At the food festival, Kolkatans are pushing their gastronomic boundaries.
With Durga Puja over, Kolkata is now busy with its '
paet puja'. Gastric juices are flowing at a food festival - Aahare Bangla - hosted by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government. And Kolkatans are breaking gastronomic boundaries.
If you thought Bengalis were only about
maacher jhol-bhaat or fish curry and rice, that myth is busted. The hottest selling item is emu, the bird. They are serving Emu Manchurian, Emu Hariyali, Emu Steak.
Sautam Mukherjee, hopping from one food counter to another, says, "Normally Bengalis eat
macher jhol bhaat. But I came to eat emu. It was fantastic. Awesome."
Close favourites, quail spring rolls and rabbit tandoori. "Great stuff," said Upasana, who was at the food fest with her father. "We can eat chicken and fish and egg anytime. This is unique."
"Bengali tastes are changing. There is a globalization of the Bengali palate," said Rongon Neogi. His Continental Catering Service is serving up the rabbit and quail, sold by the state animal husbandry department which is overseeing the festival.
Thousands have turned up, queues at coupon counters, endless. "Bengalis love their food. Open a stall anywhere and they will come. Look at the crowds here," said Dr Prasenjit.
Just days ago, pandal hoppers were surging to see Goddess Durga. If she was still around, she may have well been peeved. Pandal hoppers have been outnumbered by food hunters.
"Thank you Mamata Banerjee, our didi, for the great event," Smiles Upasana.
Sadly, the food festival ends tonight. The good news, it will be back next year.