Good food generates good vibes. And good vibes lead to great teamwork that helps you get your job done better. It is perhaps this feeling that led to the enormous turnout at Ambuja Neotia — The Taste of Kolkata in association with The Telegraph, the three-day food carnival held from October 19-21 at Ecospace Business Park, New Town.
Participated by well-known restaurants, caterers and confectioners of the city, the festival brought together a diverse spread of authentic Mughlai, North Indian and Bengali cuisines with a fascinating mix of flavours and aromas that were sure to tantalise your taste buds.
The Telegraph dropped in at the food festival organised in the hub of the city’s IT sector and saw clusters of men and women gathered in front of their favourite food stalls, either to grab a quick bite during a short break, to savour a meal with colleagues at lunch-time, or simply to pack something to munch on at their workstation or take back home with them at the end of a busy day.
Here is a glimpse of some of the most sought-after dishes at each of the stalls we surveyed.
“We have been organising this festival since 2012, but never ever have we experienced such a massive turnout, that too on the opening day. We are happy that TCS has started letting employees come to office three days a week. So I am sure TCS staff will come on all three days and have a nice time at Ecospace. At this campus, we arrange many kinds of events and activities for the people who come to work here and I am sure our plans will make them decide not to stay back home,” said Ramesh Pandey, assistant vice-president of Ambuja Neotia group.
“As I am not from this city, I have no idea what I am eating except that it’s a famous Bengali sweet from Nalin Chandra Das & Sons. I can only tell you that it’s just melt-in-the-mouth delicious!” Gaurav, who works at Voith Paper, said.
“I was very excited when I came to know about The Taste of Kolkata festival. I have bought a Fish Kobiraji for myself from Bijoligrill and I am going to taste it now for the first time,” a visibly ecstatic Moumita Das, who works in Tata Consultancy Services, said.
“I tried out the Chicken Tikka Kebab from Aminia. They were just fantastic. I am a first-timer at this festival. I plan to visit and try out different dishes on the remaining days as well,” said Sandipan Chatterjee, who works in Cozeva.
FOOD FAVES
Chicken Tandoori, that was being sold in two (Rs 250) and four (Rs 450) piece portions, was the bestseller at Aminia, which specialises in the Awadhi cuisine of Lucknow.
A signature dish by Desi Foodiez, the Gandharaj Chicken Roll was an irresistible option for most visitors, wafting a heady aroma with its juicy nuggets of gandharaj chicken filling and generous sprinkles of gandharaj lemon and chutney wrapped in a soft paratha. Price: Rs 90
Long queues were visible at India Restaurant’s counter at all times, with Mutton Kachhi Biryani being the hot favourite among buyers. The combination of mutton, marinated with dry fruits for its extra special flavour, aromatic rice and the ubiquitous large piece of potato so typical of Kolkata Biryani, was a temptation few could resist. Price: Rs 360 per plate
Chicken Kebab Fry by Poush Parbon was an innovative dish that turned out to be one of the surprise hits of the festival. Served with salad and chutney, these deep-fried chicken kebabs were crispy on the outside and soft and succulent inside. Price Rs 120 per plate
The prawn cutlet was the fastest-moving item from the Benfish counter. Made with boiled prawn paste marinated with assorted herbs and spices, it is deep-fried after wrapping in breadcrumbs to help retain its flavour. Price: Rs 150
For those eager to have a wholesome, hearty meal at a reasonable price, the Kosha Chicken and Basanti Pulao combo by Plaite was the perfect option. Price: Rs 190 per plate
That Kolkattans and not just Bengalis have a sweet tooth was a truth well-proven by the totally diverse and cosmopolitan groups that perpetually crowded the stall by Nalin Chandra Das and Sons. Jalbhara Sandesh (Rs 30) and Mishti Doi (Rs 25) were the main attractions, although a variety of innovative chocolate desserts (Rs 30) and chocolate-flavoured sweetmeats (Rs 20) also kept the cash counter busy.
One of Kolkata's eternal all-season favourites, Bijoligrill’s Betki Fish Fry was the most popular pick among those looking to have a quick snack. Price: Rs 200