The Bengali culture within India is renowned due to its Architecture, Poetry and possibly most of all Food. Bengal’s cuisine is some of the world’s most sought after due to its sumptuous balance of different flavours. Within the state of Bengal is the city of Kolkata, in the streets of this historical city the fragrance of food being prepared by hundreds of street stalls and restaurants make any traveller’s pallet salivate. In this city, food is no mere means to an end, it is a full-blown passion. The cuisine in this region is always prepared with painstaking care and those who dine are extremely passionate and critical about their meals. This is the perfect destination for those travellers backpacking through the Indian subcontinent who yearn for food that warms the heart and brings people together. Here is a list of must-try dishes that can be accessed via a taxi service in Kolkata.
Railway Curry
A dish with origins that date back to the British Raj, Railway mutton and chicken curry are a delicacy in Bengal that is rich in flavours that can satisfy even the most sophisticated pallets. The dish itself has a historical significance; this dish used to be prepared lovingly at home for those hundreds that braved the Bengali heat to work on the railroads during the period of the British Raj. These jobs, at times, could last entire days, weeks or even months at a time. The Railway curry was prepared to give these weary travelling workers a healthy, hearty meal that reminded them of the loving home that awaited them once their journey was done. This piece of Anglo-Indian cuisine and its link to the local community is so deep that it becomes a must try dish for any traveler venturing through Kolkata.
Rasgulla
Within the nation of India, people celebrate any good news or occasion by distributing sweets. It is no stretch of the imagination that the whole country has a sweet tooth. In a country with a passion for sweet, the region of Bengal stands out due to the various types of sweet dishes on offer. Amongst the uncountable number of sweets is the juicy and spongy Bengali Rasgulla. Various legends talk about the origins of the rasgulla. While historians and food lovers alike might go on the quest for the origins of this syrupy dish, eating one or five or twenty is an ideal way to encounter it. ISRO scientists are trying to figure out a way to send this dish into outer space for Indian astronauts to enjoy.
Kolkata Biryani
While most people assume that biryani refers to one type of dish, true connoisseurs of the dish know that each region of India has its own version of the sublime rice dish. Kolkata biryani has distinct flavour and texture and is home to a host of subtle flavours interplaying with each other. This biryani can have either chicken or mutton, but the one ingredient that cannot be missed is the humble potato. The simple spud soaks in all the flavour of the dish and presents a unique flavour profile.
There are multiple cab services in Kolkata, in fact, they are one of the unique things about the city. Renting a taxi for a culinary journey across Kolkata is one of the best gastronomical journeys the country has to offer.
