WEEKEND COLUMN : THOUGHT FOR FOOD ::: 27.12.2015

Welcome To ALFRESCO of

The Lalit Great Eastern Hotel !!!

THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL OF DALHOUSIE SQ. ::: MY TRYST WITH THE LEGEND

In 1975 :

During my youth (at my 19^th year) , while working with The Times Of India to increase subscription of The Economic Times, (Calcutta edition just launched), my first pay had a cause of jubilation in its only restaurant  at the first floor with a B & W TV set, showing news to the worried audience………….  The stairs had been wooden with screaming sound , walls showing marks of rejections and floor carpet giving smelly gift of 115 years.

Only one exception  - a photo-frame of this legendary hotel ,  wherefrom freshness used to ooze out from the verse of Tagore :

“Basonaar- sera – basaa – rasonaai” – Desire’s best residence is in taste …. 

The Great Eastern Hotel : Earlier Image 

BACKGROUND :

·         From its early days as a thriving confectionary shop and meeting place for the East India Company's officers in the late 1830’s, this five-star hotel is a celebration of the iconic legacy of the Raj. Referred to as the “Jewel of the East” and the “Best Hotel East of the Suez” by esteemed guest Mark Twain, it has been one of the top hotels in Kolkata for nearly 165 years.

·         Built in 1841 as Auckland Hotel, it has been referred to as the ‘Jewel of the East’ and the ‘Best Hotel East of the Suez’. Over the years, the hotel has been the favourite haunt of royalty and celebrities from across the world.

2015 :

I stepped in the same hotel , with 360 degree change already taken place and  a word “LALIT” added to it.

THE LALIT GREAT EASTERN HOTEL : Present image 

THE LALIT GREAT EASTERN HOTEL :

·         Asia’s first luxury hotel, The Lalit Great Eastern is a heritage landmark located in the main business and shopping district of Kolkata. Restored and renovated over a period of seven years, this 5-star luxury hotel holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating hotel for 165 years.

·         The Lalit Great Eastern, now restored to its original glory, is an amalgamation of the styles of 3 different eras of history – Victorian, Edwardian and Contemporary, reflected in Heritage Block 1, Heritage Block 2 and the New Block respectively. The original Heritage Block radiates the charm of the British Colonial Era, while the New Block incorporates a contemporary look and feel. These blocks have been seamlessly connected despite their distinct character and decor.

·         The Lalit Great Eastern offers 195 aesthetically designed rooms and suites; 5 restaurants & bar - The Legacy Lounge, Tea Lounge, Alfresco - all day diner, The Bakery, Wilson’s - the pub; one of the largest conference and banquet facility; Rejuve – The spa with aqua bed, gym, salon, bridal’s room and outdoor pool.

 

Lobby 

·         In its second phase of opening in last quarter of 2014, the hotel will offer 49 rooms and suites in Heritage block 1, Baluchi – the Signature Pan Indian Restaurant, 24/7 – Multi Cuisine All Day Diner, Maxim’s Bar & Restaurant and Kitty Su – The Night Club.

·         The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata is a heritage landmark that has witnessed the evolving history of India, particularly of Bengal.

·         After a meticulous seven-year refurbishment, the hotel showcases a distinctive blend of Victorian, Edwardian and Contemporary architecture and décor. The original Heritage Block radiates the charm of the British Colonial Era, while the Modern Block incorporates a contemporary look and feel, enhanced with authentic Bengali artworks, crafts and design elements.

·         The Great Eastern’s heritage and history are celebrated in details like a century old oven preserved and adorning the interiors of The Bakery, the beautifully restored century-old piano in the lobby and an 8 ft replica of the trophy that Queen Elizabeth II presented to Mr. A.L. Bilimoria, the then Chairman of Great Eastern hotel.

ALFRESCO : 24 X 7 Coffee Shop

Alfresco Coffee Shop 24 X 7

World cuisine :  fresh from kitchen

Menu Card

Located at the lobby level, this all day multi-cuisine diner offers a range of world cuisine and signature dishes from Bengal.

Savour 5-star cuisine ranging from Bengali and Nawabi delicacies to Anglo-Indian specialties, whilst enjoying beautiful views of the lily pond and hotel courtyard.

