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Graham Caldwell investigates Eastern Food.
It may be because ofour long, historical associations with India since the days of the Raj or the increase in immigration from the sub-continents, but the British have long been fond ofcurry. This is particularly true North of the border where a swift Vindaloo after a night in the pub is still a ritual for many. It is a shame that such exotic and painstakingly-prepared food should be regarded by so many simply as a way to mop up several pints of heavy, but it only serves to underline the misconceptions most folk have about Indian cuisine. To begin at the most basic— curry is
not a solely Indian creation. The term ‘curry’ or ‘kari’ translates
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simply as ‘sauce’, hence anything cooked in sauce can be legitimately described as curry.
Each region has its own characteristic dishes. In the North are the Kashmiri and Punjabi styles ofcooking. They are the masters at meat dishes using much ghee (clarified butter) and yoghurt, but rice is not popular here.
The South of India is the opposite extreme. It is a largely Hindu area and vegetables and rice are the staple foods. It is also where the hottest Indian food is created with much use ofmustard oil and chillies. It is the home of the Vindaloo Most Indian restaurants in the West are run by East Indians and this is reflected in the food served. It is an area rich in sea and river food and fish is a staple part of the diet. The West of India is also known for its spicy food and for such delicacies as the Bombay Duck. This herring-sized fish is found in abundance in the seas around the city and its name comes from its strange habit of swimming on the surface of the water. When raw, it reputedly smells quite revolting, a trait which disappears when it is cooked.
All these different types of cuisine
are brought together in most Indian
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success. Indian restaurants, by and large, are run and designed to cater to a European clientele. The dishes served are more ornate and expensive than would be eaten by natives. In India most food served is far simpler in nature and content and the type of food we are served is deliberately tailored to our eating habits. Indians do not have the system of starters, main course and sweets which we do and tend to serve a mixture ofdishes rather than one main course. For all its
artificiality in this respect, it would be unwise and rather a shame to categorize curries as simply hot stews served with rice. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh and indeed all of Scotland, have many excellent restaurants serving everything from tongue-blistering Vindaloos to mild and creamy Kormas.
Glasgow is traditionally the popular home of Indian restaurants. Unfortunately Gibson Street is not now the home ofcurry it once was, since the hugely popular Koh-I-Noor fell down and removed to North Street. There are still several high quality Indian and Asian restaurants close to the city centre.
0 Shenaz 53 Berkeley Street, Glasgow (248 4804)
Sat).
12noon—11.30pm, 7 days. (Sun open
evening only).
0 Shlsh Mahal 45 Gibson Street (334 7899) 11.45am—l 1.30pm. 7 days.
0 Koh-l-Noor 235 North Street (204 1444) Noon—midnight (1am Fri and
0 Asha Vegetarian Restaurant 415 Sauchiehall Street. :
o Ashoka Tandoori 108 Elderslie i Street (221 1761).
In Edinburgh. so it is said. Indian Restaurants are more up-market than in Glasgow. Even if the capital is not so obviously a haven for fans of Indian food. there are still some recommended restaurants such as:
o Kalpna Vegetarian Restaurant 2/3 St Patrick's Square (667 9890) 12noon—2pm and 5.30—11pm. (Closed Sun).
0 Gandhi Tandoori 21 Union Place (556 1521) 12noon-2pm and 5pm—12.45am. 7 days.
0 Lancers Brasserie 5 Hamilton Place (332 3444) l2noon—2.3()pm and ; 5.30—11.3()pm. 7 days.
0 Shamiana 14a Brougham Street (229 5578) 12noon—2.30pm and : 6—11.30pm. (Sun 0an evening i only). 0 Ba] 89/91a Henderson Street (553 ; 3980) 12noon—2.30pm and ' 5—11.3()pm.
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This is a new listings section primarily tor classes and workshop activities as well as for clubs and societies wishing to advertise regular meetings etc. Initially and subject to space this will be a free listings service. Ideas tor new sections are very welcome. Please send all your lniormation to The List 10 days before publication date. Political, spiritual, literary and women’s events will be listed on the Open List in the usual way.
