This month, in the latest instalment in our epic quest to map Britain entirely through the medium of budget eateries, I have been busy running the rule over Bradford. Or, as its better known in West Yorkshire, Bratfut. You can review my chosen top 10 here.
As you can imagine, a number of curry houses figure prominently in this particular roll of honour. The channa murgh that I ate at International, for instance, was one of the nicest things I have tasted in some time, while the "donners" at Shimla's ("We don't do fast food, we do good food as fast as we can.") entirely recalibrate what we should expect, and demand, of the British high street kebab. Prashad, meanwhile, is about as sophisticated a flavour experience as you're likely to get in this country, at the sub £10-a-head price point. I can't recommend it highly enough.
This post, however, is less about the places I included, than a chance for you to flag up the ones that I missed. One (potentially) notable exception from my list is the famous Kashmir, about which, in the process of researching this piece, I received very mixed reports. In terms of Bradford's veteran, no frills curry cafes, Karachi was the one that seems to continue to engender a real groundswell of goodwill locally, so that got the nod. Would you disagree? Would you choose Kashmir over Karachi?
While we're on the subject, are there are any fans of the Sweet Centre knocking about? I'm particularly intrigued by its breakfast dish of channa aloo and puri, which, for logistical reasons, I didn't get a chance to sample. Can anyone report back on whether or not it beats three Weetabix and a strong brew as a kick-start of a morning? As for other great value Bradford curry houses, where do you rate that I have neglected to mention?
There is more to Bradford than curry, of course, and elsewhere on my list you will find first-rate fish 'n' chip shops, Fairtrade cafes, stylish delicatessens, a fantastic new craft beer bar (that does decent snacky food) and an art gallery with a sideline in good grub.
Bearing in mind the rules - that you've got to be able to eat in these places for under £10-a-head - where would you have added to the list? Le Cafe Bleu? Feroni's? Or the intriguing Arabica, hidden away beneath the Doha mosque on Claremont? And what of Vicars in Saltaire? Sadly, it was shut the day I visited, but I have heard good things about it. Do you rate it?
Elsewhere, feel free to air your thoughts on the eating options at the National Media Museum, Cafe Opera at Salt's Mill, Deli Chez, Lahore or anywhere else that comes to mind. Your recommendations (or your hazard warnings, for that matter) will add to the general gaiety of the nation, and no doubt the girth of several Word of Mouth regulars.
