Poila Boishakh Food listicle for 1425 by Debjanir Rannaghar!

Growing up in a middle-class Bengali household, Poila Baishakh has always been about the Lokhi-Gonesh Pujo at home followed by the lunch with Manghshor Jhol and Bhat. The evenings were meant for visiting the Jewelry shops with Jethu and to gather the calendars and sweet boxes. In my place, the celebration used to start before. Every year Baba used to order more than 2500 sweet boxes from for distribution. Initially, a sweet-maker was called to make the Dorbesh at home and we (read the teenage clan) were responsible for packing the sweets. This system then replaced by ordering boxes from Haldiram's. For Poila Boishakh food, it had never been eating outside, instead home cooked food always back then.

No, this post is not about home-cooked food, in fact, I am going to share the options for eating out on Poila Baishakh. I will be not at home on Poila Boishakh. I will be at the Diamond Plaza Mall as a judge for a cookery competition called "Radhuni Parodarshini." This is going to be an interesting experience for me. This I can say from the experience of judging the Indian Oil's Chef de Cuisine Cooking Competition this year at the Indian Institute of Hotel Management.

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Needless to say upon completion, me (and the family) have to opt for eating out. While searching the options I found below offerings interesting. Now I just need to choose!

Poila Boishakh Food Offerings by Novotel Kolkata:

Novotel has come up with their Mach Misti Moments this year! In fact, I already have tried the buffet. From Ghughni and Jhalmuri counter to use of fishes like Chitol, Aar etc, with popular meat dishes such as Kosha Mangsho (click for the recipe) and Chicken Dakbungalaw and a great dessert spread, Novotel offerings is actually lucrative.

Price: 1149++ for lunch and 1449++ for dinner.
Where: Square
When: 6-15 April.

Poila Boishakh Food Offerings by Taj Bengal, Kolkata:

Taj Bengal has come with the special Aamish Thali (Non-Veg), Sea Food Thali and Niramish Thali. The veg spead is having Gondoraj Lebur Ghol , Potol er Dolma, Shukto,Lal Shaager Charchori. Topse Maach Fry with Kasundi, Jhuri Aloo Bhaja, Karaishuti Diye Dal, Ghee Bhaat, Radha Bollobhi , while the fish thali is having Chingri Malai Curry, Bhetki Macher Paturi.The Non-veg thali is having Paabna Murgi, Kosha Mangsho, Doi Katla and Kacha Aam er Chutney. Apart from that, they are having Pati Sapta, Gobinda Bhog Chaler Payesh, Kacha Gola and Misti Doi as part of dessert.

Price: 2200++ for the Veg Thali, 2500++ for the Sea-food Thali, 2900++ for the Non-veg Thali
Where: CAL 27
When: 14-15 April.
To Reserve: Call 033- 66123939

Poila Boishakh Food Offerings by The Lalit, Great Eastern:

The Lalit, Great Eastern is offering the buffet at the Alfresco and it is having several Bengali delicacies including Shukto, Kochi Patha Enchor chorani, Lau Saag diye Motor Daal, Mangsho, Aam Kashundi Murgi, and Pulao.

Price: 2200++
Where: The Alfresco
When: 15 April.
To Reserve: Call 9007021780

Poila Boishakh Food Offerings by The Gateway, Kolkata:

The Gateway Hotel, EM Bypass, Kolkata Offerings are Nawabi this Poila Baishakh. They are offering a wide spread of Veg and Non-veg delicacies. The Gateway brunch at Buzz will be having Beler Panna ,Bhutta lebu dhonepata chatpata, Aam Kasundir Salad, Dhakai Salad, Roast murgir jhal, Bangladeshi Salad, kancha aam er Chutney, Moth Chana Chat, Dim Kasundi, Patisapta r Gola ruti, Chop, , Loittar Bora, Laal-Palang r dhonepatar bora, Bhetkir Kachuri, Aar macher bhorta, Kankrar Kalia, Sorshe Parshe, Doi kasundir mangso, Golda Chingri malaikari, Lau Ghonto etc.

Price: INR 1500++ for non-alcoholic buffet per person; INR 1750 plus taxes for alcoholic buffet per person
Where: Buzz (lunch and dinner buffet)
When: 15 April.
To Reserve: Call +91 33 66653025

Poila Boishakh Food Offerings by The Westin, Rajarhat:

The buffet display at the Seasonal Tastes has been conceptualized to bring forth the essence of the East and the West, combining the flavors of Opar Bangla (East Bengal, presently Bangladesh) and Epar Bangla (West Bengal). A few of the signature items on the menu will be 'Smoked Hilsa', 'Dab Chingri', 'Chittol Maach', 'Hilsa Pulao', 'Kakra Jhol', 'Tel Koi', 'Dhonepata Boda', 'Dhokar Dalna', 'Shukto', 'Kosha Mangsho', 'Shorshe Maach', 'Doi Murgi', 'Chhanar Dalna' etc as part of their Poila Baishakh Buffet.

Price: INR 1399++
Where: The Seasonal Tastes
When: 15 April.
To Reserve: Call 033 4037 1234

Poila Boishakh Food Offerings by JW Marriott, Kolkata:

JW Marriott is having several offerings for Poila Boishakh. On the offer, there will be Bengali classics like 'Kathaler Chop', 'Bhaja Moong Dal', 'Basanti Pulao', 'Aloo Posto', 'Sukto', 'Kosha Mangsho', 'Lucchi' and other such delights for as part of the lunch and dinner buffet at JW Kitchen. They also have a special high tea menu (Chai and Adda) keeping in mind the infamous Bengali Adda.

Price: Hi-Tea: 4:00 - 6:00 pm; 599 ++ applicable taxes per person; Brunch: 1850 AI (includes beer & sangria); Dinner: 1625 AI
Where: JW Kitchen
When: 15 April.
To Reserve: Call +91 33 6633 0000

Aaheli, Peerless In:

Aaheli is Kolkata's first (and if I am not India's first) restaurant offering Bengali delicacies. Needless to say, they have to be part of this listicle of mine on Poila Boishakh Food Offerings. The offerings are inclusive of Mourolar Peyaji, Mach Murgir Milimishi, Chingri Mochar Chop, Phoolkopi rai shorshe palong, Aloo mekhla , Mohini mochar kofta, Kalyani begun, Rasun bhapa mach, Padmar Pabda , Jeera jhal e chital , Lau kankra , Tortaja thor chingri , Chingrir ramta , Raj thakurer kasha handi, Sar er nadu and Roso sandesh .