Topic: Bombay Aloo Group Test

[George]

MY opinion is that TESTERS should test ANY recipes EXACTLY (ingredients, brands, methods, etc) as intended by the author...to get reliable comparative results.

I agree. Perhaps some of the people who break this golden rule, time after time, didn't enjoy science, let alone logic and rationale at school.

[solarsplace]

@Chris

Did we manage to get a final list of participants? - I'm in theory up for coming to your house to share the cooking load - although have not cleared it with the wife - she will be proper miffed as she loves tasting all the different candidates of these group tests, so I will probably have to do them twice anyway

Can't wait to start this latest round of curry fun - would hate to see nothing happening and stagnation continue

I think these fun and informal group tests are really beneficial to the greater forum community. They obviously cannot and do not try to be a conclusive council on the best recipes or methods (that would be impossible given the nature of the forum and participants, so silly to think otherwise), but all the tests conducted thus far show clear groupings to favourable recipes where members if they so choose can begin their own experiments

Regards to all BIR curry friends and enthusiasts

[PaulP]

I hope it goes well guys. It is a bit of fun and collaboration on the forum.
Personally I don't think the differences between the Taz base and, say, Dipu's base would make much difference to these finished dishes.

Sorry I don't have time to join in this one but I look forward to making the winning dish once announced.

Paul

[Razor]

Hi Guy's,

Here's my opinion for what it's worth.

We as a group, were a little wary from the start,  of testing actual curries because, it wouldn't be practical to do so!  All of each requiring a specific base gravy, spice mix and so on, so I do see where CA and George are coming from.

However, I get the feeling that the whole of the potential testers are quite excited by this particular group test.  As long as it is made clear when the results are published, that the original base sauce was replaced with, whatever base sauce we decide and link's are provided to the original recipes, I don't see it as too much of a problem.

We are not trying to create a list of elite recipes, as we've all said many times before but hopefully, provide a little bit of a guide for newcomers as to what to try first, if they can't decide where to start.  It also creates interest from many non participating members.  Check the 'who's on-line' facility when these results are published, there are loads of non participating members viewing these posts, which is great.

I will modify the ABCC Bombay Aloo recipe with the correct base sauce and spice mix links.

Just a word on the Taz base, I'm a big fan but, I don't think that it will work well for this particular test because it is designed specifically for the reduction method.  Wouldn't that over cook the potatoes?  Plus, I don't think any of the suggested recipes require the reduction method.

Just a thought!

Ray

Edit:  Unfortunately, the 'Modify' option is no longer available for me to publish the relevant links

[Stephen Lindsay]

I agree. Perhaps some of the people who break this golden rule, time after time, didn't enjoy science, let alone logic and rationale at school.

Not sure why you need to have a go at people for expressing their opinions but yet again you try and dismiss them as individuals.

[peterandjen]

HIya all, im going to miss this test out, as somebody else said, i'll be watching the testing and taking note of the results, but i dont really eat bombay aloo.
Does Bombay aloo need starting with a fried spice start or with the spuds in with the spices during the first fry? If not then i cant see why the reduction method ie Taz method wont work.
I can also see where CA is coming from, bastardising recipes from the beginning is a good way to cause confusion later on. Altering recipes is only usefull i feel once we are confident we understand the original recipe as much as possible.
Like i said im looking forwards to the results but rather than altering things early on would it not be better to do a comparison of Taz's with another complete recipe choice?
I aint stirring honest

[Ramirez]

I'm happy to go either way in terms of whether we use the base and spice mix stated in the recipe or standardise on one base and spice mix for all. However, the former is clearly going to take much longer. I am more than happy to go with the earlier suggestion of the Taz Base and spice mix.

[chriswg]

Wow this topic really kicked off eh?

From my point of view we are trying to find the tastiest recipe but we also want one that is versatile. No one can honestly tell me that they would ever make a batch of base sauce just for Bombay Aloo. It's a nice side dish and will always be made with whichever base is available that week.

With this in mind we should use a variety of bases and spice mixes, as long as each person uses the same for each test. I have lots of UC base in the freezer so I'll be using that. If you guys like, Solar and I can make a couple of the recipes twice using a different base in each to see if there is any difference in taste. My thoughts are probably not. If there is a difference I would assume the one that tasted better with one base will still taste better with the other.

I appreciate in a free speaking forum environment there will always be nay-sayers and negativity toward ideas. I suggest if CA aint happy with what we are all doing then he sets up Cory's Group Tests where everyone has to make 5 different base sauces and spice mixes to compare 5 different recipes. Good luck finding people to help with that! This gets especially annoying when the people taking the jabs are the ones who have no interest in taking part or really doing anything to move the forum forwards. If you were bothered about the future of this site you would be encouraging more of this not sticking the knife in whenever you can. You should be ashamed of yourselves!

[Malc.]

If you guys like, Solar and I can make a couple of the recipes twice using a different base in each to see if there is any difference in taste. My thoughts are probably not. If there is a difference I would assume the one that tasted better with one base will still taste better with the other.

Chris, I also lean towards the theory that a better result if any, will be achieved by the same base. So to that end, it might be a good idea to test this theory for the purposes of thoroughness. Especially as the majority of tests that will eventually be performed will carry this same discussion.

[George]

Not sure why you need to have a go at people for expressing their opinions but yet again you try and dismiss them as individuals.

I'm not dismissing anybody as an individual - I'm only saying their approach is misleading, possibly invalid, and unfair on the person who posts an original recipe, e.g. if their recipe comes last in a group test, or is otherwise slagged off, mainly because somebody has altered the recipe.