Bengali

Ghugni (Dried Yellow peas curry)

10:31 AM


Its always difficult to fall back in routine after a break. Its pointless whether the break is a small one or big but it always make getting back to the grind difficult, very very difficult. Last week we went to our in law's place, somewhere in western Midnapore for a couple of days. Though I must admit that I was a little tensed as the son had high fever just the previous day yet I looked forward to the long drive.It was a long deserved break from the usual surrounding and same old same old routine life.

My Home and Garden

My Bengali Home...

12:11 PM


A home should have a character...this is something I have always believed and that faith got etched on stone when I joined the design school. The very first lesson was to find my own style...something that defines me...something that I believe in.

Much later when I got married and started setting up the house I had no set vision. All I wanted was to combine easy elegance with functionality. I was lucky to have got a blank canvas and buy everything that we needed.

When it started taking shape I wondered how my aesthetics lied in my Bengali root and Indian philosophy.The most important characteristic of Indian theory of beauty lies in the concept of 'Santarasa'...

where silence or quietness is not only the absence of sound but the silence of desires and thoughts.  A state of mental concentration that brings inner peace, a spiritual experience par excellence.
it was a blessing to have grown up in Santiniketan, where Tagore's idea of being surrounded by nature and beauty in the most basic and mundane form inspired and influenced my senses at very early years.
The various aspects and substance of art and culture were imbibed in me during my school years itself and later carved me as a person. That very essence of Tagore’s teaching was, to encourage a person to be what he is, was a big confidence booster for all of us. 
We learned to live with the nature and appreciate beauty in simplicity. Nature, its forms and Tagore’s ideologies are a big part of my designing aesthetics and it gets reflected in my home decor too. 
So my haat pakha (hand held palm leaf fan), Kansa'r Bason (metal utensils) or Dhama (cane baskets) are not only used as props in my food styling but they posses their own space throughout the house.
Every thing that are handmade lures me and I love to use all sorts of Indian handicraft in my house.
Overtime during our travel to other countries I have collected a few items that I keep close to me and display proudly.
Both me and my style are desi, Bengali to be precise and it's very nature lies in every things indigenous to my own country. 

Home truly for me is where my heart lies. It's the most sacred of them all...blessed by the almighty...
With this I believe to have found my calling. What's your style? Will you share...



Desserts and Sweets

Nolen gurer Rosh bora for Rakhi and Janmashtami

1:44 PM


From last year and so I have been making a conscious effort to know more about the food that we consume regularly. Not only it's nutritional and food values but also the history behind it, it's origination and evolving process to the current time. For me its more about going back to my roots, to know who I am, where I belong. When I write about my family recipes I try to dig deep, to find out how it was if I stretch back in time generations after generations, what was the story behind it, where it all started and made this incredible journey till date.

I believe every one has such stories in their family that speak volume about their back ground, which has so much to do to who they are today. There is nothing better than being proud of your own background and your own tradition. That is the very reason I started blogging and still love doing it.

Review

Celebrating Swiss National Day with Swiss Food Festival at Swissotel Neotia Vista

12:45 PM


Two things come to everyone's mind when they hear the word 'Swiss'...swiss chocolate and Swiss cheese. and our recent dinner at Swissotel had both of these in plenty. 
Yes, again. A few days back we again had the pleasure of attending an exclusive gourmet dinner at Swissotel Kolkata. This time to celebrate the Swiss National day and to mark the week long Swiss food festival. For me going back to Swissotel is like a promise of good time. The beautifully designed hotel with its consistent good food and warm hospitality always gives you a satisfying experience. 

It was an buffet dinner, hosted at Cafe Swiss, the very contemporary, 24 hour Cafe located at the 6th floor of the hotel. With its indoor and outdoor sitting and vast windows it exudes a relaxed charm. Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by the ever gracious Enakshi and her team. 

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