A deferred conversation which many people prefer calling email in the pedantic sense of the term, made me crave about home food...bong food...ghar ka khana...maa er hater ranna!!!!! Jyotika at the same time shared this awesome blogpost with me were a fellow blogger rants about her love for all things good about food...and no prizes for guessing...that essentially related to bong food :P.
It's not a fact anymore but common knowledge that I love eating. Listing out favourites will be a cardinal sin, but yet I will go ahead with a few for which I have perennial craving for. and a few suggestion here and there.
1. Phuchka- This had to top the list. Panipuri, golgappas etc. etc. please take a backseat because nothing and i repeat NOTHING makes you ga ga about street food as authentic Calcutta Phuchka does.
My picks- a) Rajender phuchka near Dakshinapon. b) CR Park Market No 1 phuchkawallah in New Delhi c) Sindhi Colony in Hyderabad (I located that one!)
2. Chitol Macher muithya- Uff!!! I am really going weak on my knees imagining those fishballs in that temting gravy.
My pick- nobody makes it as good as my didun. Period. Already have the recipe with me, will learn it form her directly soon. I wish I could cook like her though.
3. Ilish mach- I love this one...prepared anyways. While the bangal way of preparing it on Sarswati pujo (light gravy with eggpants and kalojeerey) remians a favourite, I love the bhapa, bhaja and all other known varieties.
My pick- My pishimoni and Ma's kitchen.
4. Kochur shaak/bata/koura, Karkone bata, dhoney pata bata- Traditional ghotis can smirk at this one, but trust me, it tastes like heaven...of course you need good cooks at helm. My experience tells that true blue blooded ghotis also have enjoyed this fare at one of my relative's place...and needless to say they were always asking for more. In case you have a thing for spicy food and good food in general...do try!!
My picks- Again my Ma and Pishimoni's kitchen.
5. Vada/ Sambhar/ Crispy Dosa- I have to agree that this is an acquired taste and thankfully I wa slucky enough to discover this one. Tuesday morning breakfast in the mess means yumm Sambhar and Vada. Me and my friend tavishi have this alltime craving for the sambhar prepared Tuesdays and Sunday mornings. They taste so good and better than the other days.
My picks- NALSAR university mess and Minerva Coffee shop in Hyderabad.
6. Fried Rice/Noodles/Bekti and Chilly/Schezuan/Lemon/pepper chicken..anything Chinese- I adore. Simply. Can have Chinese anytime of the day.
My picks- quite a long list actually- a) Mainland China, Calcutta (Hyd one is not that good), b) China Town in Calcutta (any restaurant is good enough though my vote goes for Beijing and Bigg Boss) c) Ten Downing street in Hyderabad d) A newly opened eatery near my place...near the golfgreen more (forgot the name) e) Chungwa in New Delhi and e) Nan King in Hyderabad (obviously!!)
7. Mutton Kosha/Biriyani- Quite a tie. And i love them both. Acquired a taste for biriyani after coming to Hyderabad.
My picks- For Mutton Kosha, has to be my mom's kitchen. I will try out Golbaari for sure sometime soon in Calcutta. For Briyani- Paradise in Hyderabad. Iconic and the winner all the way. In case you cant manage a seat at the upstairs restaurant, go for the take away. you will not rue it. Arsalan in Calcutta.
8. Subway- I love subway. It changed my perception about breads and sandwiches in general. Frankly speaking, before trying Subway I never thought that my taste buds can be friendly to breads also, since I am quite a rice person. But healthy eating at Subway makes me feel good. Love the Salads, cookies and of course the sandwich there.
9. Chocolate fudge from Nahoum's- That explains it all. 70 years and counting..threats of closure and change of ownership notwithstanding, the charm of Nahoum's continues..just like good old Calcutta and New market.
10. Nolen gurer sondesh and mishti doi- I am not a sweet dish fan and that's very hard to gulp down for some of my non bong friends. But my bong sweet tooth makes an appearance here and there even when I have a preference for everything 'jhaal'. Give me nolen gurer sondesh from Balaram or Kalpana near my house and I will die for you.
And mishti doi!!! I love!! more than ice cream....in fact I respect houses which serve mishti doi as the dessert instead of ice cream. It's not a popular choice so many people don't serve it on occasions anymore. High on calorie, dalda and blah blah...but who cares. Kalpana's mishti doi...and I keep on dreaming!!!
In case you are counting calories after reading this...can't help it dear. who cares about calories when you can dream about the creamy and delicious mishti doi?
hmm.. I realise now that I have never had bengali food - except for rasgulla, which isn't on your list. also, looks like a lot of the bengali delicacies you have posted are non veg. :( any specials on the veggie side? just in case I ever get around to visiting kolkata and eating there.
ReplyDeleteapart from that, I love food. eating, cooking, talking, reading, bloggin. :D love it in all forms. inspite of not being familiar with some stuff in your post, I can see the love, almost taste it and sigh with you. I miss it too.
will be back for more.
Off all the things you mentioned here, I could relate to is Pucchka waala around CR Park, coz I have stayed around the Kalkaji area for 3 years! Tell me which block were you specifically talking about?
ReplyDeleteNahoum's choco fudge, awesome choice!
And for the rest I am a veggie, and anyway I have bothered about the calories ..am God gifted with an awesome digestive system, I can digest polythene too, I guess :/
@Rohini, Thanks for visiting my blog :)) Well you should definitely try more of bengali cuisine...and trust me, it has lots of options for veggies....you can go to a speciality chain like "Oh! Calcutta" may be and ask them to help you out with the menu.
ReplyDelete@Sourav, I was referring to the a block Market No.! phuchkawallah...the one near the CR Park kali bari :)) serves mouth watering phuchkas :))
Hi,
ReplyDeleteStumbled here from somewhere and could not help commenting....i love ilish too. Can have it for beakfast, lunch and dinner. Try ilish maach with kakrol or kochu. Delicious.
Hey gypsy,
ReplyDeleteYes!! quite the same here :D I have had it with kochu..will have to try it with kakrol someday :))
so much food talk makes one voraciously hungry!
ReplyDelete@listless traveller, and hunger calls for good food :)...thanks for following the blog :)
ReplyDelete