Curry Club Close-Up: Some Pilau Talk With The Poppadominator

Everyone in the Glasgow of Curry brotherhood loves curry – but wouldn't it be intriguing to discover more about the men behind the menu choices? In this occasional Q&A series, we'll be journeying into the curry-obsessed mindpans of prominent members, continuing with a reporter who functions as TATTGOC's eyes and ears in Edinburgh, a proudly old-fashioned hack with ink for blood who gazes over at the stylin' curry scene in Glasgow with unashamed envy ...

Name: The Poppadominator

How did that nickname come about? I was possessed by the holy ghost of punnery, dispensed by the laying on of hands by Trampy. That, and I have an unhealthy habit of declaring myself overlord of crispy, wafer-thin starters that work well with chutney.

Favourite Glasgow curry house:
I'll admit I haven't been to that many. But I remember enjoying Mister Singh's India.

Favourite (oh go on then) Edinburgh curry house:
Much easier - it was looking like a showdown between the cheap and cheerful Kebab Mahal on Nicholson Square and the tapas treats of the capital incarnation of Mother India's Cafe, but after a revelatory experience a few weeks back, it has to be the Bombay Bicycle Club in Tollcross.

Favourite (if you must) Edinburgh curry takeaway:
The Kasbah on Marchmont Road. Curry, naan, pakora: all for a fiver.

All-time favourite curry dish:
Chicken Pasanda, but in the company of proper curry eaters I'd go for a cheeky Madras.

Rice or naan?
Naan. And peshwari at that.

Favourite curry lager:
Cobra

What's the most exotic place you've had a curry? Sitting by the Hooghly River in Kolkata, West Bengal munching on lamb saag with Alexander McCall Smith. That kind of anecdote really impresses post-menopause housewives. Hairy 30-something fellow curry clubbers, less so.

Can you actually make a decent curry yourself at home?
Yep. Check out my peanut, sweet potato and chicken curry next time you're in the east.

If so, can we all come round for our tea?
As long as you bring my subjects, the humble poppadom, with you.

If you could enjoy a curry dinner-for-two with anyone, either alive or dead, who would it be?
Tom Waits.

It's a little-known fact that TATTGOC grew out of Glasgow's most cheerfully slipshod and poorly-arbitrated poker night, of which you were a founder member. Care to share any fond memories of that time?
Probably discovering the enthusiasm that a bunch of grown men can still have for giving each other nicknames. There was The Lizard, Therapist, Black Box, and my own handle, Six Cards, which is what you get called when you confidently play a hand consisting of three doubles. Not a good move during five-card Texas Hold 'Em. In my defence, for about three seconds everyone else was in awe of the supreme hand, before they realised how deeply, embarrassingly wrong it was. As you say, it was a slipshod crew.

What creature or object would you say best symbolises your personality? For the picture, like? A threadbare giraffe on ice.

A fascinating glimpse into what life must be like on the other side of the M8. But who will be next to bare their guts and spill their soul? Stay tuned ...

3 comments:

The Tramp said...

Nice interview Poppadominator... Can't believe that you forgot Trampy's old poker name though - he was the one and only "Cheater". Who doesn't have happy memories of him out bealing even the nicknameless Stephen Phelan. Happy days...

phelan said...

You tried out a few handles on me as I recall but my character is too slippery and diffuse for any one nickname.

The Poppadominator said...

Of course. The cheater! He must have Jedi-mindtricked me during the grilling so I forgot. He is a tricky one. Just like the Beal-with-no-name, Phelan.