What’s an adda with friends without food? From sharing tiffin at school to grabbing a quick bite in between busy schedules, there are many stories of friendship revolving around food. Cooking together, trying out new restaurants, sharing recipes and food reels — friends do it all. This Friendship Day, My Kolkata asked a few Kolkata foodies about that one food that comes to mind when they talk of friendship.
Flavourful and spicy — like Chinese cuisine
Ankit Das with Dona Dalui
For Ankit Das, an undergraduate student, Chinese cuisine reminds him of his friendships. “I believe most of my friendships have different flavours and are spicy, yet tasty — like Chinese cuisine. I personally enjoy spending time with friends,” said Ankit, who also cooks Chinese at home and often packs it for college. Talking about a friend who reminds him of food, he said, “Here, I’m mentioning my best friend Dona Dalui. We always love to spend time together trying different food, and we particularly enjoy Chinese cuisine. Our favourite dishes are Fried Rice, Chilli Mushrooms and Chilli Chicken.”
All-time favourite like momos
Poushaly Chowdhury (right) with Srabanti Das
Poushaly Chowdhury compares her friendship with Srabanti Das to the momo. The undergraduate student said, “My friendship with my college best friend Srabanti Das is a lot like a momo. She is always there for me, just like momos during those sudden hunger pangs. Momo is our all-time favourite. We often head out for momos in between classes or after college. The bond we share is also a lot like momo’s chutney — it is tangy and fiery (laughs).” Poushaly and Srabanti also love to cook for each other. “I make food for her. But the one thing she loves the most among everything I make is Maggi. According to her, I make the best Maggi,” said the 20-year old.
Brewing friendship
Anindita Roy Sanyal (right) and her friend Debarati Roy
In the bustling world of deadlines and daily routines, Anindita Roy Sanyal's sanctuary lies in a simple, yet profound ritual: a steaming cup of milk tea. “My unwavering love for chai is not just a matter of taste, but of connection. One of my favourite places to indulge in this ritual is Salt Lake Sharma’s, a quaint dhaba near my friend Debarati Roy's place. Both of us are dedicated tea aficionados, finding solace and companionship in every cup we share. Whether it’s during a work break or while visiting my in-laws in Salt Lake, the idea of enjoying a kulhad of hot, aromatic chai always brings a smile,” said the software engineer and social media influencer.
Despite busy schedules and the doctor's advice to limit milk tea intake, Anindita and her friend Debarati find themselves frequently slipping into the warm embrace of their favourite brew. “Our friendship, strengthened over countless chai addas, is a testament to the power of shared experiences. Each visit to Sharma’s, every conversation over a cup of tea, not only rekindles our bond, but also reminds us of the simple joys in life. I also thoroughly enjoy how she gets mad at me if I don't nudge her on days when I know she is tied up. In every sip, no matter how fleeting or impromptu, we celebrate a connection that transcends time and distance — a connection forged over steaming cups of chai,” summed up Anindita.
Biryani-payesh adventures
(Left) Susmita Majumdar with her friends Shitangshu, Rajat and Indrani
For Susmita Majumdar also, a steaming cup of tea resonates with the word friendship, but in recent times, the simple concoction has been replaced by biryani and payesh. The architect explains, “Recently, I went to Chumaang near the India-Bhutan border with my friends Indrani, Shitangshu and Rajat. There, I cooked biryani while my friend made payesh. We did not have access to too many ingredients, but to our surprise, it turned out very well! I made the biryani in a wok and covered it with banana leaves. It was a rainy day and we enjoyed biryani in the mountains. That now is my core memory with my friends.”
The buffet of friendship!
Jayeeta Ghosh (third from right) and her gang
To homechef Jayeeta Ghosh, each of her friends is associated with a different food memory. She says, “The word ‘friendship’ reminds me of foods like jhal jhal phuchka, egg roll and chowmein from the school canteen. I remember during my college days, all my girlfriends would have a phuchka eating competition almost every day, and the hero ingredient was the chilli. Whoever ate more chillies would win the contest. And my phuchka would look more green with all the pieces of chilies popping out.” Some specific finger-licking foods like momos remind her of her friend Amrita. “I call her Ammu. She is a friend from school. Also, coincidentally, her office was beside mine near Camac Street and almost everyday back in 2012-13, we used to head to our favourite food joint Blue Poppy to indulge in momos like starved souls,” she said.
Friendship on food foundation
Soumita Saha with her friend Sarbajit Ghosh
Musician Soumita Saha’s friendship with her best friend Sarbajit (Ghosh) is built on food. The devoted food buddies are binded by the love for food they share. So, thinking about food, any food, makes her think of her foodie buddy. “Our conversations, regardless of their starting point, invariably circle back to food. We share a deep passion for Chinese cuisine, constantly unearthing hidden gems that serve it. Street food is another shared love; our lazy strolls are incomplete without indulging in Alu Kabli, Jhal Muri, and fritters (read gorom gorom beguni and phulluri).”
The duo also does not refrain from blaming each other for their weight gain. Soumita explains, “If I praise a particular restaurant's dish, Sarbajit immediately feels compelled to try it, and same goes for me whenever he praises a particular delicacy. Other than music and performing arts, food is a strong mutual interest that binds us together, sparking endless conversations and shared culinary adventures.”
