Imagine walking into a place decorated with sholar kaaj, dressed in your Durga Puja best and savouring quintessential Bengali delicacies such as Koraishutir Kochuri with Kosha Aloo dum, Mangsher Jhol, Calcutta Fish Fry or tickling your taste buds with some new flavours such as Gondhoraj Salad and ending on a sweet note with Totapuli ot Rosomundir Payesh.
If that seems like the best way to spend Durga Puja, walk into Oh! Calcutta’s Kolkata outlets at Forum Mall or Silver Springs from Sasthi to Dasami and enjoy the festive buffet.
For this year, the buffet has been especially curated keeping in mind the popularity with the patrons in past years. “Going by past experiences and the feedback of our patrons, we have decided to put together all of Oh! Calcutta’s special offerings, and bring them to a lot more foodies this Puja,” said Debashish Ghosh, general manager, Speciality Restaurants.
The restaurant will be decked out in 'sholar shaaj' and have 'dhakis' welcoming customers
The chain, part of Anjan Chatterjee’s Speciality Restaurants, will be decked out in sholar shaaj and have dhakis welcoming customers. To reduce the much-dreaded waiting time during Puja days, Oh! Calcutta has decided to take the buffet next door to Café Mezzuna as well on the five days from Sasthi (October 20) to Dashami (October 24). The idea is to let customers relax and enjoy a great adda over food in between pandal-hopping.
On the menu
Dimer Devil with Mutton and (right) Chingri Cutlet
The Durga Puja 2023 buffet menu will include a host of quintessential Bengali dises, as well as a few items from other cuisines that foodie Kolkatans have come to love. Starters include Chingri Cutlet, Tandoori Ghee Roast Chicken, Dimer Devil with Mutton, Kasundi Paneer Tikka, Singara Chaat, Gondhoraaj Salad and Chicken Salad.
The main course will offer vegetarian delicacies such as Rajbabrir Chholar Daal, Kosha Aloo Dum, Shorshe Narkol Phoolkopi, Vegetable Jalfrezi to be had with Koraishutir Kochuree, Kaju Kismis Pulao and steamed Basmati rice. Non-vegetarians can enjoy Kancha Lonka Murgi, Mangsher Jhol, Calcutta Fish Fry, Pabda Shorshe Bata, Chingri Malai Curry and, on special a la carte orders, some Ilish (hilsa) dishes as well.
Pabda Shorshe Bata and (right) Chingri Malai Curry
Must-have accompaniments such as Papod, Lonkar Aachar, Aam aar Kuler Aachar, Pora Tomator Chutney, Aamshotto Khejurer Chutney, Doi Shosha, Bori Bhaja, and paan will complete the spread.
Those with a sweet tooth will be spoilt for choice. There is Rosomundir Payesh that has small rosogollas in kheer; Totapuli, which is kalo jaam meets sandesh in one creation; Kesar Kalakand and Mishti Doi.
Totapuli
Chef’s picks
Brand chef Kingshuk Kundu, who has been instrumental in crafting the menu, said the highlight of Puja special are the simple, classical Bengali dishes. “We begin with a Chingri Cutlet, which is that delectable item we often consider a precursor to a great meal and a good time. We want to try and evoke those feelings of happiness with our prawn delicacy. The Dimer Devil is also special, as this is made with a filling of mutton, which is bursting with flavour.” He also mentioned the popular south Indian dish, Ghee Roast, which has been given a special touch and will be made in a tandoor and served as a dry starter item.
Brand chef Kingshuk Kundu
They have attempted to bring a lavish and wholesome meal with many traditional Bengali combinations for the buffet, said Kundu. “There is prawn and mutton not only as starters but as a main course as well. We have also used shorshe (mustard) which is present a lot in our Bengali cuisine,” he added.
A touch of novelty, as the chef said, comes from the chaats and salads on the menu. Along with regular salads, there are chaats with shingara as well as special creations like the Gondhoraaj Lebu Salad. Plus, there are quintessential flavours that signal the start of winter’s abundant produce in Bengal, like the Koraishutir Kochuri and Chholar Dal, added the chef. “It is our sincere endeavour to lay out a special spread so that every meal during Puja 2023 is a satisfying experience for Oh! Calcutta patrons,” he signed off.
The buffet will be available at Oh! Calcutta and the Forum Mall location of Cafe Mezzuna on the five days of Durga Puja
Oh! Calcutta’s Durga Puja Special
What: Durga Puja special buffet
Where: Oh! Calcutta outlets at Forum Mall and Silver Springs and Cafe Mezzuna at Forum
When: Sasthi - Dashami (Friday, October 20 - Tuesday, October 24)
Timings: Lunch: from noon onwards; Dinner: 6.30 till late, drinks served till 11pm
Pocket pinch: Rs 1,395 (plus GST) per head
