Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad

Bradford - Little India!! Thats where I had my first curry (or at least my first non Vesta curry - remember those - Yuk!) Was at the Uni 82-85 - were you there?

Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad

Thats very true - they have huge temporary / economic migration to the cities from the rural areas, which is providing cheap labor, along with some pretty big headaches...but even in the big cities there is still a lot of poverty by western standards

Even in the rural areas you can get decent grub if you know what to look for (or more accurately, if the person you're travelling knows what to look for!) - you sometimes just have to get rid of the 'norms' you've been brought up with. Some of the grottiest little noodle shops serve up great noodle soups (best not to ask what the broht is made from), but there is a much heavier starch and veg content and much lower protein than we (or at least I) would be used to.

But one of the most memorable meals was on a trip to Mongolia - We had a great meal in a tent on the grasslands - a whole lamb had been spit barbecued and presented on a huge platter, complete with head, and with all sorts of somewhat questionable titbits round it. The people we were with looked poor as anything, and I spent the whole meal feeling guilty that they'd probably slaughtered the family's only lamb for our benefit. Or at least I did till the stuff that we were toasting with every 5 minutes (tasted like turps) kicked in, and then I really hadn't a care in the world! Turned out they had a flock of almost 100 sheep and they were (by local standards) very well off!

Never ceases to amaze me that just about wherever you go, the people with the least to "give" are often the most generous and hospitable with what they have.

Originally Posted by NC Penguin

My best friend is British Indian and I've had Indian home cooking many times (not just her Mum's but her sister's, her cousin's, her aunty in NY of all places and other members of her family). Indian home cooking is bears little resemblence to any Indian restaurant food, both in the UK or the US.




NC Penguin

Originally Posted by woodsey

Olive Garden I am speechless, I would rather starve..

Originally Posted by AlisonPA

There's a really great Spanish restaurant in Baltimore (Tio Pepe) - downstairs and made into lots of little rooms like a wine cellar. The food is very authentic Spanish and yummy and not overly massive portions. Wine list is wonderful.

Originally Posted by ironporer

I have always wondered why there are so few Spanish food/Tapa joints here in the States. Spanish food (like Italian) is so vastly varied from region to region that it offers something for everyone. The best Spanish food I've had in a resturant was in an "Italian" resturant on The Hill in St Louis (Guidos Pizza) owned by a Spanish couple, who made theeir bread and butter selling pizza- but also had a decent Spanish menu which catered to the Spanish students at STL university. Best Bacalao a la Vizcaina (Codfish in a tomato sauce) I've ever had. Chicago's Cafe Iberico on LaSalle was also excellent.

Maybe some day Cathy and I will launch "Catherine's of Aragon"...trading the heat of a kitchen for that of the foundry.

Originally Posted by AlisonPA

That is a really excellent name for a restaurant!

Originally Posted by tomelina

Sorry, I beg to differ. It must depend what part of India you are from. My parents rented rooms from Indians when they first moved to Birmingham from Belfast. One of the Indian ladies of the house taught my Mom how to cook curry before it was really 'in', in the late 60's. It is the same as served in Indian restaurants served in UK curry houses, excluding 'Balti' which is actually a dish invented by an Indian ex-pat restaurant owner in Birmingham.

Originally Posted by ironporer

I have always wondered why there are so few Spanish food/Tapa joints here in the States. Spanish food (like Italian) is so vastly varied from region to region that it offers something for everyone. The best Spanish food I've had in a resturant was in an "Italian" resturant on The Hill in St Louis (Guidos Pizza) owned by a Spanish couple, who made theeir bread and butter selling pizza- but also had a decent Spanish menu which catered to the Spanish students at STL university. Best Bacalao a la Vizcaina (Codfish in a tomato sauce) I've ever had. Chicago's Cafe Iberico on LaSalle was also excellent.

Maybe some day Cathy and I will launch "Catherine's of Aragon"...trading the heat of a kitchen for that of the foundry.

Originally Posted by clydegirl

Just out of interest where is "The Hill in St Louis" .Are there any good indian restaurants there?

Originally Posted by clydegirl

Just out of interest where is "The Hill in St Louis" .Are there any good indian restaurants there?

Originally Posted by NC Penguin

I Googled for info and it seems the Hill is a neighborhood in St. Louis with a high concentration of Italian restaurants. A Little Italy of sorts, perhaps.

See-
http://www.macrosign.com/rguide/ra4stl.htm#thehill

I would recommend going to www.chowhound.com and looking at the forum that covers St. Louis for Indian restaurants. That's where you'll find diner reviews.




NC Penguin

Originally Posted by Eskimo

I was at Huddersfield 86 to 89 - my first ever curry was in the Kashmir by the Uni - no cutlery 2 quid a pop open 10 til 4 am- was a loyal patron for 15 years - its still only 3 quid - best I've ever eaten

Where you from ?

Originally Posted by NC Penguin

I Googled for info and it seems the Hill is a neighborhood in St. Louis with a high concentration of Italian restaurants. A Little Italy of sorts, perhaps.

See-
http://www.macrosign.com/rguide/ra4stl.htm#thehill

I would recommend going to www.chowhound.com and looking at the forum that covers St. Louis for Indian restaurants. That's where you'll find diner reviews.




NC Penguin

Originally Posted by Yorkieabroad

Ha - used to go to the Kashmir a lot - standard saturday night out - Shearbridge--> Pickwicks--> Kashmir....brings back memories....

(Ps - from NYorks originally - family are still in Guisborough)