All that glitters is not gold. Sometimes, it’s Baked Rosogolla.
Neeraj Chopra, who won India’s first and only athletics gold in the Olympics in Tokyo in August 2022, requested for rosogolla after a traditional Bengali meal at the East India Room in Raajkutir on Tuesday. He was served baked Rosogolla and he “loved it”.
The javelin champion, who was on a short tour of the city, also had two servings of Mishti Doi.
“Neeraj told us, ‘I want to have Rosogolla and Mishti Doi. I love Bengali desserts and have heard about them a lot but have hardly had a chance to try them’,” said Sumanta Chakrabarti, corporate chef, Raajkutir (formerly Swabhumi).
The desserts followed an elaborate traditional Bengali thali dinner. The "foodie" was served four appetisers and asked for second rounds of Sorshe Chhenar Tikka, Thakurbarir Mochar Chop, Bhetki Fish Roll and Gandharaj Murgi Bhapa.
“He said that he was not a fan of fish but he liked the fish roll so much that he had two pieces,” said the chef. Chopra also requested that the Papad and Aam Chutney be sent to his room “to eat later”.
After dinner, the 23-year-old retired to the zamindari-style ‘Rajababu’s Suite’ at Raajkutir.
A special chocolate dessert inspired by the national flag of India awaited him in his room along with a tray of desserts shaped like the medals and mementoes that mark his biggest achievements — Gold at the Olympics, Arjuna Award (2018), Gold at the Commonwealth Games (2018) and Silver at the National Youth Championship (2013).
The desserts inspired by the Indian flag and Neeraj Chopra's medals that were served in the champion's suite
Neeraj in the 'Rajababu’s Suite’ at Raajkutir Rakesh Ranjan/ Facebook
On Wednesday, Chopra was felicitated at a programme in the city, which was attended, among others, by Manoj Tiwari, cricketer and Bengal minister of state for sports and youth affairs. Kolkata police also felicitated the Olympic champion at Lalbazar.
Neeraj Chopra at a felicitation programme in the city on Wednesday Image courtesy: Raajkutir
Back at Raajkutir, he had three more meals at the heritage look-and-feel restaurant inspired by the zamindari era.
Breakfast was Luchi and Sada Aloo Tarkari, “loads of fruits” and watermelon juice. He also asked for a cup of Mishti Doi for breakfast!
Did he work out all those calories? No! He seemed to have taken a day off training just to indulge in the best of Bengal food.
And clearly, he hadn't had enough of Kolkata's mouthwatering treats. He checked out on Wednesday evening with a box of sweets — Baked Sandesh and Ros Kadam.
Neeraj Chopra has also won country's first-ever gold medal in Men's Javelin at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023. We congratulate him on this momentous victory!
