Kasturi Restaurant - a no frills outlet serving yum food

A visit to Kasturi Restaurant was long overdue - given the kind of reviews I had heard about this place and the proximity of this joint to my home. 

I have always complained about the absence of good eating joints in my area - Nagerbazar.There have been times when I have just wanted to eat out with my family without having to travel much, but have been left with very few options. Yes, you have the Arsalans, The Aminias and the Alibabas for the biriyani lover, but what about other cuisines? I guess Kasturi has been able to meet my demand somehow.It was good to see a popular food chain opening here in Dum Dum. 

A lot of my foodie friends had suggested dishes I must try when at Kasturi. The most popular amongst them were 'sheelebata chicken' and 'kochupata bhapa chingri'. Honestly, I was the idea of shelebata chicken excited me. ( If I translate this literally, it should mean chicken grinded with spices and cooked). 

I went there on a Sunday afternoon and had to wait in a queue for around 15-20 mins to get a seat. When we entered, we realized this one is a no frills kind of place which takes its food very seriously. We saw a lot of families concentrating on their Sunday lunch.

Kochupata bhapa chingri at Kasturi

I was pretty clear on the things I wanted to order, thanks to everyone's recommendations. But I was in for a big disappointment when they told me that the sheelebata chicken isn't available. :( Thankfully, they had kochupata chingri bhapa. We ordered for shona mug dal, bhetki paturi(bhetki steamed in a mustard, coconut paste wrapped in banana leaves) and begun , bori diye pabda jhol( pabda cooked in gravy with eggplant) and chutney. Initially they told even the pabda jhol won't be available but thankfully they arranged for it later on, coz I wanted my dad to have a light gravy rather than having too much of mustard and coconut.

Begun and bori diye papda

First things first, the food was yum. Even the simple dal was delicious. And this is coming from a person who is not a dal fan. My favourite amongst the lot was the kochupata diye chingri bhapa. This was the first time I was tasting kochupata as I am not too fond of green leafy vegetables. And I have to admit that I liked it. The flavours of the dish were distinct with a strong aroma of mustard oil. Similarly the papda curry was a good dish to have. However, the bhetki paturi was not upto the mark. The fish wasn't juicy enough and did not taste that good. We teamed all this with steamed rice. The chutney was hit with my parents. They also have good deals on thalis if you want to try out all things bengali :P

Bhetki Paturi

The management of Kasturi should work on making the popular dishes available on any given day. The managers here mentioned that some dishes come from the main outlet and hence the availability is limited. 

The decor is not very fancy with walls being done with up with images of noteworthy individuals of both East and West Bengal, thereby implying the fact that this is a popular restaurant serving Dhakai Cuisine in Kolkata. The seating area is a little cramped but going by the amount of the people waiting in a queue, I guess this is justified. 

Kasturi is a no frills restaurant, hence you can't really expect flawless service. But they can definitely work on it. When it comes to food, they win hands down. I am definitely going back for the sheelebata chicken :) You must try this reastarnt for a simple bong lunch!

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NH2 Food Festival at Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences

The NH2 food festival at Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences

Road trips are amazing ! The speeding cars, the lovely outskirts, the music, books and the constamt munching appeals to me. The amazing dhaba and roadside food is something which I look forward to during all my trips. Every location has it's own special flavour which captures the cultural background of the area. Streetfood and dhaba food are a discovery in itself.

Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences has recreated the experience of the busy Kolkata - Delhi NH2 highway with this food festival in Kolkata itself. It is amazing to see the sincere effort and creative thinking the Chefs have put into this festival.

Each and every dish has been carefully chosen and involves a lot of background research. Very rarely will you find litti chokha, mutton gurda keema, butter chicken, aloo bhujiya, Kolkata style mutton biriyani, egg tarka, tandoori chicken as a part of a single food festival. Novotel Kolkata always has a great salad spread. Their salad spread also got a desi twist with this festival with kachumber, fish tikka with tomato salsa, Indian style jhinga salad etc. What's more, you have a maggi stall which has Parle G biscuits and mango bite toffee in jars . It sure brings back some lovely memories :)

Litti chokha counter at the NH2 food festival

Maggi counter (Pic courtesy: Rajdeep Bhattacharjee)

The spread is creatively laid out with all the dishes arranged on both sides of a highway prop with tiny cute cars. The Chefs have taken special care to recreate local flavours with littis served with the authentic tomato chutney, buffet laid out in steel utensils, drinks served in kulhar like cups, lassi and chaas laid out in traditional steel matkas and the desi daaru dukan (With only breezers and beer bottles :P).

Mutton Gurda Keema

Aloo Bhujiya 

My picks from the festival has to be the amazing litti chokha, the mutton gurda keema, the tandoori fare, the Kolkata style biriyani, chicken bharta with a generous mix of eggs, tadka and the aloo bhujiya.The drinks are also a special reminder of the highway experience - nimbu paani, lassi and masala chaas, beer and breezers.

The Daru dukan at NH2 Food festival, Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences (Pic courtesy: Rajdeep Bhattacharjee)

The festival is on till 22nd of August 2016 at The Square, Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences. Go and try this out :)

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Celebrate Parsi New Year at Bodega Cantina Y-Bar

Parsi New Year Is round the corner and some of the city hotels have something special in mind for this day. 

Bodega Cantina Y Bar

Bodega Cantina Y-Bar, the new resto-pub at Park street which is fast winning the hearts of city foodies looks forward to welcome in the New Year with their specially crafted Parsi Menu.

