KOLKATA LIVING.

Hey guys, since, you know I turned my blog from just a food blog to a travel/lifestyle/food blog, you can see it all over my instagram, go follow me there, username: pompouscrap, I thought of posting my first lifestyle blog which is, of course, going to be about my hometown A.K.A Kolkata, Did you know that Kolkata used to be the capital of India during British rule? My city has an undeniable charm which attracts everyone towards itself, sure it’s not as developed as other metropolitans but this place never fails to surprise its visitors.

If you’re about to visit Calcutta, yes I like its old name better than its new one, here’s a traveller’s guide to a Calcuttan’s life (or my life):

 1.       Have you ever seen a Punjabi family run a South Indian food corner, yes, you can find one in Kolkata, this actually shows how diverse Calcutta is, or even, how diverse India is, not only is this place unique for its origins but also for its food, I swear by every dosa I’ve ever eaten that this is the best of it all. I don’t remember their address but all you need to do is go to ganeshtalkies, jorabagan and ask anyone about the best dosas in that area and they’ll point you to this South Indian food corner. Thank you uncle for the best South Indian food :3 YOU NEED TO VISIT THIS PLACE.

1.    2.   What comes first to your mind when you hear “A hole in the wall”? To me, this place called Kapila Ashram, it’s a hole in the wall which serves one of the best fruit cakes of Calcutta during the winter season and the best sherbets during the summer season. I highly recommend the “abar khabo” sherbet. Address: 204/2, Bidhan Sarani, Machuabazar, Kolkata: 700006

1.   3.    Buy fruits from the roadside because it is cheap and has more variety than any convenience store

Ride the tram because if you don’t then shame on you.

1.     5.  Eat puchka from the roadside vendors, I don’t know if it’s healthy much but it’s definitely delicious much and also, they make my eyes water and make me doubt my decision to leave Calcutta for college AND, IT’S NOT PANI PURI OR GOLGAPPA, IT IS PUCHKA, ROLL WITH IT.

That’s not it, let’s just call this part 1 of Calcutta living, part 2 will surface soon.

Email address for inquiries: shireengupta101@gmail.com.

Till then :)

ALLAHABAD.

Hey guys, how are you all? I know, it’s been weeks since I last posted, I’m really sorry for that but I was making major decisions for this blog, so, this is officially a Lifestyle, travelling and food blog. So yaay!

This first blog after WEEEkKKSS, is travel related. Hands up if you love travelling, would do it even if you had to put up in a dingy motel, not tourist around, won’t go on a itinerary tour, won’t follow a map and do what the locals do because that is what I’d do. I love travelling and even the cons it offers. So, you might not know this but my aunt lives in a city named Allahabad which belongs to the state of Uttar Pradesh. I spent my summer vacation there this time, huehuehue. I’m a Kolkata girl, born and raised in a metropolitan, small towns just don’t speak to me much, it also doesn’t help that I live smack in the middle of the city and I love noise, it helps me sleep, *le Shireen Gupta trying to be deep* but seriously I hate silence, I thought of Allahabad to be one of those ghost towns but I was a tad bit surprised. You might just go ahead and call me condescending but I think lowly of towns and I had the same idea for Allahabad but it was amazing to be honest.

Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts for all ya wanderlusts out there :3

DO’S:

Places to visit:

To be very very very honest, until and unless you are a religious person, I don’t think you’ll like to tourist out.

Now, the real deal, the underrated places you must visit. :

1.        There’s this apparent haunted house which used to be a factory and where around four murders took place, I don’t know the exact address but what I can tell you is that there’s a famous tank near a hanuman temple and a lane right beside it, go straight and take the first left and you’ll find a wall which has the word “disputed” written all over it, across the wall is a small house like building. Yup, that is your destination. Here’s a picture, ain’t it spooky? (BTW, you can’t go inside the house ‘cause it is disputed)

1.      2. Another haunted house, guess who’s a freak, this girl. This house is more abandoned than haunted, we went inside and all but we didn’t see or feel anything, it does have animal bones lying around but nothing scary really,oh and if you do enter this house, please go up to the terrace, the view is breathtaking. Address: Ashok Nagar, military cantonment, “Bhut Bangla”

2.    3.   If you visit Allahabad and don’t visit El Chico then God wouldn’t forgive. THE FOOD, THE GODDAMN FOOD IS HEAVENLY. Go ahead, be jelly.

Address: 24, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh: 211001.

Phone no. 05322427696

DON’Ts:

1.   1.    Don’t visit Khusro Bagh until and unless you are a couple who likes meeting in secret yet publicly.

22. DON’T GO ANYWHERE FROM 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 DURING THE SUMMER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE BURNED TO DEATH.

Best season to visit:

Autumn, autumn in Allahabad is to die for.

Things to try:

THE CHAAT, if it were up to me, every meal of mine would consist of chaat.

Oh, if you’re in luck, you’ll experience summer rain in Allahabad which is the best thing ever.

So, yeah, that’s about it I guess!

Vegetarian up!

So, how many of guys are vegetarians who like being vegetarians but dislike the fact that cupcakes are, well, made with eggs? Worry not! Shireen is here to help you out, how was this recipe created? Well, I was craving cup cakes and we ran out of eggs and I was in my bed-shorts, so, ergo.

Hope you all like the recipe!

