Petersfield Curry Club

Paradise Balti - 8th February

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:19:00 +0000

Due to work commitments, it's been quite a while since I last went to a Curry Club meeting at Paradise Balti. It's changed, looks brighter and more modern. The new decor wasn't the only good thing - the cooking was really well done, with distinct flavours and a choice of mouth-watering dishes.

Sometimes we find that our venue tries to overdo the variety, with the effect that many dishes are similar to each other, and people can miss out on the one they really want to try. Instead, after papadums and a mixed starter, our hosts offered us five main dishes: a chicken tikka masala, chicken tikka jalfrezi, meat vindaloo, lamb tikka balti and a prawn korai. These were accompanied by cheese and peshwari naans, pilau rice, sag paneer, gobi tomato and Bangladeshi dhal. Everything tasted good - even the CTM, which I'd normally avoid on grounds of excessive mildness, in fact had some heat and was very pleasant.

This was a great evening, thoroughly enjoyed by us all. The team at Paradise made us welcome, served really tasty food, and moved themselves up the list for a return visit sooner rather than later. I was actually surprised by how good the food was, compared with a previous visit a couple of years ago. Well done.

We agreed the schedule for the next three months, subject to booking and confirmation:

Date	Venue
14 March	Dhanmondi, Whitehill
11 April	Malabon, Petersfield
09 May	Bay Leaf, Grayshott

Paradise Balti House: 01730 265162/262748

February meeting - Paradise Balti, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:24:00 +0000

The table's booked, and the Paradise Balti looks forward to welcoming us on Wednesday 8th February. Dinner will be at 20:30, and aperitifs will be taken as usual at the Red Lion from about 19:30. Paradise has always been one of the mainstays of the curry club, so it's quite a surprise to me that we last visited in April. For a change, the second Wednesday of this February is as early as it possibly can be, and so our meeting won't clash with or be too near to Valentine's Day. Gentlemen, you hadn't forgotten all about it, had you? Instead, we can concentrate on other affairs, such as beer, curry, and the opening weekend of this year's RBS Six Nations.

Please confirm by e-mail or through the feedback page of the web site, to less us know whether or not you expect to make it.

By the way, if you hadn't already spotted my horrid mistake in the January send-out, the March meeting will be on Wed 14th at Dhanmondi, not Wed 7th.

Looking forward to a convivial meeting as usual, see you on Wednesday 8th.

Madhuban - January 2012

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:27:00 +0000

We enjoyed a convivial meeting on 11th January, even though the arrangements were slightly disturbed by the fact that the Bluebell Inn was closed. A quick series of texts and phone calls let all our regulars know that we'd start at the Spreadeagle instead. On a slightly chilly and damp night, this was a very pleasant place to take our aperitifs.

Dinner was delayed a few minutes by the need to ferry those without cars up to the resturant, but we had a warm welcome from the staff at the Madhuban. They selected a really interesting menu for our meal. After papadums and a very good mixed starter, the main courses included Jungli Mas (lamb with bay leaves and red chillis), Korma Murchwangan (mild-to-medium chicken in a red sauce), Madhuban's special lamb, served in a balti, and a delicious mixed vegetable curry. Pilau rice and naan breads accompanied. Everyone was delighted with the range of great flavours and the sheer quality of the food. Nothing was excessively chilli-hot, so everyone could taste every dish. It's worth a mention that the full menu (pdf download here) offers a whole range of tempting delights. I'm plotting a return trip to try the Naga chilli stir fry.

The Madhuban does everything to make your visit a great experience. This was a fine way to spend a winter evening, and we'll visit again sooner rather than later.

Web: www.madhubanrestaurant.co.uk

Table booked for Wed 11th January - Madhuban, Liss

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Happy New Year 2012 to all our members and friends! The table for the first meeting of the year is booked, at Madhuban, Liss on Wednesday 11th January at 20:30. Aperitifs will be at the Blue Bell (marked with an 'A' on the map below) from about 19:30. It's only a few minutes' walk to the restaurant.

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The confirmation e-mail has been sent to everyone on the mailing list, but you can also let us know if you're coming or not through the feedback page on our web site.

Madhuban is the outstanding Tandoori restaurant in our area and we look forward to this visit as a great way to start 2012's activities. For your diary, the subsequent meetings are planned to be at Paradise Balti, Petersfield and Dhanmondi, Whitehill, on 8th Feb and 14th March respectively (correcting my earlier error).

