Topic: India Raj - North Town Aldershot - Curry Sauce

[Stephen Lindsay]

Yeah the New Curry Secret moves a bit away from mainstream BIR although I've made a couple of recipes and found them very tasty, but not, as you say, really BIR.

That's not a criticism though because BIR is not the be all and end all of Indian cookery, it's only a way of doing things and one off dishes have their place in my kitchen anyway.

I have Harvey Day's compendium of curry books which would have been written in the 1950s and 1960s. Though I don't cook from them I love reading them from from time to time as they are part of this country's heritage and reflect people's need to introduce curries into their households. We've moved a long way since then.

[George]

If I may, I'd like to give my opinion on KD1. Ok, like others, I agree, KD1 gave us a base sauce recipe that seemed to eluded many amateur curry cooks for so long.  As far as a base sauce goes, I think it comparable to many in terms of quality.  I have always been convinced that the base sauce is less important to the end dish than say the spice mix or the technique, the kd base confirms this theory to me. As for the rest of the book (of which I have both the curry secret and the new curry secret) I'm not a fan.  Now I have not cooked everything from each, so maybe I'm being a tad unfair but, I just don't like the format of either of them.  ....Please don't take this as an attack on Kris, it isn't, it's just my view on what I think her books bring to the party, in my opinion....Hope my views cause no offence to either Kris or her fans.

Ray's comments above, pretty much sum up my own feelings, as I stated them but, instead of other members politely stating that they disagree and rather like KD's recipes, they launched personal attacks on me, with Phil comparing my views to views of extreme right wing political parties. It's deeply offensive. This was hours after Ray, very sensibly, had suggested we be nice to each other. Then we have a new member attacking me in his very first post, which is also out of order. Attacking me, just because I share Ray's views, and lots of other members' views, that KD and PC books leave a lot to be desired.

[Peripatetic Phil]

I love reading them from from time to time as they are part of this country's heritage and reflect people's need to introduce curries into their households. We've moved a long way since then.

Thank goodness we have : do you remember just how awful an English curry was ?  Bright yellow, tasting of pure raw spices, and with sultanas and raisins (presumably intended to disguise just how disgusting it would have been without !).

** Phil.

[Peripatetic Phil]

they launched personal attacks on me, with Phil comparing my views to views of extreme right wing political parties. It's deeply offensive.

George, you really need to read what others write.  Please re-read my message, and you will see that there was no comparison whatsoever between your views on KD or PC and the views of a National Front member on the very people whose curries we are so desperate to emulate.  The comparison was between holding views (which we all agree is fine, no matter what those views might be) and expressing them repeatedly in a forum where it clear that those views are offensive to others.  That was the comparison I made, as I am sure you will agree when you have re-read my message and those of others who commented subsequently.

** Phil.

[Stephen Lindsay]

Ray's comments above, pretty much sum up my own feelings, as I stated them

Really George? I must have been reading the wrong posts then.

[Stephen Lindsay]

[quote author=Phil (Chaa006) link=topic=4851.msg52230#msg52230
Thank goodness we have : do you remember just how awful an English curry was ?  Bright yellow, tasting of pure raw spices, and with sultanas and raisins (presumably intended to disguise just how disgusting it would have been without !).
[/quote]

My early memories of curries were the Vesta packets and a spice paste by Lea & Perrins that you added chicken and water to. After that it would have been a Chinese takeway curry, then curry nirvana with my first ever Indian - a Chicken Madras.

[Razor]

Stephen/Phil

I also have a book entitled 'Indian Cooking by Savitri Chowdhary'  It was first published in 1954 but my copy is from 1967.

I don't cook from it but I love reading it.  Just some of the phrases are amazing and give you a flavour of how people needed to improvise back when alot of what we now take for granted, just wasn't available back then.

This particular quote from the book always raises a smile;

In London, there are three or four well known Indian grocery shops which supply most of the ingredients.  But apart from this, I have been surprised to find that I can obtain most of the things I need from my local grocer, chemist or corn merchant[/b]

So the next time you guy's are picking up your prescriptions, don't forget to get your "deggi mirch & panch poran" whilst you are there ;D

Ray ;D

[Stephen Lindsay]

Can just imagine the guys (and gals) from the forum all turning up at Boots and saying, excuse me do you have any red or yellow food colouring please?

[emin-j]

All very entertaining Guys  : but solarsplace is still waiting for a discussion on his Curry Base !

[Razor]

Hi emin-j,

All very entertaining Guys  : but solarsplace is still waiting for a discussion on his Curry Base !

Yes, you are correct, the thread, once again has digressed.  I think it did get discussed but unfortunately the thread deteriorated into this.

For what it's worth, I have no problem with using broccoli, caulies or what ever, as long as it works for you, then go for it, I say.

Ray