Spreading Coffee House-er ‘shei adda ta’ across Bengal

Coffee House opened its newest outlet near the banks of river Hooghly at Diamond Harbour. The idea to branch out from the confines of the ‘boi para’ and reach new vistas in the state is primarily to spread its rich legacy

The doors of the newest venue were opened for all in the presence of writer Amar Mitra, poet Mridul Dasgupta, film maker Sudeshna Ray, prof Ananya Chakraborty, writer Jhareswar Chattopadhyay, dramatist Debprasad Mandal and poets and activists, Prasun Bhowmik and Soumit Basu. Several cultural events were organised to mark the grand opening. Hundreds of coffee lovers thronged the new outlet to experience the ambience and get the aroma of the brew. A musical show was also organised by Sahaj Manush and Samriddha

Despite big names involved in the trade, the iconic coffee house has always enjoyed the patronage of millions of Bengalis and the new centre will have a blend of both the nostalgia and the new age. Speaking on the occasion, Nurul Islam Laskar, partner-entrepreneur, Diamond harbour outlet of Indian Coffee House, said: ‘We are here with a mindset to tap the young crowd and transitional customers. While the menu essentially remains the same, we shall soon introduce an array of new dishes depending on the demand’

The new outlet is around 3500sqft. It is centrally air-conditioned and the spiral staircase has given way to an elevator. However, the authorities have made it sure to retain the essence of the Coffee House with the whiff of the brew that ‘intoxicated’ the intelligentsia over the decades. The waiters dressed in white starched uniform with fan-tailed turbans would serve in the same manners as their predecessors did

All-time hit delicacies of Coffee House… the sandwich, chicken pakora, Mughlai paratha, the lip-smacking fish fries, fish fingers (and not to forget) the fish kabiraji will be served along with the famed omelette! The authorities have made it sure that the recipes are the same all across. Beside these, cold coffee, hot chocolate and the famous infusion will be served to add to the charm of the brand

‘The sprawling hall, the characteristic humming sound, the moving liveried waiters with silver green paraphernalia and the piping hot coffee served, conjure up the vignettes of the historic coffee house. In fact, Coffee House at College street is entwined with our memories, our culture and our souls. I started coming here as a student. This is the cradle of our Little magazine Bijolpo. I think the decision to expand Coffee House is a very discerning one. When the coffee culture is spreading across the city, it’s high time our very own college street Coffee House should have thought of spreading across Bengal long ago. Diamond Harbour is a popular getaway. The new Coffee House in Diamond Harbour overlooking the Ganges would boost the state’s tourism. I hope the new outlet will recreate the same magic that the historic Coffee House had done through decades. We will be inviting poets, writers and intellectuals here for intellectual sessions regularly,’ said Prasun Bhowmick, poet, activist and honorary advisor to the Coffee House Cooperative Society