21.11.08: Sheesh Mahal takeaway

They decided to have a Friday night in around the telly with a curry. He contacted the Sheesh Mahal hotline and half an hour later a colourful plate was made. They proceeded to dig into a plate of chicken tikka masala, lamb rezalla, chana bhajee with pilau rice and a spinach, beetroot salad. Geeta's chutneys aided and abetted.

SHE SAYS: All good in the neighborhood with the smoky chickpeas rating highest on my list. I do think they make some dishes too sweet, and I'm afraid this extends to the CTM. Lamb rezalla calmed it all down with deep tomatoey savouriness, and I probably spooned a little too much tangy chtuney for my own good.

HE SAYS: There is nothing nicer then a curry on a Friday night. Rich, satisfying and spicy, I have nothing bad to say about our local Indian emporium. The lamb rezalla is always a treat with large chunks of meat smothered and covered by a fragrant array of onions and spices, mmmm.

PS: One of Our two readers has reminded Us we could and should make our own channa masala, and her channa recipe does look mighty simple and good. This is the same lady who magicked up the saag paneer recipe we luv, so you know it'll be good.

19.09.08: Sheesh Mahal takeaway

A proper celebration of the N+D reunion was in order, so We phoned up the Sheesh for some chicken tikka masala (as usual), channa bhaji (ditto), and muttar paneer (hey, that's new), plus some pilau rice. On the way back from picking up the feast, we stopped at M&S for some juice and poppadoms. She gave a nod to the need for something healthy by slicing some radishes and making a little bed of salad greens for all the saucy bits to recline upon.

HE SAYS: The Sheesh didn't disappoint, my regular CTM was nice and creamy, the chickpeas were velvety and satisfying, but I think I would've preferred a lamb dish instead of the muttar paneer, which was only okay, as I agree with Her that is was a little too shweet and lacking in the taste dept. Salad was a refreshing and crunchy distraction and a nice touch to help stave off any chance of delhi belly.

SHE SAYS: The new pea-populated paneer dish had the same issues the Sheesh's saag paneer has: too sweet, and even more bland. Still, the mild sweetness was not an entirely unwelcome contrast to the smoky channa and spiky flavours of the chicken tikka masala. V. plain crunchy salad and plain crunchy poppas balanced all the tender textures of this big plate of cosy indulgence.

09.08.08: Sheesh takeaway and salad

A Saturday nite spent hiding from the ridiculous wind and rain rattling the windows was made much cosier with a takeaway from the Sheesh Mahal: channa bhaji (chickpeas), prawn jalfrezi, chicken tikka masala, and pilau rice plus last nite's salad remains refreshed with a few leaves more than hit the spot.

SHE SAYS: Aaaah...methinks chickpeas are the perfect food, esp when bathed so richly in a smoky curry sauce! From my small scoop of the chicken tikka masala I gained half a star anise which I ended up sucking on like a lollipop at intervals throughout the meal - so mildy licorice-like and refreshing. The prawns in the jalfrezi were a bit briny, but I appreciated the full-on chili kick of the dish. Spearing salad in with the creamy offerings made it all feel unusually well-balanced and nourishing.

HE SAYS: I was very much in the mood for a tasty, hot curry and was not disappointed. Ordered just the right amount of food which is always a crapshoot. The chicken tikka masala was not too sweet (which is often is in other places), and it was creamy and moderately spiced. The prawn jalfrezi was a little oily but had quite the spicy oomph that I was looking for. The chickpeas were fantastic and I could've had them on their own if I had to choose just one dish to have on my lonesome in a dark room with no friends.