Uneeded Aggravation!

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**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Once upon a time, I had a *really* nice Curry.

The meat used was chicken, the sauce was slightly sour and fairly hot (but not Vindaloo hot). In the sauce were crispy little chillis which were mentally hot, and I loved every last mouthful.

Now I can't remember what it was called, or where I ate it. I suspect it might have been a Thai rather than Indian Curry, but I cannot be sure. I want another now

Oh, and by the way, do you American types ever eat Curry? I know Chinese is fairly popular, but not about Curry. If you haven't, you should!

**reds8n**

I love a good curry.

Any help ?

Mild Curries

Korma
The classic "beginner's" curry, with almond. Can be over-sweet or bland to the more experienced palate, but often a worthy dish.

Tikka Masala
The meat (usually chicken) is cooked in a mild, buttery sauce. Safe.

Kashmir or Malaya
The nearest thing to "amateur" curries with lashings of raisins, pineapples, banana or lychees making it sweet and sometimes rather sickly. Rather like a warmed-up "coronation chicken".

Pasanda
The King of the mild curries, a royal dish with a creamy sauce containing almonds and coconut. Often also contains wine (white with chicken, red with lamb). Highly recommended, especially for people who have been eating vindaloos for years and suffering from them quite badly.

Medium Curries

Dopiaza
The name literally means "double onion" - there should be plenty cooked in the sauce, and plenty of raw onion sprinkled on top. Not recommended if you have romantic intentions later in the evening, but great if you're sharing a caravan with a bunch of mates and wish to develop a wordless form of communication. Safer for non-smokers.

Rogan Josh
Fairly traditional curry with lots of tomatoes.

Bhuna
Similar to a Rogan Josh but with a thicker, drier sauce.

Balti
In this dish the ingredients are cut into large chunks and the sauce is thicker than a standard curry, because it is served not with rice but with a Naan bread which doubles as the tool for eating it. Originally introduced as a "premium" dish (presumably because it is served in a cast-iron pot) and consequently overpriced, now it is less trendy it is finding a worthwhile place on most menus.

Karahi
The precursor to the Balti in terms of being served in a sizzling, red-hot dish, it is usually a pound or two more expensive than a standard curry without tasting discernibly nicer. Aimed at those who place aural stimulation above taste and smell.

Gosht
Lika a standard curry but with okra.

Saag
Lika a standard curry but with spinach.

Murgh Massala
This is a "special" and sometimes has to be ordered in advance. Unusually, it combines the two main meat types; it consists of large pieces of chicken (or in extreme cases, an entire baby chicken) in a sauce made with minced lamb. The only dish which can retain its dignity whilst containing raisins.

Biryani
A dry dish of rice cooked up with curry powder and some meat. Can be very fragrant and delightful - or can be made from leftovers. Only eat it in a restaurant you know and trust.

Hot Curries

Jalfrezi
Cooked with a large quantity of peppers (capsicums), this dish is one of the most visually appealing, and the taste can be anything from a lively medium to a challenging heat, depending on the amount of green chilli used. Quirky.

Dhansak
This dish is actually of Persian origin, and contains lentils. If you can stand the methane-loaded after-effects it can be one of the tastiest dishes.

Ceylon
This dish is hot and sour, although it contains coconut, which should make it sweeter and cooler. Never quite as exciting as it sounds.

Madras
This one should be hot but flavoursome - not just a basic curry loaded up with chilli powder. It is unusual because it actually contains the leaves of the curry plant whose name has been purloined for the entire genre.

Very Hot Curries

Vindaloo
Must contain potatoes ("aloo") to be genuine. Often blisteringly hot, the spuds help to take some of the edge off, but a lhassi is also recommended with this dish. Build up to it slowly, but the taste can bring a reward worth a little suffering.

Phal
Don't order this dish unless you are a rugby player and have tarnished your macho image, perhaps by having a picture of Leonardo di Caprio in your locker, and you now wish to be rehabilitated. You will sweat profusely, it will hurt, and you won't enjoy it. If you must eat one, put your toilet paper in the fridge before you go to bed, as the chilli is not broken down by your digestive system.

