National dish of Britain, chicken tikka masala has multiple conflicting origin stories, some attributed to Glasgow, others Birmingham but most involving a confused local in an Indian restaurant in the 70s ordering a chicken tikka (a succulent, spiced but sauceless chicken dish). When it arrived he saw it and asked where the gravy was. It was returned to him a few minutes later covered in a gloop made from spices, cream and Heinz tomato soup, and this tikka masala has since become more popular than fish and chips.
Sounds like your knowledge of the subject is superior to mine but the thought of the inventor getting his credit before he shuffled off makes me happy.
Yes indeed - Ali Ahmed Aslam died in December after serving hungry Weegies in Glasgow since 1964. Shish Mahal was a destination for decades but has been in decline since Ali's death. Note that whilst he claims to have invented the Tikka Masala, it's not been accepted with too many restaurants claiming the same thing.
Just yesterday I went to the fridge and all I could find were leftover roasted sweet potato slices sooo I drizzled them with butter added toasted pecans dripped chili crisp on top and then hit it with some feta... ummm Delicious! ❤️
Coq au vin.... always seems like a random dish made out of the left overs in a French kitchen. Still my favourite what ever the consequences of its invention, it’s seconded by Caesar salad... did Caesar eat it?
That is a good one... and the weird thing about Caesar is it was indeed invented by one bloke, but he didn't put in the anchovies in the dressing (his brother later did that, and the original Caesar always fought it...)
Take a wad of premade pizza dough from the store and roll it out. Coat it with spaghetti sauce. Add chopped marinated artichoke hearts. Cover with parmesan and mozzarella. Roll into a loaf and bake. Let it cool. A family favorite for Christmas morning or movie night.
But better! In my opinion, as an avocado disliker. Potatoes! Tuna! OLIVES!
What's great about these is that they are easy. Things like Shepherd's pie that USED to be made of leftovers are very labor intensive when you have to make them from scratch.
Mar 8, 2023·edited Mar 8, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith
I haven't seen it anywhere else so I'm claiming my crab, chorizo and strawberry salad. And it was while working as Head chef in a busy restaurant and needing to get rid of underused ingredients. It ended up working pretty well!
When I was a kid my Mum used to make us Baked Bean Hash which was often Corned beef, baked beans and boiled potatoes or any other leftover meat she had. It was one of my favourite teatime foodstuffs, but sounds very bland compared to everyone else’s shenanigans on here! I still have it now if I get the munchies after a night out and still grab whatever meat is around. I have made it my own now though by adding some grated cheese (or Parmesan if available) to make it seem vaguely Italian.
Ooh just remembered another one… Tarte Tatin- invented when a baker overcooked the filling for an apple pie so just chucked the pastry base on top of the pan contents and put the whole thing in the oven.
The truth of the whole “they served it as-is and the punters loved it” seems a bit of a stretch. I suspect they tried it in the kitchen, realised they were onto something and finessed it before putting it on the menu, but another accident nonetheless.
May I introduce you to South African Monkey Gland sauce? Not made of monkey glands. Several origin stories, but the one I like is that uncultured people weren't appreciating French sauces enough, so the French chefs mixed a bunch of pre-made sauces together and to their chagrin it was a hit! https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/monkey-gland-sauce-africa
Doubles, the (un)official street food of Trinidad. Created so that people could “carry” their breakfast to the sugar cane fields where they worked as Indian indentured labourers. Fascinating backstory. Amazing food. Trinis pack doubles in their luggage to take them to family and friends all over the world, which is much more difficult than it sounds:)
My simplistic version of ”give me something NOW”, is a hump backed Cornish pasty ( I’ve tried it with the flat variety, didn’t work) on a buttered Demi baguette with brown sauce. Yes I was herbed, but I tried it again sober and it is surprisingly good. I still partake occasionally. When NOTHING but stodge will do.
Whoa, that'll fill you up! I only recently, after years of loving samosas with HP Sauce, realized that of course the sauce is loaded with Tamarind, so it actually makes perfect sense to have them together...
National dish of Britain, chicken tikka masala has multiple conflicting origin stories, some attributed to Glasgow, others Birmingham but most involving a confused local in an Indian restaurant in the 70s ordering a chicken tikka (a succulent, spiced but sauceless chicken dish). When it arrived he saw it and asked where the gravy was. It was returned to him a few minutes later covered in a gloop made from spices, cream and Heinz tomato soup, and this tikka masala has since become more popular than fish and chips.
Yes! I should have included that one... didn't the guy who was credited with it die quite recently?
Sounds like your knowledge of the subject is superior to mine but the thought of the inventor getting his credit before he shuffled off makes me happy.
