WHEN hopes of a barbecue were rained off, slaving over the cooker was not an option.

This meant a quick trip to Blue Spices, which boasts friendly staff, fantastic dishes and great prices.

We opted for the set meal B which offers pakora, popadoms and mango chutney, along with two curries, two pilau rice and a nan bread.

All of this for only £14.99.

I plumped for the vegetable dansak, a medium dish prepared with lentils. Feeling adventurous I asked them to spice it up a little, and it had a fair kick to its delicious mix of spices.

The dish was delicious and polished off quickly, along with the accompanying rice.

My girlfriend chose a chicken dopiaza, a fragrant dish packed with onions and full of flavour.

Judging by the North-east summer this won’t be the last time our barbie is rained off, so we will be making a return trip to Blue Spices.