Thursday 15 January 2015

Chilli Night(s) - not so chilly

We returned to Chilli Night(s) in Haslemere for our January meeting.  This was the first Curry Club visit since 2008, as we failed to raise a quorum in November 2013; in the interim, I've been there on several occasions after beer-related activities, and it's never failed to please me.   We changed our routine this time to have our pre-dinner drinks at the restaurant, rather than one of the local pubs, and everyone agreed that this was a good decision.  The restaurant gave us a friendly welcome, and we had plenty of time to relax without the need for a long trek just before dinner.   Turnout was lower than average, probably due to the distance from Petersfield. 

As is our custom, the choice of dishes was left to the restaurant.  We weren't disappointed.  Starters were unusual off-menu items: spicy tandoor-cooked ayre fish, a spicy lentil patty similar in shape to a small burger, and a small puri made with naan flour and filled with spiced kofta-like minced meat.  All were delicious, and because we hadn't filled up first on papadums, we had plenty of appetite for the main courses that followed.

The main courses were more familiar but still very good: two sauced main dishes and two served with salad.  A rich lamb dhansak and a chicken bhuna were both extremely tasty, well-spiced and appreciated by all.  The garlic chilli chicken was lively - one of us needed emergency water and lager after encountering some of the chilli in the dish.  There also seemed to be a hint of Scotch Bonnet or naga-type chillis.  The final main dish was comprised breaded chicken strips - looked a little like octopus.  For me this was the least exciting of the four, probably because I didn't spot the sauce in a dish at the middle of the salver.  But I did enjoy the dhal, the naans - plain, garlic and keema, and the pilau and spinach rice that were served as side dishes.  Kingfisher on draught, Cobra in bottles, and a decent red wine were appreciated by all (except the drivers).
 
Going by the menu, the drinks list, the bill and the phone book, it's Chilli Night.  It's only Chilli Nights on the sign outside.   But whatever you call it, we had a great evening and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Those that couldn't make it up the A3 missed a good one.  

Address: 64 Weyhill, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 1HN
Phone: 01428 644288

Monday 5 January 2015

Chilli Night(s)!

Happy New Year, and the table is booked for Petersfield Curry Club's first event of 2015!  January will see our return after a Curry Club gap of (would you believe it?) six years to one of my favourite restaurants, Chilli Night or Nights in Weyhill, Haslemere.  Since we were last there, the pub situation hasn't improved - the Crown and Cushion is now a set of flats; the Red Lion has been the Inn on the Green and the latest Google StreetView pictures show it as the Apple Tree.

So to keep things sensible, we're going to meet at the restaurant for aperitifs from 19:30, and then dinner will be at 20:30 as usual.  Members - please let me know through the feedback page of the website, or by reply to the e-mail notice, whether you expect to make it or not.  Chilli Night(s) serves wonderful food but doesn't have a huge number of covers - we need to let them know how many we will fill, and not over- or under- promise on our booking.

Why the confusion over Chilli Night or Nights?   The logo says one thing but the sign outside says more!  Whatever, it's never failed to produce exciting food.

Details: the restaurant is on Weyhill, Haslemere, about 6 minutes' walk from the station.  There's parking on the street outside,  but when that's full, there's a free public car park at the fairground, just off St Christopher's Road.  A search on Google Maps suggests that the Curry Club (founder Pat Chapman, author of the Good Curry Guide) is located just over the road from that car park!

Looking forward to a great evening on 14th!