Topic: Bombay Aloo Group Test

[Razor]

George,

C'mon fella, we aren't Which magazine though are we?  We are a bunch of amature cooks, searching for recipes that take us close if not better than our favourite eating places.

I could understand the level of dissaproval of this particular test if, we were going to put the highest scoring recipe into a cr0 cookbook which we were selling for profit but we're not! We're just trying to create a little bit of fun on the forum.  I've lost count of how many times non participating memebrs have enquired as to where we are upto with these test's.  For me, that makes them all the more worth while, that somebody is actually enjoying them, and is eager to see the outcome.

using the wrong base sauce or 2 tsp lime juice instead of 4 tsp lemon juice, could throw things out a lot. You could, of course, discover something quite delicious in the process

I totally agree, but surely members can see how impractical it would be to make 5 or 6 different base sauces just to do this one test?  As long as it is made very very clear, when the results are published that for practical reasons, we have used a standard base sauce instead of the recipe providers own base sauce, then that will be fine, won't it?

George, can I ask a favour please?  Not sure what mod privillages you have but would you modify my Bombay Aloo recipe post please? I no longer have the modify option available.

Where I have listed Base Sauce would you add this link? http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=4283.0

And where I have listed spice mix, would you please add this link? http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=1547.0

At least that way, should a member like to try the recipe to spec, they would have the option to do so.

Here is the original post  http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=5556.0

Many thanks,

Ray

[George]

George, can I ask a favour please?  Not sure what mod privileges you have but would you modify my Bombay Aloo recipe post please? I no longer have the modify option available.

I suppose that will be OK and I'll be pleased to help. The only thing is that the edit button normally goes after a while, and that must be for some reason, on most forums.

As moderator I see three buttons against EVERY post, i.e. Quote, Modify and Remove. It's quite scary.

I agree that these tests should be fun but there's quite a lot of time and expense involved, so it would be good if they can be 'meaningful' as well.

[Peripatetic Phil]

increasingly this forum is falling into some kind of battlefield between factions and it seems to be losing some of its attraction

I agree, and I accept that I am as guilty as anyone of occasionally rising to the bait and challenging a remark that has nothing to do with curry (for example, a suggestion that the opinion of 50% of the population is of no interest).  But with all due respect, it does seem that there are a very small number of members who seem to get far more pleasure out of winding others up than they do from discussing the merits of various recipes.

So here's a genuine suggestion (in line with the topic of this thread) : why don't those who agree with the position that one must use the correct base for each of the Bombay Aloo dishes carry out their version of the Group Test; and let those who disagree with that position use whatever base they like.  Both groups can then report back to Chris, who can both present the results, and -- if there are significant differences in the results between the two groups -- look to see if it is possible to explain those differences on the basis (no pun intended) of the actual base(s) used.

In that way, we can avoid all in-fighting : each group will do what it believes is right, and both groups, as well as all other members, can benefit by comparing and contrasting the two sets of results.

My Eur 0,02.
** Phil.

[Razor]

Hi Thai Expat,

I pretty much agree with most of what you are saying but unfortunately, it's been a battlefield for longer than four years.

When it was at it's worst last year, I very nearly decided not to return to cr0 but even amidst all the mayhem, there were still the odd one or two valuable post, or at least of some value to me anyway.  For that reason, I continued to participate.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the forum needed freshening up a touch.  Then Chriswg, comes up with this idea, and it really was like a breath of fresh air.  But, do you know what?  before we had even done one single test, an argument ensued because of some unfortunate but innocent wording!

All I'm saying is, this forum would get along much better if we remember just a few points;

a) We all have an opinion, lets respect that even if we disagree!

b) Try to choose our words carefully when we respond in a post.  Think how the respondent may perceive your reply!

c) If you do feel that you need to enter into an argument with another member, do it via PM, that way, we eliminate the "whose camp am I in" scenario!

d) If you would like to ask a member about a particular point in their published recipe, try to do it in a respectful way for example;

Hi Razor, you state in your recipe that I would require 1 chefspoon of onion paste.  As I am not too familiar with what quantity a chefspoon holds, would you have a measurable conversion please?

This is much more preferable than;

Razor, I'm just about to try cooking this up and the first thing that I get is Chef's spoon, I'm sorry but please put any measurements in the recognised amounts , a chef spon is not a standard, a tea or tablespoons is recognised the world over, members of this site moan about getting things right and then we get a measurement that is really unquantifiable, I'm sorry but you might as well say get a big spoon and chuck a big dollop in.

Can you see where I'm coming from?  It reads really aggressive which I'm sure wasn't your intention at the time.

Can we all just try to get along for a change and make this forum great again?

Ray

[Peripatetic Phil]

Can we all just try to get along for a change and make this forum great again?

Seconded.  If we're successful, we could even change the name of the site to GCR0 ("Great Curry Recipes Online")  ;D
** Phil.

[Razor]

Thanks George, much appreciated.

Phil, I think that that is an excellent idea.  It would also kill two birds with one stone!  For me, it would prove the importance of a particular base sauce, for example;  If the results from both sets of tests show a remarkable consistency then for me, that would tell me that the base sauce is less important to an end dish than that of say, the spice mix or the method.

On the other hand, if both sets of results was completely different from each other, then base sauce has a big part to play in our recipes.

Ray

[solarsplace]

This is the spirit!

Thanks guys! - well played on the positive ideas front!

[commis]

Hi
Well now were sorted,what potato variety are we using? Lol
Regards

[Razor]

Commis,

Hi
Well now were sorted,what potato variety are we using? Lol
Regards

I really really wanted to ask that but I thought, b****cks to that for a game of soldiers  ;D ;D ;D

Ray ;D

[Peripatetic Phil]

The British Potato Council recommends Estima, Harmony and Osprey for boiling; on the other hand, it lists Charlotte and Maris Peer as the best for a waxy texture.  Should we consider these as our first choices ?  If so, we will need to check on their availability nationwide.

** Phil.