FOOD for thought!

natasha chanda acharya

Calcutta is a foodie's paradise!
So for all those who are new to Calcutta or travelling there,
let's list all the famous resturants or unnamed shops in remote bylanes where you get those specially delicious so and so's.

I will start.

chelo kabab and chicken marakesh in PeterCat
Beef rolls and all other rolls from Nizam's
coffee house er coffee, but i am biased, so for me it's coffee pai.
(That's my best friends joint)
Biriyani from Aminiya

Should i describe there dishes in detail.
That would be a torture for me, frankly.

sudheer poppa

Good idea, but please give some kind of directions too

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Pic Page 1
Pic Page 2
When my life changed over a week

NostalgicIndian

I was wondering if Thai and Singaporean food is available at all in Kolkata. I havent been to India in a while.

Any Sushi place? I wonder how people react there at the mention of Sushi & Sashimi.

Next time I visit I want to do some touring, hopefully on a Royal Enfield. Do people still ride those? 1940's hand made... I want a red 500cc... Oops.. sorry for drifting to my dreams.. back to topic..

Oh oh.. and I want to eat Chaat & the Phuchka.. :drool:

I hope I'm able to take a break from work here and visit Kolkata during Durga Puja 2005. We have Durga Puja here too, organized by the small community. It is very nice and reminds us of the magnificence of the whole thing in Kolkata. Oh, the Bhog and this.. http://www.indiamike.com/india/attac...d=20 40&stc=1

natasha chanda acharya

NostalgicIndian, welcome to IM. coincidence, i have a friend from San Fransisco who is visiting Bangalore now.

you will get something very similar to the pic at Suruchi (Eliot Rd.),
a bengali joint run by some women's association. the "bhapa ilish" is too good.

Sudheer, i'd have to start putting up an "excel sheet" for this thread now.
Food: description: place: address: Contact:
er... to say the least it will be a very long list. I will only make the effort if IndiaMike promices to publish it for me. not a bad idea, come to think of it, no?

sudheer poppa

I said that because of my personal frustration about people talking about great places with no direction and me spending my life searching for those gorgeous places. So it was from personal expeirience that I spoke of.....


!!! Off Topic !!! And who was it that called me up a couple of days back asking for directions to peecoos in bangalore , Any guesses Vinay

vinayverma

Hmm Who was it??? Pooch?
Nice post Natasha...

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If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

sudheer poppa

It was natasha

natasha chanda acharya

Oh, all right, all right.
i am up to my ears in "peekos"
from reading other IMers reccomend it.
So i thought, i'll try it out.
And guess why i was desperate?
Went to this place called Tiger Trails.
It's done up like a hunter's lodge, colonial style
and is a quiet place with good f&b.
Imagine my shock when i am confronted
with colourful duppattas hanging everywhere
Bhangra music playing, and waiters dressed in bright satin dhoti Kurta!
They didn't even have their regular menu.
(they serve great lakhnawi kabab on regular days)
How come? they were celebrating "baisakhi"!
Nothing against so and so..., just a matter of expectation and reality.
so, desperately tried to "relocate" ourselves
and thus the SOS to Sudheer!
Unfortunately, samarkand was a closer rescue port,
so didn't get to the famed peekos after all.

But back to Cal...

rangss

I lost count of people who asked me the way to Pecos!

Pecos is the tiniest and the most crowded pubs in Bangalore. I knew what claustrophobia meant when i went up their spiral staircase to the roof top.

But their music is old time classical.

__________________
...and I took the road less travelled.

somnath

What a post Natasha !!!! All in one . But I think the Koh-i-noor is this one:
There is an addition, China Town at Tyangra is the talk of the town for Chinese food now a days. Though I’ve not experienced still a recommended place as per the public opinion.

Feeling hungry so bye .

Somnath

natasha chanda acharya

now a days? It always was. Lili's kitchen - for the best wontons!
chine pada in tangra for chinese and tibetan food.

other really old chinese joint which i frequented quite often was Peeking?? right at the start of Park Street.
And tibetan - has to be Elgin Rd. for the best momos.

Okay, add to list:
mutton kasa - Sher-e-panjan Airport rd.
chicken Tikka and rumali roti - Bedwin, Golpark

natasha chanda acharya

All Calcuttans, Read my first reccomendation!
Chelo and marakesh in Petercat. And you had a meet in peter cat and didn't order for chelo! tomader kichchu hobe na!

So here it is. The mother of all lists to the "Eating out Guide to Calcutta."

Of course, it is open to discussion. (As long as you agree with me, i am perfectly all right with discussions!) You can add your favourites to the list. But of course, by the time, I'm finished, you won't have much left to add.

The list is as and how I remember. So very disorganised. Please bear with me. By default it has more of South Cal than North, since I used to live in South.

