Phaalmouth

BlueSkyNick

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Is this the name of a scenic estuary in India, popular for boating ?

Maybe, but also its what I witnessed in a curry house last night.

I was corporately entertained to lunch in the City with Sir Clive Woodward and Eddie Jones (03 Aussie coach and now on the Springboks staff) as the guests. Very enlightening discussion chaired by Jill Douglas of BBC rugby fame - lovely girl.

Then off to a crappy little pub to watch crappy football, enough said about that, followed by a few more pints to drown our sorrows. Eventually got hungry and pished enough to go for a curry down Brick Lane (London's East End for the unaware - not too far from Albert Square).

I was sufficiently sensible to stick to the korma end of the menu. Another chap - from Yorkshire and a regular in Bradford - went for the vindaloo. He did say it was very good, although showed a few beads of sweat on the brow. The conversation moved on to the extremely hot stuff - Phaal - and without further ado, a portion was ordered. It took about half an hour to appear, so the chef must have made it from scratch.

The vindaloo eater had a fork full, as did two others, and a fourth just the tip of a teaspoon. Once again, I declined.

Within 30 seconds their faces were all in distress. The yorkshireman reckoned it was ridiculously hot (and the vindaloo wasnt?), one chap said his eyes were stinging so much it felt like they were bleeding, and the other two literally were speechless. As they made a grab for the cold water bottles, the waiter came running back out with four glasses of milk. Apparently this is much more effective than water.

I just sat there in a semi-drunken stupor thinking...... WHY? !! Even the inhabitants of deepest, darkest Asia can't find that appetising, can they?
 
When the wax in your ears melts, you know you've just had a Phaal.
 
Nick

Indian food using good ingredients and cooked well is a gastronomic delight of flavours. Savour and enjoy the delicate spices used.

I think dishes like Vindaloo and Phaal were created by Indian restaurants to their own back on the '12 pints of larger on a Friday night and I'm going to give you grief coolie!' type customer that they so often get, especially in areas like Brick lane and Bradford.
 
I agree with you regarding the spices and flavours, but too hot makes it untasteable, IMO.

I looked up phaal on WIkipedia before starting this thread - to find out how to spell it! - they explain that tindaloo, ie as hot as phaal, was indeed invented in Bradford.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Strictly speaking, as you were in Brick Lane, Phaalmouth would have to be in Bangladesh.

[/ QUOTE ] Point taken ... pedant.

[ QUOTE ]
Did Clive or Eddy have predictions for tomorrow?

[/ QUOTE ] No but they did for Saturday. THey both said it will be very tight and that either side can win it if... if ... if... etc.
 
At first when I read your subject I thought you were throwing abuse at our lovely port of Falmouth! Glad you weren't.

I have heard Phall (alternative spelling) as being like "vindaloo on steroids". You can purchase a DIY kit from a website with a name like 123curry or similar. I guess Google would find it for you, if you are that keen.
 
Many years ago, whilst a student, visited Swansea for a student hang gliding competition. We were taken to a curry house which had a 'student special'. If you could finish the special, everyone on the table had their food free! That dish caused palpitations in even die hard hot curry fans, and very few ever finished it apparently.
 
For a "challenge" try the chilli bhajis form the Curry Club on the Strand.
A plate of batter-dipped deep fried chillis; some are a spicy entertainment others leave you holding onto the table they are so hot.
It's a bit like a (slightly) less dangerous form of Russian roulette!
 
Once for a larf when the in laws were round for Sunday lunch I strewed green chillis in the french beans when the missus was'nt looking .. took a long time to get forgiveness for that one
 
Good trick, if you find the suspicious little green or red jobs in your curry, is to pop one in your mouth with a grand gesture, swallow it whole, then make a great show of chewing it. "Ah, delicious", you exclaim, "the best chilli pepper, I've ever tasted, not hot at all."

Your erstwhile table companions seek out their own little red and greens, popem in, chew away and within 7.78 seconds are gasping, as their hair smoulders.

"Load of wusses", you respond.
 
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