A brainchild of Urvika Kanoi and Akash Jaiswal, with beautifully curated interiors,Bodega Cantina Y-Bar will be serving special thalis to celebrate the occasion on 17th August,Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

It will include the following:

• Non-Veg Bhanu Thali- Mutton Dhansak, Chicken Farcha, Gosh Ni Cutlet, Kolmi Na Bhaja, Mixed-Veg Patio, Parsi Brown Rice, Ropli, Kakri Nu Raitu, Lagan Nu Custard (Served with Achaar, Chutney, Papad & Raspberry Soda) 

• Veg Bhanu Thali- Batata Cutlet, Parsi Dal, Kanda Bhaji, Parsi Brown Rice, Paneer Akuri, Mixed-Veg Patio, Kakri Nu Raitu, Lagan Nu Custard (Served with Achaar, Chutney, Papad & Raspberry Soda) 

Parsi Tiffin Box

The restaurant also serves a Parsi Tiffin Box as a part of their regular menu which comprises of Dhansak, Pulao, Bina Aunty's Spice Mix, Kurkuri Bhindi, Kachumbar. 

This is a welcome change in the food scenes of Kolkata and I look forward to try out the Parsi delicacies.

Read more about the place here: http://lovehealthnbeauty.blogspot.in/2016/06/bodega-cantina-y-bar-review-Kolkata.html

Colourful things to own this monsoon...AND its cheap !!

It has been raining on and off in Kolkata these days.Yes, this is season of gloomy cloudy days, humidity and like I say "kich-kich" on the streets. Though, sitting with a good book by the window with a cup of ginger tea looks to be perfect thing to do this season,as working women, we all need to step out.

But then, we can all step out in style ;) You don't really have to burn a hole in your pockets for that ! Trust the good old street markets of Kolkata to do that magic for you ! I checked out some stuff during one of my brief visits on a rainy Saturday afternoon and found some real gems :)

Here are the 4 things that caught my fancy :

1. Lovely transparent umbrellas: New market is filled with some lovely umbrellas which are transparent. Check out the lane near Aminia. These umbrellas are in fashion and look super cool. Well, I can't really guarantee if they can keep you dry but they can atleast keep you stylish :P 
And guess the price ? Just for 100 bucks, these umbrellas are a steal ! *thumbsup*

Umbrella

2. Funky footwear: Shoes, shoes and more shoes !! Every year the variety of shoes available during the monsoons just gets better. Colourful bellies, stylish sneakers to amazing chappals, you name it and you will get it. All of them are priced between Rs.100- Rs.350 at Metro Plaza. This is amazing news for every girl :)

My friend and I couldn't get enough of them. It took a great deal of self-control  difficult to just pick up 3 pair of shoes. :D

Shoes from Metro Plaza!!! :)

3. Colourful scarves and stoles : These are a must have accessory in any season. They can add a lot of drama to an otherwise dull outfit. In the monsoons also it helps in a lot of ways, be it covering you up when you accidently get drenched or by keeping your head dry when you forget your umbrella at home. Scarves and stoles come in a variety of fabrics and colours and are priced between Rs.80 - Rs.200(the dupattas) at New Market. Make sure you bargain well.

Scarves and Stoles

4. Bangles: Monsoon or not, bangles are a girl's favourite accessory. Glass bangles, metal bangles, wooden and plastic bangles, check out New Market for some of the best collections. At Rs. 20- 40 per dozen for the simple ones, here is how you can jazz up your outfits 

Glass Bangles

5. Useful totes : Monsoons are when you need to carry a whole lot of things in your handbag. From an umbrella to hand sanitizers to even an extra top, you need a spacious tote to safely tuck everything in and keep them dry. Just be careful while choosing the material of your handbag. Go for faux leathers or the shiny ones (not sure what the material is called). Steer clear away from the cloth ones. Mostly priced between Rs. 450 - Rs. 700, it all depends on the style, the material and your bargaining skills ! Check out BK Market and New Market for some of the hottest trends.

Photo courtesy: pinterest.com

Things I Love Doing In The Monsoons

Rains have a special meaning in all our lives. For some it spells romance while for others, its all about Chai and pakoras.Some love curling up in bed and listen to some soft music. Ask bongs and they will tell you how rains mean Khichdi and Ilish ;) 

It has special meaning in all our lives which is difficult to pen down. I am not specifically a fan of the monsoons when I am on the move. I am out of home for some 8-9 hours everyday, constantly in and out of office for events and meetings. When you are expected to turn up for meetings, looking your best and well groomed, it is very difficult to keep your shoes clean and trousers/kurtis clean in this season no matter which mode of transport you try ! It is essentially the season of "kich-kich" for me. My skin and hair starts to get a mind of their own.

But when indoors, the concept of monsoon completely changes for me. Rainy weekends for me mean cups and cups of ginger green tea, pakoras(well, this season I am controlling myself and have kept the numbers very low! Yes, that's a lifestyle change you need to make when you are in your twenties and are putting on weight every day :X)  
Add to that a good book or a mushy romcom and your life is set. 

I guess that's a rare luxury for me when I have exactly nothing to do and I can laze around as much as I want. All thanks to Client events !! But whenever I get that opportunity, I just grab it. 


There is nothing like going on a long drive in this season. The feeling of the monsoon breeze in your hair and face while the car races down a rain-swept road. Add to that a great companion :) If you know me personally, you would know I hail from the steel city of Jamshedpur. I loved doing this in my childhood in the clean green roads of my hometown. These are lovely memories that I will cherish all my life and that writing about that place makes me miss it more !

Sleeping is another "must do" thing in the monsoons. There is nothing like it when there is a cool breeze outside and you can just comfortably sleep after a long day at work.

I hope all of you enjoy the weather in your own special way :) Have a great rainy season !!

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