For those of us away from home, especially during festivals, any opportunity to be a part of any festivity is like a blessing. So how could I say no to be a part of the Poila Boishak celebrations at Kolkata Callin where they were serving traditional Bengali fare in a thali. Poila Boishak marks the beginning of Bengali New year. This coincides with Bohag Bihu in Assam which is the beginning of Assamese New Year. During this time, we ‘Probashi’ Assamese miss Assam all the more. To be a part of this Poila Boishak celebrations, I even dressed up in mekhela chadar. The excitement and the expectations were really high.
Kolkata Callin is a small cozy place in the Sher E Punjab area of Andheri East. This area is full of similar eateries offering cuisines from different parts of the country. From 14th to 17th April, they are serving only thalis. We asked for a vegetarian thali (Rs. 400+ST) and a non-vegetarian thali(Rs. 700 + ST) .
The vegetarian thali served:
Aam Pora Sharbat (Aam Panna), Steam Rice, Jhuri Aloo Bhaaja (Grated Potato Chips), Begun Bhaaja (Fried eggplant), Chana Dal, Fulkopi Sorshe (Cauliflower in Mustard Gravy), Enchor Daalna (Baby Jackfruit gravy), Dhokar Daalna (Bengal Gram Fried cutlets in gravy), Luchi (Pooris), Chutney, Papad and Paayesh (Bengali Kheer).
Non Vegetarian Thali served :: Aam Pora Sharbat (Aam Panna), Steam Rice, Jhuri Aloo Bhaaja (Grated Potato Chips) , Chana Dal, Maachcher Kaalia (Fish gravy), Chingri Malai Curry (Prawns in Coconut Gravy), Chicken Kosha (Chicken in thick gravy), Luchi (Pooris), Chutney, Papad and Paayesh (Bengali Kheer).
We relished everything thoroughly. The best part was that these dishes tasted like the ones moms of our Bengali friends used to cook whenever we went to their homes for lunches or dinners. The food did not taste like ‘restaurant food’ and we loved that.
Kolkata Callin is run by Sanjay Mukherjee who is very passionate about food. His able chef Abhimanyu Sen shares his passion and, in the heart of Mumbai, they have found their ‘Kolkata Callin’. Chef Sen informed that though he started as a Continental food Chef , soon he realised that his actual calling is in the kind of food he has grown up eating, the Bengali food. This shows in the dishes served at Kolkata Callin.
This Poila Boishak thali festival is till 17th April. In their regular menu you find most of things ‘so typically’ Kolkata.
Do make a plan for the weekend and go enjoy Kolkata traditional food here in your city of Mumbai.
And the thali includes a paan too. Bliss.
Meal for two: Rs.1200| Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes | Timings: 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm and then 6.00 pm till 11.30 pm
Address: Plot No. 285, Madhukunj Society, Shere Punjab, Andheri East, Mumbai-400093.
Tel: 022-28368733/34.
Disclaimer: This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant. Due judgement and care has been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review, but readers need to consider this review keeping this fact in mind.