According to Johnathan Pearce at Samizdata,
Historians have found that Britain's first Indian restaurant was opened in 1809, in the midst of the Napoleonic wars and during the period in which Austen set Pride and Prejudice.
The Hindoostane Coffee House was established by Sake Dean Mahomed, an Indian-born entrepreneur, as a purveyor of Oriental food of the "highest perfection" in Marylebone, London, which at the time was a residential district for the well-off.
And he wonders about the cultural ramifications:
I can imagine how this story is going to change all those costume dramas set in the early 19th Century: "Pray excuse me sir X, but I am in urgent need of a chicken korma."
That's just bad korma.
Posted by: Julie | September 30, 2005 at 12:35 PM
Stop trying to curry favor.
Posted by: gail | September 30, 2005 at 12:36 PM
Chick, peas!
Posted by: Pie Shell | September 30, 2005 at 12:37 PM
HA HA HA! You chicks are killin' me. But I'm about to pita out.
Posted by: Julie | September 30, 2005 at 12:43 PM
I'm just not that hindu it.
Posted by: Julie | September 30, 2005 at 12:44 PM
But you keep cumin back for more.
Posted by: gail | September 30, 2005 at 12:49 PM
I think this article is a naan issue.
Posted by: Scott P | September 30, 2005 at 12:51 PM
Yeah, I feel like we're messing with something that's really tabouli.
Posted by: Julie | September 30, 2005 at 12:53 PM
This post is just schwarma-ing with puns.
Posted by: Scott P | September 30, 2005 at 12:55 PM
So I vishnu guys would stop.
Posted by: Julie | September 30, 2005 at 12:56 PM