Citylife in Lichfield November 2021

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Steeped in Tradition ........................................... By Kristen Lackajis Being the longest-established Indian restaurant in Lichfield is quite some claim to fame, so we went along to discover more about The Bengal which first opened its doors in 1968. The Bengal, situated under the gabled archways of Bore Street, is easy to overlook. Its exterior is modest and, being somewhat hidden under the tudor building atop of it, it’s easy to miss the restaurant’s signage… but don’t be fooled. This is a small restaurant with a big offering! Go up a flight of stairs and you enter what I think of as a more traditional Indian restaurant. It’s cosy and welcoming, with ambient coloured lighting along one wall, a beautiful fish tank separating the waiting area from the main dining area, and a well-stocked bar area too. After being greeted warmly we were shown to our table and left to peruse the extensive menu, which features so much choice that we took quite some time deliberating… whilst enjoying a drink and the classic poppadoms with accompaniments. Having been around for the last 50-odd years, you would have thought that The Bengal had seen a myriad of owners come and go over the time. However, we learned that the original owner only retired two years ago, and it was taken over by a friend of his who is still very much in contact with him today. They kept the original name of the restaurant too, to honour its history and reputation for excellence. For our starters, I chose something a little big different. As a fish lover, I usually opt for a prawn puree and, whilst this was on the menu, I decided to ‘live a little’ and try something I’d not had before. My choice was King Prawn Asanok – a delicately spiced dish consisting of succulent and juicy king prawns smothered in onions, peppers, tomatoes and herbs. It was absolutely delicious – not too spicy, but certainly had a little heat to it. My partner chose a Mixed Tikka Kebab, with lamb, chicken and sheikh meat, and was highly impressed with the amount he received. With our first courses well and truly devoured, we moved on to the star of the show. I love my Indian food lightly spiced – I don’t mind heat, but I find anything too spicy and I simply can’t taste the flavours. So, I tend to always opt for a mild to medium dish. The one which really caught my eye in this instance was the Badami – cooked with almonds in a mild sauce with fresh cream, it sounded delicious and I went for the King Prawn option – naturally! It was perfect! Soft, slightly sweet and with a real depth of flavour. My partner, on the other hand, likes things pretty hot, more along the Madras scale. His favourite is a Chicken Jalfrezi however, on recommendation of the waiter, he also thought he’d branch out and tickle his tastebuds with something a bit different. He had a Chicken Kala Mirch which is cooked extensively with hot chilli paste, fresh spinach and herbs and spices. He was not disappointed! It had the heat he craved, but was also juicy and aromatic. We teamed our mains with a mushroom pilau rice, a beautifully fluffy cheese and garlic nan bread, and a favourite of ours – Mattar Paneer – Indian cheese and peas cooked in mild spices. Everything was absolutely divine and, if you’ve never been, this hidden gem is most definitely worth a visit. If you’re after great food, cooked to traditional recipes, in an intimate setting, then The Bengal really is one not to miss! Find out more, or look at the menu, at www.thebengallichfield.com. Dining Out - A City of Flavours
Dining Out - A City of Flavours
Page 3 and 4: 3
Page 5 and 6: 5
Page 7 and 8: Advertising Feature Robin Place - C
Page 9 and 10: City Jewellers Winner .............
Page 11 and 12: 11
Page 13 and 14: Your Garden in November By Byron Le
Page 15 and 16: 15
Page 17 and 18: 17
Page 19 and 20: 19
Page 21 and 22: 21
Page 23 and 24: Harry Potter’s Harry Potter Book
Page 25 and 26: A City of Flavours With one of the
Page 27 and 28: Mexican Bread Recipe By Ruth Redgat
Page 29 and 30: Cooking and Food-Styling Photograph
Page 31 and 32: The Inkwell at Lichfield ..........
Page 33: Autumn Days at The Linhay By Kriste
Page 37 and 38: Dedication of National Miners’ Me
Page 39 and 40: Luxellen Candles Luxellen The Quirk
Page 41 and 42: 41
Page 43 and 44: 43
Page 45 and 46: 45
Page 47 and 48: 47
Page 49 and 50: 49
Page 51 and 52: Advertising Feature Talented Family
Page 53 and 54: 53
Page 55 and 56: Here at Just Granite Ltd, we pride
Page 57 and 58: 57
Page 59: 59

Citylife in Lichfield November 2021

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?