Adventures in Katlama Land
At around midday today, I popped out of my accountancy college at Waterloo to grab lunch only to be hit with a gale force wind and torrential, instant-soaking rain. With weather conditions so grey and grim, it was not shaping up to be a good day for trekking into East London in search for the 'precious' katlama, as discovered by Harry.
However, by 4 o'clock, the skies had cleared and I quickly made my way to Aldgate East in search of Tayyabs. After a bit of hunting and asking around I found the restaurant tucked away in a back street. Once there, I partook in a couple of vegetable samosas, some delicious kebabs, a coke, and a katlama, all for a mere £6.00. It's unbeatable value. And the katlama? It was good, but it wasn't quite up to scratch (the benchmark is high!). Don't get me wrong, I finished it off, thank you very much indeed, but the thin fried pastry that encases the mince meat wasn't quite crispy enough. Nevertheless, I will definitely be back, and next time I'll make sure my bags isn't so stuffed to the brim that I can't smuggle a few katlamas home. It's important to note that even the Birmingham spec katlamas don't always deliver the goods when cooked up and served in restaurants, but when they are grilled at home you almost always get a nice crispy outer layer...delicious. Harry, it would be good to know how some of your katlama's turned out when heated up at home (?).
If you do go to Tayyabs, pay no mind to the menu for the katlama is notable by its absence. Indeed, when I enquired the waiter looked at me with a quizzical 'Watcha talking about, Willis?' look, but he soon realised they were holding what I wanted. Also, when it came, folks on the adjacent table immediately quizzed me about this rarely-seen-in-the-south delicacy ... the katlama force is strong.
Today, I am a contented man.
1 comments:
Firstly, I would like to congratulate Riz on what sounds like and epic and triumphant adventure. Alas if only Sir Thomas Cook was still around you could have received the credit which you so richly deserve. You are truly a man of stature. I am in agreement with your assessment, if only fried for maybe 60 seconds longer the resulting Katlama would have been more complete and able to compete with the mid-range Katlamas abundantly available in the culinary epicentre of the UK, Birmingham also know as Katlama Capital.
So now as I sit at my humdrum workstation at my mediocre job my mind can't help but wonder if there could be other Katlama's in London so that I can compare Tayabs offering and set a benchmark for the London Katlama's. Something that has not yet been achieved! If I have come this far in my quest It would be rude not to wouldn't it?
Tonight I will sample the first of my home grilled Katlama's, feedback to come! I personally prefer the red sour sauce than the white minty concoction. I am yet to dine in at Tayabs, so let me put this out there for anybody interested in a monthly Katlama Klub for like minded people. Comments Welcome!
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