The misrepresentation of Bengali food in North India abounds it’s masses. There is a huge amount of confusion whether Bengali food is spicy or has sweetness in taste. But what people actually forget is that Bengali food is an amalgamation of two similar cuisines brought together through an endless period of struggle. East Bengal and West Bengal have their own set of differences and similarities. One of the most important meats of the conundrum is fish. As the Hilsa swims upto the river Ganges, East Bengal now known as Bangladesh has always been privy to the best of this flavourful fish. West Bengalis or Ghotis on the other hand, swear by the flavours of the prawn. The derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal is a perfect example of the clash between the two cultures. The price of the fish in the market swings according to the team winning the match.
Solving another of misconceptions is whether Bengali food is spicy or not? Yes and No. The East Bengal tries to draw out hard, spicy flavours which will be very distinctly felt on the palate while the West Bengal’s original cuisine tends to be a bit on the sweeter and subtler part. There have been massive changes since the migration during partition leading to admixing of both food and cultures, so much so that the lines are now blurred between the two cuisines.
Finding Bengali food is another conundrum that plagues North India. Delhi has very few places which actually tries to replicate the flavours of Bengal. This excludes the sweet shops that abound us. One of these places is Chatpata Bong. Located in Sector 4 Market Dwarka, Chatpata Bong serves out a melange of Bengali food perfectly suited for the North Indian palate. Starting off as a truck, Chatpata Bong has now evolved into a restaurant which serves out Bengali food along with a few North Indian staples. Must tries include a chicken cutlet and Ghoogni to start off your meal. Kosha Mangsho along with Machcher Jhaal go perfectly with rice. The vegetarian delights include an Alu Posto along with a Shukto available on Tuesdays.
Meal for 2: INR 500.