Sounds like a jalfrezi* to me, but being a cultured sort of chap i assume you'd know that.

* Which is what Mr. Frazzled almost winds up getting called every time I quote him.

**whatwhat**

Last month when I was in the US I went into a certain fast food chain in which they had mild sauce, hot sauce, and fire sauce. The fire sauce, supposedly the hottest, which my American friend refused to try, was weak as hell. That kind of makes me think they're not a society brought up on spicy food, curry for example. I may be wrong however.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Soon as I read it I thought Jalfrezi as well.

OH what a shame. I shall have to order a Jalfrezi to find out. Tut tut.

And Curry is more about the balance of flavours and textures than the heat. Rumours abound the hotter the Curry, then the more rotten the meat originally used!

**whatwhat**

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:And Curry is more about the balance of flavours and textures than the heat. Rumours abound the hotter the Curry, then the more rotten the meat originally used!

Try telling that to your fellow rugby teammates when your ordering a chicken korma.

But yeh I am partial to some of the weaker ones myself. Pakistani ones need more credit in this country, like the balti. Much more flavour than the indian ones imo.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

True that.

Thankfully, I don't play Rugby, and am man enough to just drop trou should some sad manhood debate come up. One way or another it settles the arguement.

And the other oddity I've found...I generally order a Chicken Jalpeno from The Indigo. Well priced for what I get, and really nice to eat. But I went on a date last year to a posh Indian, and didn't really enjoy my meal all that much. The Chicken was a single piece of breast, and the sauce whilst tasty, had no heat and quite a, well, if I said linear taste, would that make sense?

**Xav**

I want a curry now....

**Jin**

Man, I need to cook some curry. Haven't had any curry in some weeks.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Is that you 'now want a curry' or literally you want a Curry right this very second?

I had a curry slice thingy for my lunch which was quite nice.

**focusedfire**

whatwhat wrote:Last month when I was in the US I went into a certain fast food chain in which they had mild sauce, hot sauce, and fire sauce. The fire sauce, supposedly the hottest, which my American friend refused to try, was weak as hell. That kind of makes me think they're not a society brought up on spicy food, curry for example. I may be wrong however.

Wrong country, you should have visite Texas if you like spicy.

**Frazzled**

Texas below Dallas. Dallas is milktoast land

Louisiana (southern parts mostly) or southern Kal-if-orn-i-a (Inland Empire and down south yee ha).
Florida has some hot food I'd bet as well.

In fact anywhere south in those states can seat ya with good spicy food. Taco Bell ain't gonna do it.

**Xav**

Ive been crazy for a curry since i read this thread, but being incredibly lazy im not going to cook one.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

Then get a carry out fool!

Right now, I just fancy a pile of Poppadums and Lime Pickle....yums!

**whatwhat**

Frazzled wrote:Texas below Dallas. Dallas is milktoast land
Louisiana (southern parts mostly) or southern Kal-if-orn-i-a (Inland Empire and down south yee ha).
Florida has some hot food I'd bet as well.

In fact anywhere south in those states can seat ya with good spicy food. Taco Bell ain't gonna do it.

well ur on the money there, but thing is it wasnt the only example, and it was in the southern states. Im thinking its probably a spectator sees more of the game sorta thing cause everything you had labelled spicy was not in the slightest, that said I do eat a lot of spicy food so am attuned to it but I can get stuff here which is a lot hotter than your stuff.

btw not to have a go at americans cause i seriously do love ur country, but the next time I hear one of you remarking that british food is awfull i'll be laughing hard. everything except the twenty dollar meal resteraunts tasted like plastic. in my opinion.

**Frazzled**

Now I know there are types of curry that will bash your brains in, but you have to go to a whole in the wall Mexican place, Thai place, or genuine Cajun place for some heat. "Southern food" is not traditionally hot.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

No no no. IT's the *French* that slag off British Cuisine. The Americans tend to eat everything and anything :p

**Frazzled**

btw not to have a go at americans cause i seriously do love ur country, but the next time I hear one of you remarking that british food is awfull i'll be laughing hard. everything except the twenty dollar meal resteraunts tasted like plastic. in my opinion.