 

Ingredients:

2 cups of all-purpose flour;

½ cup butter;

1 cup unsweetened chocolate powder;

¾ cup condensed milk, how to make condensed milk:

Take equal amounts of sugar and full fat milk and put it on simmer for like two hours or until it’s thick.;

1 teaspoon baking powder.

Procedure:

Preheat an oven for 180 degrees Fahrenheit, for 15 minutes;

Melt the butter and sugar together, and then pour it in a mixing bowl;

Add in the condensed milk and slowly fold until nice and smooth;

Slowly add the dry ingredients, avoid lumps;

Beat until smooth and fill 1/3 of your cupcake moulds;

Put it in the oven and let it bake for 20 minutes or till it isn’t runny.

VOLA!

Vkusno!

How are you all? I need to tell/ask you guys something: did you know that dumpling has a fabulous Russian cousin? I bet you did, even if you didn't I’m here to tell you guys about it! The name of this dish is call pierogi, it follows the rule of the dumpling filling and the dumpling coat but has a different making procedure, by the way,  I wanted to make my own pierogis and photograph them but I’m unwell and my mother won’t let me out of bed, thank God for laptops, I've made pierogis several times before,so, I can tell with absolute certainty that these will taste awesome!

Ingredients:

For the coat:

2 cups of all purpose flour;

1 cup water.

Filling (Like dumpling, pierogi’s fillings have no confinements, fill in whatever you like!), I used:

1 cup finely chopped boiled baby corn,

½ cup parmesan cheese.

Paprika to taste.

Procedure:

Procedure:

Make the dough, add water to the flour and make moist dough;

Roll out the dough, with the help of a round cookie cutter, make small circles of dough;

Flatten out the circles one by one;

Add filling, be rational with filling, excess of filling might cause the dough to loosen up and open during the cooking process;

Close the opening the dough circles when the filling is satisfactory;

In a boiler, set water to heat up, when the water starts boiling, put the raw pierogis in it;

When the pierogis come up the surface of the water, remove pierogis;

In a pan, heat up oil and add in the pierogis, slow roast them and serve them hot!

Guysss! Important announcement, I am transforming this blog from food to lifestyle and food blog, I don’t know, this might be sick brain talking but I’m actually considering it, I will confirm this next week when I feel a little better!

Anyway,

YEST’ KHOROSHUYU YEDU!

Say cheessseee!

Bum-bum bummmm, Hey guys! How have you all been? Wonderful, I hope. Okay, I need to ask you guys if you like Mac and cheese? If yes, then you're gonna love this recipe!

Pasta in white sauce:

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup boiled pasta of choice ( I used macaroni);
2. 3/4 cup milk;
3. 1/2 cup cheese of choice;
4. 1 chopped onion;
5. 1 teaspoon chilli flakes;
6. 1 tablespoon dried thyme;
7. 1 tablespoon dried oregano;
8. 1 tablespoon butter;
9. 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour;
10. 2 tablespoons water;
11. Salt to taste.

Procedure:

Saute the onion and butter till the onion acquires a brown colour

Add in the milk, keep the heat to medium high

Add the cheese in shredded form

Mix the water and the flour, removing lumps, add in the mixture to the pan when the cheese is melted.

Add in the chilli flakes, oregano, thyme and salt.

Add in the pasta.

Remove from flame when the pasta is thick.

Enjoy!

GRILL IT!

Okay, first of all, I'm extremely sorry for not updating my blog last week, I was in a bit of a soup but it's okay now. Today's post isn't a recipe though, it is my very first restaurant review! the restaurant in question is Barbeque Nation, Kolkata. So here goes!

Preference : Okay, so this part of the review is bad, we were seated by 12:03, since Barbeque Nation is known for Korean grilling basis, what they do is that they place a small grill right at center of your table and bring in semi-cooked skewers and you get the privilege to skewer it yourself, we did not get our grill until around 12:23, while the table across already had skewers on theirs, which was kind of annoying.

Rate for preference: 2.5/5

Ambiance: The ambiance is a natural restaurant ambiance, nothing special and nothing too deranged, so, it was okay.
Rate for ambiance: 3.5/5
Food: Okay the main part, FOOD, the food was breath-taking, it was delicious. If you visit now, I insist you try the paan-kulfi for it was magnificent, it tasted exactly like paan.
Rate for food: 4.5/5

Service: Although, the preference part was annoying, the service was surprisingly good, the waiters were friendly and co-operative, there was a part where a waiter came up to us and asked how we liked the food, my father responded saying that the food was exceptional but the lamb wasn't up to the mark, the waiter brought in the chef and chef inquired about the lamb, my father responded saying that according to himself, lamb should be dry instead being in gravy, the chef took it on a serious note and insisted on making him a plate dry lamb, and so he did and that lamb tasted good, the co-operation and the service motive was a plus point.
Rate for service: 4.8/5.
Important suggestions to future diners:
1. I strongly recommend getting a reservation before hand and that too, 2-3 days before the actual dining plan. 
Address: K1, RDB Boulevard, Block EP and GP, Sector 5, Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Phone number: 033 60600000,
Cuisines: North Indian, Mediterranean.
Timings: 12 noon-2:45 P.M, 6:30 P.M-10:30 P.M.( Monday-Sunday)
Cost for two(excluding alcohol): Rs. 1600.

ENJOY!