TV review: The Incredible Spice Men

Friday night can often signal the time to kick back after a long week at work and what will folk across the UK be tucking in to? There is nothing quite as British as a few ice-cold beers and a hot spicy curry. Oh yeah, that's the stuff.

So it makes sense that a couple of celebrated Indian cooks can persuade the nation that there is more to spice than a chicken vindaloo or king prawn madras on The Incredible Spice Men (BBC2).

Chefs Tony Singh and Cyrus Todiwala are on a mission to spice up some of Great Britain's traditional dishes.

Tony, one of Edinburgh's finest chefs, is certainly recognisable. Resplendent in a tomato-red turban, ladybird earring and beige kilt, the fourth generation Scot who grew up in a traditional Sikh family has become renowned for his fusion restaurants, combining his Sikh and Scottish heritage with exotic flavours.

Likewise, Cyrus Todiwala OBE – who hails from Bombay – looks striking in a Harris Tweed flat cap. The multi-award-winning chef was chosen to cook the Queen's Jubilee Banquet last year and has a series of acclaimed London restaurants. Like Tony, he has a passion for using the best of British produce with Indian spices and techniques.

In an attempt to show the viewing public a more diverse use of Indian spices, the pair join forces in a mouth-watering tour of the UK.

The road trip commences with a visit to Hastings. First up on the menu is Dover sole in a spicy butter sauce.

Cooked in chilli and flour, the delicate white fish was served over asparagus with a delicious looking buttery sauce that included lime, ginger, coriander and pomegranate.

Tony and Cyrus are an entertaining pair, chortling away and bouncing jokes off each other throughout. They are a fine comedy duo and match the Hairy Bikers in likeability.

Stepping out from the comfort of a TV kitchen, the pair take over a fish and chip shop for the day. Of course, the menu gets an ever-so subtle tweak with the introduction of spicy cod and chips as a suggested meal.

The chilli, garlic, cumin, turmeric and coriander seeds are blended with oil and lime juice before being smothered over cod fillets before being fried in batter.

A group of bikers – no, not Simon and Dave – drop by to try the twist on their regular teatime treat. And it is a big thumbs up all round.

Heading 80-miles inland, Tony and Cyrus reach Battle.

Middle white pigs – often known as the London porker – are now extremely rare. It is the favoured pork of the Emperor of Japan, so the boys are keen to show the meat respect with the spiced marinade for their next dish – pulled pork with cinnamon and cloves.

Now look, this is a TV review not a recipe card, so if you want to know more about this dish you will have to buy the book that accompanies the series. If the TV show is anything to go by, I think the book will be intriguing.

All fairly safe so far, but there were some unusual – if not radical – suggestions too, such as sprinkling cinnamon and chilli over vanilla ice-cream. The Morris dancers who tasted it enjoyed the concoction. Then again, these chaps enjoy prancing around with bells and hankies, so their judgement in taste could be a little off.

I do find it difficult to imagine that combination working. I can't see me ordering a 99 with half rice and chips any day soon.

However, the bread and butter pudding with orange and cardamom looked far more my thing. In fact it looked fabulous.

Whichever of the recipes take your fancy, one thing is for sure – anyone who watches The Incredible Spice Men won't look at their spice rack in quite the same way again.