Fancy a curry? No, we aren’t just trying to curry favour with you (ba-dum-tsh!). It’s the month of National Curry Week, which happens every October and this year marks its 20th anniversary.
Sadly, it is doing so without its founder Peter Grove, who passed away earlier this year. However, in his absence, National Curry Week will still be encouraging curry lovers to sample a delightfully varied selection of succulent dishes and raise money for the poverty charity Curry for Change.
There are many ways to celebrate National Curry Week
This year, National Curry Week will run from Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th October. So, how could you join in with the fun? Well, one obvious option is paying a visit to one of the UK’s many Indian restaurants – there are more than a few great curry houses in County Durham alone.
You don’t have to leave the house, however. Instead, you could order a takeaway and enjoy curry at home while excitedly talking to friends and family as part of one big get-together! As for the menu, you could try cooking some dishes from the National Curry Week cookbook.
The cookbook in question will be officially released on Friday 19th October, enabling you to make and enjoy signature dishes from a number of the UK’s leading Indian restaurants without having to visit them. Chicken Tikka Masala, King Prawn Piro Piro and Aubergine Bhajis are all examples of dishes set to feature in the book.
All proceeds from National Curry Week – including the recipe book – will go to Curry for Change, which aims to help families in Asia and Africa to build lives free from poverty and hunger.
Where to try curry in County Durham
Durham City alone is well-served with enticing restaurants in which to tuck into curry. If you want to start with some classic dishes, the highly rated Spice Lounge in the Market Place is a good bet. You could later head to the city’s Claypath area to visit The Capital, a restaurant where traditional dishes are served with a tinge of European influence.
Alishaan, on North Road, is another Indian eatery much-liked by its customers, with the fusion dishes here a particular highlight. If you would like to take your food home, meanwhile, places worth considering in Durham include Zeera Tandoori, Golden Rice and Ocean of Taste.
There are plenty of recommended curry houses across wider County Durham, too. In Hartlepool, you could give The Balti a try on Murray Street, while the Trimdon-based Cinnamon Club on Salters Lane has an array of specials including Imlidar Mishti, Garlic Chilli Moss and Desi Bhuna Tk. There’s even a champagne bar under this restaurant’s roof!
Don’t overly fret if you are watching your weight – it doesn’t strictly have to entail you cutting curries out of your diet. Bengal Merchant, a curry house sited on Barnard Castle’s The Bank, offers lower-calorie curries alongside the standard versions on its menu. The curries from both lists are as delicious as each other!
