It’s just occurred to me that I had my first Indian meal 50 years ago this year.
Since then I have lost count of the number of curries consumed and the various restaurants visited here in Northampton and other towns and cities throughout the UK.
The intervening half century has seen significant changes in the type of food served and the décor of Indian restaurants with today’s chefs adding a healthy twist to the standard curry house menu of old.
Of course, some old favourites still survive by popular demand of stick-in-the-mud diners, but the emphasis is now on a healthier style of cookin
It’s just occurred to me that I had my first Indian meal 50 years ago this year.
Since then I have lost count of the number of curries consumed and the various restaurants visited here in Northampton and other towns and cities throughout the UK.
The intervening half century has seen significant changes in the type of food served and the décor of Indian restaurants with today’s chefs adding a healthy twist to the standard curry house menu of old.
Of course, some old favourites still survive by popular demand of stick-in-the-mud diners, but the emphasis is now on a healthier style of cooking using a wide range of ingredients and clever use of herbs and spices to flavour and enhance the food.
This was evident on a recent visit to Imli Lounge in Kingsley Park Terrace, Northampton where Saf Choudhury is continuing the traditions and standards established by his late father, Ali Nowaz Choudhury who opened the restaurant some 18 years ago.
Saf is considering ways to honour his father’s memory and is contemplating opening another restaurant in a different part of the town.
That Imli Lounge continues to thrive and flourish is tribute to Ali, and now Saf, as unlike other restaurants in the town centre, it does not attract passing trade. This means that diners make a deliberate choice to visit the restaurant rather than on a whim as they pass by.
The Imli’s reputation for superb food, good service coupled with the modern décor and pleasant ambience keeps people coming back time and again.
Tradition demands poppadoms and chutneys to aid the search through the menu with two of them – mint and mango and their famous ‘red sauce’ that has ground mint leaves, ground chillis and the chef’s special ingredient that only he and Saf are a party to, is particularly memorable.
There are many tempting main course options on the menu which includes exotic meats such as venison furthermore Imli house specialities, classic dishes, thali dishes and tawa specials section. After some deliberation we settled on two choices from the Tawa Specials – Mass Tawa (salmon fillets cooked in a combination of herbs and spices) and Bengal Mixed Tawa (chicken, lamb and king prawns).
The Tawa Specials feature crushed mustard seeds, ginger, bay leaves, cardamom pods and fresh coriander. As accompaniments, we also selected pilau rice, sag aloo (fresh spinach and potatoes) and Brinjal Bhajee (aubergine in a medium sauce).
As our meals arrived at the table, my friend Anita was particularly taken with the spectacular fished-shaped dish the Mass Tawa was served in. I suspect a search followed the next day to buy one.
We didn’t, however, let this detract from the important job at hand of savouring the food. Tawa style allows the herbs and spices to dominate the dishes with the heat from the chillis creating the kick.
The salmon was moist and flavoursome while the chicken and lamb were tender and literally melted in the mouth. Both dishes provided a comfortable after glow.
Imli Lounge has a popular Banquet Night every Wednesday (£10.95 per person) which gives diners the opportunity to try new dishes at great value and a Sunday Buffet (£8.95pp) from noon to 5pm where diners can EAT AS MUCH AS THEY LIKE on a help yourself basis. The restaurant is a popular choice for some 100 people every Christmas Day as well as attracting numerous party bookings in the run up to the festive season each year and will be releasing their festive menu very soon.
The range of authentic dishes created with the best quality ingredients together with the comfortable surroundings and welcoming atmosphere continues to make Imli Lounge a memorable experience for regular and new diners alike.