Yes indeed - Ali Ahmed Aslam died in December after serving hungry Weegies in Glasgow since 1964. Shish Mahal was a destination for decades but has been in decline since Ali's death. Note that whilst he claims to have invented the Tikka Masala, it's not been accepted with too many restaurants claiming the same thing.
Aha — a bit like the Reuben, then...
Just yesterday I went to the fridge and all I could find were leftover roasted sweet potato slices sooo I drizzled them with butter added toasted pecans dripped chili crisp on top and then hit it with some feta... ummm Delicious! ❤️
I would so eat that
Coq au vin.... always seems like a random dish made out of the left overs in a French kitchen. Still my favourite what ever the consequences of its invention, it’s seconded by Caesar salad... did Caesar eat it?
That is a good one... and the weird thing about Caesar is it was indeed invented by one bloke, but he didn't put in the anchovies in the dressing (his brother later did that, and the original Caesar always fought it...)
This is near-perfect content.
:-) Only problem is writing it has made me very hungry and it's only 10:22am here.
Take a wad of premade pizza dough from the store and roll it out. Coat it with spaghetti sauce. Add chopped marinated artichoke hearts. Cover with parmesan and mozzarella. Roll into a loaf and bake. Let it cool. A family favorite for Christmas morning or movie night.
That sounds GOOD.
Other version: fry up hot Italian sausage in place of the artichokes. Sausage bread!
Or both!
I feel unbelievably hungry now.
Just bring me the salade Nicoise and no one gets hurt
Which I guess is basically the earlier and French Cobb!
But better! In my opinion, as an avocado disliker. Potatoes! Tuna! OLIVES!
What's great about these is that they are easy. Things like Shepherd's pie that USED to be made of leftovers are very labor intensive when you have to make them from scratch.
I haven't seen it anywhere else so I'm claiming my crab, chorizo and strawberry salad. And it was while working as Head chef in a busy restaurant and needing to get rid of underused ingredients. It ended up working pretty well!
That sounds actually amazing
That sounds... weird. I mean, I'd try it, obviously.
If you ever get to Cornwall I'll bang it out for you😁 then teach you how to build a Cornish Hedge!
I'll take you up on at least half of that ;-)
Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is one of my favorites, and the ingredients are almost always at hand
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti_alla_puttanesca
Fabulous dish — top quality store cupboard food.
“The first is that they’re all great. The second is they came about by accident.” Much like me. ;)
(My edible status is admittedly questionable.)
Ha :-)
When I was a kid my Mum used to make us Baked Bean Hash which was often Corned beef, baked beans and boiled potatoes or any other leftover meat she had. It was one of my favourite teatime foodstuffs, but sounds very bland compared to everyone else’s shenanigans on here! I still have it now if I get the munchies after a night out and still grab whatever meat is around. I have made it my own now though by adding some grated cheese (or Parmesan if available) to make it seem vaguely Italian.
Honestly, I kind of like the sound of that...
As an adult, it’s definitely more enjoyable after a few beers. 😂
Ooh just remembered another one… Tarte Tatin- invented when a baker overcooked the filling for an apple pie so just chucked the pastry base on top of the pan contents and put the whole thing in the oven.
The truth of the whole “they served it as-is and the punters loved it” seems a bit of a stretch. I suspect they tried it in the kitchen, realised they were onto something and finessed it before putting it on the menu, but another accident nonetheless.
Interesting - i hadn't heard that one!
‘The genesis of nachos is murkier’ you sure can turn a phrase!
:-)
May I introduce you to South African Monkey Gland sauce? Not made of monkey glands. Several origin stories, but the one I like is that uncultured people weren't appreciating French sauces enough, so the French chefs mixed a bunch of pre-made sauces together and to their chagrin it was a hit! https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/monkey-gland-sauce-africa
EXCELLENT example — and one I've both had, and enjoyed :-)
Yum
Doubles, the (un)official street food of Trinidad. Created so that people could “carry” their breakfast to the sugar cane fields where they worked as Indian indentured labourers. Fascinating backstory. Amazing food. Trinis pack doubles in their luggage to take them to family and friends all over the world, which is much more difficult than it sounds:)
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210526-doubles-trinidads-favourite-street-food
That's fascinating - thank you!
My simplistic version of ”give me something NOW”, is a hump backed Cornish pasty ( I’ve tried it with the flat variety, didn’t work) on a buttered Demi baguette with brown sauce. Yes I was herbed, but I tried it again sober and it is surprisingly good. I still partake occasionally. When NOTHING but stodge will do.
Whoa, that'll fill you up! I only recently, after years of loving samosas with HP Sauce, realized that of course the sauce is loaded with Tamarind, so it actually makes perfect sense to have them together...
I am so going to try that.