Recent Posts

Doi Begun

Doi Begun

‘Doi begun’ (in Bengali) or ‘dahi baigan’ (in Hindi) is – ‘fried eggplant in yoghurt sauce’; it is one of the simplest but delicious dishes that one can prepare for a meal. This dish falls into “anybody can cook” category; yet, it is different from the usual curry.

Goshamahal Baradari

Goshamahal Baradari

One day the prince – the heir apparent spotted the girl while she was taking a bath and promptly fell in love. Their love flourished and the two decided to flee to the neighbouring kingdom of Bijapur on the birthday of the king. However, on the same night the girl committed suicide, leaving behind a note that said she was not fit to be his queen. “But in my memory do construct a place where ladies can take bath, avoiding the eyes of men,” she implored the prince in her note. True to his love, when the prince did ascend the throne he built Goshamahal Baradari in her memory.

Apple Juice Chicken

Apple Juice Chicken

This oriental style dish, chicken in apple juice is the result of my culinary explorations to come up with a simple chicken dish with just a few ingredients. Since this dish is not overtly spicy and due to its sweet, tangy, fruity flavour it generally appeals to the taste buds of the kids.

Calcutta’s Bizzare Professions

Calcutta’s Bizzare Professions

This was Calcutta of the 18 th Century – where thanks to a monopoly trade of salt and opium apart from fine cloth, the British merchants and nabobs made fortunes. Next came a section of the natives, the Bengali agents of the Company who worked under European masters and amassed great wealth though the means were seldom just. They were the new class of wealthy natives, the dewans and the banians who steadily climbed the social hierarchy with their new found riches. Finally, Calcutta was home to those who lived like predatory sharks – tricksters, embezzlers, swindlers and even extortionists who exploited people in the name of the society.

Sunday Mutton (Mangshor Jhol)

Sunday Mutton (Mangshor Jhol)

Mutton curry or mangshor jhol evokes the nostalgia of a lazy Sunday afternoon for Bengalis at any part of the world and I am no exception. In almost every Bengali household mangshor jhol and bhat (rice) was the standard but all time favourite menu for Sunday lunch; and being a popular dish there are few minor variations in the standard recipe. But whichever way it is prepared, ultimately it turns out to be delicious. As they say, “All roads lead to Rome”.

Mohun Bagan Villa – Gone, But Not Forgotten

Mohun Bagan Villa – Gone, But Not Forgotten

Mohun Bagan Athletic Club occupies a pride of place in India’s sporting history. But few are aware that the club was named after a beautiful garden-house where its footballers practised in the initial days.

Malai Paneer

Malai Paneer

An avid carnivore, my daughter Mohona loves paneer, the only vegetarian fare she finds delicious. She often says that she can eat as much paneer (cottage cheese) as we can dish out and in whatever form. Among the various preparations – paneer in thick tomato gravy and malai paneer possibly feature at the very top of her list of favourites.

A Hidden Treasure In Vizag

A Hidden Treasure In Vizag

A Dyanora black and white television, an old murphy radio, a grubbly-looking His Master’s Voice gramaphone, a German-made organ; as I wandered around, looking at the haphazard display I could not help but turn up my bulbous nose at the modest collection. After all I hail from the city which is home to the great Indian Museum; or if you consider my present home – it boasts of the great Salar Jung Museum. So if you detect a certain degree of snootiness creeping in for the oddball display in Visakha Museum at Vizag I should be excused.

Ladakh – Always Through

Ladakh – Always Through

[In search of a soul in Ladakh]

Frustrated for not being able to pursue his dream of becoming an actor, the Dilip Kumar fanatic went on to first join the Indian Air Force with guardian advice from his army-man uncle. I can recall him saying “I remember when we became trainers, we used to keep count of how many fellows we kicked out of the airplane during free fall training!” – Then from Air Force to the Indian Army, to the Core of Signals, from being a wild horse to becoming a soldier, a decorated officer.

Saree Saga

Saree Saga

(A Short Story)

The perfect opportunity presented itself, a few days later. Ria, Indrani’s new daughter-in-law sat with parcels and packages strewn all around after a marathon shopping expedition. Ria and Tana aka Tanaji had come down from UK for a few weeks intending to spend the Durga Puja with friends and families. They planned to spend a few days in Delhi with Indrani and Ena before leaving for Kolkata where Ria’s family was based. Ria had just returned home after a tiring but fulfilling day and was now showing her purchases to mom-in-law.

