Nizam's

More than a century ago, a peon at Calcutta Municipal Corportaion (now known as Kolkata Municipal Corporation) decided to quit his job and instead set up a small food-stall nearby. He sold grilled meat from his stall for few days till he realized that the British officers did not like to touch the meat with their hands. Moreover something had to be devised to make the food portable for the busy office-goers who were always in hurry either to reach office or to go back home after their day's work.  So he decided to wrap the skewer-roasted kebab (Kati kebab) with a paratha bread. Thus was invented one of the most popular snack of Bengalis called 'kati roll'. The rest was history and as the popularity of this newly discovered delicacy rocketed with time, this man named SK.Hasan Reza went on to establish Nizam's restaurant in 1932 at Hogg Street (no. 23 & 24) in front of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Nizam's enjoyed a monopoly in the 'kati-roll' market for decades.


Currently, the restaurant is divided into two parts - the main one having 'no beef' and another section next to it where beef is available. Both are carrying their legacies over the years. It is only Nizam's , among the big restaurants, that offers you rolls in their a la carte chart. Though it is mostly famous for its kati kebab rolls, I should also mention about the extraordinary mughlai dishes which are served here. The unimpressive interiors and the crowded tables may deceive you at first sight but you are bound to get mesmerized by the aroma and taste of authentic mughlai food as the waiter brings them to your table. Forget the crowd, forget everything. Close your eyes as your taste buds experience Nizam's magic.

Aminia

Aminia, a heritage restaurant of Kolkata, well known for its Mughlai dishes, is situated near Hogg market in Esplanade. The tantalizing aroma of the special biriyani is bound to lure everyone.. from the officers of the corporation office nearby.. to the casual shopper feeling a bit hungry after a day's shopping. The hunger increases by leaps and bounds as someone enters the magical world of finger-licking Mughlai food. The simple yet warmly welcoming interiors silently whisper in your years the history and the stories associated with this unique restaurant of central Kolkata.

Time and again, famous personalities have preferred this place to experience authentic Mughlai dishes. From the famous painter M.F. Hussain to the world known politician Jyoti Basu, this restaurant has succeeded to satisfy the taste buds of millions. A plate of pasinda has to be packed for the little master Sachin Tendulkar whenever he visits the city.

Coming back to the food, you can rely on me when I say that the biriyani, kebabs and other popular dishes here can compete any day with those served at Karim's in New Delhi. Mohammad Farid, a famous chef at Aminia, gave a satisfactory explanation on this matter - "I owe my cooking skills to my ustaad Mohammad Rajuddin. His forefathers used to cook for the Mughals and the secret recipe was something divine to them". The owner, Mohammed Athar, also admits the fact that the cooks are brilliant at their jobs and it is the spellworking of their fingers that compels the customers to return time and again.

After getting over the football matches at nearby Maidan, many of the players and supporters of the famous Bengali clubs Mohan Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammadan Sporting come straight to Aminia to satiate their voracious appetite. The faces may wrinkle and few hairs may loose color with time.. but the love for Aminia and its dishes from the Mughal world never fade away from the hearts of these enthusiastic food-lovers.

A resolution

I continued to stare blankly at the distant skyscraper as the late-winter chilly wind gushed through the window of my Swedish studio apartment. I was retrospecting why I miss "Kolkata" so much! Indeed Stockholm is a beautiful place to stay. The people here are really nice and helpful. The medieval palaces and churches have never failed to earn my awe. But somewhere, deep down inside, I am still as much opiated by the romanticism of "Kolkata" as I was when boarding the flight to Stockholm last September. As I closed the window to make myself warm, I asked myself a question.

"What is it that makes me fall in love with Kolkata everyday ?"

Is it the beauty of Victoria Memorial proudly depicting the British regime? Is it the Howrah Bridge - the lifeline that connects Kolkata with Howrah? Is it Eden Gardens - the Mecca of Indian cricket?

My mind explored through innumerable possibilities before I discovered the answers. To me, the two most important aspects of the life of a Kolkatan are Durga Puja and the foods, eateries and restaurants each of which tells you some story of its own. Most Kolkatans, I have met, are foodies and they "live to eat". Hence restaurants and street foods thrive and are among the best in the world. Most of these places are "small world"s in themselves and their histories are as engrossing as their menus.

As I raised myself and went towards the coffee-maker, I had made up my mind...

This is where my blog starts!