After a long week, including an unexpected stay in London on Thursday night, it was nice to get back to The Shires to start the long-weekend on Friday. I even managed to side step the pub and get on a train slightly early – I must be getting old. Or sensible.
I was up and out and in the hairdressers by 8.30 on Saturday morning, which was pretty cool as I was all done and able to go and do the rest of the boring stuff early. Quick trip down the high street then back home to get ready for lunch at one of my favourite restaurants, The Chilli Pickle, in Brighton.
We’ve been going to The Chilli Pickle for ages, even before it moved to the large premises under the MyHotel about three years ago, when it was a tiny little restaurant in The Lanes. In that time it’s managed to do the seemingly impossible, which is to get better as it has got bigger, with a ever-changing fab menu and consistently excellent service. It’s never lost that friendly family feel and we’re always assured a warm welcome, and even have a ‘usual’ spot, up on the banana bar
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The restaurant décor is wonderful, with bright colours and indian artefacts, but done in a very boutique way. It plays warmly to the space and feels modern and light. The menu is inspired by different regions of India and there is always so much to choose from that it’s hard to decide. The Tandoori chicken and chips is a favourite, and unlike any other tandoori chicken and chips you might ever have had, but I was feeling a little more adventurous.
I ordered a cheeky lunchtime martini (well, late lunch) and we had Momo’s and Pani Puri to share, followed by King Thali’s for main course. The food at the Chilli Pickle is very different to any other Indian restaurant I’ve been to in the UK. Really delicate flavour pairings, with unusual dips and pickles to accompany every dish. I’ve not yet had anything I haven’t liked and usually have to resist ordering too much – though if you do, you can take it home with you afterwards.
If you like lots of little morsels of different tastes The King Thali is perfect. I had the Murgh Pulungari – chicken simmered in coconut, tamarind, squash, turmeric, curry leaf, mustard seeds and black pepper. It was awesome. The Thali comes with rice, bread, poppadum, dal, dhokla and a sweet rice pudding, as well as the wonderful pickles. And I’ve never managed to defeat a whole one yet!
A bottle of Prosecco washed the food down nicely and we happily wandered off home in search of an afternoon snooze 🙂
