Hello folks,
And a happy new year to you all and hope you all had a lovely Christmas.
As I was working over Christmas and didn't have the usual Turkey dinner we booked into a local BIR for a family Xmas Curry on boxing day.
The restaurant called Lazeez, near Keighley is not the best around, just a small restaurant that seat?s about 30 but the food is usually very acceptable and the service second to none.
When we made the booking they asked us if they could make all 12 of us an Indian meal with a "Christmas" theme rather than choose from the standard menu.
We didn't know what we were going to get, instead trusting to luck and they charged us ?18 per head, which was not bad for what they gave us.
We started with the usual variety of plain and spiced Poppadums and Pickles then a variety of mixed starters,Turkey Pakora's, Onion Bhaji's, Sheek Kebabs, Chicken and Prawn Samosa's, Prawn Butterflie's, Raita?s etc etc. Nothing too unusual about that but there was just tons and tons of it.
In fact by the time we had finished this never ending procession of starters we were pretty much stuffed and wondered whether to cancel the rest and scarper!!
They had got us a crate of complimentary Stella even though they don?t sell alcohol so that was a nice touch.
The main course was???. surprise, surprise...........Turkey!
Not just one but TWO massive birds (or were they Ostriches?? ) that had been marinated then slow cooked to what I can only say was perfection. They both came garnished with a variety of things that made the presentation a joy to behold.
They were carved at the table and presented with two curries, Chicken Makhani, a rather rich creamy and buttery dish which complimented the Turkey very well. The other curry was to all intents just a slightly spiced base sauce but reminded me so much of the K.D. base it was a bit uncanny!
There was a third suprise curry which oddly materialised from the rear end of the birds and was spooned onto our plates. This I was told was a special vegetable curry par cooked before hand and finished off inside the bird rather like a wet stuffing. It was beautifully spiced with flavours of Cardamom and Cloves and was warming and aromatic and the vegetables still a bit crunchy??..lovely!!.
The spicing on the outside of the Turkey was similar to Tandoori but rather a brown colour instead of red and the taste was different too. The skin had been removed prior to cooking. It was more aromatic than Tandoori and gave me a feeling this was a more ?home made? recipe than a BIR creation.
The meat was so moist I have never had Turkey like it.
It came with two variety?s of Naan Bread, Chappatti?s, Roti?s and a heap of special rice.
By this time my trousers were creaking fit to burst and I wished I had been born with two stomachs.
It is a shame the beer kicked in so soon as I would have liked half an hour to chat with the chef but we get regular take-aways delivered and I will try to find out what the special spicing was on the Turkey as it was commendable.
We finished with Kulfi or Gulabjamon which I haven?t had for years. They were sweet, warm and sticky and just about finished me off!
There was a choice of Lassi and the usual Coffee and mints just to make sure the indigestion would be garunteed.
The whole experience was fabulous and I would thoroughly recommend it as a change to the usual Turkey Roast at Xmas time.
What we had for the money was just superb and the service they gave commendable.
I must say if we had gone out for an English meal at a local pub it would have been three times the price and not half as enjoyable.
Having to work my Christmas has certainly paid off this year with a feast a Maharaja would be proud of!!
And if that wasn't enough I took home a doggy bag as big as Santa's sack for a re-run the next day at work............sheer luxury!!
Ray