oh calcutta!!!

Kolkata is a food lover's Mecca. Not only the traditional Bengali culinary delights, but in Kolkata you get restaurants serving all kinds of authentic cuisine from Awadhi to Konkan, Tex-Mex to Oriental. to add to it is the special Kolkata improvisations on the different cuisines. the leftist politicians from Kolkata might have resisted globalized economy in early 90s, but the globalization of food has been going on in Kolkata since a very long time. So here I present to you some delicacies from restaurants from around Kolkata.

• Fish Kobiraji; Chicken Pakoda & Coffee @ Indian Coffee House, College street -- Known for its intellectual clientele, including cerebral glittereti of the likes of Sunil Gangopadhyay, Mrinal Sen & the legend himself - Satyajit Ray; the Indian Coffee House in college street, has an aura of its own. Located in a non descript building near the university zone, the exterior, as well as the stairs leading to this joint may seem apalling to many first timers. As you enter, what appeals to your senses defeating the gloomy lights and des on the walls, is the lively conversations (adda in bengali) going on at the tables. Most of the tables are surrounded by dozens of chairs. The patrons order for half cups of coffees and discuss issues ranging from Hugo Chavez to Pablo Neruda for hours. The air is filled with cigerrette smoke ( I have not been there since the ban on smoking in public places), and excited conversations, poetry reading, political discussions, etc. But even though very few of the patrons order anything other than a cup of coffee ( I would not put moy money on this business), the sancks served is really tasty. Especially the chicken pakoda & fish kobiraji. And the coffee can give all the CCDs & baristas a run for their money.

• Hinger Kachaury with tarkari and chatney @ Tasty Corner, Mandevilla Gardens, near South Point School -- Hinger Kachuri is immortalized by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay in his short story of the same name, later adopted in silver screen as the Uttam Kumar starrer Nishipadma, and later Rajesh Khanna-Sharmila Tagore starrer Amar Prem, containing some soulful music by the great Burman Dada. The food that inspired so much creativity, is however, available at a neighbourhood shop (even shacks or gumtis in some places) in most places in the older part of kolkata, for a princely price of Rs. 2/piece with unlimited tarkari & chutney. Though it shares its name with kachori of northern india, the hinger kachuri is more like a puri, with stuffing of hing (Asafoetida) and dal (lentil), within its layers. Though I have tasted this delicacy in alot of places, my favourite remains the small shop near my school, Tasty corner. Growing up in 90s, with a meager pocket money as compared to today's teenagers, my idea of fast food and quick treats was very much dominated by this joint. Infact a reason of this place being so dear to me, is the countless number of memories I share with the place. Going there with Maa to have a quick snack after a long day at school, with friends for pre holiday class parties, having long chats with my childhood crushes, over a pata (plates made of shalpata, in which the food is served), breaking the fast after anjali on durgashtami....the list goes on. Thankfully, even though the owner surely got richer every day, he did not try to upgrade the place much, which I believe would kill the fun. So even today, whenever I pass by, I can buy a plate, hop into the defunct haringhata milk depot beside the shop, and savour the same taste, while reliving my memories.

• Luchi cholar daal @ Srihari, Bhawanipur -- Luchi is perhaps the most oily comfort food you can ever come across. But any Bengali boy is fed on a diet rich in luchi. Mader of refined flour, deep fried in oil, sometimes ghee, an overdose of luchi in growing years is a principle reason behind the larger than usual girth size of the average bengali male. Though no one can compete Maayer hather luchi with cholar dal / alur dom / pathar mangsho, Shrihari in Bhawanipur, which is a personal favourite of my father (who being a Mitra Institution alumnus, may have similar bonding with this joint, as I have with Tasty Corner) serves a quite good version.

• Daber Sharbat @ Paramount, College street
• Milkshake @ Rallys, Golpark & Esplanade
• Dahi bada & Chat @ stall opposite to New Market
• Pau Bhaji & shukno alurdam @ stall beside Lake Kalibari
• alurchop, beguni, fuluri, mocharchop, etc. with muri @ Duttar Televaja, near Hedua
• masala muri @ hawkers near lake/local train
  
• Fish/chicken/mutton Tikka roll @ Beduoin, Gariahat
• Sandwitch with chutney @ stall opposite Gillander House, Dalhousie
  
• Pentagon/Y2K roll @ Bawarchi, Jadavpur
• Chicken Stew and fish roll @ Chittoda's, Deckers Lane
  
• Fish Roll @ Bijalligrill Caterers at some biyebari (marriage reception) or their shop near Lake Market or Jodhpur Park
• Kati roll @ shops in Esplanade
  
• Fish Paturi @ Savouries Caterers at some biyebari (marriage reception) or at their restaurant '6 Ballygunge Place' in, as the name suggests, Ballygunge
• Biriyani and chicken chaap @ Shiraz, Park Circus
  
• Topse mach vaja; whole vetki paturi; daab chingri @ Vajahari Manna, Mandevilla Gardens
  
• Fried rice; Chilli Chicken; Fish in Hot Garlic Sauce; Prawn Balls; Chicken asperagas soup @ some restaurant in Tangra
• Chello Kebab & Sizzler @ Peter Cat, Park Street
• Chicken Rashmi Kebab @ Aster, Theater Road
  
• tarka; roomali ruti and mutton kasha @ road side dhabas in Jessore road.
  
• tandoori chicken, kaali daal, palaak paneer, saag mutton, Lahori Keema, tandoori roti @ Sher-e-Punjab, VIP Road or Sanjha Chulha, Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
• Sundae Icecream @ Rollick Room, beside Indian Hobby Center, Russel Street
• Moglai paratha; Kasha mangsho; Koolpi @ South Pole, Gariahat
• chitol peti; sarshe illish; murighanto/mochaghanto/bati-chocchori @ Kalika Hotel on 2nd floor of Gariahat market
• phulkopir singara; karaishutir kachuri @ Mrityunjoy, Sharat Bose road
• kesar-masala cha @ shop near Bhawanipur Gurudwar
• mutton patty @ Jalajog, Gariahat
• pastries @ Katheleen, Park Street
• dhosa; dahi vada; cold coffee @ komala vilas, opposite lake market
• Lassi; kulpi @ Ganguram
• hot rasgullas, jalebi and milk @ neighborhood sweet shop
  
• cha; prajapati biscuit; pauruti; alurdom @ neighborhood tea stall