The Magnum Masterclass: In a Class of its Own

Last week I got a wonderful invitation to attend the Magnum Masterclass at the Taj Bengal. A big vote of thanks to Kolkata Food Bloggers to give me this opportunity. Generally, I have to give up all the invites during the week, thanks to the hectic office life..but this time the event was on Saturday..so I just took the plunge!

I reached the Taj Bengal with a pounding heart because I was going to meet the celebrity chef Kunal Kapur (of Masterchef India) fame. Wow! I have been an ardent follower of Masterchef India so it was like a dream come true for me. And to meet the "beauty-with-brains" Soha Ali Khan was an added bonus.

Well the event started off with the chef giving us some info about Belgian chocolates. Belgian chocolates are premium quality chocolates that contain nearly 35% pure cocoa. This chocolate also does not have any bad fats. When you bite into a Belgian chocolate, you will not find any chocolate sticking to the back of your teeth or palate.

The Magnum icecream is made of this premium Belgian Chocolate and believe me one bite of this icecream is pure magic!

Do enjoy some pictures of the event.

The charismatic chef Kunal Kapur and the svelte Soha Ali Khan

The chocolate tasting session with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate

The star attraction of the evening: The Chocolate Truffle Magnum

The chef preparing a fusion dessert: Patishapta with Magnum

The dessert that we KFBians made using Magnum

The Magnum is going to hit the stores of Kolkata on the 1st of March. The price would be INR 90. But believe you me...this ice cream is mind-blowing! Do indulge.

Restaurant Review: Koshe Kosha

This week I am back again with another restaurant review.

After a lunch outside on my hubby's birthday, we decided to venture out once again on Eid.

This time the hubby man chose Koshe Kosha, the authentic Bengali "bhuri-bhoj" joint. The main outlet of Koshe Kosha is near Golpark, but we went to the Salt Lake outlet.

Koshe Kosha

FE-18, Ground Floor, Opposite Central Park,

Fourth Avenue Rd, FE Block,

Sector III, Salt Lake,

Kolkata, West Bengal 700106
 Pocket pinch for two: INR 650 - 700 approx

The interiors of this restaurant was done up the authentic Bengali way. A big palm leaf fan adorned one of the walls. The other walls were tastefully decorated with Jamini Roy paintings and woven baskets. But the lighting was very low, so my photography was not as good as it should have been.

 

We ordered for two starters: Begun bhaja (fried eggplant) and Aam aadaar chop (INR 45). The Begun bhaja was humungous in size. It was crispy on the outside and soft inside...done just right! The Aam aadaar chop is a speciality of this joint and it was truly yummy though a bit too spicy for my little one who staunchly refused to eat it.

Aam aadaar chop and begun bhaja

For the main course, we ordered the following:

Steamed rice (INR 70)

Sona Muger dal (INR 80)

Kochi Paanthar jhol - tender mutton curry (INR 265)

Dhakai manghso: Mutton cooked with a recipe from Dhaka(INR 235 approx, I dont remember it too well)

Basanti Pulao (INR 115)

Anarosher (pineapple) chutney (INR 60)

The Sona Muger Dal was extremely delicious but the Kochi Paanthar jhol was a dissappointment. We had ordered this dish for little S, but none of us liked it. The mutton was tender, but the gravy/jhol was not flavourful.

The Dhakai Mangsho was spicy and quite tasty.

My little one fell in love with the Basanti Pulao and Anarosher chutney and she would not eat anything else. 

I also came to know that they have take-away system. They serve a number of snacks in the evening such as a variety of cutlets.

In a nutshell, you can visit this joint of an evening to have some snacks with friends. A lunch/dinner with family is also not ruled out but you have to select the menu items carefully.

Restaurant Review: Southern Aminia

This week I am posting a restaurant review. Last week, it was my hubby's birthday, so my parents decided to celebrate his birthday in advance by treating us to a Biryani lunch.

We were planning to visit Arsalan, when the birthday boy suggested we try out Southern Aminia. I was under a wrong impression that this is solely a take away joint. I was pleasantly surprised to find a cozy restaurant on the second floor.

The restaurant is situated close to Golpark and is quite easy to locate.

The interiors are done up with comfy sofas and wrought-iron furniture. The décor gives a cheerful feel.

 

Southern Aminia

57, Ballygunge Gardens, Gol Park, Kolkata.   

Pocket pinch for two: INR 400-450

 

 

The menu is quite reasonably priced. You can order the ususal favorites, namely biryani and Chicken/Mutton Chaap. Also a number of kebabs and side dishes.

 

The menu card

To our disappointment, we could not order the Aminia Special chicken dish. They said the this dish can be ordered only in their New Market outlet (near the Elite movie theatre).

