A Homemaker's Diary: Review

Amar Khamar and some lost varieties of Bengal's own rice variety.

10:33 PM

I found Amar Khamar through Insta and could not help but appreciate the way they are trying to celebrate one of Bengal's most important crop- The Rice. Which obviously for us Bengalis is not only a crop but a whole range of products that had sustained us from time immemorial.

So when a few weeks back Sarah from the organisation reached out to me I was keen to know more. Over a cup of coffee we discussed how they are trying to revive the Bengali indigenous rice varieties by working closely with farmers, Self help groups and the specific weather and present soil condition of 24 parganas. which took a worng turn when in 2009 the cyclone Aila hit the area and the inflow of saline water made the land unfit for agriculture . Add to that the growing need of polished high yielding quick cooking variety that made the indigenous rice grains vanishing from the Bengali map.

Though they try to connect the world to some unheard of rice varieties through the help of world wide web and social media but their faith in food and food security goes beyond that. They try to educate the farmers to grow sustainably and using environment-friendly methods of organic farming. As a result indigenous local seasonal food lovers like me are over joyous to see products that we have heard only in story books or in fables.

If you think am exaggerating then hear the name of the varieties they are brinigning to the market right now. Khejur chori, Kalo Nunia, Chinakamini, Talmugur, rani akanda, Chamormoni, Kalabhat-some of the most fascinating names and each grain is different in taste, texture and mouthfeel.

Apart from Rice they also are offering Mung or yellow lentil and turmeric powder.

I would be posting a few recipes with their rice varieties in my next posts. Recipes with which I tried to do justice to these unique grains and recipes that are easy and nutritious.

In the mean time why dont you go and meet the amazing farmers at Amarkhamar page and their youtube link in the below links

Website where you can order: https://amarkhamar.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSWb7UPEMop4b43n7zx7QNw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarkhamar/?hl=en

Disclimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Poila Boisakh-Lets usher in the new year with tradition, hygiene and Chingri Bhape

6:23 AM

April is the busiest month for us Bengali mothers. While on one hand schools reopens after a long session break then on the other April Means our second biggest festival of Nababarsho or Bengali new year is just around the corner. No matter how people joke about the many Parbons (festivals) us Bengalis celebrate but we never shy away from it as for us festivities are always synonymous to family time, following tradition, enjoying good food and having overall good time with lots of adda.

As kids we loved Nababarsho for the new clothes that parents will buy for us. Bachhorkar prothom dine sob bhalo korte hoy (You need to be and do good on the first day of the year) was what Maa tought us. So on every new year without fail we took ritualistic bath in neem and turmeric water, wore new clothes, visited shops for their new ledger opening puja, exchanged handmade cards with New year wishes and in the afternoon feasted on a huge spread of Bengali traditional recipes by Maa.

Sizzler Festival Gateway, Kolkata; 2018

9:40 PM

Buzz @ Gateway Kolkata is Back with their Sizzler festival and I got an invitation as usual. This place is not only close to home but also close to my heart and we as a family love to go there again and again to dine.

Upon arrival I got to know that Chef Ashis has been transferred to other location but the menu and taste of food under the expert guidance of Chef Deep Mitra Thakur holds to it's true essence.

Hilsa Festival @Taj Gateway; Kolkata

9:57 PM

Every year when I get invitation from Gateway Kolkata to attend their Hilsa festival preview I feel giddy. For many reasons I have stopped doing restaurant reviews as a blogger but this is one place where I love to go both personally and professionally and be amazed with their great food and hospitality again and again.

The mastermind behind any food festival at Gateway is, Chef Ashish. He has a penchant for experimenting with an acumen for marketing. It's his pure love for food that he has the courage to bring his experiments on table for taste testing. This year again he brought out something new, some he created with his kitchen wizardy and some he curated from the forgotten bylanes of Epar and Opar Bangla (Bangladesh and West Bengal).

Paturi

The menu could be best described as a mix of Ghoti and Bengali style recipes with a couple of North Indian and continental flavours to cater to all taste buds.

