It’s monsoons and this time around it’s raining food in Jaipur ! Jaipur has turned into such a melting pot of culture and food , that you name a cuisine and lo and behold, you have it.
Just before Durga puja, from the land of “maacher jhol and bhaat” , comes the lip smacking regional cuisine of West Bengal at The Lalit Jaipur as the Bengali Binge Food Festival. Chef de Cuisine Jassi from The Lalit Jaipur and Chef Shahdeb Kamila from The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata have designed a tantalizing menu for the food lovers in town.
We thought it would be all a non-vegetarian affair with vegetarian food as just a side show but how the chef heroes the vegetables and weaves pure magic in his menu. Keeping the preference and sensibilities of the City of Jaipur in Mind, the Vegetarian selection of the Menu has been crafted with a lot of care and creativity. Chef Jassi informed us due to the presence of a small Bengali community living in Jaipur they managed to get all the vegetables absolutely fresh off the cart. Of course, the non-vegetarians needn’t lose heart. There cannot be a Bengali Food Festival without Fish and Chicken.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, we all sat down expectantly over a immaculately set table, laden with the spices, aromatics and chutneys of this exotic state from the east. A common love for good food connecting us all foodies and bloggers present with a palpable excitement on all the expectant faces around. Sensing the same, the service was quick and the chef narrated his travails from Digha in West Bengal to Kolkata and to finally here in Jaipur. His infectious excitement as he told us which Starter to pair with which assortment of freshly prepared Chutneys and ‘Kashundhi’. There was the delectable and famous Beetroot chop and Beguni( Aubergine in a light batter) to be eaten with the Plastic Papaya Chutney or the Khajoor and Kaju Chutney for the vegetarians. The non-vegetarians could choose between the ‘Bhetki Maach Bhaja’ or the ‘Mangsher Chop’ and pair them with Sweet Tomato Chutney or the Kashundhi.
The specialty of the entire affair was also in the freshness and authenticity of the ingredients used. Right from Jharna Ghee to Sarson Tel ,’Gondhoraj Lembu’ , Maankochu (Arbi) and even the Yellow Mustard used were sourced from Kolkata. The Rest of the main course came to us as stunning Thaalis laden with the fragrant Ghee Bhaat Rice, Luchis (impeccably soft maida pooris) , Narkal Diye Cholar Dal ( ChanaDaal with Sauted Coconut slivers) , Sorson Dhoresh ( Lady fingers cooked in freshly pounded Yellow Mustard paste and Aloo Jhinga Poshto ( potato and rich gourd in poppy seeds). For the Non Vegetarians, there was Illish Macher Jhal( Hilsa in Mustard Seeds – The fish is a staple of West bengal and expensive at 1400 Rs / Kg ) and Murgir Jhol which is home-style chicken with potatoes. The chef aptly called the menu Gram Banglar Khabar (The food from the Village of Bengal). The food was surprisingly light yet mouth-watering. The day ended perfectly on a sweet note with the decedent ‘Roshogulla’ and ‘Misthi Doi’ which was polished off in no time at all.
If your mouth is watering already, this is just right time to go grab your mouthful of heaven, now.
Date: – September 9 – 18, 2016
Timings: – Lunch: 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm | Dinner: 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm
Venue: – Baluchi, The Pan Indian Destination, The Lalit Jaipur
Rates: Vegetarian- Rs. 750++ | Non Vegetarian- Rs. 850++ (Taxes as applicable)
Jaipur Beat 