In a world filled with the aroma of delectable dishes and tantalising flavours, there exists a unique breed of individuals known as ‘foodies’. These passionate connoisseurs of cuisine revel in the joy of exploring diverse flavours and savouring mouth-watering dishes. But what happens when a dedicated foodie decides to venture into the world of dieting, only to find themselves surrendering to the irresistible allure of food? This is my story, whose love for food proved too strong to resist.
As a foodie, my life revolves around discovering hidden gems in the culinary world. While you will encounter most social media accounts filled with selfies and travel photos, mine would represent only mouth-watering photographs of every dish that I have encountered till date. For me, a night would not end without a sinful Darbesh (Bengali Laddu) or a Kheerkodom. In fact, I used to get withdrawal syndrome if I found my fridge empty of these delicacies. However, driven by health concerns and the persistent nudging from well-meaning friends, especially my son who is highly health conscious, I embarked on a dieting journey. The decision was not an easy one, for I knew that I would have to bid adieu to the calorie-laden extravaganzas I have cherished for so long.
For me, a night would not end without a sinful Darbesh (Bengali Laddu) or a Kheerkodom. In fact, I used to get withdrawal syndrome if I found my fridge empty of these delicacies TT Archives
A rude awakening
With determination and a pocketful of dieting tips, I began my journey towards a healthier lifestyle. It all started by visiting a dietitian who guided me with a diet plan that consisted of intermittent fasting i.e. having only one meal a day. The very first week of the diet was a rude awakening. The aromatic morning parathas, ladened with clarified butter and pickles, were switched with gluten-free brown bread and low-fat cheese with some fruits!
No more spicy food and definitely no indulgent sweets or desserts. It seemed like all my culinary adventures had come to an abrupt halt, leaving me yearning for the flavours that once brought me such pleasure. Despite the initial struggle, I managed to stick to my diet for a few weeks. While I felt healthier and lighter, a sense of emptiness lingered. The siren calls of my favourite restaurants, the allure of street food vendors, and the aroma of Bengali sweets in my neighbourhood bakery seemed to grow stronger by the day. The tantalising world of food that I had so passionately explored now beckoned me, and I found myself growing increasingly nostalgic for the epicurean pleasures I used to revel in.
The aromatic morning parathas, ladened with clarified butter and pickles, were switched with gluten-free brown bread and low-fat cheese with some fruits! Shutterstock
The aromatic whiff of one of my favourite dishes – the Calcutta Biryani
My assistant had given instructions to my chefs and the food-tasting team not to call me for any such tasting sessions. So, one fine evening when my team were secretly doing a tasting session, I happened to be present next door in a meeting with investors and could sense the aromatic whiff of one of my favourite dishes – the Calcutta Biryani. While I tried deflecting my thoughts and focusing on the meeting, my “foodie soul” kept knocking. Having lost the battle against my inner demons, I conjured up a false alarm saying that I had to take an emergency call from my family and barged into the room next to me.
The next thing everyone saw was me savouring a piping hot plate of Chicken Biryani. To add to this sin, I spotted a bag of Sweet Bengal, which unfortunately in the given time my team was unable to hide from my view. And, in the name of sampling, I was sinking into a pool of sweetness, jumping from one sweet to the other. The sensation was just not pure ecstasy but “heavenly”. It was in this moment that I realised my love for food was a temptation I could not resist.
The Calcutta Chicken Biryani – worth conjuring up a false alarm for Aminia
The allure of food was undeniable
My return to the world of food was swift and joyous. I felt each bite as though it were a rare treasure with renewed zeal. The once-empty social media feeds began to fill with pictures of tantalising dishes, and I was back on the gastronomic journey I had initially forsaken. For me the allure of food was undeniable. I had embarked on a dieting mission with the best of intentions, but my heart, or perhaps my taste buds, would not allow it. The love for food, the thrill of discovering new flavours, and the comfort of familiar dishes proved too strong to suppress. While my friends had hoped to see a slimmer and healthier image of me, they had to concede that my true passion lay in the world of culinary exploration.
The love for food, the thrill of discovering new flavours, and the comfort of familiar dishes proved too strong to suppress for the author Shutterstock
In the end, my journey from foodie to failed dieter serves as a testament to the power of food to tantalise and captivate the human spirit. For me, the love of food is not a mere indulgence but a passion that cannot be quelled by mere dieting resolutions. And so, as my quest to explore the vast and diverse world of food continues, I am sharing my experiences with all those foodies who share this unquenchable hunger for culinary delights.
Anjan Chatterjee is the chief of Speciality Restaurants, which owns Mainland China, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta, Sigree Global Grill, Café Mezzuna, Hoppipola, Barissh and many more. And yes, he is a foodie! He is at acgenx@gmail.com.
