A chef-owner. An advocate for women’s empowerment. A cookbook author. A soon-to-be food documentary host. A proud Londoner, an Aligarh girl, and at the heart of it all, a Calcuttan.
Asma Khan was in Kolkata for an end-of-year visit, for a host of reasons. Apart from unwrapping the many food stories that Kolkata holds, she received a gift from her mother: her ancestral home, where her mother [Faizana Khan] was born and got married. “My grandfather’s house was developed into a building. I received the flat as a gift from my mother. I am so happy. I now have a home in Calcutta,” she shared with My Kolkata.
An exclusive glimpse of Asma’s Kolkata flat and building rooftop on Rawdon Street
She envisions future supper clubs on the building’s “rooftop with a beautiful view,” which is nestled on Rawdon Street. Of course, it’s still early days, but Asma being true to her efficient self, is already scouting for 1930s-style furniture to add a touch of vintage charm to her home!
There was some more business done on this “eating trip.” “We had a tea tasting at Glenburn Penthouse hosted by Husna-Tara Prakash, husband Anshuman and father-in-law Sudhir, and we are going to serve their tea at Darjeeling Express soon!” she shared.
‘Sudhir [Prakash, of Glenburn] guided me on which tea to take,’ shared Asma
In between, came the food escapades and rendezvous, including a meal at Chinoiserie with Andrew Fleming, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Channa Batura and Tutti Frutti from Kwality, and kochuri-aloo torkari over adda at Sienna Cafe.
With Fleming in Chinoiserie, Taj Bengal, and (right) a Naga shawl he gifted her from his recent trip to Nagaland
Cottons’ Lemonade and Club Sandwich at Tolly Club, chaat from The Saturday Club, and chai from Balwant Singh Eating House — all the old haunts were revisited and loved! “I was surprised how good the chop suey was at New Cathay, next to The Oberoi Grand. Plus, their fried prawns were excellent,” was one of her tips for fellow food enthusiasts.
Finally, can a food trail in Kolkata be complete without phuchka? “It’s Ammu’s birthday today and I have just posted a picture of her and my niece eating phuchkas outside Kookie Jar!” signed off the author of Ammu, a book that celebrates her mother Faizana Khan’s cooking.