Ignite Restaurant | Bengali and Indian Dining | 272-274 Morrison Street | Haymarket | Edinburgh EH3 8DT | Tel 0131 228 5666
Top 10 films to watch while eating curry
Make your Friday night takeaway more of a cultural experience by watching an Indian-themed film while you tuck into your chicken tikka and nan.
Need some inspiration? Just sit back, relax and check out our top 10 recommendations – and don’t forget we do takeaways too!
1) Slumdog Millionaire
This 2008 British romantic comedy directed by the brilliant Danny Boyle of Trainspotting fame was co-directed in India and won eight Academy Awards. Gritty, heart warming and featuring some of India’s most promising young actors, it’s well worth a watch for the all-singing, all-dancing Jai Ho finale at the end alone.
2) Monsoon Wedding
Monsoon Wedding, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shefali Shetty and Tillotama Shome, to name a few, will tug at your heart strings and have you heading out to buy your first sari. It’s definitely one for the ladies.
3) Eat, Pray, Love
Julia Roberts stars in this tale of a newly-divorced woman who sets off on a voyage of discovery to find herself, visiting India en route. Again, it’s really one for the ladies.
4) The Darjeeling Limited
Admittedly, this one’s not the best but if you’re an Owen Wilson fan, it’ll be right up your street. Join his character, Francis, and his two brothers on a comedic journey across India by train.
5) A Passage To India
Based on the 1924 novel by E.M. Forster which was inspired by the British Raj and the 1920s Indian Independence Movement, A Passage To India is an 80s classic which won two Academy Awards after being nominated for a staggering 11.
6) Carry On Up The Khyber
Ah, a good, old Carry On film… need we say more? Join the late Kenneth Williams and co for a laugh-out-loud classic based on India’s most famous pass.
7) The Guru
If you find the Carry On team’s innuendos aren’t quite titilating enough, then Jimi Mistry’s performance in The Guru certainly will be. Yes, it’s been on the telly more often than the BBC News, but we love it all the same.
Shakespeare Wallah
Indian acress Madhur Jaffrey won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 15th Berlin International Film Festival for her part in Shakespeare Wallah – based on the real life Kendal family’s exploits in post-colonial India. Have LoveFilm send it out and rate her performance for yourself.
9) East Is East
Okay, the family in this one is from Pakistan but, again, it stars Jimi Mistry so it’s definitely alright by us. See ‘George Khan’ – played by Indian actor Om Puri – try to enforce his strict Muslim ways and watch the rebellion that follows.
10) The Pool
Set in Panjim, Goa, The Pool tells the story of a young boy living in abject poverty who becomes obsessed by the swimming pool of an affluent family. The scenery is stunning and will leave you dreaming of Southern India.
And don’t forget to get along to your local picture house to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – set in Japiur and starring industry stalwarts Dame Judi Dench and Bill Nighy – released on Friday, February 24.
Nine romantic things to do in Edinburgh’s West End this Valentine’s Day
Looking for a little romantic inspiration? Well, look no further because here’s our pick of the best Valentine’s Day activities here in the Edinburgh’s West End – many of which are just minutes from Ignite:
1) Tour the Rosslyn Chapel – set of the Da Vinci Code
Visit the romantic Rosslyn Chapel , where part of the Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks, was set, for a unique tour of one of Edinburgh’s most fascinating and historic buildings.
2) Indulge in a relaxation treatment for two
Book yourselves into one of the West End’s many luxury day spas like Platinum Health and Beauty where you can enjoy a Two-for-one Relaxation Spa Day side by side to get you both suitably loosened up for the night ahead.
Get pampered at Platinum
3) Shop the pretty boutiques of the West End
If you’re shopping for a special Valentine’s gift – or indeed a ring – check out William Street, the heart of West End Village, for vintage boutiques, bespoke gift shops and one-off jewellers.
Diamonds are a girl's best friend
4) Visit the city’s most talked about couple at Edinburgh Zoo
Venture a little further out of the West End and into Corstorphine to welcome new Edinburgh Zoo’s new Giant Panda couple, Sunshine and Sweetie, which have recently been brought to the Scottish capital to breed.