 

I went in for the Mutton Biryani (INR 140)...my eternal favorite!

 

Mutton Biryani

My parents decided to share a plate of Chicken Awadhi Biryani (INR 255).

 

check the beautiful...Chicken Awadhi Biryani!

 

My little S, settled for Tandoori rotis (INR 10/piece) and a plate of Chicken Rezala (INR 120).

 

Hubby man ordered for Tandoori rotis with a plate of aromatic Mutton Tawa Chaap (INR 150).

 

Tandoori rotis, Mutton Tawa Chaap, and Chicken Rezala

 

The biryani, I need write nothing about. All those who have had biryani at any outlet of Aminia can vouch for it. Though the Mutton Biryani was a tad bit greasy, I just threw the calories to the wind and tucked in with gusto! The Chicken Rezala was in a delicate white gravy and not all spicy. It is the only dish that my little one will have!!!

 

But the star of the ceremony was the Mutton Tawa Chaap. It was fragrant and the meat was beautifully tender.

 

For dessert we ordered for Mango Phirni, which was the season's selection. The Mango Phirni was delectable, totally melt-in-the mouth! We all loved it. Little S had two phirnis!!

 

 

All in all, it was gala feast for the taste buds. I would highly recommend this outlet for any family outing. This foodie-joint is roomy, the food is good, and the service is prompt! :)





                               

Darjeeling: A Food Journey

This post does not have any recipe, for the simple reason that I was out on a trip to Darjeeling for the past one week. Well, Darjeeling is a well-known hill-station located about 6,730 ft above sea-level. Strangely enough, it was my first trip there though I have been visiting Kolkata once every year since I was a kid!

To reach Darjeeling, we took a train from Sealdah Station to NJP (New Jalpaiguri). Then on, we took a road trip to reach Darjeeling.

Round and round the winding hill road took us first to Kurseong and then to the Darjeeling town. As we were reaching higher elevations, the weather took on a delicious chill. Once, we reached our destination, we crashed on to the bed...so tired we were! My ever-enthusiastic hubby and Dad decided that they would try out the local eatery joint for lunch. The rest of us opted to order pizza because we did not have the mettle to walk on the hilly roads to explore local cuisine.

Next morning, hubby and I decided to explore the food-life of the Darjeeling town. Now, I love baking, so baked goodies are always close to my heart. We visited the famed "Glenary's" that is famous for cakes and bakes. The array of food was...Wow!

The array at Glenary's

The view from this foodie joint is amazing. Sitting at your table, you can get a panoramic view of the hills around you.

The view

We ordered for a Black Forest Pastry and a Chocolate Truffle pastry. The taste was yummmmm! I will let the picture do all the talking.

 

I have had Black Forest Pastry several times before, but the taste of this pastry was out-of-this-world! The cherries used were fresh, not the tinned variety!

Next day, I was geared up for checking out the local cuisine. After a hectic morning of sight-seeing, we set out to look for a small joint where we can taste the local food. We found such a small joint called "Shang's" near the Mall. Here we ordered for Chicken Thukpa, plain steamed rice, and Chilli Pork. The steaming bowl of Thukpa that was set in front of me was large enough to feed four people! The star attraction of the meal was the Chilli Pork. It was tangy, spicy, and very well-cooked.

Capturing the Chilli Pork before the plate gets polished off!

 The Darjeeling town has that old-time nostalgia. You will be able to feel that British influence in the architecture, food, and even the people. Scattered throughout the city, you will find small cafes, where you will sip coffee, and simple chill out. Time passes slowly and there is no rushing madness of Metro cities.

That night, we decided to haunt Glenary's once again...but this time, the restro-bar of Glenary's. The interiors of the restro-bar are done up nicely with a grandfather clock in the center of the room. The gentry is also nice, even though it is a bar. A cute foreigner couple took some pictures of the both of us. Here we had the famous Roasted Ham with French Fries and a couple of cute hot-dog buns.

The ham was succulent and the gravy was to-die-for. The buns were pillowy-soft!

No trip to Glenary's can be complete without having dessert. We opted for Chocolate Brownies topped with Chocolate Sauce and Ice-cream. The best part was that after having a plate of Roast Ham and two plates of dessert, our pocket pinch was just INR 560!

 

No description of Darjeeling can be complete without the description of the famous Darjeeling Tea. There are many tea-gardens in and around the town.

In the heart of the Darjeeling Mall, you can find the Golden Tip Tea Bar. The Tea Bar was an entirely new concept for me. The interiors are done up nicely with cane furniture, giving it a very cosy look. Just walk in and order any kind of tea you want!

The Managing Director of this firm is a tea-taster himself. Here, you can enjoy nearly 15-16 varieties of tea. 