Chelo kebab, chicken marakesh, and sizzlers in Peter Cat.
Mutton Kasha in Sher e punjab, Airport Rd.
Chicken Tikka and Rumali roti in Bedwin, Golpark.
Phuchka with meetha chatni in front of Dakhinapan, dhakuriya.
Phuchka and alu dam from pundit ji near Birla Academy.
Keema paratha from Krishnarpan, park circus.
Bhape Ilish fom Suruchi, Eliot Rd.
Beef Rolls in Nizams, New market.
Egg Rolls, anywhere in the city.
Fish butter fry in all the Benfish outlets.
all the chops and the telebhaja, and beguni's of the world.
cocktails by Irfan, wherever he is working right now.
Pork momos for breakfast in Chine para. or Elgin Rd.
Cha at Sharma's Dhaba in Ballygunge Circular Rd,
or for the elite, Oxford cha bar, or Dolly's at Dakhinapan.
Coffee has to be coffe pai
and south Indian at Malgudi days. (Naveen, I miss you!)
Of course, coffe from coffee house for the old world atmosphere.
Joy nogorer moa in winters
notun gud, kacha gola, rosogolla, sandesh also in winters.
patali gud and jhola gud.
icecream sandesh from that place near tallygunge.
late night Gundi pan for after dinner, near Minto Park.
fresh baked bread from Fluries.
Plum cakes for Christmas from Nahoms in new market.
Bhoger Khichuri and labra from any puja pandal.
chingri cutlet from allen's Kitchen, C.R. Avenue.
Biriyani and shammi kebab from Rehmania r Aminia.
Hing kachuri and tarkari from chop gali, bhawanipur
or mrityunjoy Landsdown Market.
Mishti Doi from Bhimnag, Bowbazar.
Kacha gola from Nakur.
Radu babur cha.
kabiraji kochuri near santoshpur bridge.
aludom from Vivekananda park.
Jhalmuri from anywhere actually.
Sharbat from Paradise
bharer cha in maidan on a rainy day.
all achar and morabba, kuler achar, outside gariahat market.
kashundi from Bikrampur
kumro phul bhaja, near chittaranjan Avenue.

chicken kabiraji, mutton Afghani, dimer kalia,
Phulkophir shigara, karaishutir cokhuri, Luchi and aludom,
alukabli, ghugni, radhaballabi, rasmalai, jalebi,
kamala bhog, sitabhog, mihi dana, malpua, ranga alur pithe,
fish kachauri, muri ghonto, mochar chop,
talshash with liquid gud filling,
Dhakai pototha,
darbesh, patishapta, chanar payesh from ???

there is so much more. I will never finish.

Gayamom

I can't speak for before I joined, but Natasha, your list of Calcutta delicacies is the most brilliant post. Ever. Qualifies as poetry, and I am not exaggerating for effect. When I chew on my Blimpies sandwich this afternoon, I will think of it and cry.

For non-Bengali-speakers, I thought I would translate a few, randomly chosen items (so they too may cry).

Bhape Ilish: a sweet-fleshed fish coated in ground spices and coconut, then steamed. Can almost (but not quite) be replicated with freshly caught shad when in season. Exquisite.

Kumro phul bhaja: Squash blossom tempura. Can do this from your own vegetable garden, but the blossoms are never as plump or flavorful as in Bengal.

Mochar chop: A delicacy made from the banana tree's flower. Requires extensive processing but the result is well worth it.

Labra: A slowly stewed mixture of vegetables, cooked until their flavors and textures are married to one another. A heavenly dish.

I have to stop now.

-- GM

natasha chanda acharya

hey, gayamom,
A belated welcome to IM. Thank you for your thumbs up. Checked out your profile. What I've always found interesting about meeting people on IM is that s many of us share such common interests, and I'm not just talking about travel. I read trashy novels too. I was connected with BHU in my college days. No, I didn't study there, but my friends did. so i have stayed in the campus. Have even conducted quiz shows in BHU. (much later than your time, of course) I haven't figured out what but you obviously have Bengali connections. I love gujju food. see!!! well, i hope you have a good trip to India end of this year. Have lots of good food, while you are here.

For all others, I think i will take my time and edit the looong post as and when i have time, trying to explain each and every dish. some of you can help me do that, like GM did.

Gayamom

Natasha:

Thanks for the welcome and your post. I have to take issue with one small point: Science fiction is not trash fiction (well, at least from this geek's perspective). In addition to science fiction, West and East Bengali cuisine are particular passions. I haven't had much Bengali/ Bangladeshi Muslim cooking (recipes anyone?) but have always been curious about it. Need to find more Bangladeshi friends and get invited over.

As for my Bengali connections, my mom's family is originally from Dhaka district and my dad's from Nadia district. The extended family is scattered far and wide now. As for Gujurati cuisine, too true, it gives Bengali food a serious run for the money. Yum. My locality needs a Gujurati restaurant in the worst way.

Look forward to your updates on yesterday's post.

-- GM