Topic: Invasion of Privacy?

[Domi]

Hi swampy 

I am on the same mission as you, the same mission as most members of both boards actually....and since andy advertises his ten year experience it is only human nature for people to want to know more, but andy is something of an enigma....He says he gets BIR results using his recipes, but alot of the people (myself included) try these same recipes, following them to the letter, don't get the same result and when they post to say as much, they get told it's their fault, either they've burned something, forgotten something or used inferior ingredients : (or they haven't mastered the use of a spoon :-X ).

As I have said before, I aren't questioning whether he has ten years experience, there are many bad indian take-away/restaurants which have been open alot longer than that....in almost every town or village there's one that you'd avoid like the plague, yet they seem to outlive better, cleaner establishments. People are naturally going to be curious of where the restaurant is, what the food is like, and obviously want some proof to back up andy's claims. Tis the way of the world I guess lol. Like I said to Andy myself, yesterday, if he wants to use the ten year tag, he should expect that people are going to question him and indeed doubt him when they don't get results/clear answers. He can't have all the praise and none of the criticism.

I was also told that andy doesn't own these other sites of which he is admin....strange, because when you Nominet the names of those sites, the owner of the domains comes up as REMOVED the same man who owns RCR..(Don't complain about me printing his name, it's out in the public domain so I have broken no privacy laws  : )...since these sites are claiming secret insider knowledge of so many different cuisines, either andy is very well connected in all aspects of the food trade or there is something fishy going on.....I know what I think and I leave others to make up their own minds.

I also find it suspicious that Andy (who apparently owns or co-owns a hosting group, pays other people to host his sites, and is trying to get money out of well-minded folks to pay for the hosting..?180 no less!..Now why would you pay someone to host you when you are capable of hosting it yourself? I also find it hard to believe that as a well established admin (or co-owner of internet hosting services) would not immediately realise that if someone does not receive an activation email, they would naturally re-register from the same IP using a different email as the board software he's using does not allow duplicate emails : instead he posted a misleading post making out that members were trying to gain access to the server via the website itself (to me, it read as though someone was trying to hack the site : even going as far as to name names ). If andy were such the tech-head he claims to be (although funnily enough from one of his loyal supporters I've learned that he's only been a co-owner these past 4 weeks and his participation is purely monetary, "convenient" again? : ).

It just seems to me that when someone probes andy deeply (ooh err missus! ;D) that he backtracks on those claims, which again causes people to doubt him further.

I don't go to RCR to use andy's recipes as I prefer the recipes from Darth, Jeera, Cory Ander etc who don't claim to have his vast experience, yet get far better feedback and results from their "inexperienced" recipes.

Andy's recipes are given far too much credit, even by people who have not tried the recipes! I have to wonder if he would have been held in such high esteem without posting the "ten year experience". I also find it laughable that people think because he has ten years experience he is better able to tell who has cooked a good curry purely by looking at a photo of it :.

Ali (the resident chef) during chef's hour uses words which when spoiken, would be in pidgin English, yet the words and grammar are spot on (I know I'll probably be shot down by someone saying that the chef speaks, but someone else is typing :)

The trouble is, I just don't buy into it all. There are too many incongruities in what he says, and as woks up has already said, Andy's ten year recipes are constantly being updated or changed to fit when they get less favourable results.

I think that better recipes are laid by the wayside in order to push andy's recipes, which in my opinion are not as good, and to me that is unfair. I see some members at RCR who to me, appear only to be arse-kissing in their replies, yet when someone posts in opposite they get labelled and sometimes are held up for ridicule. Hell I didn't even post there and I was called out by some ignorant member who didn't even have the decency to ask me to clarify what I'd said. Maybe he was right to call me a fence-sitter, (I was a fence-sitter until yesterday : )but he more or less told me not to go back to RCR ;D Which is another problem I have....it seems that whenever I login to RCR I'm being asked to explain my posts here, which has nothing whatsoever to do with RCR : If people have a problem with what I post here, they should take it up with me here, at this board, no go tattle-telling to gain points/get creedence/cause trouble back there : (and in this case, I think it was purely done to cause more rifts and more trouble). I wouldn't care so much if I had been embroiled in any previous goings on, but I wasn't! :

I know I don't get the same trouble here when I've posted at RCR, yet I have been told that all the bitterness stems from this board.....funny when you consider that in RCR's rules it states not to be copying and pasting things from other recipe sites but it seems perfectly OK to do it when it's against this board or one of it's posting members

RCR appears to be extremely cliquey to me, so I go, look at he recipes but I don't join in with the forum as a whole, as, because I don't share in certain member's adulation of andy I am seen as a dissenter : in fact apart from one post in which I comment on one of andy's recipes, the only other posts I have made there are about all this strange, puerile behaviour and tale-telling and muck-raking made by some members...As I told Andy, he is the one in charge, it is up to him to set the tone and put a stop to it. No doubt if I were getting the same treatment here, I would say the same to the admin here, but I don't, so I have no need to.

