TWO weeks ago, new measures to halt the spread of coronavirus forced pubs/cafes/restaurants across the UK to close their doors.

Thankfully, the government’s rules on restaurants do not apply to establishments that offer takeaway as on option – a fantastic way for businesses to stay open during such a tumultuous period for the food and hospitality sector. And I’m sure there will be a lot of people, like me, who are bored of their own cooking and want to spice up the end of their week with a takeaway.

Of course, trying to find a takeaway that is also doing vegan-friendly food at this time was quite difficult – yes I know, it’s a first world problem…

The best thing to do if you are anxious about eating somewhere new is to call ahead and ask them if meals can be made without dairy, cream or yoghurt. Curry Leaves were incredibly accommodating to my requests, so I have to thank them for going the extra mile.

This brings me on to Curry Leaves in Southwick, near Trowbridge, an authentic Indian takeaway – and I was delighted to learn they offer free delivery in Trowbridge or Bradford on Avon.

I ordered through the Curry Leaves’ website for collection, which only takes 30 minutes and I live not far from the takeaway, so it seemed worthy of my government-allocated walk.

When I rocked up to collect my feast, the man behind the counter smiled and placed the bag neatly on the countertop. He smiled again before standing back – in accordance with the rules on social distancing – to allow me to grab the bag, thank him and leave.

I wanted to try as much as I could, so, for my main meal I chose a portion of chot Potia, chickpeas cooked with a blend of spices, marinated green chilli and coriander, (£3.95) and a portion of plain rice (£2.10). To get a good taste of the menu, my main meal was followed by a bevvy of sides.

I ordered tadka daal, with lentil and friend garlic (£3.50), aloo chana, potato and chickpeas (£3.50) and Bombay Aloo, hot spicy potato (£3.50), complimented by three poppadums (£1.80).

As I peeled back the carton lids, my kitchen was filled with a delicious smell which made me set the table out even quicker. The side portions were easily as big as the main meal, so my plates (yes, multiple) were stacked to the rafters

I soon realised I had over-ordered: it was too much to tackle in a single sitting and far too much for one person to tackle alone.

But Curry Leaves make very wholesome food that is too comforting to pass up, which is exactly what I needed. It was worthwhile getting a few sides to choose from, even just to test the waters in regards to the level of spice in eah portion. The potatoes were cooked to perfection, and the lentil dishes were wonderful. I couldn’t even make it through half of the dishes for the portions, so make sure you order with someone. The total bill came to £18.35. Curry Leaves’ website says they “offer great food at affordable prices”. I cannot argue with that.

MATTHEW MCLAUGHLIN