5) Dine Kama Sutra style at Ignite
Romantic table settings at Ignite
Enjoy our Lovers’ Tasting Menu for one night only in our ambient and romantic Bengali & Indian Restaurant here on Morrison Street, just a stone’s throw from Haymarket Station. Sample our speciality veal and other Asian delicacies – infused with well-known aphrodisiac spices as outlined in the Kama Sutra.
6) Wow your date at The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
A walk through The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (formerly known as the Dean Gallery), with its impressive architecture and ambient interior, is a great way to impress a suitor – especially if you know what you’re talking about. Who knew culture could be so romantic?!
7) Rent a serviced apartment for ultimate privacy
If it’s intimacy you’re after, rent a luxury, serviced apartment like one of the Chester Residences, where you can cook for each other, recreate nine-and-a-half weeks or stay in bed to your hearts’ content.
Chocolate-dipped strawberries are included at The Bonham
8) Book a no-expense-spared stay at The Bonham
If your loved one likes to be waited on hand and foot, book a romantic weekend at The Bonham – one of the West End’s finest four-star boutique hotels. Its Sowing the Seeds of Love package includes luxury accommodation, a bottle of champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, an in-room rose petal breakfast and a tree planted in your name at Teaghlach Woods near Comrie.
9) Enjoy a romantic Eastern experience
Embrace the seduction of the East
For a completely different cultural experience, book a luxury suite at The Raj – Edinburgh’s first Indian-themed hotel – and enjoy a four-poster Sheesham bed, ornate furnishings and a touch of romantic Rajasthan.
Is curry the food of love? Aphrodisiac foods in Indian cooking
Whether you groan at the thought of Valentine’s Day or embrace the occasion with every cheesy rhyme you can muster, there’s no denying human nature when it comes to passion.
That’s why we’ve decided to help you spice things up a bit with a run-down of some of the best aphrodisiacs used in Indian cooking and where to find them.
Check out these libido-boosting ingredients… curry truly is the food of love!
Garlic – a great cure for many things, including the common cold, the heat in garlic can arouse sexual desire and should be shared by couples to balance the smell. Find it in our North Indian Chilli-Garlic Chicken. 
Fiery hot peppers – thanks to the chemical, Capsaicin, peppers increase circulation and get the blood pumping while stimulating nerve endings to make you feel more turned on. Find them in our Vegetarian Balti Sabzi.
Coriander – The Cilantro seed is well documented in history for allegedly helping women to conceive and was often used as both an appetite and sexual stimulant. Find it in our Green Herb Chicken.
Ginger – Like peppers, ginger helps to stimulate the circulatory system. Need we say more?! Find it in our Simikot Lamb.
Bananas – these aptly-shaped fruits are rich in potassium – a key nutrient for good muscle function which can help to make orgasms more intense. Find them in our fruity Chicken Tikka Masalam.
Chocolate – because it contains the chemical, phenylethylamine, cocoa has mild sedative and feel-good properties essential for letting it all go. Find chocolate notes in our red wines. 
Champagne – Of course, champagne needs no introduction. It might not be used in Indian cooking but it’s a relaxant nonetheless. Just drink and enjoy!
Valentine’s Day at Ignite ~ a menu for lovers
Ignite is launching a new aphrodisiac-packed Lover’s Tasting Menu to help couples spice things up for Valentine’s Day!
Our chef, Asad Miah, has developed a unique menu to help mark the occasion and, with lovers in mind, has promised libido-boosting heat and spice in equal measures.
He’ll serve up a combination of our best-selling dishes like Salmon Kebabs, Chicken Tikka Masalam and Veal Bhuna – all delicately infused with herbs and spices, many of which include well-known aphrodisiacs.
Of course, our couples will also receive a glass of champagne, which is said to be ‘the drink of love’ because of its inhibition-lowering properties and the meal will be rounded off with feel-good chocolates, which are believed to have sedative qualities.
Just take a peek at our Lover’s Tasting Menu below and if you’d like to book for February 14, feel free to do so online or by giving us a call on 0131 228 5666.
Lover’s Tasting Menu ~ £24.95 per head
Lighten the mood with a drink
Glass of Champagne with Papadums and Chutneys
Spice it up with a mixed starter
Consists of Chicken Kebabs, Salmon Kebabs and Vegetable Pakura
Succulent main dishes
Chicken Tikka Masalam, Veal Bhuna and Mixed Vegetable Bhajees
Served with Pilau Rice and a choice of Nan Breads
Can we tempt you with dessert?
