There is a new play out called Mountains - it is the story of the grandma (Lily Kwok)  of the 2 Chinese girls who own the Sweet Mandarin restaurant in Manchester ( famed for winning Gordon Ramseys best local Chinese etc.) and her journey from China / Hong Kong to the UK and success in opening a Chinese restauarant in Middleton , Manchester.  A Harrowing tale (used / raped by Japanese soldiers !).  A real gutsy woman.  I have used Lilys takeaway in Chadderton ( known affectionately at the time by locals as greasy Lils)  way back in the 70s / 80s and also the Sweet Mandarin in more recent times..  Well worth a visit to see - maybe I am biased 'cos I know the family involved.

Don't forget the shawarma style - much better than any doner kebab imho - https://curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,13466.0.html - it's the tahini sauce that really makes the lamb shawarma zing with that extra taste - use unhusked tahini paste.

First time visit here for me. Went with my daughter and family who have visited several times. Wide choice of food and a breath of fresh air to taste Keralan dishes - way different to the usual Bengali offerings in the majority of so called ‘Indian’ restaurants. I would highly recommend a visit - and be prepared for a taste of the real India a la Keralan regional cuisine.

Your comments on the Madras curry sauce reminded me of the pathetic Madras curry attempt at Essence Altrincham.  Must be the latest lazy BIR chefs fad - put some spice in a tomato ketchup sauce - they won't notice !

Your welcome - let us know how you go on when you try them

RAVI restaurant (original one) at Satwa does the best chicken tikka.

Try USHNA restaurant in the Madinat Hotel souk area - they will do it as hot as you want.

Lived in Dubai - '77 to '84 - sadly lot of the good places from those days flattened & disappeared in Dubais march for expansion / rebuilding

Shimla was a beautiful, interesting  place & climate - but the trip there was marred by dense smog in Delhi - so the 4 hour express to Kalka was 8 hours - then the Shimla train was delayed so that what would have been 5 hours was looking like 9 hours re darkness - so we were taken off after 4 hours to go rest by car.  Shimla train very cramped and basic for such a long winding journey.

Weird - when I try and post the main content entered after my initial response on its own - will not post - still get data base error - but when I added it back in as a 'modify'post it goes OK ?

No mate - it was a statement - I entered it from my IPhone as a test since I wasn't able to post my full message from my computer - kept getting database error & on retry got you have already posted this - yet nothing was shown as posted.  I will retry shortly.

Went on a Great Railway Journies holiday with missus Ghoulie for her 70th birthday treat. Centred on Delhi - but travelled all over - including Shimla, Agra, Jaipur etc.  Food was excellent - whether it was in the 5 star hotels or roadside restaurant / cafes.  Even got to see round the 'Marigold Hotel' as used in the tv prog in Jaipur.
When my son-in-law realised we were staying at the  ITC Maurya Hotel - Delhi, he insisted we try the independent restaurant there - Bukhara - rated as a world class eating place.  It didn't disappoint - North West Frontier style cooking - fingers only.  Pity there was only 2 of us from our group eating - it would have been nice to try a wider range of dishes.  As it was I had Jingha prawns - the size of which I have never seen before - 6 on my plate - I was stuffed.  My wife had Tandoori Pomfret fish - very nice too.  Excellent naan.  Pricey with beer at  5 pounds a bottle - total bill @ 90 pounds- but well worth the experience.
Did Dubai on the way back and had to try out my old Ravi restaurant haunt at Satwa - as good as ever and cheap still at 6 pounds for 2 of us

Visited India & Dubai recently