Dhakai Ilish

Sizzler Festival @Buzz, Taj, Gateway

10:50 AM

Sizzler, the once alien food to many is now a star in almost all good dining facilties. Especially in Winter when the air is redolent with the smell of fresh Komlalebu, comforting Boroline and that quintessential caramely aroma of Nolen gur we crave something sizzling hot. Something that will match the heavy thick air around us and make us feel comfortable. So what if the temperature never falls below 12C in Kolkata. We need to enjoy our short lived winter with as much winter specials as we can fit in the few days.

So when the invitation from Gateway Kolkata came to KFB, I was more than happy to say yes. Not only because I dint have any sizzler this year but also because I am a sucker of Gateway's Executive Chef Ashis's food. He never ever fails to amaze us with his trade.

The sizzler festival at Buzz, Taj, Gateway is on till 2nd February'17 as an A la Carte Menu. Available for both Lunch and Dinner.
For booking please call

The menu is as exciting as it could get. Neither I have heard of Southern chicken sizzler or Sheesh Touk sizzler. The platters were as exciting as their amazing taste. We were bowled over by the Kathal ke Gelawat sizzler platter and the Roasted potato with stuffed cottage cheese sizzler that they served in the Vegetarian section. All the sizzler platters came with some Jalapeno rice and their in house multigrain bread which was so very good that you can even finish the meal with that.

Roasted Potato with cottage cheese Sizzler platter

Chettinad food festival at Buzz, Taj Gateway

9:47 PM

The region of Chettinad, which is famous for its architecture, religious temples, the lavish lifestyle of the Chettiars (business community) also has a rich culinary history. The cuisine is considered as the most spiciest yet most aromatic cuisine of India. No wonder Buzz at Taj gateway who always try to bring out the hidden gems of Indian culinary repertoire chose this food for their recent festival.

The menu is curated under the expert guidance of Chef T.Jabaraj from Chennai. He along with the executive chef Asish has tried to bring out some rare delicacies to the food connoisseurs of Kolkata. Buzz personally is one of my favourite food destination in town as I know that while other restaurants strives to consistently deliver good food Buzz never fails to overwhelm one's expectations.

Nolen Gur ice cream from Mother Dairy

11:46 PM

No matter how much we believe in eating local and seasonal food but its a proven fact that a sight of any loved ingredient which is not in season brings exquisite joy. The same thing happened to me when I saw Nolen gur ice cream on a hot sultry monsoon afternoon. And the joy knew no bound when I discovered it’s from one of my most trusted brand Mother Dairy. I grew up eating their dairy products and follow the same with two kids. Without doubt it’s like our most trusted source of all things dairy.

This Durga Puja Say no to food poisoning with Godrej Lal Hit

2:19 AM

The month September is very important for Bengalis. No matter in which corner he lives this month will make his inner bong come to life. In the cooler climates with the advent of fall and that chill in the air he still will dream of the balmy weather in Bengal and the smell of new clothes. Just looking at the calendar and realising ‘pujo ese gelo (pujo is near)’ will make him oblivious to his surroundings and long to come back home.

Yes, for us Bengalis Durga puja is synonymous to Home Coming. While Figuratively the festival honours Maa Durga coming home to her parents but in spirit it’s an inspiration to all Bengalis across the Globe to come home and celebrate the four days of puja with their family and dear ones. May be that is the reason we ritually clean our house before this biggest festival of ours. To keep it ready and inviting for everyone who come visiting.

PAn Asian Food Promotion at Hyatt Regency Kolkata

11:34 AM

Pan Asian Pan-Asian cuisine would mean cuisine from across Asia. Which happens to be my favourite cuisine so when the invite came from Hyatt Regency Kolkata to review their Pan Asian food promotion I was more than happy. The Pan Asian food promotion is a part of their regular buffet which is served at their beautiful Waterside Cafe with amazing view through the high ceiling windows at their perfectly manicured lawn and fountains.

Sunday Brunch at Buzz, Taj Gateway Kolkata

5:30 AM

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.”

