live between Leicester and London so have some good options.

Loving south indian right now.
Kayal, Dakshin, Chettinad

[MEB]

Great intro 

I have travelled to most of the places you mention and like you found the food in Asia to be stunning, varied and at times ridiculously cheap. Finally discovered NZ 12 years ago and realised that aside from a couple of annoyances this place should be my home. Those annoyances were no decent Indian food within a couple hours travel and no English Ale. Those two annoyances have mostly gone now with the explosion of craft brewing here in the last 6 years and with quite a lot of POMs now emigrating here there are a few really good curry houses.

[Peripatetic Phil]

Welcome to the forum, Steven.  It is clear that you have a wealth of knowledge, gained over many years; may I ask when and if you plan to share that knowledge with other members of the forum (as all here have already done) by publishing it here rather than by offering it as a (very expensive) book, most of the cost of which will benefit Amazon rather than yourself ?

** Phil.