Kolkata
Kolkata stirs up my soul. Wherever I go, whichever city I live in and call that my home, there is always a reference to something or someplace or somebody or some incident in Kolkata. It amuses me sometimes as well as it irritates me. I end up finding Venice as water-logged North Kolkata! I cannot ever severe my soul Konnection...
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Semaiya Kheer or Vermicelli Pudding to celebrate Eid
Childhood memories of Eid bring in the sweet taste of Semaiya Kheer or vermicelli pudding, also called Shemuiyer Payesh in Bengali. The shimuiyer payesh that I have eaten at most Bengali homes, is made much like the rice pudding. The shimuiyer payesh, however, is sweetened with sugar and Gur or jaggery is seldom used in it. It is also less dense. Here's my easy recipe for the delicious festive dessert.
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Dacres Lane | Introducing Kolkata street food in BBC Travel Show UK
I introduce #Kolkata street food to Benjamin Zand for the BBC Travel Show. We had the signature pauruti-stew-ghugni and also the khuchuri combo at the famous Chittoda's restaurant ~ an eating hole in the office district which boasts of a few regular diners who have been visiting the place for the last 40 years!
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Where Will You Eat Bengali Food In Kolkata? | From Traditional to Bohemian
Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture. ∼ Mark Kurlansky There was a time when finding a Bengali restaurant in Kolkata was difficult. It was limited to either the ‘no-frill canteen’ Suruchi or the ‘hotel restaurant’ Aaheli in Peerless Inn. And much later an inclusion of few Bengali dishes in the menu of Sonargaon in the 5-star ambiance of Taj Bengal. Suruchi is Kolkata’s first Bengali restaurant established in 1969 by the All Bengal Women’s Union and has been frequented by stalwart guests like Satyajit Ray. But it was, and still is, a no-frill joint serving good home-style Bengali food…
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Pudding of Love | Mum-In-Law’s Special Caramel Custard
Again a folder full of unpublished drafts – each draft vying for equal attention. How could this delicious wonder remained lying in the folder – all because Mum-in-law wasn’t sure about the proportions of this recipe. Like most recipes of hers. And like most mums of her generations. No ifs and buts, no guessing… the measurements have to be perfect. And hence, the perfect recipe for a perfect pudding, oozing out love – the motherly love. The love that went into the making of her epic pickles and the same love that went into the hours of standing and finally goading the neighborhood Phuchkawala for the recipe of the perfect…
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A Riot of Colours | Kolkata Kaleidoscope
Holi… a riot of colours. It doesn’t have to be Holi to bring on a riot of colours in the city which has raised me. Kolkata. Perpetually on a roller coaster. Perpetually on a riot of colours. Millions of colourful memories occupying gigabytes of memories in the computer. Hundreds of unwritten posts. It is impossible to capture the city in all it’s essence but the images that constantly haunt me are the images from it’s streets, markets, strong faiths (make shift temple under a banyan tree, or in the dashboard of a taxi), decadent buildings, people, the stiff nosed club culture… a riot of colours… and the evening ice lolly…
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Spicy Baby Potatoes or Aloor Dum – Kolkata Street Style!
Here's a finger licking post of Kolkata street style spicy Aloor Dum! The recipe is adapted from Dilipda, the legendary roadside vendor at Vivekananda Park in Kolkata. His Phuchkas are legendary, and so is his Aloor Dum. Enjoy recreating this roadside classic at home!
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Bhapa Mishti Doi and A Food Safari of Bengal | BBC GoodFood ME
Eid Mubarak and Shubho Bijoya to all of you! Born a Hindu and brought up embracing all faiths, I am always amazed to find how different festivals from different faiths almost always coincide with each other – as if, underlining my belief that we are ultimately bound by only one faith… that of humanity. This year, the pujo bumper came via a feature on me and Bengal in GoodFood Middle East’s 7th Anniversary Bumper issue in Food Safari: Bengal. The article chalks out my childhood, my food and travel memories and Bengali cuisine, followed by the recipes of Bhapa Mishti Doi and Shorshe Bata Salmon or Mustard Salmon (here’s another version of Mustard…
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Flurys in Kolkata | The Legend Still Continues in Park Street
Flurys in Kolkata is legendary. The tearoom founded by the Swiss couple Mr and Mrs J Flurys in 1927 is still one of the most fashionable Park Street addresses.
