We both enjoy a good curry and we're constantly amazed by the breadth of styles and dishes which, in the UK at least, are simply called 'curry'. Living in the north-west we are especially spoilt for choice.
It's no surprise that the food of the Indian sub-continent is so interesting and varied: the population of India alone is almost twice the population of the whole of Europe, and when the surrounding countries are included this is an area which is home to a quarter of the world's people. The history is complex and the food has been influenced by centuries of trading, wars, empires and migration.
For years it seemed that every restaurant served an identical menu: a standard list of dishes (Korma, Biryani etc), varied by the choice of meat or vegetables. The food had novelty value but, in reality, the sauces were usually out of a jar and not great quality.
More recently, however, some restaurants have become more innovative, introducing us to interesting regional dishes and prepared with fresh herbs and spice mixes. A couple of weeks ago we were at Koconut Grove in Chester which serves unusual South Indian food including dosas. Lindsey had Egg Khothu Parotta.
Another favourite of ours is Shahib’s in Bowness-on-Windermere which serves Bangladeshi food but adds an interesting vegetarian menu too which includes my personal favourite Bhindi Poriyol - fresh okra and new potatoes cooked in a fragrant sauce.
R K Dining in Preston has its origins in Gujarat, close to the border with Pakistan. A Hindu establishment (RK stands for Radha-Krishna, the Hindu deity), this began as a shop selling Indian sweets. But it soon branched out into 100% vegetarian snacks and curries, offering about a dozen or so of each to take home and warm up for a feast. The Gobi Manchurian is amazing - tasty little balls made just from cabbage and carrot, and I always love the Petish - little balls stuffed with coconut, coriander and spices.
When cooking at home I often use a fresh spice mix from Rafi's Spice Box which originates in Telangana state in central India. Their experts freshly prepare the mixes while you wait in their shop and can fine tune them to your taste. We originally discovered them in York but they have a number of other shops and, fortunately for us, they now have counters inside Booths, our local supermarket. They certainly give my cooking an authentic feel.
So, whether it’s eating in a restaurant, taking prepared food home, or cooking at home from scratch, we are very well catered for with a great choice.