Joined by our amazing hosts Ashish and Navin we embarked on a memorable vegetarian breakfast tour in Kolkata post Durga Puja.
Venturing into the historic lanes of Northern and Central Kolkata, we indulged in an array of local-favourite breakfast items. The sojourn led us to some oldest establishments and a hidden gem.
The first stop was Adi Haridas Modak famous for kochuri and cholar dal. The crispy kochuri, filled with aromatic spiced lentils, perfectly complements the sweet and savory notes of the cholar dal. It a must-try dish in this part of the city especially for breakfast.
Next stop was the National Economic House. It is an age-old establishment cherished by locals and frequented by nationalists. We indulged in a nostalgic experience over jelly toast and lebu cha. The jelly toast, with its comforting sweetness, paired exquisitely with the invigorating tanginess of the lebu cha.
After this we had mishti doi at Amrit. Its creamy texture and perfect balance of sweetness truly captured the essence of this traditional Bengali desserts. Served in earthenware, it had a beautiful presentation that added to the authenticity.
Then we reached Sen Mahasay. Their radhaballabhi, Shingara, and Ratabi Sandesh were truly exceptional! The radhaballabhi had a perfect blend of spices in its filling, while the Shingara's crispy pastry shell was delightful. Learning about Ratabi Sandesh's association with Rabindranath Tagore added a fascinating historical touch to our sweet indulgence.
This was followed by some hot dhoka and bonde from Geetika. This hundred plus year old establishment specialises in deep fried snacks. The beeline outside it was a testimony to its popularity amongst the locals.
After this we reached a hidden gem. It is a small counter run by Mithilesh ji who hails from Bihar. He has transformed litti chokha into a remarkable dish which can be referred to as pocket litti chokha. Sattu stuffed baked flatbread filled with chokha, chutney, spice mix and onions makes for a delicious and easy to eat snack that will take you by surprise.
From there we went to the Calcutta Stock Exchange neighborhood for Malai Toasta and chai. We had the former at Hemanta Toast stall and the latter at Shankar Tea stall. Both the places are a hit with the office goers in this locality who drop by to unwind.
Today's episode beautifully encapsulates the vibrant moments of delightful flavours, shared laughter and exciting discoveries around Kolkata's best street foods.
About the host:
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Design and filmed by Rahul Singh
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Text by Swetaleena Nayak