The varieties of tea being displayed for tea-tasting

A cup of Orange Pekoe: poetry in a cup!

 In Golden Tip, you get aromatic teas of every variety. My parents opted for lemon tea, which they loved!

We rounded off our food journey with a visit to Keventer's, the historical food joint where a scene from the iconic movie "Kanchanjunga" was shot by the legendary Satyajit Ray.

 

We were so excited to sit at the very table where Ray shot his scene. This is also the spot where a scene from the movie Barfi was shot! 

Satyajit Ray shooting the iconic scene in Keventer's

The food in Keventer's is legendary...just like the place. This place is so popular that we could not find any table for breakfast in the morning. So, planned to have some lovely coffee with fried sausages and ham in the evening.

Fried sausage and ham

Thus ended our food journey in Darjeeling. When you visit here, don't just limit yourself to momos and Thukpa. Explore the food....you will be delighted!

Tete-a-tete with Celebrity French Chef Marc Thuet

Thanks to the Kolkata Food Bloggers, I was invited to a meeting with the celebrity French chef Marc Thuet at The Hub, Taj Bengal. It was a blistering hot afternoon, when I reached the Taj. There were butterflies in my stomach....I was so nervous!

The Taj Bengal

Firstly, I had never met a celebrity chef before (only seen them on TV) and second I had limited knowledge about French food. According to me, French food is light on taste and uses lot of cheese. Now I like my food spicy, hot, and tangy. But I was in for surprises....

After settling in and saying all the "how-do-yous" we met Biana Zorich, Chef Marc's lovely wife and business partner. She broke the ice pretty fast and very soon we were all chatting away merrily. She educated me about the fact that French food is lighter on spices but uses the freshest of ingredients. All the meat and vegetables have to be absolutely fresh to bring out the subtle flavors. The use of cheese (especially goat cheese) gives a delicate flavor to the dishes that needs to be savored.

Chef Marc Thuet and Biana Zorich

Soon after, we were served the soup. The soup was a cold soup called "Cold Cucumber Soup with Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes". The soup was really refreshing since it was deliciously cool and flavoured with mint with a generous drizzle of olive oil. There were chunks of soft goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, that gave a yummy texture to the soup. I loved it!

Cold Cucumber Soup with Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Next up was the classic French Baguette. Being a bread enthusiast, I was beaming with happiness to taste this classic bread. It's now on my bookmarked list! The baguette is a sourdough bread and the yeast used in this bread is made from a culture that the Chef had carried all the way from Canada! The best way to eat a baguette is to dip a piece in olive oil and pop it into your mouth. The crusty exterior and the pillow soft interior, is what a baguette is famous for!

French Baguette with Olive Oil

The main course started off with the "Cured Quebec Duck Magret, Sweet Water Prawns, Black Cumin Caramel and Mango". This dish beautiful in appearance and taste. I will do the picture do all the talking.

Cured Quebec Duck Magret, Sweet Water Prawns, 
Black Cumin Caramel and Mango

This was followed by the "Gremolata Crusted Lamb Rack, Basil, and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes". This dish was Wow! At the first look, I though that perhaps the lamb meat was rare done. When I bit into the meat, I was pleasantly surprised. The meat was tender and juicy with a hint of freshly crushed pepper. 

Gremolata Crusted Lamb Rack, Basil, and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

For those who are sea-food allergic, Biana asked for a special dish "Cured Duck with Parmesan Shavings and Rocket Leaves". Here it is:

Cured Duck with Parmesan Shavings and Rocket Leaves

The masterpiece of the entire meal was the Risotto. This was "Wild Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan Shavings". Frankly, I am not an ardent Risotto fan, but this was something special. The rice was al-dente (meaning not fully cooked) and cooked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. The taste was like a childhood comfort food. I loved it so much that I polished it off the plate before I could click any pictures!

The desserts were exquisite and to-die for. There was "Chocolate Caramel Mousse Verrine with Sea Salt Crumble" and "Saffron Tartlet with Golden Peach and Alphonso Compote, Maple Syrup and Walnut Crumble". The mousse had combined the taste of chocolate with sea-salt and slight bitterness...but it was unforgettable. The Tartlet was fruity and delicate in flavour.

While we were savoring the desserts, the Chef came out to meet us. Big, blonde, with a powerful voice, Chef Marc Thuet is a personality to remember. His arms were tattooed till the elbow and a pair of shades rest on his blonde hair. The Chef is a fourth-generation chef who began his apprenticeship in his uncle's restaurant at the age of twelve. Born in Alsace, France, Chef Marc is currently based in Canada. He has appeared in reality television series "Conviction Kitchen" where he trains twelve ex-cons to run a restaurant in Vancouver. The Chef believes in using solely organic and fresh ingredients.

