CURRYING FAVOUR IN THE
Countryside
MARK NICHOLLS HEADS INTO THE NORFOLK COUNTRYSIDE IN SEARCH OF A GOOD CURRY AND INVESTIGATES THE RISE OF INDIAN DINING IN RURAL AREAS
YOU MAY, ON THE FACE OF IT, think the search for an authentic Indian restaurant tucked away in the depths of the Norfolk countryside may be a fruitless one. Not so. While Norwich, and the county’s market towns, are very well-served with a range of curry houses - from the traditional flock-wallpapered eateries to those that aim for more of an up-market touch - there is another dimension to eating an Indian meal in Norfolk.
30
www.feastnorfolkmagazine.co.uk
And that is the village curry house - surprisingly, you don’t have to look that far to find a good one. What is also reassuring is that these restaurants that have sprung up in recent years have often moved into former village pubs, meaning that while the old-style drinking establishment may have been lost, the bricks and mortar have been retained for communal benefit rather than converted into housing or left to decay. What is more, these restaurants fully recognise how hard they have to work to lure diners from the towns and the big city, to venture out into the countryside for a firstclass curry. Indeed, this is something they have actually become quite adept at. To do that, they offer a customer-focused blend of individuality in their menus, combined with deliciously tasty dishes, plus plenty of parking and bar areas for predinner or after dinner drinks. And that hits the spot for me.