Where did you go dude? We don't have the best food in the world but we have lots of different types.

**whatwhat**

Frazzled wrote:Now I know there are types of curry that will bash your brains in, but you have to go to a whole in the wall Mexican place, Thai place, or genuine Cajun place for some heat. "Southern food" is not traditionally hot.

done one better, been to mexico. And your right. I imagine somewhere closer like texas would have been more to my liking. (went to tampa)

Where did you go dude? We don't have the best food in the world but we have lots of different types.

Loads of places. Two weeks uncatered hotel, had to eat out if i wanted to eat.

**Frazzled**

Tampa heh...don't know whats there. Oh well.

**Evil Eli**

When you a ever in a new city talk to the locals and ask them where the best places to eat are. If any of you jokers are ever in Atlanta let me know I can give you my Top Ten.

**JohnHwangDD**

Atlanta? I was there for a couple nights, and I liked Rays the City. Good seafood always makes me happy.

**Chrysaor686**

Plenty of Americans eat Curry. I prefer Thai Curry to Indian Curry myself, because I think that it has more of a flavor to it.

As for spicy food, I have something to say about that. We Americans manufacture a Hot Sauce that is actually capable of causing Cardiac Arrest (Meaning to say that it has before). So much for having nothing that's spicy.

Of course, being a tourist (or visiting for whatever reason), you're going to ask the opinion of locals on what's good to eat. Americans aren't generally raised on too much spicy food, so anything that a majority of people think is spicy won't be to a trained tongue. Most Americans prefer an actual flavor to their spices, and not an out-and-out "Hot" (Which really doesn't allow you to savor the flavor of food anyway). If you've lived here a while, though, you'll know where to look.

Here's a tip: stay as far away from fast food as you possibly can. It's cheap for a reason. We Americans are willing to give up quality for speed. You really need to go to a non-franchised, family-owned restaraunt that's not overly expensive to really experience how good All-American food can be (Even if that phrase is pretty much an oxymoron). And there's just about every other option available here, even though none of it is truly authentic (We like to put our own spin on things, and if it can be fried, well, it probably will).

And British food isn't awful. I'm just not all that partial to sheep's bladder sausage, thank you very much.

I know it's cliche, I just couldn't resist.

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

I assume you mean Haggis? It's not a Sausage...it's a Pudding, so nyeh!

So how popular is Curry in the States? In Britain, our national dish is now Chicken Tikka Masala (which evidence suggests was invented in Glasgow, making it like Vindaloo, a non-authentic Curry)

**JohnHwangDD**

whatwhat wrote:btw not to have a go at americans cause i seriously do love ur country, but the next time I hear one of you remarking that british food is awfull i'll be laughing hard.

everything except the twenty dollar meal resteraunts tasted like plastic. in my opinion.

If, by "British food", we mean "anything except prime rib", British food is utterly, totally unremarkable:
- Full English Breakfast? Fine, but everybody does a good breakfast, and Chinese Cantonese or Shanghainese dim sum is still tops.
- Desserts? Not bad, but the German confectioners easily have you beat.
- Fish & Chips? Emblematic, but c'mon - deep fried fish? Japanese Tempura is far better.

And then there's Ireland, which moves from the fryer to a pot of water for Corn Beef & Cabbage. :S

Seriously, you folks can't cook to save your lives.

As for American, there are a couple things that we do better than anyone else:
- Chicago deep dish pizza pies
- sweet Carolinas BBQ*
- Cajun food, like Jambalaya or rich Crayfish Etouffee'
- combination sushi rolls, like Dragon Roll

FWIW, I'm not big on California / "fusion" food, seems a bit contrived.

*: (though you'll hear howls about how Texas / Louisiana / St. Lous are better, ignore them, they don't know good BBQ).

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

So you've never heard of Roasts?

Never heard of Yorkshire Puddings? Mince and Tatties?

Fish and Chips.....Cod in *Beer* Batter is win! Better than the Japanese equivalent I'm afraid!