Interestingly, he told us that he had chalked up a menu in Canada which he promptly discarded after arriving in Kolkata. The reason? The temperature in Canada was minus 20 degrees C whereas in Kolkata it is 38 degrees C! He then decided upon a menu that would be suitable to the taste, palate, and weather conditions in Kolkata. Here is a sneak-peek into the menu:

It was wonderful talking to the Chef and learning the differences between French and Indian cuisine.

Chatting with the Chef

I came away with a very satisfied feel. The food was light, non-spicy, and easy on the stomach. 

The French Culinary Experience is part of the International Vine and Food Festival being held at Taj Bengal. You can catch lunch or dinner till the 18th of April 2014, for INR 2500 (plus taxes) for two. Don't miss it!

Restaurant Review: Dilligate

Recently, I got a e-mail invite to attend the launch of new restaurant called Dilligate as a member of the Kolkata Food Bloggers. Initially, I was a bit hesitant to go without my family, especially my little S, who loves eating out. Due my hubby's constant encouragement and some prodding, I just decided to take the plunge and go ahead.

Dilligate Deluxe Restaurant

Address:

29/8, Dr Ambedkar Sarani, Topsia EM Bypass Crossing

Kolkata - 700046

Pocket Pinch (for 2 people): Rs 500-600 approx

When I entered the venue, it was pleasantly spacious and cool. The ambiance was soothing with low lighting. Being my first time, I was quite nervous. I was met at the door by the smiling PR personnel who escorted me inside. There I met Manjari (Chowdhury), my fellow KFBian and we got chatting with each other. It was also nice to meet fellow blogger Poorna Banerjee.

In the meantime, the starters were being served. I tasted the Hara Bhara Kebab (INR 145) and Crispy Chilly Baby Corn (INR 140).

The Crispy Chilly Babycorn lived up to its name by being crispy but was a bit more than my taste. But the Hara Bhara Kebab was just right. It was soft, flavorful, and tasted just right accompanied by the aromatic green chutney.

After tasting the succulent starters we got chatting with one of the Directors of the joint, who was a pretty, young lady. She told us that Dilligate restaurant has been founded by Manish Singh, who is a Food Consultant (and the Director of the Dhanoa Group) and Mukesh Agarwal, Director at Rajami Retail Pvt Ltd. Dilligate has been conceived keeping in mind that today every person wants good quality food within a comfortable budget. So, at this joint you can have a decent meal with 500-600 INR.

The Menu

Also, it is a multi-cuisine restaurant, so in her words, "If a group of 5 people come for a meal and order 5 different types of food, they can have it all under one roof at Dilligate". You get some lovely North Indian, Mughlai, Chinese, and Continental food all under one roof, here.

The street food of Kolkata also features prominently on the menu. The Dilligate Special Mughai Paratha is worth mentioning. You also get a wide variety of kathi rolls with different fillings such as chicken, mutton, aloo, and paneer. Cheese spinach rolls are a signature dish.

Sheekh Kebabs, Drums of Heaven, Spinach Cheese Roll, and Chicken Biryani.(clockwise)

By this time, the main course was ready! One look at the entire spread, and I was about to faint! I mean there were: Mughlai, Chinese, and Continental dishes in a buffet spread. I was in a real quandary what to eat and what not to eat? Even if I sampled a spoonful of every dish, they would have to widen the doorway for me!

Finally, I settled for Fish in Coriander Sauce (INR 215), Stir Fry Garlic Pepper Chicken with Exotic Vegetables (INR 175), Veg Fried Rice (INR 110), and Noodles Salad.

My plate! :)

The hubby man tells me to never go for Chinese food in a multi-cuisine restaurant. But I can vouch for the Chinese food. It was yum! Super yum! Light, non-oily, and the taste was just right.

Another dish that became the universal favorite among all the guest were the mutton dishes. They were well cooked. I sampled just a teeny-weeny bit, but it was spicy..way too spicy for me!

Also, a special mention for the Malai Kofta (INR 175).

The desserts that I sampled were Darsan (INR 120) and mini Gulabjamuns. The Darsan was crunchy and mildly sweet so it appealed to my taste buds.

One more special mention. I loved the cheeky and quirky pictures that were used as wall decorations. One says "Eat, Sleep..., Bhangra!" I liked this one too much! Jackie Chan and Jayden Smith as The Paranthe Kid!

The seating was done up in green and the sofas were pretty comfy. The music played old Bollywood songs that gave a 'Delhi-wala' feel!

After the meal, I left with a very satisfied and pleasant feeling in my heart. I am definitely coming back with my family for a cozy meal. Super-like!