The Food Wanker

As it’s the height of Summer, we recently decided to make the long journey to Gorey for dinner and enjoy the harbour and view.

Thankfully it stopped raining long enough that we didn’t get wet waiting for the bus, and it even stayed clear enough for us to enjoy a pre-dinner drink outside The Moorings, who co-incidentally serve the largest glasses of wine I have ever seen, and I’m literally me, the inventor of “Dean Measures.”

Alas, it was more April temperatures than early July, so we, along with all their other guests, sat inside once we got to the restaurant.

First impressions were good, its really lovely inside, the staff were attentive, sorting a wobbly table out for us by totally replacing the whole table (entertaining rather than annoying) and pouncing once cutlery was back down to take drink orders.

A nice bottle of Riesling ordered we turned our attention to the food.

The menu is pretty extensive, offering all the faves you’d expect as well as some interesting dishes I’d not seen or see rarely.

We went standard Starter / Main, with some poppadoms to begin as you do.

Starters

Akbari Kebab – “Spicy Lamb and chicken mince marinated in special mix pickle and wrapped skewer. Barbecued in tandoori clay oven”

Those who know me know I love a kebab. To be fair those that don’t know me but have seen me walking down the road probably can guess that I like a kebab. Akbari kebab is generally my go to order for Indian takeaway. It’s fatty, sweet and sour, spicy and has a little of that char from a bbq. 

This one was great, served on a sizzling platter with some roasted onions, really good, a great start!

The restaurant seems to love a sizzling platter as a lot of the dishes came out on them, the kebab had a small issue in that the platter was so hot, chillis were burning on it giving off smoke that nearly took me and an older lady at the table next to us out, tear gas style.

Spicy Tandoori Wings – “Marinated in yoghurt, spices, limes and chillies”

My wife is more of a lover of wings than I am. Like ribs, which I like fine, I generally stay away from anything that involves me needing to wash my face, beard, hands and arms after I eat it (I will leave you to make your own jokes).

However, these did exactly what the description advised, they tasted of delicious spices, limes and chilli, and were very tasty indeed. Again, served on a sizzling platter, which theatre aside meant very messy wings became impossible to eat with your hands as they were served on a scaldingly hot metal plate. 

Sauce covered but happy, we had a little wait for the mains, but the places was rammed (always a good sign) and full of big tables so not unexpected and fair enough.

Mains

Rajasthan Grosth – “Four day marinated lamb shanks cooked with ginger, onions, lemon grass, cherry tomatoes and baby potatoes”

Who doesn’t love a lamb shank? Crazy people, that’s who. This one was cooked to perfection, falling away with a fork, with a thick heavily spiced sauce and tiny little potatoes which I personally love in a curry. Would def get again, will def try and make at home (which is when you know I enjoyed something). 

Chingri Malla – “Aromatic king prawns and prawns cooked in garlic ginger and fenugreek orange essence and Bangladeshi cooking lemon”

I’m not always the biggest fan of prawn or fish curries as I find they can end up tasting of fish and chilli, and unfortunately this one fell into that category. Was by no means unpleasant, but it was very much just spicy and prawny. Spicy and Prawny also being the name of my short-lived rap-duo.

Alas the meal ended there, we were stuffed to the gills and had a bus to catch (typical Jersey one every hour scheduling) so didn’t stay for a graciously offered post dinner drink on the house.

Overall we enjoyed our meal at the Spice View, I wouldn’t say it’s our new fave but would be happy to eat there again, especially when we can sit out on that wonderful deck overlooking the bay which would push the experience from good to excellent, I’ve no doubt.

My only real criticism is those damned sizzling platters. Between being gassed and having arms lightly sprayed with sizzling hot oil, I’m not sure they work on tables that size. Could just be that I’m an old man who hates fun though, admittedly.