Dessert
Tea or Coffee with special chocolates
Ladies will also be presented with a red rose with our compliments
Is Indian cuisine healthy? 5 things you should know
Food fads come and go yet it’s the Mediterranean diet with its tomato-rich (and bursting with cancer-fighting lycopene), carbohydrate-based and oil-drizzled dishes that’s usually perceived to be the healthiest.
Thai food also gets a good rep for its aromatic feel-good flavours using health-boosting chilli, ginger and lemon. But did you know that Indian cuisine combines all these health aspects and more?
The Indian diet is also carbohydrate-based, with the focus on rice and wheat chapatis as the main part of the meal. Everything else, from curry to Tarka Dahl, is considered to be an accompaniment.
With this in mind, here are five other things you should know about the Indian diet:
1) When many of us head to our local Indian restaurant, the first thing we generally check off the menu is a curry-coated meat of some kind and then we choose the rice and bread. But meat and fish are really only eaten in small quantities in India – much less than we eat here in the West. The key to keeping it healthy, therefore, is to have a smaller portion of chicken or lamb – just a starter perhaps?
2) Protein is really important in the Indian diet but, because it doesn’t rely heavily on meat, spiced lentils and dairy products make up the shortfall. They provide the perfect amount of amino acids for digestion and, of course, are more easily broken down by the body. For plenty of protein and fibre, try Panchrangi Dall (made with five different types of lentils) or Piazi, spicy lentil dumplings.
3) Contrary to popular belief, vegetables probably play more of a role in Indian cuisine than any other. But, because they can be heavily spiced, they’re not always readily noticed. Take a look at our vegetarian menu, for example, and you’ll be surprised at the diversity of each dish. Fruit is also usually eaten at the end of an Indian meal to help balance acidity levels.
4) Yoghurt is widely used in Indian cooking and introduces good flora (bacteria) into the digestive system to help keep the gut healthy. It forms the base of a number of Indian dishes, from Raita to Rogan Josh.
5) The spices used in Indian cuisine not only taste great, but they do wonderful things for our bodies. They each have different health-giving properties and very important jobs to do when it comes to keeping our digestive tracts healthy. Turmeric, for example, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, while curry leaves have antibacterial properties – perfect for fending off stomach bugs and colds. Perhaps even handier, are the qualities of clove and cumin which can prevent flatulence!
In short, as long as these foods are enjoyed in the right quantities, Indian cuisine can be incredibly healthy. Now, curry diet anyone?!
How to match wine with curry – a beginner’s guide
It might not be a combination which automatically springs to mind, but any true wine lover will tell you that your favourite grape and curry of choice can be a match made in heaven.
But many people don’t know where to start when it comes to food and wine pairing – especially when it comes to Indian cuisine.
That’s why we thought we’d give you the heads up on what’s hot when trying to get your taste buds around your favourite tipple and a dish that’s straight out the tandoori oven.
First of all, there are a few basic rules you should know:
1) The strength of the wine, regardless whether it’s red or white, should match the strength of the curry. Don’t go for a light, delicate variety with a vindaloo, for example – it will only taste weak in comparison.
2) Avoid heavy, tannin-rich varieties, which can leave your mouth dry and make the wine taste harsh and bitter – especially when it’s coupled with curry.
3) Fruity wines win hands down when it comes to spicy food – in fact, the fruitier the better. Juicy, aromatic types help to cut through and punctuate the flavours – helping you to pick each one out and appreciate the diversity of the dish.
4) Don’t overlook Rose, which tends to be fruity and versatile and can be matched with most foods, whether spicy or not. The only rule of thumb here is to avoid overly dry varieties or they’ll leave you reaching for the water rather than the wine.
Still confused? Here are some of our recommendations:
- An Australian Shiraz which combines forest fruits and peppery notes will compliment any delicate meat or vegetable Biryani dish and work just as well with a hot Madras.
- A medium-bodied Merlot is often the ideal accompaniment to a spicy, tomato-based Rogan Josh – especially with lamb.
- Fruity, white wines are great for matching with Korma. We’d choose a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, which is also a good match for seafood.
- A fruity Rose, as long as it’s lively enough, will cut through the tangy tomato of a Chicken Tikka Massala perfectly.
Now take a look at our wine list and try matching your favourite dish!