I prefer this board to RCR, for many of the reasons posted above, and I don't see why I should be persecuted for it :-X If there was a better atmosphere and less back-biting and bitching from some of the members at RCR, no doubt I would feel the same of that place too, but it's like entering the schoolyard most of the time for me :

And so to end, Swampy, I AM like you, I just aren't being given the same treatment as you when I am there. At the moment I feel as though I am being watched almost, and all because I happened to post here : I should not have to answer for my posts made here or anywhere else for that matter to people or admins at RCR.

As I've said in a previous post, by all means try andy's recipes, you might like them, but don't denounce anyone who says they don't or insult their intelligence purely because your views differ from theirs.

Those websites I've posted above rang alarm bells for me, for I have to wonder if andy is trying the same trick again, now that he's had some success with the indian food site (albeit most of his members followed him from here, for whatever reasons) since all forums appear to boast about their own resident chefs (Kim, Ali, Lorenzo....I'll be surprised if the mexican chef isn't named Jesus (haysoos) or Consuelo )who are only too willing to give out their secret, "insider" knowledge.....Knowing how secretive and protective most chefs are of their recipes, I think Andy has had a fantastic stroke of luck getting one from each different cuisine who is willing to spill the beans Or maybe I should set up a website advetising my 20 years mastery of the yorkshire pudding, I might just be on to something..... ;D (it's all in the heat and the handling of a ladle )

As I've said before, if andy is going to make claims, he should be more than prepared to have questions about them. Banning people for being a bit nosey isn't the way to carry on

Swampy, Please don't think badly of me for questioning things, I'm only human after all

[Swampy61]

Wow!

Thats a lot to take in! Where to begin?

First off - of course we're on the same mission as is most everyone else sorry to suggest otherwise and no I don't think bad of you or anyone else for having a differing view. Thats life !

I've yet to follow anyones recipe, broadly I've followed Darth, Cory Ander and Andy's.(I cannot get all the ingredients here in Baku) but I am happy with the results I have got and I'll tweak them to suit me.

I don't recall anyone getting told they were at fault for burning something or forgotten something, but individuals have felt that their own efforts may have been lacking due to not following the recipe as written. This judgement can only be against their own BIR experiences.

I agree wholeheartedly about quality of restaurants and takeaways. I can think of a chain in my home town that are very poor yet are still there. I too would like to know where Andy's restaurant is (he said it was to appear in an article in a sunday magazine). So maybe he can let us know when the article is likely to appear. I'm sure you would agree that this would give him some credibility and I don't think that unreasonable to ask.

As to all the other sites - are they part of a  money making scheme? Maybe but I'm not a political animal and as I've said before all I'm really interested in is making better curries. Is cr0 or RCR the answer to all what we seek - No, its part of it but not all of it. For me they are just forums for sharing ideas and information.

With regards to all the technical aspects of the internet and IP's etc, I have to bow to your greater knowledge. It's enough for me to log on.

About the "ten year tag" that to me is all it is - a badge / title, but yes I do agree that people have the right to question anything if its put up there to follow. If the answers returned are unclear then ask again people can and do.

I'm by nature a sceptic and I take my time to make my own judgement and I'm not persueded by other opinions (no adulation of anyone here). I also prefer not to jump in too quick and condem someone. Andy has certainly made changes to the recipes, the recent introduction of star anise because of the introduction of a new chef was a major surprise and I couldn't understand how an established restaurant could change a standard recipe so easily.

At the same time new recipes are supposedly being developed to suit cooking at home with appliances that produce less heat than in the restaurants. I'm prepared to wait and see what this delivers. Andy has set out his stall and if he wishes to keep faith then he must start to show some results. Could be he's trying to do too much too quick. Results and time will tell.

Is RCR cliquey? Tell me any group or organisation that isn't.
I read most of the posts at RCR and here and wasn't aware that you or anyone was made to feel unwelcome. That is something that is totally unaceptable anywhere.

And if fence sitting is a crime then I'm guilty too!

Asking questions is how we all progress it why these forums exist and if asking a question is being nosy and that gets you banned we may as well all go home now.

swampy

[Domi]

I agree entirely with some of your points, Swampy, but what really annoys me is that if I post here, I have to answer to members or admin over at the other board : Surely what I post here has nothing whatsoever to do with the members there, if they felt so strongly about it, they should challenge me here (this is behaviour that has happened since I posted that I hoped that andy if the "guru" which some purport him to be and not some "false prophet". Strangely enough, they left me alone before that :.

