Durga Pujo (puja) – its mention instantly brings visuals of Kolkata, elaborate and grand pandals, ethnically clad Bengalis, and, of course, that lavish spread of salivating Bengali cuisine. Are you visiting the City of Joy for the first time and around this grand festival? Then, trust us, you can’t miss tasting the traditional Bengali food served by a few of its restaurants in the most authentic way.
And, let us clear one misnomer around Bengali cuisine. It isn’t just about nonvegetarian dishes. It has an array of delicious vegetarian delicacies, and a gourmet is literally spoilt for choices. Are you ready to dig in?
Koshe Kosha
This decade and a half old eatery stand in contrast to anything luxurious interiors. It has reserved all its richness for its menu and has grown over the years by exploring and adding traditional Bengali food to satiate patrons. For vegetarians, the list includes mochar chop, posto bora, basanti pulao, narkel cholar dal, pur diye begun bhaja, chanar dalna, and echor kalia. Nonvegetarians must try mochachingri, kosha mangsho, gondhoraj murgi, and Ilish paturi (seasonal).
Don’t forget to taste steaming hot rice with a dollop of ghee and gondhoraj lebu (Kaffir lime).
6 Ballygunge Place
It would be a sin for a foodie to miss this iconic place located in a century-old building. Its menu is weaved with heritage as the dishes are prepared following notable cookery books, including recipes by Rabindranath Tagore‘s family.
Nonvegetarians can feast on bhapa Ilish (Hilsa fish steamed in mustard gravy), moirola macher piyaji, fish kobiraji, pabda macher jhaal, daab chingri. While vegetarians can binge eat luchi, aloo posto, aam porar shorbot, chana motorsutir chop, mochar ghanto.
Bhojohori Manna
There are days when you crave that nostalgic food made by your mom. Comprehending that emotion, Bhojohori Manna comes into the scene with its native home-food style Bengali cuisine. And the best part is it has branches all over the city.
A few must-try dishes are kochur loti paturi, potol dolma, thor ghonto, posto borar jhal, shukto, aar kalia, tel koi, chitol muitha, chingdi bati chorchori, and aam doi, misti doi.
Kewpie’s Kitchen
Comparatively a recent entry, this family-run eatery specializes in authentic culinary dishes of Bengal. With a limited pack arrangement, it serves traditional Bengali food on banana leaves and terracotta dishware.
A few drool-worthy dishes are dhokar dalna, chingri malai curry, doi begun, chorchori, doi potol, daab jhinge, rui kalia and goalondo.
Aaheli
Do you wish to experience the authenticity of Bengali food in a fine-dine setup? Aaheli answers for it. This 28-year-old eatery has seen the city’s food scene grow, but it didn’t fall for the change. Traditional and rustic flavors of different regions of Bengal are curated on its menu. In fact, a few of them dates back to the Zamindari era as an effort to restore those lost recipes.
Now, as you know where to taste – ‘soloh aana, Bangali'( pure Bengali) food, indulge without thinking twice. After all, pujo means feasting to one’s heart out.