Posted by robbiebow on 6 October, 2009 under cambridge, eating out | 
Ahar
I’m sad to say that Ahar has gone downhill in recent months. There was a change of chef and the result has been that the curries have lost their levity, subtlety and distinction. It’s a shame, but after 3 bad meals from there over a couple of months, I have to say it’ s gone the way of many curry houses on Mill Road and I won’t be eating from there in the future.
Cocum
As one door closes another opens. Cocum is a Keralan-oriented curry house that replaced a nice but underused restaurant whose name I can’t remember. Unlike its predecessor, it caters for people with a desire for hotter dishes and red meat, whilst providing a range of drier dishes that don’t swim in turmeric-laden ghee. The Keralan dishes are great as well, meaning there’s a genuine choice for the curry fan. They also deliver (although I haven’t ordered delivery yet.) A good choice.
Posted by robbiebow on 20 December, 2007 under eating out |
This is a new curry take-away that opened this week. I tried the chicken shakoota last night and am pleased to say it was fantastic. Delicately spiced, and cooked to perfection, and reasonably priced to boot. The Bengal paratha was very nice too: light and tasty. They did forget to give me my pilau rice (opening week jitters I guess) but I called up, explained and they sent a guy around with a portion and a couple of complimentary poppadoms. The rice was gorgeous. Light, moist, wonderful taste so well worth the wait. I hope they keep up the good work when word gets out and trade increases. For now, whilst they are relatively underused and overstaffed, I can say this is the best curry I’ve had in Cambridge so far. No doubt the Rice Boat would give them a run for their money on the quality stakes, but you get a decent meal for less than a tenner from Ahar and that’s great value for money.
Posted by robbiebow on 8 December, 2007 under eating out |
This is River Farm Smokery, which is a wee bit outside of Cambridge on the way to Newmarket. I went there the other day with a hairy colleague in his fabulously retro car to get a gander of what was on offer. It was fantastic: the shop is in middle of the farm and stinks to high heavens with smoked ham, bacon, eels, kippers, cheese and assorted other bits and pieces. The ham was lovely (especially with the excellent crusty loaf) and formed the centre of a great lunch at work. I have some kippers from there to try this morning, but I am assuming they will to the same high standards as the rest of the goods.
Not cheap (but then why should food be cheap?) but not ridiculously priced, this is a nice drive in the country with the deep satisfaction of knowing your hunter-gatherer instincts will be rewarded with fine food to take home and enjoy in good, friendly fashion.
Thanks to Stray Toaster for the interlude from desk jockeying for a living to living for a living.