Table booked for 14th December: Spice Lounge, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:24:00 +0000

We're booked at Spice Lounge for Wed 14th, dinner at 20:30 as usual. Kulchi Lamb, their delicious slow-cooked leg of lamb, has been ordered. Aperitifs will be at the Red Lion from about 19:30.

Christmas is nearly here and I'd like to remind members that our Amazon shop is open for business. I've made some recommendations on the Indian food page, and there's also a selection of 2012 restaurant and pub guides in our Christmas 2011 section.

The usual e-mail will be sent to members. Space is limited and we need to know whether to order one or two legs of lamb, so please be sure to reply, ideally by Monday night. Looking forward to a great evening next Wednesday!

November meeting - Malabon, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:13:00 +0000

The table is booked! Our venue for Wednesday 9th November is Malabon, Dragon Street, Petersfield - dinner at 20:30. Aperitifs will be a few doors away at the Red Lion from about 19:30.

Malabon is a very popular place, and this will be our third visit in 2011. Please let us know by e-mail or through the feedback page on our web site whether you expect to make it or not (space is a little limited).

Christmas is coming, and I'd like to remind members that Petersfield Curry Club has an Amazon.co.uk online store that allows you to order books, music, kitchen equipment, electronics and many other goods and downloads including Kindle books. The Cobra Good Curry Guide 2012 is now available to pre-order (click here). Each sale brings a little commission that goes into the Curry Club beer kitty. Here's a link to a selection of Christmas present ideas including pub and restaurant guides. Please have a browse and let us know of any other things you'd like to see featured.

National Curry Week

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:24:00 +0000

This week 09-15 October 2011 is the 14th annual National Curry Week. More info here.

Petersfield Curry Club meets every month on the second Wednesday. This month, on 12th Oct, we'll be visiting Gurkha Chautari in Liphook. Please follow this link for meeting details.

October meeting - Gurkha Chautari, Liphook

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:41:00 +0000

The table is booked! Our October meeting will be in Liphook on Wednesday 12th. Aperitifs will be at the Links Hotel, Portsmout Road, from about 19:30 and dinner will be at Gurkha Chautari, Station Road, at 20:30.

As usual, please let us know if you'll be attending either by responding to the e-mail notice sent to members or via the feedback page on our web site.

This was our venue for the March meeting when we had the best turnout of the year so far. So by popular demand, we've added a second visit in 2011. It should be just as good, and to add to that, let's hope that we can celebrate England reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup and drink to their success in the final two matches!

Meetings for Oct-Dec 2011

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:05:00 +0000

We decided at the September meeting that our venues for the rest of 2011 will be (subject to table bookings):

12 October	Gurkha Chautari, Liphook
09 November	Malabon, Petersfield
14 December	Spice Lounge, Petersfield

When the table is booked for each meeting, I'll send out the usual e-mail and request that members confirm as far as possible if they'll be able to make it or not. We had some issues last night because the restaurant had to fit in two more people than the original number booked, at only about 15 minutes' notice.

For early 2012, ideas include the Bay Leaf in Grayshott, and a further visit to Petersfield's new Thai restaurant where we held last night's meeting, Siam.

September meeting - Siam, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Aperitifs at: Red Lion from about 19:30

Dinner at: Siam (Thai restaurant!) at 20:30

The table is booked, but we're being a little more adventurous this month. The venue is Siam, the new Thai restaurant at 16-18 Dragon Street, Petersfield. I haven't tried or even seen it myself yet, but at a guess, it's where Zen was last time I went down Dragon Street. Please let me know by e-mail or through the feedback page on our web site whether you expect to be there or not; in addition, they asked whether (weather??) we'd like a table in the garden, so please say Garden or Inside on your reply.

This should be an interesting change from the regular curry club round of fine Indian and Bangladeshi eateries, so there's the possibility of a sizeable turnout and it would be very helpful to have an idea of numbers well in advance.

August meeting - Malabon - Petersfield - Wed 10th

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:34:00 +0000

The table's booked, and Malabon is looking forward to welcoming us on Wednesday 10th August. Pre-meal refreshments will be at the highly adjacent Red Lion.

In my experience, Malabon serves great Bangladeshi food in an uncluttered dining room, even though you'd struggle to know that from their web site which appears to be down at the moment. If you want to know more, you'll do slightly better with the Petersfield Web Cam site which lists the menu amongst the Indian takeaways.

Please e-mail or use the feedback form on the web site to let us know if you'll be able to attend. Malcolm is the organiser on the evening. Enjoy!

