"Cambridge-based foodie anecdotes from Uncle John: In the 1950s, all the fast set went to Indian restaurants every night, and got so over-excited by the hot curry they would stand on their heads on the tables. Favourite misspelt item on the Menu – Mixed Girls (get it?). How they laughed! He explains that all they ever thought about was puns and girls."

Among my regular bulletins from the Romance Society, hourly offers from Pizza Express, and gloom-inducing exam registration requests, this email from my mum was a gleam of joy. After chuckling for an hour of two at her absolutely hilarious use of phrases like ‘the fast set’ and ‘How they laughed!’ - she sometimes on a really good day says “Good wheeze”, an expression I think even the Famous Five would take the piss of – I turned my attention from the form to the content. Uncle John is my eternally and extraordinarily dashing great uncle, who is, I suppose, a bit of a LAD.

I followed Uncle John’s footsteps or rather headsteps and yesterday, for the first time in my nonetheless awesomely exciting and fulfilling career in Cambridge, went to the Mahal. OH. MY. GOD. My view of the universe has shifted dramatically. Maybe food was made to be thrown (around or... up). Much of it was certainly named to be; dough balls (free on Wednesdays in case you’re interested, thank you news letter), are surely just asking to be chucked at the boy you’ve never met sitting 2 tables away from you. Maybe Jackson Pollock invented his trademark splatter-style in order to prompt rip offs that can be gloriously added to by flying korma missiles. My trip was terrifying but thrilling; I now understand Uncle John’s over-excitement, although I reckon this may not have been caused entirely by spice... cough, wink, B.Y.O.B. wink, cough.

For culinary rather than (sort-of) cultural excitement cook your own curry. A lentil and sweet potato curry is warming, cheap and delicious. I added an entire fresh chilli to mine, just to embrace my new  Mahal prompted spontaneous lifestyle. I know, seriously, I should control myself, I’ll be in prison before you know it.

Cook up, invite round the fast set and let the food throwing and head stands commence. Serves 4 mixed girls or boys.

2 tbsp oil
1 red onion
Handful of coriander, chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
Sainsburys red curry paste
1 ½ cups red lentils

1. Boil 3 ½ cups of water2. Warm oil in large saucepan. Add the onion and coriander and sauté until the onion softens.3. Add the sweet potato, ginger and curry paste and sauté for about 1 minute.4. Add the boiling water and lentils and cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.5. Season with salt and a few whole coriander leaves.