(December 2011)

I used my blog mainly for two things: personal ramblings (which I had as friends only) and reviewing curry houses (all are visible). I have since taken the decision to stop rambling the nonsense to a select few, so comment if you want to make friends, but don't feel you will be missing out from here.

Its Nobanno, in Congleton. Formerly (and I nearly wrote formally, there, which is an indication of wine consumed, which is some but not lots) The Bay of Bengal (and when I say formally, I mean around 1998, when I was 7 and the twins were 5, and I had an orange and yellow dress I was obsessed with, and we used to go and the staff would say how well behaved we were, and such developed tastes we had for curry in children so young).

So yeah, found memories. I thought that BoB had shut down and long since been forgotten by everyone except me, but apparently someone thought to take on the building (a shed by the mere adorned with a spanish style postbox) and its kitchen (and by the look of it, its remaining onion and cucumber salad stock) and recreate the experience of joy i had once had there.

Erm, so. The poppadoms came with 5 things including 2 poury* things (one was basically yoghurt with salt, however, and as mentioned the onions were not great) and then I had ... lamb rogan josh because they didn't do pathia (in fairness, I probably ate rogan josh back in the day). It was actually really nice meat and the sauce was of a pleasant consistency. The rice portions were small but fine, and the naan was average (I might as well subtitle all blogs as such). Dad had a cool mixed meal for about £9 with its own sides and several tastes of different curries eg tikka masala, sag and another one which looked intruiging.

We were served by a waitress who enjoyed waiting on as much as I do but who spilt our drinks a lot less. The place was very quiet, maybe because no one has realised a restaurant has reopened here, or maybe because everyone prefers Shaad. (or IH, naturally - but whos going to go all the way to alsager).

To be honest, a disappointment from its glory days (in fairness as a different place), but nothing lasts forever (particularly not my ability to pull off all citrus colours at the same time).

*UNINTENTIONAL PUN.

THEYRE CLOSING DOWN BON O PHOOL AND TURNING IT INTO FLATS :(
(Another of the curryhouses of my early days. This was the one mum set a menu on fire in.)

Its Indian Ocean, in Bournemouth, henceforth IOB.
Not to be confused with IO in Nantwich, IH's sister restaurant and reviewed somewhere back in the dim and distant archives.

According to a proudly displayed image, Nick Clegg once evidently dined in this establishment. It was a Tuesday night and very crowded by 7pm so it must be a popular haunt as far as Bournemouth curryhouses go. Well, I enjoyed it.

Notably after my main a waiter came to wipe up the table for me when serving me with the dessert menu and a hot towel. I liked this attention to detail (anyone who has ever seen me eat knows this was worthwhile doing and potentially gross).

The naan was unfortunately overdone. The rice was average. The pathia was awarded 1 chilli in their heat rating, which is the sort of heat rating I am most on board with (even though the IH one is higher). It was sourer than average and tasty. It came garnished with lettuce, however. Really? You're scrimping on coriander? James would testify, though, that I wolfed it down, so they must have done something right.

Be wary - they charged us for each poppadom (80p a go, fairly standard rate to be fair) and (for the first time ever I've seen) the chutney and yogurt! £1.60 ! What a joke! They had a nice red sauce along with the usuals. The oniony thing contained carrot, unusually, but went down well.

Not that I particularly could eat a pudding but the choices weren't very inspiring. Still, good overall and much needed after a 6 mile coastal walk. Ah, the seaside. James gave it 7/10; I would lean more towards 6, but would go again.


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Happy new year, everyone, happy birthday many_from_one, happy easter, happy days. This blog comes after attempting to learn topology all day, but I gave up at groups acting on spaces. I like groups, don't get me wrong, but for one thing the only space that ever happens to me is R3 and even my favourite group, D2n, has not (for any n) ever decided to come along and act on me as a subspace of the R3 which I inhabit.

I hate revision. After a week of pointedly not working, yesterday, James' dad came up to us and said "why on earth are you working, it's the weekend?" A sentiment I can get on board with.

It's The Mughal, in Cheadle (the staffs cheadle). Don't go to Cheadle if you can avoid it, its a dead town.

Anyway, the guy was very attentive and helpful and the naan was excellent (and you know I don't say that often). The atmosphere was pleasant and the place was obv popular. The UV lights were annoying. The music was chart hits, which is unusual.

I had a "Persian Pathia" which was coconut and mango based according to the menu - unusual. It was mild but actually really tasty. It was best amongst itself, the bhuna which Ed had and the masala that the others (Kat, Chris, Tom) had. Rice was average but good portion size. They had the whole calling lamb "meat" thing so I had chicken.

We got a chocolate and a lolly at the end! Yes. Really cheap as well, £8.50 each. So if forced to be in Cheadle, why not?

It's Thespians, in Stratford. I went with my parents the week before Budapest when they came down to collect all my possessions.

Better than IE foodwise, we thought, and therefore must be crowned best curry house in Warwickshire.

This is a bit of a crap revoo as too much has happened for me to recall everything.

They had slanty glasses which we had water out of which looked like a health hazard.

The staff member was chatty and thought dad was foreign because of his inability to speak coherent English.

It was fair quiet but this was cos it was 5pm on a Tuesday, I reckons.

Want a curry in Stratford, go here, basically.