Cuisine: Multi-cuisine
Timings: 24 hours

Pocket Pinch : @ Rs. 350/- per cup of  Masala Tea
For table reservations, call:  +91 33 4444 7777

Mutton Roganjosh 

WEEKEND COLUMN :THOUGHT FOR FOOD ::: 20.12.2015

3 DAY FISH  FEST 2015 @ 

NALBAN                                                           

PART  1

Cooking Contest : Contestants On The Stage Waiting For Judges 

HIGHLY O(FISH)IAL AFFAIR INDEED !!!

With the first cold air of winter, arrives the series of fairs and festivals in West Bengal – one behind the other …. In various shapes and sizes…. Like the migratory birds in a queue …

But “Fish” as a focal point ?

Pavillion 

Yeah, fish appears to be a source of life and part of celebration in Bengal’s culture and tradition for centuries. “Every day a piece of fish on the dish” is the unwritten law that rules the roost of all kitchens and households.

Therefore it is natural that fish has its sentiment cemented with the sentiment of Bengalese too so as to enable one such 3 Day “Fish Festival” to happen and has just ended today near the sprawling water body of NALBAN (beside IT Sector) in Kolkata. 3 days of festival time have been eventful and out of the box more than a fishy affair… in true sense.

LIST OF ORGANIZERS :

The entire event has had a whole lot of organizers like
• Indian Chamber of Commerce, a national chamber
• Deptt. of Fisheries, Govt. of WB
• Ministry of Commerce & Industry , Govt. of India
• State Fisheries Development Corporation
• National Fisheries Board
• Export Inspection Council

Bhojohari Manna's Stall 

The above apart, several international buyers, delegates from Japan, China, Vietnam, Oman & UAE attended this event with much enthusiasm alongwith “who’s who” of bankers and big players like IFB Agro Industries, Axis Bank, SBI, Bank of Baroda and Export Houses in food processing to discuss pros and cons of Pomfrets to Prawns.

Lunch Time 

No fair is complete if no fair size of food stalls are visible , particularly , when its “Fish” as a fairly talking point for 3 l…o…n…g days….

6 Ballygunge Place

FOOD STALLS YOU WOULD LOVE TO RUN FOR !!!

The food stalls are also prone to “who’s who” of culinary dishes and food business of the city , people would love to run for as under :

• Bhojohari Manna
• 6 Ballygunge Place
• Bawarchi
• Bhuter Raja Dilo Bor
• Oudh 1590
• BENFISH
• Pithe Bilashi
• Continental
• Bijoli Grill &
• Many more

The crowd had a smart way of enjoying food …. In a group or alone being much more relaxed as if ………….without fishing in troubled water while the ovens were busy enough to fry the fish or prepare succulent kebab to reach hungry mouth without much wastage of time…..

Paper Advt. 

CULINARY CONTEST & THE HEAT OF COOKING :::

The air at the festival had not only the aroma of fish and spices but also that of cooking skill , contest, award and celebration. Amidst the huge enthusiastic crowd , each passionate contestant had 15 minute round and innovation as resource, while judges sharpened their testing skill on 3 parameters (a) Garnishing (b) Taste (c) Texture.

Mr. Ranjan Kumar, Zonal Manager, IFB Agro with the contestants 

I was honoured by the organizers to be one of 3 judges for a round. The contest was sponsored and organized in collaboration with IFB Agro Industries Ltd. and ICC.

Mr. Ranjan Kumar, Zonal Manager, IFB Agro with the contestants

(More report & pictures on “Contest” in Part 2 – to be published on 26.12.2015)

Dak Bunglow @ Bentinck St. Kolkata - 1 ?

Dak  Bunglow @ Bentinck  St.  Kol - 1 ?

There may be an utter confusion in you to search for a Dak Bunglow  amidst the din and bustle of Bentick Street crossing, where car horns are loud enough to reduce you to pieces. You may also wonder to locate such an unique place there in the day or evening , when the same hardly exists at all.

AAMI BANGALI RESTAURANT (at 29B, Bentinck Street Kol-700 001/Phone : 4062-5050/90383-00333)  :::

But in stead, Chicken Dak Bunglow is smiling from the menu card of Aami Bangali Restaurant , the house of Authentic Bengali Cuisine This is a rich delicacy recalling the indulgence hitting the tastebud of the right crowd for the right food.

Situated amidst “who’s who” of cuisine, food and beverages at Esplanade spreading wings of Mughlai, Chinese, Thai , South Indian and so called “North Indian delicacies”, Bengali Authentic dishes are also making their distinct mark with flying colors.

My tryst with “Aami Bangali” does not emphasize on the core issue that “Aami –o Bangali” , ha… ha… ha… but a heavenly connection.

