For me, this is curry-eating weather. Who has the best? I’m partial to Just Curry’s lamb curry… plus they give you free tupperware. I’m sure I’m missing out on some stuff I don’t know about, though.
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Meh. I think Thai 99, Downtown Thai, and Monsoon make interchangeable, yet very good, curry. It’s hard to crown one king, although Monsoon certainly loses points for inevitably taking FOREVER. Lime Leaf is ok.
What I make at home is also quite fine, and so much cheaper.
My own is the one I crave, because it’s the best to me. Potatoes, tomatoes, peas, curry paste and whatever else is at hand at the time.
But, for going out to eat, Maharajah on Sunday buffet because I think they’re the only Indian restaurant in town that serves dosa. I would love to be wrong on that.
Milan has my vote for best in-town Indian food.
Also: this post has inspired me to pick up some chana palak from Royal Indian, and it’s pretty goddamn tasty.
Maharajah and Milan are both intermittently brilliant with occasional dashes of mediocrity which scare me away, only to return when the need for curry strikes… a craving akin to a vampire looking for a pulsing carotid artery to suck dry.
Take a look at this class curry song… oh what a rich culture. Curry is now the national dish of England, knocking fish and chips (fries to you lot) into second place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1pXsJp_go
“Me and me Dad and me Mum and me Gran are off to Waterloo.
Me and me Dad and me Mum and me Gran and a bucket of Vindaloo”
Unofficial Soccer World Cup 1998 Song
Panang curry with fresh tofu at Thai 99 on 29 North (as I understand it, the two Thai 99s are owned by same family, but different management for each. 20 North is much better).
That Vindaloo video is hilarious.
Maharajah has unfortunately gone way down hill. It seems like the chef/owner is no longer cooking and instead leaving it up to someone else that just doesn’t have the technique. The dishes are bland and watery now (and the lunch buffet was pretty bad the other day).
Just Curry is excellent, but it’s not much of a sit down restaurant and the curry is Caribbean style and not really Indian style.
I did just try Lemongrass Thai on the corner and it was excellent. I had the Panang curry and it was really good.
I was very pleased by the new Indian restaurant across from forest lakes. Overall though, I don’t like how most of the Indian restaurants in the area “dumb down” the food for American tastes. Frankly, curries are supposed to be spicy. Ordering a curry and asking for it to be mild is like asking for a mild habanero. There are spice mixes that aren’t meant to be as spicy, Masala’s for instance, but removing the chili peppers out of a curry just removes a critical flavor element. (At the very least, if you were cooking for yourself, you should use another chili with similar flavor and less heat).
I could probably rant for a long time on our wanna-be culture (i.e. people that own SUVs which have never seen a gravel road, let alone a forest service road). The truth is most people want to be the kind of person that takes their SUV off road and eats spicy food, but when it comes down to it, most people end up ordering a “mild” vindaloo and commuting to work in their Lexus SUV. That’s apparently about as much adventure as some people can handle…
Incidently, Curry Leaf works great as a house plant, and turmeric grows well in Central Virginia (but you may need to dig up the tuber in fall). Both of these spices are also SO MUCH better fresh. In fact, just about all Gingers work very well as either houseplants or in the garden. With all the new information about imported Gingers and other spices treated with dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, it maybe work it to grow some of this stuff yourself.
Also, here’s a great thing to try at home on the Grill. Cut boneless chicken breast into cubes, mix in a bowl with Vindaloo Paste (hot), juice from a fresh lemon, and a bit of Turmeric powder (for color). Marinate, skewer and grill. You won’t be disappointed.
i don’t think i’ve had bad curry anywhere in this town, though i’ve only eaten at just curry, lemongrass, the fontaine thai 99, and downtown thai.
i absolutely adore just curry’s plantains. i could eat those all damn day…
Maruthi served delicious dosa and the buffet usually had at least three great selections. Of course, the crap location and the actually authentic Indian food gave the restaurant a lifespan of one year. Now it’s a Chinese place serving ketchup fried rice. Bad trade.