Meeting report - Dhanmondi - 13 July 2011

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Dhanmondi gave us a great welcome and an interesting and varied meal for our July meeting, which made up for a slightly low turnout. Highlights included a very tasty mixed starter, and a fiery garlic chilli chicken dish where chilli and coriander had been ground together before cooking. The murgh massala had really good-sized portions of meat, and we also enjoyed a lamb curry and balti chicken. There was also a saag chicken, and a selection of chick-pea, dhal, rice and naan accompaniments.

As a little refresher afterwards, the kitchen gave us jelabi. This is something I haven't had in years, and needed reminding how it's made: fast deep-fry a swirl of batter, and then dip the result in golden syrup. The portions are then served up with a scoop of ice cream on the side. Only for those with a sweet tooth.

One other Whitehill point to report: The Woodlark (Two for One) still didn't seem to have any of Marstons excellent range of bottled beers, but it did have the Wychwood Brewery's Hobgoblin ale on draft, presumably as a guest beer. This is a very decent pint, which tastes far better on draft than out of a bottle. Almost worth a visit in itself.

We decided that the August meeting (Wednesday 10th) will be at Malabon in Petersfield. A notice will be sent out around the end of July.

July meeting - Dhanmondi, Whitehill

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:32:00 +0000

The table is booked! We'll be going to Dhanmondi in Whitehill on Wednesday 13th July. Aperitifs will be in the Woodlark, the Marston's pub just over the road, from about 19:30. I wonder if they've found room for their wonderful range of bottled beers yet. As usual, dinner is at 20:30.

Please let us know by e-mail or using the feedback form on our web site if you expect to attend (or not).

View Larger Map

June meeting, Madhuban, Liss - Wed 8th

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:08:00 +0000

The table is booked! June's meeting will be at Liss, with aperitifs at the Blue Bell from about 19:30, and then dinner will be at Madhuban at 20:30. Madhuban is a great restaurant; you can see some of the reviews from previous visits by clicking the title text of this message.

This is the one restaurant on our circuit that's deservedly a fixture in the Good Curry Guide, so to give us the best chance of fitting everyone in, please e-mail to let us know if you'll attend or not, or use the feedback form on our website. Malcolm will be the organiser on the evening. Enjoy!

May meeting - Spice Lounge, 11th May

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:40:00 +0000

The table is booked! The May meeting will take place on Wednesday 11th in Petersfield, with aperitifs at the Red Lion from 19:30 and then dinner at 20:30 at the Spice Lounge. The original plan was to go to Foggys for a Thai curry, but the latest information was that the venue was no longer available. As a result, we needed to switch, and Spice Lounge is the choice. Members will be advised by e-mail but please pass the message on by word of mouth (just in case).

Judith will be the organiser on the evening, and to help us with planning, please let me know as soon as possible by e-mail or using the feedback page on our website whether or not you expect to make it. Apologies to anyone who tried and failed to use this link last month - I typed the wrong ending on the address.

Should be a good one - this is now our most visited venue, and a favourite of many members.

May meeting - Spice Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:37:00 +0000

Here's a pre-notice of the May meeting which is due to take place on Wednesday 11th. It was to be a Thai curry at Foggys but my informant tells me that the venue is no longer available. As a result we've switched to Spice Lounge. The e-mail to members will be sent as soon as I know who will be the organiser on the evening.

April - Paradise Balti, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:49:00 +0000

The table is booked! We're back to Paradise Balti (last visited in November) on Wednesday 13th. Aperitifs will be at the Red Lion. Malcolm's your organiser for the evening. Please let me know whether you plan to be there, either by e-mail or by using the website feedback form, so that we have a reasonable idea of numbers expected.

Have a great evening!

March meeting - Gurkha Chautari, Liphook - Wed 9th

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:17:00 +0000

The table is booked! Our March venue is the Gurkha Chautari, Liphook. Aperitifs will be at the Links Hotel, Portsmouth Road, from 19:30. It's only a 5 minute walk or an even shorter drive to the restaurant, in Station Road.

Malcolm will be the organiser on the evening. Members are asked to confirm by e-mail or through the feedback page on our web site. Have a great evening!

February meeting - Liss - Wed 9th - Madhuban

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:21:00 +0000

The table is booked! The next Petersfield Curry Club meeting will be at Madhuban, Liss, on Wednesday 9th February. Aperitifs will be at the Bluebell Inn (it's on the corner of Station Road and Farnham Road, just a few minutes' stroll from the restaurant) from about 19:30. Dinner will be at 20:30.