EDINBURGH
0 FREE CHILDREN’S ART CLASSES will re-commence (probably beginning of Oct) on Sat afternoons at the Gateway Exchange, 2 Abbeymount. Tel: 661 0982 for details.
0 SWIM ANO TRIM FOR LADIES Portobello Baths, Bellfield Street, Portobello, 667 7211 ext 233. Mon—Fri 9am—10am and IOam-l lam. Fitness training and swimming 75p per session. 0 SWIMMING LESSONS Portobello Baths, Bellfield Street, Portobello, 667 7211 ext 233. Sats 9am—12noon. Adults £7.60 for 8 weekly lessons, £15.20 for 16 lessons. Children £4.40 for 8 lessons, £8.80 for 16 lessons. Also adult lessons on Suns 4—6pm.
o YOUTH THEATRE YWCA, 7 Randolph Place, 225 4379. The West End Youth Theatre runs drama workshops on Sat
Open to anyone up to 16years. Membership £2.50 per year, plus 50p per weekly class. 0 359 GALLERY will be running Drawing and Painting classes from 7 Oct—l3 Dec. Also morning slide lectures on The Colourist Tradition in Art and the Great Masters beginning 22 and 24 October. Tel: 031 225 3013. o PRINTMAKERS WORKSHOP 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Weekend Etching Course 20, 21 Sept. Advanced Course 4 and 5 Oct. Weekend Lithography Advanced Course 25, 26 Oct. Cost £25 (£20 members, OAP, U840 and Student). Life Drawing Classes, Until 11 Dec. Cost £10 for fifteen classes in advance , or £2 each. Bring your own materials. 0 CRAIGLOCKHART SPORTS CENTRE 177 Colinton Road, 443 0101/02. The following sports activities are offered to members: Canoe coaching Mondays (90p adults, 65p Under 18). Ladies Club. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (creche available, 60p per child) keep-fit, aerobics, squash, badminton, tennis (90p per session). Fencing Club, Tuesdays and Fridays (90p adult, 65p Under 18, 60p Under 10). Men’s Keep-Fit classes Fridays (90p). Badminton Coaching, Sundays (90p adults, 65p Under 18) Book in advance for four, weekly courses). Mixed Keep-Fit, Sundays (90p adults, 65p Under 18). Under 21 Mixed Keep~Fit, Sundays (90p 18—21 years, 65p Under 18). Senior
Citizens Club, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays ( 10p).
0 EPWORTH HALLS Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, 031 556 1179. Contact Tracy Hawkes. Autumn classes run till Christmas. Ballet and Jazz dancing classes for beginners and the experienced. Also classes for children. Prices from £28—£31.50.
o SPRINGWELL HOUSE Ardmillan Terrace, Gorgie, 031 337 1971, runs free weekly meetings all year round, particularly for the unemployed: PuppetTheatre group meets Tue 2—4pm and Thurs 10.30am—12.30pm; Drama Group meets Mon 14.30pm; a Mime week will
0 THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, 031 226 5425, starts up its highly popular Youth Theatre classes during September. The Youth Theatre courses meet once a week and run all year, working towards productions. Membership costs £8 for a year/£15 for 6 months forJunior (9—12 years) and Middle (13—15 years) and £10 for a year/£6 for 6 months for Senior (16—21 years). Unfortunately, so popular are the courses that Junior and Senior are full, but you can join the waiting list, and there is still space on the Middle Youth Theatre project. Contact the theatre for details. Theatre WorkshOp also runs many other courses, including photography, costume design, print-making, film animation, puppet-making, dance, make-up, writing and adult drama.
o THEATRE WORKSHOP 34 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, 031 226 5425, also runs community projects. and there is still time to get involved in their latest one, Heaven on Earth, an ‘epic collage focusing on experience since World War Two‘. Integrating volunteers
and disabled performers, the ' project will be performed as 3 part ofthe theatre‘lest j birthday celebrations in October. Anybody interested in I any aspect of the production — I practical or performing — should
contact Theatre Workshop. 3
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