Also, I was told by one of their members that they have (and I quote) an "underground crew" watching this forum to see who/what is posted here : I can only assume that this is to continue any bad feeling between the boards as I see no other reason for it the same member also made derisive comments about another member over here (I won't print what they said, I see no reason to) which pissed me off because I have had little/no dealings with this member, whatever bad feelings members over there have for members of this board they should keep them to themselves : I'm more than capable of coming to my own conclusions ;D

Believe me, I'd love to be left alone to carry on my curry quest I've never had to explain my posts at the other forum to any members here, I feel I am able to post what I like without snidey comments and ridiculous PM's arguing points which the posters are ill-qualified to argue about. To be honest, I don't mind explaining things to andy, it's the tribe that follow him that ought to keep their petty bullshit to themselves and as I told andy yesterday (several times) if his members (and sadly it seems to be a few bad apples spoiling the applecart) really want to help his board out, they should keep such back-biting and bitching off of the open forum and keep it to PM/msn/yahoo or whatever chat clients they happen to use

[Secret Santa]

Just found andy's "fusing" video. Heehhe what a laugh. Umm stir and press, rotate spoon. Bullcrap. This does nothing for the final taste, it isn't a technique, it's laughable.

Oh and apparently Ali can now reveal the name of the restaurant after unknown problems that prevented him from doing so before now. What, did he forget the name of his own restaurant? It's laughable, it really is.

Anyone picked up on the fact that the chief arse lickers aren't even British? Currycanuk is a well canuk, channa doll is a yank..Puhleeese as the yanks would say!

as I said before i wouldn't care idf Andy and his team of curry fanatics were aliens as long as the curries are as they profess to be, BIR style. Well i have made a few and they are good, but not BIR.

Just remember where this started folks. It started here. Andy copied the Natco base and other stuff. It's laughable it really is.

There's too much to point out, especially about Ali's recent post. But I'll tell you what Ali, guess who's gonna be first into youer restaurant once you reveal all. And i promise to behave.

[Domi]

ROFPMSL Blummen' 'eck you don't mince your words do you Santa? I think you'll have to get in the queue for the restaurant though luv

I've seen the post you mentioned (my sides are still hurting) frankly, it only raises more questions. :

Has the word "gullible" been removed from the OED?

[George]

Just found andy's "fusing" video. Heehhe what a laugh. Umm stir and press, rotate spoon. Bullcrap. This does nothing for the final taste, it isn't a technique, it's laughable.

I'm happy to stand up and be counted on your side here. When the migration of members started I used the word 'gullible' in one post, then thought better of it and removed the post, I think. But they've had long enough to change their minds and many/most have not so I think I was right all along (assuming the whole set up is a lot less than the whole truth and nothing but the truth). I'd be very surprised if us sceptics are wrong but I apologise if we are. Very little 'stacks up' for me. My main concern, though, has always been how this cr0 site was hijacked so unfairly. I'm gob-smacked at his success though and how many members (who I previously regarded quite highly) went with the Pied Piper.

Regards
George

[mike travis]

Hi guys,   Sorry to be frank, but can any one tell me if I have logged on to the right forum? The original post was by Woks up asking if admin "invaded" members privacy, to which the answer was no. End of story. So why are we now talking about things that are happening on another site? I don`t mean to upset or offend any one, but, if you have joined this other forum and are experiencing problems with it, then in my opinion cr0 is not the place to complain about it. As far as I am concerned this forum, and all it`s members have helped me cook the sort of curries I have been looking for, and I am grateful for that. Long may it reign.

Please dont be offended this is just my opinion..  

 

[Secret Santa]

hello Mike,

well for some of us it goes a lot deeper.
i for exmaple have been around since the ukfdi started then joined in2spice where i met pete and others (who were already on ukfdi) and then migrated to cr0, etc. etc.

It's history, but you know i do feel a sort of allegiance to the old school. But RCR came along, and was birthed in its mercenary way. I have a few 'presences' there to allow for bans etc.

I don't know if you've followed the machinations all the way through as i have, but on balance it's obvious that Andy is a fraud. There may well be a indian restaurant in the background there somewhere, but i'd be prepared to bet that andy is a small part in it. The 10 year thing is bullcrap. And when Ali finally remembers the name and location of his myriad restaurants i promise i will be there like a shot. I'll taste the curries and report honestly.