Buttery Baked Chicken

Buttery Baked Chicken

It is a non fussy, simple non-vegetarian recipe, requiring few ingredients and minimum preparation beforehand. Of course, since it is baked wrapped inside an aluminium foil, you require an oven for this dish. I like to prepare it not only because it is easy to cook but at the same time, it is healthy and full of subtle flavours as well.

Daughter of Darkness

Daughter of Darkness

She sat with her head bowed low on her knees, singing one of the devotional songs of Tagore in a low voice; Uncle sat beside them reading, occasionally lifting his face to look at his daughter with tenderness. At that moment, precisely I decided against revealing to them, my new found knowledge about the family dynamics.

Job Charnock and the Great Tree

Job Charnock and the Great Tree

Indeed, it is Job Charnock, the founder of the trading post of the East India Company at Chuttanutee or Sutanuti, which eventually grew into the second city of the British Empire. But it is not Job Charnock or his contribution which is our subject of interest but the “great tree”. It not only provided shade to Charnock and his companions, who resided in simple thatched huts in contrast to the large elegant structures that later came to dot the imperial city but was an important landmark for mariners.

Basanti Pulao

Basanti Pulao

Celebrations on Noboborsho’ – the Bengali New Year is considered incomplete without a spread of authentic Bengali dishes. ‘Basanti Pulao’ is one of the star dishes gracing the Noboborsho (the Bengali New Year Day) spread. ‘Basanti Polao’ is a form of ‘pulao’ prepared with a fragrant variety of rice, ‘Gobindo bhog’, typically grown in Bengal.

A Scandal In ‘Babu’ Calcutta

A Scandal In ‘Babu’ Calcutta

There are many anecdotes of one-upmanship that was common among Babus (neo rich Bengali under company’s rule) of Calcutta. The rivalry between Nabakrishna Deb and Churamoni Dutta knew no bounds. the rivalry between two groups culminated in an incident that rocked the Hindu society and left it divided and subsequently, came to be known as Kaliprasadi Hungama (ruckus over Kaliprasad). Calcutta witnessed a clash of titans who were equals in terms of wealth and influence in society.

The First Flush

The First Flush

Here in Goomtee Tea Resort the vintage bungalow is charming. Austere colonial grandeur of wood & whites through the long corridor of silence springs to life in its beautiful camellia plants, distant factory hour bells, wild flower blossoms on the hill slopes and the smiling faces of humble lives. Coming back to these mountains always feels like return to innocence.

The Origin of ‘Bharat Mata’

The Origin of ‘Bharat Mata’

Abanindranath conceived his Bharat Mata or Banga Mata – as he had originally named the painting – very differently from later visualisations of Mother India – as a Hindu goddess, in all her finery, perched on a lion with a banner and a weapon with a map of India as a backdrop. She seemed to be an Indian version of Britannia with the lion. In contrast Tagore’s Bharat Mata, painted in ‘delicate colours’ eschewed religious connotations. She is a picture of serenity and purity; dressed in a simple garb of saffron she is more of an average Bengali woman with conch shell bangles. Depicted as a yogini (woman ascetic) she stands for renunciation and transcendentalism, very Indian in ethos.

The Church That Was Auctioned

The Church That Was Auctioned

In 1778 Kiernander’s sight failed him and for three years he was totally blind from cataract and during this time his son, Robert was in charge of his affairs. In 1781 though Kiernander had regained his sight he faced fresh troubles since he had injudiciously signed some bonds for his son and though the liabilities could have been covered by his assets the creditors were alarmed and the church and adjoining properties were brought under the hammer.

Aglio e Olio

Aglio e Olio

‘Aglio e olio’ in Italian simply means ‘garlic and oil’ (pronunciation: ‘alio e olio’). It is a simple, traditional but delicious spaghetti dish with garlic and olive oil as the two primary ingredients. For me, it is very rare when a vegetarian dish upstages a non vegetarian one but, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is definitely one of them.

Dancing Girls of Company’s Calcutta

Dancing Girls of Company’s Calcutta

Raja Nabakrisna Deb, though a great patron of local cultural activities such as kabi-gaan was said to be the one who started the practice of hosting nautch parties in Calcutta during Durga Pujas and the nautch girl captivated the heart of the gora sahib for the next two centuries, holding him spellbound by her soft, seductive beauty, graceful movements and mellifluous voice.

