AUTHENTIC BENGALI CUISINE OF KOLKATA – KEWPIE’S
Once you are in the City Of Joy, the first thing that comes to your mind is ‘food’! But there are so many options, so where to go to have authentic traditional Bengali food? If you are reading this you are in the correct place. Go on and see what’s coming up for you.
Kolkata – the Cultural Capital of India has thousands of options to offer every kind of food for every kind of taste bud. Be it pure vegetarian, vegan or non-vegetarian, it has something for everyone.
Today, I would share with you the details of this hidden gem in the by-lanes of this City. A family-run restaurant for over 22 years situated behind ‘Netaji Bhavan’ offers some of the most authentic and delicious Bengali treats in home-cooked style, it is Kewpie’s.
Myth: Bengalis only eat non-veg!
Reality: Bengalis eat and love eating veg dishes equally well just like non-veg and there are hundreds of authentic Bengali veg recipes. In fact, most people don’t know that some Bengali veg dishes are prepared without onion and garlic and they are super yummy!
Some interesting facts – Kewpie’s was founded 22 years ago by P.K. Dasgupta and he dedicated this restaurant to his loving and beautiful wife who was from London. She was so beautiful and looked like the Kewpie doll, hence the name. Celebrities and foreign travelers frequent this place including Mr. Bill Clinton who tasted its delicious food on his Kolkata visit.
The entrance is simple but colorful with a retro look.
Once you get inside, you will get awed by the retro feel and originality of this place. Everything is so unique, simple, classic and close to the earth, in the sense that all the utensils are purely earthen made.
The glasses or kulhad, the plate for salt chilly and Gandharaj lebu – the royal scented lemon which is unique to Bengal – all served in the traditional earthenware. The plates come decorated with banana leaf.
There are options for Ala Carte and Thali. Different variants of thalis are served – if you are veg definitely try the veg thali and if you are non-veg, then go for the special one.
In the below image starting from the leftmost corner – Rui jhal (Rohu fish in spicy gravy), Ilish Shorshe (Hilsa fish in mustard), Kosha Mangsho (Mutton dry spicy gravy), Daab Chingri (Small prawns cooked in tender coconut), Aloo jhinge Posto (Potato and snake gourd in poppy seeds), Mochar ghonto (Banana flower spicy dry).
In the center platter – Luchi (Plain puri), Piyaz-koli bhaja (Green onion fry) , Aloo dum (potato gravy), Cholar Dal (Chana dal) , Plain white rice, lemon and green chilly.
Finally, the dessert below – Mishti doi (Sweet dahi), Sandesh and Paan wrapped in banana leaf.
The mutton was so soft as if melting in the mouth, the fish dishes were so mouthwatering that you can take a second helping of that. The unique banana flower and poppy seed vegs were no less. The yummy simple yet the slightly flavored dessert was the icing on the cake.
Of course there are many places for authentic Bengali food in Kolkata but if you are in this City this place is a must try – for the ambiance, the people and of course the food! Bon Appetit
My Personal Report Card
Ambience – 9/10
Service – 8.5/10
Food – 8.5/10
Value for money – 8/10