I get this excited when it comes to an elaborate breakfast on a weekend without me slogging in the kitchen. And nothing in my rule book is more perfect than a brunch on Sunday morning...you can laze around as much as you want after having tea and something light and work up that appetite for a delicious spread. So The invitation from Buzz OF Taj Gateway Kolkata seemed perfect for a lazy brunch on a rainy Sunday.

Chef's Basket Recipe kit; Cheesy Alfredo Pasta

6:26 AM

As much as I love being the homemaker that I am, planning, shopping, cooking and taking care of my home and family, yet there are days when I do not even feel like getting off the couch. I believe all of you have such moments when you know there are hungry mouths which needs to be fed, and being the perfect mother you are food cannot be just anything but a scrumptious, nutritious one . but you don't have an iota of energy to get up and go through it. So what do you do on such days?

The new trend of meal in a box or recipe kits fit such bills perfectly. So when Chef's basket wanted me to review their new meal kit I became curious and wanted to give it a try. Below are my findings.

The Box: The box consisted of 5 separate packets. a small packet of penne, a pack of Pasta sauce, 3 small packets of chili flakes, Italian mixed herb seasoning and sea salt.

The launch of New flavours to 'Purba Banglar Ahaar' by Taj Gateway Kolkata

4:06 AM

Saying I love Bengali food would be an understatement...rather I am ready to spend my entire life cooking, feeding, teaching sharing this joy hoever is interested. So when an invite from Buzz; Gateway Kolkata came through KFB I was elated. More so because they serve East Bengali or Bangladeshi bengali food which eludes me to no end. Its like a deja vu experience for me, ingredients are so similar to what I cook on a daily basis yet quite different in technique and taste. For many personal reasons I cant attend most of the review invites these days but Gateway being so close to my place was easier for me to manage.

Hakuna Matata, a Vegetarian fusion food Cafe in the heart of Kolkata

9:36 PM

Hakuna Matata this phrase brings back some fond memories of childhood...Mowgli, the jungle boy and Shere khan matching steps to a happy peppy song

Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata, ain't no passing craze

It means no worries for the rest of your days

It's our problem free philosophy, Hakuna Matata...

Agreeably it's a beautiful philosophy and thats what caught our attention when we got to know that husband wife duo Prabhas and PAllavi worked around this same philosophy to start their maiden Cafe venture, 'Hakuna Matata', in swahili which means 'No Worries'.

So on a bright weekday afternoon I and my fellow KFBian Amrita headed to the city's newest vegetarian fusion cafe.

Like it's unconventional name everything here has that touch of innovation. The first thing that will catch your attention is their eye for details, each and every place and corner is decorated keeping in mind the theme and every minute details. From decor to food to their way how they try to keep the customers engaged all the time tells a story of people who are truly passionate about this venture and are fascinated with this journey. The maskot KOKO another Swahili motif was named through a contest by one of their customers and they take immense pride in the wish tree which is growing big and big with time.

The decor is bright and mostly in a cheery yellow colour signifying the young minds and the experiments which is a big part of the whole venture. The painting on the wall depicts Koko's journey who rides a bicycle to travel the World and bring in tips and recipes to give variation to the menu. From the every growing wishing tree to the suspended figurines from the ceiling all depict the philosophy of exploration and celebration of everyday life. Keeping in mind the local flavours the decor is done by Kolkata based sculptors and artisans.

Assam 1860:

12:00 PM

Assam 1860, probably is the newest buzz word of the Tea town. With it's robust, full bodied, strong CTC tea and beautiful packaging it definitely is here to stay.

I was sent a few packets of this CTC blend quite sometime back but with all the travelling and settling down to a new life on my own I totally forgot about it. Finally couls manage to open the packet and make it a couple of days back and honestly I haven't stopped sipping it since then.

I am not a tea connoisseur but definitely enjoy my tea. Following our long colonial heritage, just cant start my day or go about it without a few cups of good brew. While the morning and evenings are reserved for a strong flavourful milk tea (no sugar), the mid morning cuppa generally is an aromatic affair with light black tea. Not to mention a couple of cups of green teas in between.