Meatloaf

Meatloaf

Meatloaf is an ideal dish for the meat lovers. It provides ample scope for experimentation with different ingredients and brings in variation in flavour and taste.

Temi Tea Cherry On The Top

Temi Tea Cherry On The Top

Sikkim, on the northeastern fringes of India, perched on the Himalayan terrains has remained under the mountain mist and shadows, remote and at times removed from mainstream India. Located in the southern part of the state, Temi is the only tea estate in Sikkim yet one of the finest in India and relished worldwide.

Bindi

Bindi

For the past week, Piu has been toying with an idea. Next day while chatting on Skype, she could not hold back and blurted out, “Mom why don’t you two marry? I have no objections if that is what is holding you back.” Clearly, taken aback, her mother was quiet for a few seconds. Did I hurt her? Piu thought desperately, did she miss Dad? Did she think she would be betraying his memories? Piu waited for her response.

Rose Brown Murder – A Murder Mystery of 19th. Century Calcutta

Rose Brown Murder – A Murder Mystery of 19th. Century Calcutta

It was about 2 pm in the night of April 1, 1868. The beat constable after completing his round was returning to Amherst Street when he noticed a bundle of female clothes lying on the other pavement. In the light of his bull’s-eye lantern he realized it was a body – of a young woman lying in a pool of blood. The throat was slit open diagonally. The weapon used to commit the crime – a long sailor’s knife, “moderately sharp”, was found near the spot.

Gosht (Meat) Tawa Masala

Gosht (Meat) Tawa Masala

When it comes to mutton tawa masala it is truly the preferred dish for a lazy weekend, an answer to our heart-felt longing for a mutton dish but without going into the hassles of preparing an elaborate fare for the day.

Murg Zafrani

Murg Zafrani

Murg Zafrani is a gorgeous dish of whole chicken leg pieces cooked in thick tomato gravy with few selected spices and zafran. It goes well with paratha, naan or even plain roti (Indian flat bread) but, perhaps the best with – white rice cooked with butter, and mint chutney in the side.

Zereshk Pilaf (or Pulao)

Zereshk Pilaf (or Pulao)

Zereshk Pilaf – the fragrant rice dish cooked generally with dried, wild, red berries (‘Zereshk’ or ‘Zeresk’) and zafran (saffron) will take you to Persia where it was believed to have originated. Zereshk Pilaf is more popular in India as ‘Barberry Pilaf’ or simply ‘Berry Pulao’ since it was believed to be introduced in India by the Zoroastrians.

Baked Rosogolla (Rasgulla)

Baked Rosogolla (Rasgulla)

‘Rosogolla’ is almost synonymous with Bengalis. A Bengali who doesn’t like rosogolla is perceived to be like a Brazillian who doesn’t watch football. After Nabin Chandra Das made his sweet ‘discovery’ of white sponge-like balls floating in sugary syrup, Bengali sweetmeat makers unleashed their imagination and eventually rosogolla found itself many avatars. Baked Rosogolla is one among them.

Au Gratin

Au Gratin

Au gratin is a simple and popular casserole dish, prepared with both vegetarian and non vegetarian ingredients. Almost all connoisseurs of continental food are familiar with the dish called “au gratin”

Kumortuli – The Cradle of Gods

Kumortuli – The Cradle of Gods

The Durga Puja! About the only deadline that the laid back Bengali takes rather seriously. Four days of festivities takes months of elaborate and intricate preparation and at the heart of everything is the creation of the idol. And so we come to Kumortuli (potter’s colony) in Kolkata. The epicenter of idol making for Bengalis.

Hampi Rocks!

Hampi Rocks!

Hampi’s past presents an intricate pattern – strands of history and mythology woven together, form a rich tapestry. There are no water tight compartments – mythology takes over just where history ends

Roganjosh

Roganjosh

Roganjosh, a dish traditionally prepared with lamb meat is one of the many culinary gifts from Kashmir to the nation. The way it is prepared by many eateries has led to the misconception that Roganjosh is an overtly rich, hot and spicy dish. On the contrary if I compare it with some other popular Indian mutton or lamb curry dishes – prepared with the usual mix of onion, garlic, garam masalas and sometimes even with cashew nut paste, etc we will find despite its rich colour it is only mildly spicy.