B(r)eef Encounter

Many of us know that in India, Beef as a meat is not a popular choice and it is restricted to a particular section of the society. Kolkata has never been a snooty city when it comes to the availablity of different meat, be it red or white. The quality of beef that you get here is superior and most of the five star hotels source the beef locally. Being a part of history, the city is often visited by tourists from the foreign land and some of them are associated with NGO's and spend three to four months in the city. Therefore, there is definitely scope for restaurants to offer exquisite beef dishes as there is a ready market for them.

This time around I thought of visiting few restaurants and taste the beef preparations on offer. It was difficult to decide on the four places I should go and the reasons for it. My first option was Swissotel for one reason that being an international chain of star hotels it would be getting sizeable number of foreign tourist as well as a lot of business travellers as its located in the corporate hub. My point of contact at the hotel was my friend Supreeta, who is now the marcomm manager. She took me to Cafe Swiss, one of the F&B outlet of the hotel. After covering a distance of close to 15kms approx which is a lot by Kolkata standards, the ambience had a very soothing effect on me. I met the chef and asked couple of quick questions about the dish and there it was, the Blasmic Glazed Beef Steak served with confit vegetables and a savoury. The best part about this dish was its appearance. It was colourful and good-to-see-you kind of appeal to it. The taste of course was as per my expectation but the only problem was that I ordered it well-done whereas steak gives out the juicy flavours when cooked medium or medium to well-done.

Next on my list was Floatel. The only hotel in the country which is on a river. Here I got a chance to learn something about a new cuisine referred as Colonial cuisine. As the name suggests, its the culinanary legacy followed by the yesteryear army men in British India. Some of the wierd names on the  menu was Baked Fish Patricia Memsaab and Mr. Brown's Ball Curry. Here I got to try Steak Major Cunningham which was a medium done steak served with braised vegetables and bread rolls. It was just up to the mark and certainly    a must try for everyone who would like to try beef.

My culinary journey to try the Beef dishes was still looking out for that gratifying experience that a food lover experiences after a perfect meal. I headed to Mocambo- yes 'the' Mocambo. For those who do not know yet, it is amog those restaurants in Kolkata where you have to wait for your table even on a monday night. They had recently introduced Irish Chateaubriand Beef Steak, made in garlic butter. This time around, I felt crest fallen with the taste and presentation of the dish, it was just average and there was nothing phaata-phaati (amazing in bengali) about it. The worst part is since its a popular retaurant, the staffs are extremy snobbish and lack warmth that a hospitality professional should posses.

Moving on further, one of my friend advised me to go to The Bridge at The Park and try out what they had to offer in beef. After the Mocambo-( this time Mocambo khush nahi hua) I went for a quick lunch and tried the Beef Roulade. Tender, luscious, balanced and beautiful looking dish, this dish came for the rescue after my immediate past experience. It was a beef rolled in with spinach and chicken sausage served with braised vegetables and mushroom sauce.

Many a people avoid eating beef thinking that it's not suitable in Indian weather conditions but it's NOT true. Just avoid excessive beef intake and you are sorted. Hope next time you are in Kolkata you now know where to head for some good beef. And if you are person with good appetite, please go to Mocambo, you will get free attitude with the food and you will be convinced to believe that you have been lucky to taste their salt. Signing off :)

EN-CAGE-MENT PARTY ;)

Finally the day has come for which, I believe, I started writing blogs, or to exaggerate a bit, I shall say I was born to write this blogpost. It was my friend's engagement. If you have been reading my posts in the past, I did mention about this BWOY who has a say in everything and a comment for everyone. FINALLY the side changed, HEEE HAAAAA HAAAA HAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

This friend of mine is a cool guy and a very very very close buddy. A week before his engagements he called me to SURPRISE me with the good news. I was happy for him, really happy. I also know for the fact that he is a bit modest when it cames to the grandeur of his lifestyle and party. Somewhere I knew ' ki bhai uska engaegement aur CHHOTI party'  hard to digest. As usual I entered the party late but and was please to see my guesswork was right. It was a very good party, full of smart and sophisticated people, well-dressed, clean shaven, spik & span. The Marwari image ( with all due respect, Marwari community was more into traditional attires and always has the desi flavour intact) in my mind started to deform. I was standing at an angle and looking at my friend, getting philosophical about how time changes and blah blah blahh!!!!

