If you're a homesick and hungry Mumbaikar, missing Kolkata's Durga Puja delicacies, there's help at hand! Plenty of Mumbai home chefs are whipping up popular traditional and modern Bengali delicacies during the Puja week.
Besides festive delicacies, you can also spot some beloved Kolkata street food numbers which are difficult to find in Mumbai or other metros. And though you can find some of your most cherished favourite features on their menus, slots are limited and booking at the right time is super important!
So whether you’re in Bandra or Churchgate, don’t miss out on indulging in some quintessential Bengali food this Durga Puja:
Madhumita Pyne
Pyne who runs the home kitchen Insomniac Cooks is featuring some of the most popular appetisers and mains as part of her Durga Puja special menu which is available till October 24. The chef, who is famed for her seasonal festive menus and her annual Thakur bari special line-up, is offering numbers such as Phulkopir roast, Echor chingri, Murgi malaikari etc.
"It's my mission to showcase the vast variety of dishes in Bengali cuisine, beyond just the most popular ones. We have curated a menu with wide-ranging dishes that cater to every palate. We have crowd favourites like Kolkata biryani, vegetarian and prawn chops and some unique dishes like Gandhoraj Chicken Fry, Ilish Bhaturi (hilsa wrapped in pumpkin leaves, served on rice), Chicken malaikari etc. We deliver across Mumbai & Navi Mumbai (on one-day notice; additional delivery charges applicable)," she shares.
Somma Ghosh
Ghosh is offering some elaborate Bengali dishes, including the festive Bhoger khichudi. The chef is curating a special menu for each day of Puja and has come up with a special three-day menu for Durga Puja this year, featuring items like Til bata diye shukto, Kasundi chingri, Dak bungalow mutton etc.
"On Saptami, I'm cooking niramish delicacies (without onion or garlic) and the 'Bhog er Dala' will be available for lunch, with these very special offerings from my kitchen. I conclude my 3-day delivery lineup on Nabami with some delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian items," she shares.
Subhasree Basu, Manju Velkar & Soumitra Velkar
Hungry Cat Kitchen run by Subhasree, Manju and Soumitra is offering some cult Kolkata items, including Chelo kebab. Their Durga Puja menu is available till October 21 and also features Maangsher chop, Borishali prawn pulao, Lebupata murgi, Kosha mangsho and more. "It's an eclectic mix of traditional Bengali cuisine with some popular Kolkata favourites... These are a la carte. We also have a fixed pujo box for those late-night addas - all you need to do is pop one into the microwave and voila!" Soumitra shares.
Gitika Saikia
The chef who runs the popular kitchen Gitika's PakGhor is offering an interesting festive menu this year which has some unusual items. "This menu has been curated as a medley of Nepali and Assamese cuisines," the chef tells us. The menu which is available till October 18 lines up numbers like Masu ka bara (a Nepalese lentil pancake topped with egg and chicne), Pork chilli dry, Hilsa curry in a light mustard curry and more.