When this much anticipated book written by the Grand Poobah of Columbo, arrived on my doorstep on Donald Pleasence’s birthday, it seemed PORTENTOUS!
I use the term Grand Poobah very much in a respectful way as per the first definition below, not the second definition at all, because Columbophile is anything but pompous. He’s hilarious.
grand poobah (plural grand poobahs)
- (idiomatic, colloquial, often humorous) A person who is important or high-ranking.
- An extremely pompous person.
I’d already pledged to write about Donald’s No-Name curry for the Blogathon
but here was the perfect excuse for some immersion therapy. Make Donald’s curry, read the entry for the his Columbo episode and then watch it. Accompanied by copious amounts of red wine of course…
Dinner and a movie and a book in bed. Living my best life!
I managed two of the three. Firstly, the curry (scoot to the bottom of the post for the recipe)
This is a brilliant recipe because it is easy peasy but it comes with a warning.
Make sure you have BOTH types of can opener by your elbow if you are using tinned salmon. I’ve been caught out by these pesky fellows before.
The new fangled tin opener I usually use just does not cut it, and once I had to leave the comfort of my home to go to the corner shop and get an old fashioned one to make this curry.
I was most disgruntled by this! Scoot down to the bottom of the post for Donald’s recipe. This is a great one to have in your, “not much time but hungry” cooking arsenal.
After I’d scarfed down some cuzza (as Columbophile calls it) i settled down in my viewing area (bed) with Any Old Port in a Storm cued up in my DVD player and the Columbo book in my lap. I began reading Columbophile’s excellent analysis of Donald’s episode, then I was compelled to read the book’s foreword and introduction. Then I laughed so much at the “Glossary of Britishisms” helpfully provided for non-Brits, I realised that I would have to watch Donald acting up a storm as Adrian Carsini on another day, because I was having too much fun reading the book!
.
If you are a Columbo fan, you will absolutely love this book. Reading about the episodes is akin to watching them again in your head. A strange experience but a very good one.
For Columbophile, Any Old Port only makes it to #15 in his episode hall of fame. For me it is #1. It is my absolute favourite. Not just because of the open air disco dancing scene, either.
It also contains my absolute favourite line in any Columbo.
and every time I think about this scene (which I do a lot), I remember the fun I used to have at the Columbo tweetalongs, where people all over the world watch the same episode at the same time and tweet about it. I must do one of those again soon.
So apologies for this blogathon post not really being a review of Any Old Port in a Storm at all. It’s really just a love-bomb to that episode, the fabulous Donald Pleasence’s performance in it, and the terrific new book by Columbophile. It’s wonderful, funny and revealing. An absolute MUST for all fans of the show. Put it on your Christmas list! Here’s a link to the page on the Columbophile blog all about the book.
Donald Pleasence’s No-Name Curry
1 teaspoon ground dhaniya (coriander)
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon ginger
Ground garlic [to taste I guess]
Salt and pepper
1/2 pint milk
2 tablespoons cream
Large tin of drained salmon
Shredded coconut
Put dhaniya, tumeric and chilli powder into a saucepan, add the butter, ginger and seasonings. When the butter has melted, add the milk and cream, stirring until yellow. Add the tin of drained salmon, cooking gently for a few minutes. Pour into a casserole dish, and cook for another 15 minutes in the oven. Just before serving, sprinkle shredded coconut over it and grill until lightly brown. Serve with a bowl of rice.
Serves 4
26 responses
Love this recipe and random chat about the recipe, you are definitely a non pompous grand poobah in my books too. This book does sound a hoot so will be checking this Colombo post. Thanks for bringing this to the blogathon, Darlin Husband and I watches this yesterday in view of your review… and he liked the outdoor disco scene too! Thanks for joining with your always unique blogathon entry…
Ahh, thanks a million Gill, glad you think I am a grand poobah of the first type! Anyone who likes the outdoor disco scene is a pal of mine. Thanks for the invitation to participate. Now I have to get my mitts on International Velvet!
Love this recipe and random chat about the recipe, you are definitely a non pompous grand poobah in my books too. This book does sound a hoot so will be checking this Colombo post. Thanks for bringing this to the blogathon, Darlin Husband and I watches this yesterday in view of your review… and he liked the outdoor disco scene too! Thanks for joining with your always unique blogathon entry…
Ahh, thanks a million Gill, glad you think I am a grand poobah of the first type! Anyone who likes the outdoor disco scene is a pal of mine. Thanks for the invitation to participate. Now I have to get my mitts on International Velvet!
What a great, fun tribute to Donald Pleasence and one of the better Columbo episodes around! During the lockdown, my wife and I revisited all the Columbos we could lay our eyes on (and between streaming and library DVDs we watched most of them). With Pleasence as a guest star, it couldn’t help but be a stand-out episode. And that curry recipe looks really good!
Thanks Brian, I love Columbo so much, and it sounds as though your wife and yourself do too. Such brilliant writing, great cast, excellent production values – the whole shebang! Glad you enjoyed the post and do let me know if you try the curry!
What a great, fun tribute to Donald Pleasence and one of the better Columbo episodes around! During the lockdown, my wife and I revisited all the Columbos we could lay our eyes on (and between streaming and library DVDs we watched most of them). With Pleasence as a guest star, it couldn’t help but be a stand-out episode. And that curry recipe looks really good!
Thanks Brian, I love Columbo so much, and it sounds as though your wife and yourself do too. Such brilliant writing, great cast, excellent production values – the whole shebang! Glad you enjoyed the post and do let me know if you try the curry!
Yum–this looks so good!
Rebecca – it IS good, and so quick and easy too – definitely a recipe to keep up your sleeve!
Yum–this looks so good!
Rebecca – it IS good, and so quick and easy too – definitely a recipe to keep up your sleeve!
I am a curry lover as well as a Columbo fan so will definitely try this. So delighted that all these old shows are now remastered and available for new generations to enjoy. Some of the finest actors of all time are obviously having a field day in their roles opposite the inimitable Peter Falk. Have not seen this episode with the great Mr. Pleasance, but now I must seek it out.
Aww, thanks Chris. You are so right about all the co-stars. How fabulous it must have been to land a role in Columbo!
I am a curry lover as well as a Columbo fan so will definitely try this. So delighted that all these old shows are now remastered and available for new generations to enjoy. Some of the finest actors of all time are obviously having a field day in their roles opposite the inimitable Peter Falk. Have not seen this episode with the great Mr. Pleasance, but now I must seek it out.
Aww, thanks Chris. You are so right about all the co-stars. How fabulous it must have been to land a role in Columbo!
I have most of the ingredients…I may try this with a bit of chicken breast.
Ooh, yes Sally! I think it would be really nice with chicken – let me know how it turns out!
I have most of the ingredients…I may try this with a bit of chicken breast.
Ooh, yes Sally! I think it would be really nice with chicken – let me know how it turns out!
Lovely tribute to Pleasence, and all things Columbo (I’m a huge fan!).
Aw, thanks Eric! Yes, me too. I love Columbo with a passion!
Lovely tribute to Pleasence, and all things Columbo (I’m a huge fan!).
Aw, thanks Eric! Yes, me too. I love Columbo with a passion!