Though I have grown up drinking tea since I was 16 yet taking it seriously came at quite a later stage. At my parents, Tea is made by gallons for all the embroiders, tailors and suppliers who work for my mother. They prefer it strong, milky and sweet. There is nothing fancy about it. and probably that's the reason I never came to appreciate the CTC teas and always made my own combination of CTC to long leaf aromatic tea to get the desired brew. Assam 1860 surprised me in all these categories. First time there is one CTC which is so aromatic yet strong.

For the uninitiated, CTC refers to a method of crush tear curl which quickly gives a dark brew. The robust dark CTC brew takes milk very well and hence is popular Worldwide as breakfast tea. This also is the first choice for making tea bags and masala tea that India is so much in love with. No other tea than the maltier, strong, bright coloured CTC can do justice and unfurl the deep complex flavour that is a pre requisite for making good milk tea.

They say Good tea needs good leaf but at Assam 1860 they believe a good tea is nothing short of Romance."The leaves are plucked, processed and packed in the estate itself, ensuring quality and freshness that is unparalleled. So wherever you are, you might as well be drinking your cup of Assam 1860 on the verdant verandah of the Thowra Bungalow, overlooking graceful rolling greens on our lush terraces."...Yes, it takes the effort of a century and half to make a tea so perfect that makes you fall in love with your cuppa again and again.

And to top that off they have come up with beautifully packaged products. Especially the tea bags, which are made out of linen with stitched edges and neatly packed in a striking black and green pouch are ideal to gift someone who loves her tea.

The Preparation of the Tea: The art of tea brewing is very personal and should be guided by your own palate. But to make a perfect cup of tea you also need good water and milk, especially in India where most areas have hard water or have too much of chlorine in it. To get the best out of any tea use filtered or bottled water. Personally I preferred using 1/3 tsp of Assam 1860 for a cup of Milk or masala tea (no sugar), Which I boiled covered for a minute on very low flame before adding warm milk.
Surprisingly enough Assam 1860 tea bags are so potent that I used one tea bag to make two cups of my desired brew for black tea.

To know more or to order online check their website HERE. This is not a paid review.

Hilsa Festival, Buzz @ Gateway Hotel Kolkata

10:26 PM

There is a basic difference between Bengalis and most Indians. Come Monsoon most of Fish eating communities will abstain from catching and eating fish for the very obvious reason of the season being the breeding time. but not the Bengalis. Rather it's the very reason morning shopping becomes more interesting for all Bengali connoisseurs as Monsoon for all them is synonymous to the arrival of Ilish (Hilsa), the most sought after fish that they wait for all year long. For a good Ilish The Bengali babus are ready to pay any amount, if that needs them to reschedule their monthly budget, be it.

But the Hilsa must come home.

Following the tradition this year Buzz at Gateway, Kolkata has arranged a Hilsa festival with recipes mostly from Bangladesh. Ilish being the national fish of Bangladesh they prepare it many ways which are refreshingly different from how it is cooked in West Bengal. Being a Bengali food enthusiast I could not say no to the invite that KFB received to sample their menu.

The Hilsa festival is on from 10th July'2015 to 26th July'2015 at Buzz, gateway, Kolkata

Serving Type: A la Carte

Cost: a meal for 2 will cost approximately Rs. 1500.00 (inclusive of taxes)

Lunch: 12.30 PM to 3 PM

Dinner: 7.30 PM to 11 PM

Donate to Akshaya Patra and bring more kids back to school

8:45 AM

“No Child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger”.is the vision of Akshya Patra, a not for profit organisation of India.

The organisation strives to fight issues like hunger and malnutrition in India. By implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in the Government schools and Government aided schools, Akshaya Patra aims not only to fight hunger but also to bring children to school.

Since 2000, the organisation has worked towards reaching more children with wholesome food on every single school day.

Akshaya Patra is continuously leveraging technology to cater to millions of children. Its state-of-the-art kitchens have become a subject of study and they attracts curious visitors from around the world.

