A Taste Of Calcutta

I have a really super job. Really! I get to meet people and work on deifferent challenges every day. Of late, the work has been so very challenging, I haven't had any time to blog. But it's all been simmering there in the back of my head. Sometimes, I get really lucky and have super sweet Producers like Vikram Kalra who sends me to Goa with a wave of his magic wand, and I get to eat at some of the hippest, most happening food places in the country. But that deserves a whole new blog post.

I finally winged my way to Calcutta, courtesy Nirvana Films. Two whole weeks spent casting the Indian Railways TVC ( the chhukchhuk gadi winding it's way through the streets) in a city I have always wanted to visit, and even been nostalgic about after a very intense year working for some super intense Bong film directors, was Niravana indeed!

I didnt manage to eat all I wanted, or when or where. And contrary to expectation, the streets were not awash with ilish machch! But I did manage a few of the things on my wish list, helpfully composed by many friends and bong-o-philes.

I made the pilgrimage to Flury's. And went back there as often as I could. I could very easily imagine spending a day there, watching the world go by on busy Park Street, while I penned notes for my magnum opus. While Flury's is ever so charming and quaint, (though not quite as spectacular in taste as Kookie Jar : to die for), I fell in love with it's quiet pace, unhurried service, art deco interior, history and tradition. I still can't get over waiting in a queue at 10am for breakfast and seeing the place packed with Bengalis of all ages tucking into iced cafe Sprungli and other Flury's confections at that hour!

I loved my simple, unassuming Pain au chocolat and strong Cappuccino. The Swiss pastry tradition is strong and excellent here. I loved my simple Cheese Sandwich. I felt I was in an Enid Blyton tea room, so perfect and melting were the two soft slices of white bread with lashing of butter and cheese. Coffee pots, white china, scones, tiered pastry trays, tea pots and tall windows with long curtains.... I stepped back in Time every time I went there.

I eagerly picked out little packets of goodies, as gifts and as sustenance through long working hours. Doll sized sachets of Orange Marzipan, little coconut sable cookies, petit fours, chocolate nibbles, medalllions reminiscent of La Patisserie's Florentines, truffles, more cookies, and some rather good chocolates.

I missed my family, and hope to spend an afternoon sipping tea at Flury's with them someday.

I have tried and racked my brians, but the closest we have to Flury's is Theobroma. Will someone please open a good, old - fashioned tea room??