hi,MARK J
cinnamon stick and cassia park are as you mentioned from the same family .
but cinnamon stick taste is more refined and stronger than cassia.
cinnamon stick is more expensive than cassia park ,but in my opinion it worth the extra price.
restaurant use the cheapest ingredients available and you are right they use cassia park .
they usually use it in rice dishes ( with other whole spices ),because it perfume the rice to a certain extent ,that it will fit for a king.
korma is a delicate dish used to be eaten by Indian royalty in courts and palaces. chefs cook it with the very expensive and rear spices, as an example the most three expansive spices in the world ( saffron ,cardmom,and royal cumin seeds ) are used in this dish .
real rose water and kewra water is not cheap as well.
how much does it cost to cook a dish like this , including the time spend as well ?
thanks
ghanna
the restaurant method is as follows
curry gravy
creamed coconut ( a small piece )
evaporated milk ( this is the only thing i agree with, i tryied single cream before but it didnot give the depth of taste that the evaporated milk gave )
some restaurant add nuts ,some don't
chicken,or meat or prawns.
cook the above over very very high heat ,until fat rise to the top of the curry ......then enjoy.
thanks
ghanna