The sad part is that the ever so friendly and accomodating RCR wouldn't allow this post so i'm forced to post here.

and for the latin lovers there...vidi veni vici (and i bet they say that's the wrong way around...fools)

[George]

Please dont be offended this is just my opinion..  

I'm genuinely pleased to hear any alternative point of view.

>End of story. So why are we now talking about things...

I think all discussions develop and wander about a bit - no harm in that, I suggest.

>...this is not the place to complain about it.

From my point of view, I'm not complaining about the other site but about the way this site was taken advantage of, in an underhand manner in my opinion.

>As far as I am concerned this forum, and all it`s members
>have helped me cook the sort of curries I have been looking
>for, and I am grateful for that. Long may it reign.

Do you mean this site or the other site? If you mean the other site, which recipes would you recommend as being most likely to convince any sceptic of the quality of the '10 year' recipes. I may then try those and may change my opinion if they taste much like a BIR.

Regards
George

[Domi]

Hi Mike

I feel as though I am in some way responsible for the way in which this thread has wandered, but it wasn't entirely intentional. I felt (rightly or wrongly) that I had to explain one of my posts properly so that people would know that I wasn't setting out to be antagonistic. Like you, I'm extremely grateful for any recipes or advice shared and I thank everyone who has helped make this board what it is, but I am also saddened that what was once a fairly tight-knit community has been torn asunder purely because people voiced concerns over certain recipes/techniques or the validity of the claims made by the posters.

As George has said, discussions tend to wander, I can't really call this a debate since I have not noticed anyone actually put up an opposing view, but would more than welcome the chance to have a proper debate.

I agree that what happens here should stay here, and the same in reverse, but I have to say that Ali's post is an indirect answer to one of my earlier posts in this thread. I have refrained from giving a full and frank opinion of that post despite it raising so many more questions such as: Why can they not advertise (or give out the name of) the restaurant/take-away? (surely they advertise it in other places, even if it's only sticking a menu through people's letterboxes )I mean, he gives excuses (however flimsy) for why these things have not yet been delivered, but no reasons to explain the excuses, if it was a legal reason or whatever, then post and say so...there are other questions I have but I won't go into them here as I think anyone of reasonable intelligence will have the same questions upon reading that thread. I see nothing whatsoever in that post to warrant some of the "that'll show 'em!" attitude displayed by some of the members.

You say that this is not the place to complain about it, but it's clear that there are some members (or guests) at this board, who, for whatever reason feel the need to report on member's activities here, it had to be addressed here as I felt that other members need to warned that there may be repercussions elsewhere because of views expressed on this wonderful board.

Also, since this is a curry forum, when a site sets itself up and proclaims itself to be "The number one secret Indian restaurant cookery site", it is natural for members to debate whether it deserves that title, regardless of which board they are at, and who better to debate it than those who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in that very topic? Since Andy's recipes are posted here, and he claims to have the BIR taste using those very recipes, the debate is also going to crop up from time to time as people should rightly have the freedom to praise/debunk them.

I've been on the net since it's earliest days and have seen many people make outlandish or exaggerated claims, 99 percent of which have been proved to be completely false, and in each and every case people have been glad to have such things pointed out, since keeping doubts to oneself can only result in more people being taken in by online conmen. (I'm not saying that Andy is a conman, but there are plenty of things which for one reason or another just do not add up which rightly makes me suspicious). We've even had members fake their own death and come back a month or so later as an entirely different person, but they always get caught out and exposed. ;D

Why are there no pictures of inside the restaurant? (I know andy has a camera, so why not take piccies of the chefs during prep before the restaurant opens? He could always blank out the faces to protect the innocent lol). Personally, I have to say that if I were having the same accusations thrown at me, I would do something to shut people up and prove myself at the very earliest opportunity, it should not take months and months of promises and backtracking.

I think the way in which RCR has come to be was Andy's goal before he ever placed a post here in that name. I don't whether it's for the benefits brought about by e-commerce (I'm sure he'll get some kind of recompense for the books advertised on his site either by getting so many clicks via the ads or by commission on the number of books sold via the link from that site) or if he has just made himself out to be more experienced than he actually is to gain kudos from members and is now struggling to provide provenance of that experience.

Does anyone know which Sunday Magazine the article is to be published in? Or is this too one of the great secrets? And as for the fusing technique, well.......I've used that very same technique every time I've made a sauce (or even scambled eggs) : admittedly, I keep the pan on the heat, which is the only difference.... I never knew it was a secret to keep things moving in a pan to avoid things catching and burning, maybe I should add this skill to my curriculum vitae?

If I offend or upset anyone in any way by my posts here, I apologise.