Then I finally went upto him and congratulated the young lucky couple. My friend was very very nervous, especially with me entering into his territory. He had no escape this time but I somewhere took a 2 hour oath that I would not be the leg puller. I met his famly members and then it was time to dig in. But then I thought lets take a walk and see if I can get some stuff to share for my blog ;)

While I was walking a young girl, of my age, bumped into me by mistake and then politely said a sorry. Her politness ridiculed me to the point that I wanted to tell her sorry that she had to say sorry to me...The hostesses added to the beauty of the party. They were as glamorous as any pretty model. And then the DEFORMATION OF THE IMAGE SCREETHED TO A HALT. I noticed an old uncle in dhoti kurta staring at me and for once I thought I would say 'MY NAME IS IQBAL AND I AM NOT A TERRORIST'. But then I noticed that he was waiting for his food which was being served to him by one of the beautiful hostesses.

Enough of observing and it was time to EAT. But aadat se majboor I was a bit attentive. Soft achari & malai paneer tikka bar-b-qued live in winter time was the best starter to begin with. The panner cubes were well-grilled and served with chaat masala and mint chutney. I proceeded to the oriental salad counter and in transition I overheard a gentleman discussing the share market and hence the desi flavour which I thought was missing was very much intact within the tailor-made suits.

It was now time for some pasta followed by Gehu ka khichda, Bikaneri Pulao, Papad & paneer ki sabzi. While taking food from the buffet counter, when the waiter was serving to pretty lady in her late 40's, the aunty said' bas kijiye bhaiyya, dubaara aakar lenge'.The sweet ending included a chhena wrapped with orange fillings (which was one of its kind and one of the amzaing fusion sweets I have eaten in recent times), hot chocolate brownie with ice- cream and strawberry gateaux.

But the wonderfully amazing item was a very very unsual sweet starter which was basically froth of milk shake garnished with pistachios and nuts. Something out of the world, incredibly yummy and light as anything.

It was time to say good bye and head home. My friend was as nervous as he was when I entered the party. I remember asking him who chose his Sherwani and he answered me the price of it. However am extremely happy for the man :) as he heads to the road more travelled.

31st nite dine out!

Far from the madenning crowd (not very far though) , thought of spending my 31st with a perfect dinner. Wanted to go to restaurant which I did not try tilll date and again used our good 'ol Google to help me out of this fix. After navigating, I zeroed down to a new Indian restaurant in south Kolkata. There was many pointers before I could have dedided where to head, most important of which was 'NO WAITING'. It is often experienced that restaurant where one has towait in long ques, ends up in a not so good dining experience,especially  in terms of taste of food.

Being a very finacky customer, I want 1000% customer satisfaction, especially when it comes to dining out,as its all about a good experience & not only good food. We entered this restaurant, which looked good and suttle, around 70 seater I presume. We entered and we see this middle-aged man heading towards us and greeting with a smile. Sophistication was the last word you can use for the gentlemen, he was too direct, funny, intially dumb but not so dumb and interesting character. We started placing our order with 1 full chicken tandoori, proceeding to 1 full chicken bharta and 5 tandoori rotis. I was unsure if this would suffice and ask my friend & wife if they would like some paneer, and then started the fun journey of this man-His first move - while we were thinking whether to order matar paneer or not, this guy takes the menu card from my hand saying 'chhoriye paneer kya khaiyega'. I was little confused with this gesture but laughed it off.

Second Move- The table beside us ordered something similar to us and he replied ' ek hi plate tha, unhone le liya'. As if he was talking about some goods and saying - last piece tha maadam, khatam ho gaya. From here started the journey where a ate and laughed more.

The funny thing about this man was that WHOEVER  calls him to order food, without even listening to what they want, he only suggests ' Chicken Biryani and Chicken Kassa Khaiye', which i found wiered but after sometime when young guys entered for a late dinner and got the same suggestion which they denied, they were told that this is the only dish left. After 'forced' food order these guys proceeded to washroom, which went unnoticed by the other staffs and security. After few minutes, thy guy carrying their food saw an empty table and trust me guys, I have NEVER seen a waiter so tensed & shocked EVER in my life. He started searching for them and asked the security guy 'Kaha gaye yelog'. For a moment I though he was given some task in a reality show which will determine his fate in the show. He was so frantic that he did not even noticed the guests' helmet on the chair, which finally gave him assurance that  his task will not go in vain.

It was time to leave and go for the dessert to some good coffee shop after, ofcourse, a drive to Park Street. The gentlemen came and asked our opinion about the food and then he said ' Kal din mein kya kar rahe hain aaplog, come for lunch and you get 1 biryani free on ordering 1'. Now i understood that all his over-friendly gesture and interaction was to build guest relation and somewhere I was impressed with his attitude and the way he interacted with others.

Jo bhi hai, sorry to wish so late but wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year.