Over the last bank holiday weekend, we took a trip to Sandown, on the Isle of Wight. Overall, the trip was excellent, but thats not the point here. During this trip, I gave up a KF beer for something else. For the first time I said 'no' to beer and I did not repent one bit.
Well, the highlight of each of my trips has always been the food. And not one trip goes without having one Indian meal. There is a strong bond between Indian food and myself. Wherever I go it follows me or wherever Indian food is available, I reach that place. On the way from the station to the hotel, we spotted an Indian placed called 'Swad'. It had a sunday buffet and we thought that we should go there the next day.
So next day lunch time, we entered the place. It was a decent sized restaurant, with a fair number of people. As went in, we were greeted with a "namaste and aiye, aiye'. We took a table in a corner. I fail to understand why I Indian restaurants outside India think that they attract an audience in the name of bollywood (read Himesh's nose), instead of concentrating on good quality food alone. Anyway, we had a look at the buffet, which had veg samosa, rice, naan/roti, matar subzi (green peas) and Masala alu (potato) for the veggies. For the non-veggies there was lamb samosa and chicken curry. The chicken looked amazing and something in me told me that we were upto something here. So I just took rice and some chicken curry. I came back to my table, completely slaushed in the aromas of the chicken curry. The first mouthful was absolute bliss and I realized that I was right and we were upto something brilliant. The small pieces of chicken was succulent and just about well done. The spices had hit every nook and corner of each chicken piece and the curry was spicy, a bit on the higher side for UK standards. As I was about to go for a second helping, the waiter/owner asked me if I wanted any beer or any drinks to go with it. He said he had KF. Now for beer lovers like me, a KF in the UK is nothing else than India having non-corrupt politicians. But I was so mesimerized by the chicken and wanted more of it, that I had "no, thanks" for the beer. I rushed for a second helping of the chicken curry and rice. It was followed by a third and then a fourth helping. I was cautious of the beer filling me up, so that I would then be able to have less of the chicken curry.
This has to be the best chicken curry that I have ever eaten in the UK. It reminded me of 'Delhi Darbar' or the other restaurants in Delhi that serve chicken curry. My best half asked me how the chicken curry was, as I hadn't spoken to her in the last 15-20 minutes, sitting on the same table, I said 'this chicken curry was so Delhi'. That was enough for her to understand how I felt. I told the guy serving our table that the chicken curry was just too good and absolutely brilliant and that it reminded me of Delhi. Tad came the reply, "saab, hum Malviya Nagar mein khana banathe the aur ab yahan. Lekin hain dilli waale aur sab masala bhi dilli se laathe hain (sir, we use to cook in Delhi and then now here and spices come from Delhi). And by the way, this chicken curry experience cost us only 5.99 GBP per head.
I was so so so so thrilled and happy and satisfied. I knew the chicken curry was something familiar. I felt like I was eating in 'Saddi Dilli' and I was so right. The chicken curry rocked as much as Delhi does........... Anyone going to the Isle of Wight and wanting to try this place, give me a shout for directions...................... and I let out a big burp (sorry) - that was the chicken and not beer for a change !!!!!!!!!!! cheers.....
Ab dilli door nahin
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