In partnership with the Government of India and various State Governments, and inestimable support from many businesses, philanthropic donors and well-wishers; we have grown from our humble beginnings in the year 2000, serving just 1500 children across 5 schools. Today Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme serving wholesome food to over 1.4 million children from 10,770 schools across 10 states in India.

To reach their goal They need constant support and donation from all of us. Please visit this link and donate as much as you can.https://www.akshayapatra.org/onlinedonations

A Banner with the link to donate would be live on my page (on the sidebar) from now on wards. Please donate generously.

To know more about this organisation visit akshayapatra.org

Groupon Voucher and the Buffet at Waterside Cafe; Hyatt, Kolkata

12:51 PM

If you have read my blog then you know that I belong to a simple middle class family. We believe in splurging but only in moderation. It's not everyday that we go out for a brunch or dinner at a five star property and even if we do, we look for a deal that gives us value for money. and exactly here the vouchers of Groupon comes into play.

Frankly enough I had no clue of what groupon vouchers were before I was contacted by their PR group in Kolkata. For the uninitiated, Groupon is a Worldwide deal-of-the-day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies. It's a free service which every 24 hours broadcasts a collection of discount coupons on selected products and services. If you register at their site you will automatically receive notifications of each days coupons. Once you like a certain deal, you can purchase it online, take a print out and can redeem it at the restaurant or store at a considerable amount of discount.

The deal for me was to get the Buffet at Waterside Cafe worth Rs.1971.00 for only Rs.999.00. It's been long that I was able to spend some quality time with the husband sans the kids. So we planned for a small hiatus from the daily routine and headed to the beautifully landscaped property of Hyatt.

David Rocco; Dolce India Press Lunch

10:08 AM

David Rocco, the man with a disarmingly infectious smile is everything you expect an Italian to be sans the customary lilt of the Italian accent. He is happy, energetic, full of life, easy going and has a great sense of humour. but what makes him irresistible is the fact that he can cook equally good food without much fuss.

If you have ever seen his show Dolce Vita you know how uniquely easy going and simple his approach is towards food. He often says that he is not a chef, he is an Italian. and truly that's what he does to food. With his unique willingness to experience and experiment new ingredients he chooses freshest local produce that are in season and cooks peasant style classic recipes bursting with flavour.

The man famous for his show 'Dolce Vita' was recently in town shooting for Dolce India; series 2. The show where David explores regional cuisine and fuses it's flavours in his Italian recipes. Its a show that celebrates the crazy food diversity of India and it's ability to 'bring strangers to a table and turn them into friends'.

ITC Sonar the host threw a Press Lunch and invited few of us to meet this man at the West View bar and Grill. For an 'everything Food show Junkie' like me it was a great opportunity to meet this Charismatic chef whom I idolise for many reasons. and the man did not disappoint at all.

Bread Paratha etc

Shaped Steamed Bun (Baozi), Tibetan Tingmo and Tupperware 'Steam It'

5:21 AM

Steaming is one of the most ancient and healthiest cooking technique which could be traced back to some 10,000 years. This most probably is one of those methods that Human civilisation tried experimenting with. Steam pits, Stoneware steamers were the very old steaming utensils that were devised to cook food while retaining the taste and most importantly the nutrients.

But very unfortunately we donot use this very healthy technique much in our daily cooking. Apart from steaming some Hilsa here or a batch of Idli there, This still is not part of mainstream Bengali or North Indian cooking. And all thanks to Tupperware that this trend is going to change for good in my Kitchen.

Care 4 food initiative by Tupperware

11:54 AM

Take care of Food at every stage. Save, use and minimise food wastage.

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

and that probably is the reason behind the age old saying 'Annaparabramha'... Food is supreme...Food is God. While most of us look at food as an appetite satisfier that tantalises and satiates our tastebuds but Food has the supreme power to create, sustain or destroy life. but very unfortuantely not many of us treat food responsibly as a result of which the amount of food wastage is increasing day by day.