This year poppadoms and a choice of four chutneys were served, fulfilling my litmus test for any Indian restaurant: what's the mango chutney like? I’m pleased to report that at Miran Masala it is sweet with a very subtle kick and, importantly for me, not too many lumps of mango in it. Good start.
We ordered mixed grill starters for our long and noisy table, including tender chicken tikka, minty lamb shish kebabs, and some really tasty lamb cutlets with an oomph of spicy flavour.
On to the main event. I went for a generous portion of the masala bhindi (stuffed okra with spices), with the okra cooked well so it wasn’t mushy and still had a bite to taste the okra itself. And what’s the point of going for a curry with 20 people if you’re not going to dip your naan into their sauce to see what else is good? I got to taste some saag aloo (spinach cooked with potatoes and spices), which desperately lacked seasoning and as a result tasted quite bland; a chicken korma, which to me had a welcome chilli kick (though it was too spicy for the person who’d ordered it); and Karahi chicken, which had a tomato and yoghurt based sauce, lovely cumin flavours, and a delicate sweetness from the almonds sprinkled on top.
Next time you're at Civil Service Live and fancy something other than a generic pizza or a sandwich, you’d do well to give Miran Masala a go.
Our events chief Christina Hunter blogs on food at www.fattyhunter.wordpress.com
www.miranmasala.com
3 Hammersmith Road
London W14 8XJ
020 7602 4555