 The sooner I  entered the  joint at the suggestion of an office colleague for taking a parcel, I had a sense of an authentic “Bangal-i” cuisine like Murgh Polao, Kachupata Chingri, Dhonepata die Pabda and so many more , an aroma of East Bengal touching the hearts of all in this West Bengal and beyond.  

FOOD YOU WOULD LOVE TO DIE FOR !!!

The typical mouth-watering dish like “Kachupata Chingri” happens to be all time hit  here.

Mr. Argha Saha, the CEO and MD of this chain of eateries narrates a story connected with the brilliant Kachupata Chingri and its success story too. Several office goers  of this famous “Office Enclave “ take it as parcel to the other cities by flight, to enjoy it with rice during their stay at any hotel  on official tour. I wonder that there are people who would love to die for this finger licking “Kachupata Chingri” , even miles away……….

CHICKEN DAK BUNGLOW :::

Coming back to ‘Dak Bunglow’ made of Chicken with large and round Laccha Roti – this combination can be  justifiably named as “made for each other”  with a fresh touch of green salad. It is a sizzling hot,  rich and tasty curry, under which, the chicken solid pieces are buried to be picked up by the devilish eater inside you.

And once those succulent pieces move inside your mouth with flesh and bones …….. you are in the seventh heaven for sure.

Mr. Saha’s friendly gift “Anarosher Chutney” was another little angel from the stock to amaze us. So vibrant in the mouth with tickling nature of this great fruit mixed with sweetness leaving with an aroma of pleasure in our sense !!!

The venture of Aami Bangali is a venture of Gen-Y …. carrying the torch of a great tradition of Bengali specialty and cuisine to showcase its uniqueness and excellence to the young generation with faces & Face book i.ds , who may often need this not for the sake of their comfort but the survival as well.

SECRET AT THE LAST :::

“Chabbya Chossyo Lehjjyo Peo” Group page  of Facebook – a day to day diary of food lovers every where in "Social Media" owe to Mr. Argya Saha,  a great extent , as he is the founder and Admin.

He has proved a point that what preaches ,  he practises  the same as well. 

To all of us he belongs to a class of a rare and exemplary  community  ……. to establish the old value chain like commitment, focus and innovation, by which certainly the great success stories are made of. 

                                                        ----- 000 -----

PO LIN  Divine Food  : 

Where Monks Cook For Your Lunch  Daily ….

By Partha Pratim Majumder

Po Lin Veg. Restaurant - Po Lin Monastery , Hong Kong 

DIVINE REVELATION :

In the material world of cooks and chefs preparing food night and day at eateries, food joints and top class restaurants across the world , you may wonder asto whether there is a place where monks put hard work to grow crops and cook divine food for you everyday against a  price tag?

Po Lin Monastery - Inside 

Yes ! there is such a place in Asia  !!! At Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong, this is a regular event at the attached restaurants , where divine lunch hour comes down with most delectable veg. cuisine on the table to the tourists and devotees , coming across miles to the oldest monastery (year of inception-1924) in Hong Kong.

Po Lin Monastery : Panoramic View 

MY EXPERIENCE :

Last year in October, I  visited  to Po Lin at Nong- Pin , situated on the hill top amidst green , offering  serenity and peace of mind. It’s a two hour drive from Hong Kong city by underground train and bus or cable car , named as Nong-Pin 360.   

Nong-Pin  is famous tourist honey pot for the world’s largest Buddha, called as Tian Tan Buddha , seating on a hill top. There are 260 steps to go up and 260 steps to go down. The statue carries a weight of 202 tonnes and height of 23m.  

Tian Tan Buddha 

This unique spot is accompanied by an unique village called “Nong-Pin village”, where fun and frolic  touching upon western culture and cuisine  has been well designed so far. 

However, your hunger at lunch time after the end of episode of 520 steps must be painstakingly devilish, when the doors of the divine food gets open before you with a serving of “Pure Veg” Chinese thali alongwith an appetizing “Veg Soup”.

The plate has the best of delicacies as under :

         ·            Rice

         ·            Veg. Soup

         ·            Green salad

         ·            Veg. Spring Roll

         ·            Other local items  

The food is served hot in a clean environment ………….. in the name of God.  

Cost @ HK $ 60 - Time - 11.30am to 4.30pm (No garlic and no onion)

When you are done with the same  , l am for sure that the life will not be  same again. 