Madhuban is a tremendous restaurant, a great favourite of the Curry Club, and renowned for its fine cooking and great welcome. So that we can be sure of fitting everyone in, please let us know as soon as possible by e-mail or through the feedback page of the web site if you expect to be there (and indeed, if not). Malcolm will be the organiser on the evening, and I'll make sure he knows the numbers in advance.

Hope you all have very enjoyable evening - Madhuban is excellent, highly recommended and quite rightly so.

February meeting - Liss - Wed 9th - Madhuban

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:25:00 +0000

The next Petersfield Curry Club meeting will be at Madhuban, Liss, on
Wednesday 9th. Table to be booked - will update with further details when
this is done.

Curry could cure the common cold - Daily Telegraph

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:05:00 +0000

You probably knew it from your own experience but the DT article (19th Jan 2011) suggests that fenugreek, a common ingredient of curry, could be a 'winter fix-all elixir'.

Well worth a read, if you're looking for an excuse to go out for a curry soon...

Curry Club January meeting - Malabon, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:10:00 +0000

We wish a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011 to all our members. An Ashes series win in Australia isn't a bad way to kick the year off, and personally, I'm looking forward to the 6 Nations and the Rugby World Cup.

The table is booked! January's meeting will be at the Malabon, Dragon Street, Petersfield, at 20:30 on Wednesday 12th. The Red Lion is the meeting place for aperitifs, from 19:30, or you're welcome to meet us at the restaurant at 20:30 if you prefer to go direct. Malcolm will be the host for the evening.

Whichever you choose, please let us know if you expect to be there (or not), ideally through the feedback form on the web site. If you want to update your e-mail address, please leave a note in there as well.

December - Spice Lounge, Petersfield

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:29:00 +0000

The table is booked! The December meeting will be at Spice Lounge, Petersfield, on Wednesday 8th. The majority have decided to meet for drinks at the Red Lion from 19:30, but of course if others want to meet at the Old Square Brewery, that's no problem. Please though let us know if you're coming to dinner. Dinner will be at 20:30.

We've had some interesting comments about the reasons for lower attendances, but we had quite a good number at the November meeting. This took place at the Paradise Balti House, Lavant Street, and the feedback is that "the meal was excellent and the service was also great." The kitty and the shareout of the drinks bill are the two areas where changes were tried, and seem to have worked well to keep the bill within acceptable levels, and better fitted to individual needs.

We hope the December/pre-Christmas meeting will be well attended, so please let us know by e-mail or using the "I'm coming to the meeting " button on our feedback page.

Mentioning Christmas, you can find a selection of books about Indian food on our Amazon shop page, as well as links to many of the other fantastic present ideas that Amazon can offer. Shopping here can make money for the Curry Club kitty (and we've drunk the proceeds in the past), so it's quite a smart idea to use this as your portal to Amazon shopping.

Here's wishing all readers a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

November - and the future of the Petersfield Curry Club

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:03:00 +0000

The table is booked! Petersfield Curry Club's November meeting will be at Paradise Balti, Lavant Street, on Wednesday 10th. Dinner will be at 20:30. This month, aperitifs will be at the Red Lion from about 19:30, but those want to meet up nearer to the restaurant, at the Old Square Brewery, are most welcome to do so. Please let me know whether you'll be coming and which pub you'll start from.

The December/Christmas meeting will be on Wednesday 8th December at Spice Lounge. Aperitifs that night will be at the Old Square Brewery at 19:30, but of course, anyone wanting to start further away can do so.

I'm afraid that work and distance keep me away from meetings at present. But based on e-mail discussions and attendance at meetings, I feel something of a crisis for the Curry Club. Most months, there have been well under 10 attendees, apart from when no less than 23 members and friends showed up for the free evening at the Red Lion. Typically I get less than a handful of replies to the monthly e-mail. Have people have lost their enthusiasm for a regular get-together?

Any comments or ideas would be welcome - either by e-mail to me or please comment to the posting here.

Petersfield Curry Club October meeting - Dhanmondi - Wed 13th

noreply@blogger.com (johnlholden) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:06:00 +0000

We return to Dhanmondi, Whitehill, for the October meeting, on Wednesday 13th. Malcolm will be the organiser on the evening. Members - please advise if you expect to be there (or if not) so that we can give a good estimate of numbers. This is a favourite, very friendly, good food, and we've had some great evenings there.

Aperitifs will be at The Woodlark, just over the road from the restaurant, from about 19:30. This is a Marston's pub; while I've remarked before that it's a shame that they don't serve Marston's own excellent range of bottled beers, the draught offerings are pretty good. Dinner will be at 20:30.