Friday, 1 August 2014

Reds True Barbeque, Leeds (July 2014)



After last year's successful curry club 'away day', July saw a step firmly into meat territory for this years mid-season break from curry.  Three members light but with FONO guest star Andre Graham in tow, the pre-meat drinks commenced in Aire Bar with some al fresco beers overlooking the river, before moving on to Call Lane Social for a visit with our favourite Hawaiian shirt wearing bouncer. Looking for some lively ambience, Revolution was called upon and it delivered, with pumped up beats and visual stimulation, it forced Matty into miscalculation at the bar meaning a 'team beer' was enjoyed. Getting lairy already, Matty barked the order for me to establish waiting times at the ever popular Reds on the corner. With a 'come whenever you're ready' answer from the waiter, we decided for one more beer before heading to the restaurant.

Reds True Barbeque, Call Lane, Leeds.

Immediately hit by a sensational smell of smokey barbeque scents, Reds truly does transport you 'across the pond'. Shown to our table, the place had a great, relaxing atmosphere and glimpses of the food, alongside the smell certainly got our taste buds wagging…if they can of course perform such movements. American beers ordered (USA, USA, USA !), chat turned to York races where Wet Wet Wet had recently performed, which prompted a laddish, yet soulful rendition of 'Goodnight Girl' - much to pleasure and amusement of the staff and fellow diners. And even though they didn’t want nor ask for it, we gave them an encore. As the waitress took our various orders, she was a gasp when Broady aka Creth ordered not one, but two main dishes of the bacon burger and pulled pork - "The name is Creth" he announced in Swayzey Roadhouse style. Other dishes included a full rack of ribs (reckless), half a rack of ribs (sensible) and the Donut Burger - two slabs of meat with bacon and cheese held together by two sugar ring donuts (USA USA USA!).

The food arrived, presented in casual trays and pots but in keeping with the relaxed barbeque vibe. Needless to say the club was most impressed. The food really was delicious, the Donut burger sounds like it shouldn’t work but it does, with a great combination of savoury and sweet flavours. The Sweet Potato fries proved a great side dish and Crethy polished off both mains with minimal effort - which is saying something considering the portions were huge! And it was the huge portions (wayyyy) that proved Matty's downfall, only managing to consume a third of the full rack of ribs (reckless). But this is not to be laughed at though as these ribs would rival a chop in the meat stakes….steaks?….stakes?! Anyway, the half rack seemed just enough to finish and enjoy, but Matty kept an element of the curry club alive by bagging up his remaining ribs. A bag which Arnie could have used to 'feel da pump' in his Mr Universe days. Waiting for the bill, there was still time for special guest Andre Graham to use the ladies facilities in a moment of confusion, before heading home firmly satisfied with the curry club 'away day' experience. USA!

See you at the starting line for the next season of curry club in August.....

"And I won't tell a soul (I won't tell a soul), I won't tell at all
And do they have to know? (do they have to know?) about my Goodnight Girl"

Cheers

Danny