Curry house
Encyclopedia
A curry house is a typical Indian
restaurant or takeaway which is abound particularly in the UK, Australasia, and Europe. The term is not as widely used in the U.S. and Canada.
, without an unreasonable delay, from order to table. Since all authentic Indian recipes require hours of cooking in individual pots, there was no guarantee that they would even be ordered. So cubed meat, chicken or potatoes, dhal, and some vegetables were lightly curried and chilled, and a large pot of thick curry gravy, a kind of master stock, was brewed to medium-heat strength. To this day, portion by portion, on demand, these ingredients are reheated by pan-frying them with further spices and flavourings. At its simplest, Medium Chicken Curries, benchmarks of middle ground, are still on many menus, though sometimes disguised as Masala
, and require no more than a reheat of some sauce with some chicken. Rice may be pre-cooked, while breads and tandoori items are made to order by a different specialist.
The curry house menu can be very long, with a huge variety of dishes, sometimes numbered, sometimes heat-graded, mild, medium and hot, hotter, hottest, and any dish is available in meat, poultry, prawn, king prawn, and most vegetables, too.
(which includes Bangladeshi, Indian
, Pakistani, Nepalese
and Sri Lankan cuisines). In the United States and Australia “Asian cuisine” usually refers to “East Asian” with its culinary origins in Imperial Chinese cuisine
and now encompassing modern Japanese
, and Korean and “Southeast Asian” cuisine which includes that of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines plus “South Asian'” as well.
, who settled in George Street
London in 1810. He called it the Hindoostanee Coffee House. It closed a year later for lack of business. It was far ahead of its time. Mahomed is also reputed for introducing shampoo and therapeutic massage to the United Kingdom.
Veeraswamy
, at the Piccadilly
end of London's Regent Street
claims to be the oldest surviving curry house in the UK, having opened in 1926 .
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
restaurant or takeaway which is abound particularly in the UK, Australasia, and Europe. The term is not as widely used in the U.S. and Canada.
Background
Outside India, many Indian restaurants operate to a formula which was pioneered in the late 1940s in London. In those days, a way had to be found to deliver a variety of curriesCurry
Curry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Thai or other Southeast Asian cuisines...
, without an unreasonable delay, from order to table. Since all authentic Indian recipes require hours of cooking in individual pots, there was no guarantee that they would even be ordered. So cubed meat, chicken or potatoes, dhal, and some vegetables were lightly curried and chilled, and a large pot of thick curry gravy, a kind of master stock, was brewed to medium-heat strength. To this day, portion by portion, on demand, these ingredients are reheated by pan-frying them with further spices and flavourings. At its simplest, Medium Chicken Curries, benchmarks of middle ground, are still on many menus, though sometimes disguised as Masala
Masala
Masala or massala is a term used in South Asian cuisines to mostly describe a mixture of spices. A masala can either be a combination of dried spices, or a paste made from a mixture of spices and other ingredients—often garlic, ginger, onions and chilli paste...
, and require no more than a reheat of some sauce with some chicken. Rice may be pre-cooked, while breads and tandoori items are made to order by a different specialist.
The curry house menu can be very long, with a huge variety of dishes, sometimes numbered, sometimes heat-graded, mild, medium and hot, hotter, hottest, and any dish is available in meat, poultry, prawn, king prawn, and most vegetables, too.
Terminology
In the United Kingdom, “Asian cuisine” "curry" and "Indian cooking" generally refers to South Asian cuisineSouth Asian cuisine
South Asian cuisine, also known as Desi cuisine, includes the cuisines from the Indian subcontinent. It has roots in South Asia, including practices taken from the Hindu beliefs practiced by the large population found in the region, alongside influences from neighbouring regions and cultures,...
(which includes Bangladeshi, Indian
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
, Pakistani, Nepalese
Nepalese cuisine
Nepalese cuisine refers to the cuisines of Nepal. The cultural and geographic diversity of Nepal provide ample space for a variety of cuisines based on ethnicity, soil and climate. Nevertheless dal-bhat-tarkari is eaten throughout the country. Dal is a soup made of lentils and spices...
and Sri Lankan cuisines). In the United States and Australia “Asian cuisine” usually refers to “East Asian” with its culinary origins in Imperial Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
and now encompassing modern Japanese
Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes throughout Japan. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule...
, and Korean and “Southeast Asian” cuisine which includes that of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines plus “South Asian'” as well.
UK curry restaurant history
The first Indian restaurant in the UK was opened by Sake Dean Mahomed, a captain in the British East India CompanyEast India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, who settled in George Street
George Street
George Street may refer to:People:*George Edmund Street , British architect*George L. Street III , submariner in the United States Navy*George Street , English wicket-keeper...
London in 1810. He called it the Hindoostanee Coffee House. It closed a year later for lack of business. It was far ahead of its time. Mahomed is also reputed for introducing shampoo and therapeutic massage to the United Kingdom.
Veeraswamy
Veeraswamy
Veeraswamy is an Indian restaurant in London, located at 99-101 Regent Street. It was opened in 1926 by Edward Palmer, the great-grandson of an English soldier and an Indian princess, and is the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom...
, at the Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
end of London's Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
claims to be the oldest surviving curry house in the UK, having opened in 1926 .