Location: Torre de la Horadada, Alicante, Spain
Summary: My first night out with the SPICES group after a month in hospital and at home. A great meal, good company and a much needed evening out.
About SPICES
SPICES was a group of friends who met once a month to enjoy a meal at one of the area's Indian or Chinese restaurants. The evenings were all about good food, good company, plenty of laughter and the kind of storytelling that only happens when a group of blokes get together.
This was the first time I had been able to join them. After spending almost a month either in hospital or stuck in my apartment, I was more than ready for a night out, a decent meal and the chance to meet new people. My friend Pat had arranged for Andrew and himself to pick me up, and I was chauffeured to the venue for the September 2018 SPICES night out.
The Night Out
I had never been to The Indian Hut in Torre de la Horadada before and was looking forward to trying it. The first thing that caught my eye was the sign, a very obvious nod to the Pizza Hut logo. I am still not sure which came first, but it does raise the question that food lovers often ask. Which came first, the pizza or the curry.
A few tables were already occupied when we arrived, and the place quickly filled as around seventeen SPICES members turned up. Most of the group ordered from the Menu del Dia, and the food was excellent.
We began with popadums and a selection of sauces. Having just come out of hospital and needing to be careful with what I ate, I kept everything mild. For my starter I chose the chicken pakora. I had been a little unsure beforehand, but it was delicious. Think Indian style chicken strips with a bit of salad.
For my main course I ordered a chicken korma with pilau rice. After weeks of hospital food and plain meals at home, my stomach was grateful for something gentle. Meanwhile the rest of the table enjoyed a colourful range of curries, each one smelling better than the last. While my stomach appreciated my sensible choices, my nose was begging me to try something more adventurous. I did sample one of the slightly spicier dishes and it was very good.
Alongside my pilau rice, various other rice dishes were passed around the table, all fragrant and full of flavour. A selection of naan breads also made the rounds, and since I had never tried most of them before, I sampled every one. My favourite was a sweet naan with something like jam and coconut. It tasted far better than it sounds.
After the main meal, and with the banter still flowing, the staff brought out desserts. We were given a choice of an Indian sweet or ice cream. Even the vanilla ice cream, usually the dullest option, was surprisingly good. The lads who tried the Indian dessert said it was fantastic, although none of them could describe what it tasted like. I will have to try it next time.
We rounded off the evening with a complimentary brandy or tia maria. My security team then whisked me home after what was a much needed and thoroughly enjoyable night out. I am already looking forward to the next one.
Add comment