30 Days Blogging Challenge – Day 11: Ten Favourite Foods

Food is to die for. Food is the essence of living. Food is that existential truth that propels civilizations on the path of progress. Food is the Gospel. Food is divine. But when it comes to eating, I am very choosy and tend to stick to select few dishes that strike a chord with my palate. I do experiment now and then, but that does not stop me from ordering konjee crispy chicken every time I am having Chinese or a plate of chilly pork with a pitcher of beer!

Talking of food always makes me nostalgic – my food-mate Bham and I have had numerous experiences – good, bad and great – while trying out restaurants in and around Kolkata. The discussion of food always opens the floodgate of memories.

Picking 10 Best Dishes out of the vast variety of cuisines I have treated myself to is no mean job… here I will list only those items that have withstood the test (taste?) of time and will continue to charm humanity till the end of time:

1. Chicken curry-Dosa at Pecos, Bangalore

Ask any Bangalorean and they will give double thumbs up to this. After downing those countless pitchers of beer with beef fry or chilly pork, when you realise you need to help yourself to dinner, this is the best option available.

9. Calamari at Toit, Bangalore

The ideal Saturday night snack! The perfect combo with mindblowingly brewed beer at Toit. Good music only adds to the pleasure.

8. Biriyani and Kebabs at Arsalan/Shiraz, Park Circus

In a world where people associate Biriyani with Hyderabad (yuck!), Kolkata Biriyani is the uncrowned king of the palate. The essential aalu and egg – and the aroma of the rice when served hot – at Arsalan will make your mouth water even as you read this. Top it up with mouth-watering kebabs from Shiraz and your day is made.

A Bengali meal

7. Chicken Dak Bunglow at Bhojohori Manna

The ideal Sunday lunch. A plateful of steaming hot rice and ghee. Chicken Dak Bunglow is the cherry on top. Numerous other Bengali eateries will offer you the same dish, but no one comes closer to the one served at Bhojohori Manna.

6. Parota-Kosha Mangsho at Golbari, Kolkata

Kono kotha hobe na… If you want to experience heaven on earth, take the metro to Shyambazar right away… Word of caution – Golbari owners have separated now; do not fall for the non-authentic kosha mangsho.

5. Luchi-aalur dom, home-made

A regular Sunday breakfast whenever I visit home. Sunday is incomplete without pressing the fulko luchi with the thumb. Period.

Kochu bata and kochur loti

4. Bhat-kochubata/dhonepatar chutney

The surreal feeling, the enigmatic taste and the culinary delight can never be experienced with another recipe. This has to be made with the shil nora. You will keep wondering how a plateful of rice disappeared within minutes. Even kochur loti is heavenly, if prepared the right way.

3. Pantabhat

The sole companion of a Bengali on a hot and humid day. Panta is a East Bengali dish. Read this before the salt gets over….

2. Khichuri-Begun bhaja

The staple diet on rainy days. Add a little ghee/butter on top and you will soon be transported to the wonderland where money grows on trees and you get paid to write poetry.

1. Bhat-Dal-Alubhaja

Without doubt the best invention in the world. I can survive on this for the entirety of my life without complaining. The Musur dal with peyaj-rosun phoron and the jhirjhire alubhaja is worth a thousand orgasms!

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