Flury's : A   Fairy Tale Of   Good Food

By Partha Pratim Majumder

Flury's @ Park Street, Kolkata 

When generally people have food for thought ……………. we believe in thought for food, source of our energy and life  …….. forever.

Come Sundays in winter ……. Flury’s brings joy and sense of nostalgia to the hundreds  - who love to live in Calcutta but not in Kolkata…… who still roam around Park Street aimlessly to look for “Sahibs & Memsahibs”  in the nook and corner before stepping in Flury’s for either quenching thirst with a fresh Lime & Soda or a bite of  tasty Donut or a grab of succulent Butterscotch Cake.

Flury's Inside 

The menucard there does n’t end with cakes & pastries only. As on date, it has a spread of even sumptuous breakfast too for you -  the way Englishmen used to have  in those imperial days of colonial rule !!!

ENGLISH BREAKFAST is here for you now to make you feel one of them -----

English Breakfast

In any Sunday morning , you can enjoy  sipping a pot of Darjeeling or Green Tea after such a typical breakfast to focus on your different taste bud :

1. Crispy bacon – 2 rashers

2. Two grilled sausages

3. One fried egg

4. One grilled tomato and

5. one hash brown with two slices of whole wheat or plain bread toast and butter

Cost @ Rs.418/- + Tax  

English Lunch 

ENGLISH LUNCH is not as heavy as the breakfast but tasty though ----

1. Grilled chicken, cheese and tomato relish with potato chips

Cost @ Rs.440/- + Tax  

When you are done with any of the both , l am for sure that the life will not be  same again.

Fresh Lime n Soda


---   000   ---

Golbarir  Kosha Mangsho & My

Lifelong Experiment 

Partha Pratim Majumder

While wishing you a great weekend, I confess that I took the route of self indulgence this eve. I had 1 plate Kosha Mangsho + 2 Parathas this eve. at 8pm - 3rd time in my life and every time after 20 long yrs.

First time at 19 yrs., when I was college student in 1975 . I remember cost for 1 plate + 2 parathas - Rs,22/-

Second time at 39 yrs., when I visited with my senior office colleague Late Jayasurya Das. Cost for 1 plate + 2 parathas - Rs,48/-

Third time at 59 yrs. with salt and pepper colored hair on my head , when I visited alone to check on change, if any

Result - nothing changed - place, space, service and obviously the taste of the " Grrrrrreat

The Food - Kosha Mangsho 

Dish with same quantity and quality of mutton and o.......i.......l....y gravy" .....

I recall the old saying of S. Wajed Ali .... "Sei tradition somane cholechhe....."

Nothing really changed ................ except one - The Price - Rs.201/- for 1 plate + 2 Parathas. Which is terrible in terms of % of increase over the years. Ha.... Ha... Ha...

Although I am strict on my diet and weight ...... but could not resist to check. I know after next 20 yrs. i.e in my 79th year , either I would be in a photo or a vegetable for sure , if I survive............ Ha..... Ha... Ha....

Food Habit Vis' -a-Vis' Age Factor 

Partha Pratim Majumder

As a young corporate executive of 26/27 yrs. I used to go to the then Bombay with my boss Sr. V.P (55/56 yrs) and stay in West End Hotel @ New Marine Lines.After my heavy breakfast for the day with Double egged Omelette, Bread & Butter Toast , Coffee and bananas , I used to visit his room being ready.

The breakfast used to be so heavy, that we could skip our lunch religiously.

He was a decent person with pleasant personality and fatherly attitude. With smile, he used to ask, "Aaj ki ki khele ? (What did you take this morning ? ")

Fruit Salad @ Home

He, to the contrary, used to have any of the two items - (a) either a bowl of Milk with cornflakes or, (b) Fruitsalad alongwith a cup of tea without milk and sugar.

On seeing my open mouth with popping out eyes, he used to smile and say, " Surprised !!! Once you have my age...... you 'll have to adopt such typically health warming breakfast with more nutrients, if you want to survive.................."

Now, I have already crossed his age , I follow the path shown by my boss.

Fruit Salad @ Hotel

A dish of fruitsalad is now breakfast friend .............. as under on my breakfast table to gift me a healthy life :

(a) Grapes (b) Apple (c) Panifal ( water chestnut ) with cream & Chat Masala etc.

                                                     Result ? It is energy unlimited ............... 

Cost ? Obviously not heaven but more than the cost of peanuts !!! Ha... Ha... Ha...