**Frazzled**

JohnHwangDD wrote:
whatwhat wrote:btw not to have a go at americans cause i seriously do love ur country, but the next time I hear one of you remarking that british food is awfull i'll be laughing hard.

everything except the twenty dollar meal resteraunts tasted like plastic. in my opinion.

If, by "British food", we mean "anything except prime rib", British food is utterly, totally unremarkable:
- Full English Breakfast? Fine, but everybody does a good breakfast, and Chinese Cantonese or Shanghainese dim sum is still tops.
- Desserts? Not bad, but the German confectioners easily have you beat.
- Fish & Chips? Emblematic, but c'mon - deep fried fish? Japanese Tempura is far better.

And then there's Ireland, which moves from the fryer to a pot of water for Corn Beef & Cabbage. :S

Seriously, you folks can't cook to save your lives.

As for American, there are a couple things that we do better than anyone else:
- Chicago deep dish pizza pies
- sweet Carolinas BBQ*
- Cajun food, like Jambalaya or rich Crayfish Etouffee'
- combination sushi rolls, like Dragon Roll

FWIW, I'm not big on California / "fusion" food, seems a bit contrived.

*: (though you'll hear howls about how Texas / Louisiana / St. Lous are better, ignore them, they don't know good BBQ).

You're hallucinating again JohnHH, must be the boudin you forgot to mention, but clearly Texas/Louisiana barbeque is better (Tennessee pwons all though, or at least the one place we always stopped at going to Shiloh).

I forgot if you're looking for heat the greatness that is Southwestern to Western flavored Chili. Texas chili, when seasoned properly, can burn through steel, but I've heard New Mexico style chili could burn the Sun.

**Ozymandias**

I'll take a good American steak over a roast any day.

I enjoy British food, it's good stick to your ribs type food. But it is NOT high cuisine. Come on out to California, so much fresh food and beautiful women you'll never want to leave.

As for curries, unfortunately we only have two Indian restaurants in my small town and only one of them is ok. I do miss good Indian food (one of the best things about my trip to England/Scotland) and prefer my curry to be medium to hot but not so much that it overpowers the actual flavor of the food.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

**JohnHwangDD**

@MDG: Yes, we all know how you people are famous for "rosbif" - it's the only thing you people cook well. I acknowledged prime rib above, which necessarily includes Yorkshire Pudding.

Yes, I've had cod and haddock fried in beer batter. It's excellent for British food, but rather mediocre when you compare across the world.
____

@Frazz: OK, I forgot to note that Texas does make the best Chili, because "best tasting" isn't synonymous with "hottest". Thinking about etouffee and sweet honey BBQ, the chili somehow slipped my mind. My apologies for the omission.

But as a native son of Virginia, I stand by our neighbors in the carolinas for BBQ. Without that bit of honey for sweetness, you don't have the necessary flavor contrast against the smoke and sour.
____

@Ozy: Food-wise, what are you on about over here? I like the variety and authentic Chinese / Thai / Mexican food, but I assume you have something more specific in mind?

**Chrysaor686**

Actually, correct me if I'm wrong, but I was referring to Spotted Dick.

We have "Fish and Chips" everywhere around here. We just don't call it that. Tends to confuse us Americans, I guess.

Wow, I was about to go off on a huge rant about DD's compliment towards sweet Carolina's BBQ, until I noted the disclaimer.

Even so, have you ever BEEN to the U.S. Midwest during a Barbecue Cookoff? There are people who devote their entire lives to get barbecued meat to taste just right. It gets a little ridiculous honestly, but as for barbecue, absolutely nothing can top the midwest (I should know. Living there makes it an automatic staple in your diet). You just haven't looked hard enough here yet (Might've had a passing taste or two. I've been living on this stuff my whole life).

As for the popularity of curry in the U.S. - It's not. At all. For the most part, it's either eaten by people who grew up on the stuff, or it's just some sad little part of a neo-hippy American fad. It's a shame, though. Most Americans don't know what they're missing.

**Xav**

Your saying Italy doesnt make better pizza then america? Il get mario on you?