The love of Bengalis for their mishti is simply admirable. They just love their mishti (Bengali Sweets). All over Kolkata, you will find innumerable mishti shops catering to the budget of every single citizen. The varieties are innumerable too. The shop owners are so imaginative, that they create and modify the misty according to the changing seasons and even the changing moods of the city!
Just visit the famous mishti shop at Golpark circle early in the morning. Silently watch the expressions on the face of the owner, who is sitting at the counter. At that time, his only job is to read the small chits of paper and to collect the money from customers. No one is in a hurry. All are taking their own time to go through the round. But, while doing such mundane job, the expressions on his face are just divine. As if he is sitting in the pooja room of his home and in all sincerity, praying Ma Kaali with fullest devotion!
The scene at the age old and famous mishti shop at Kalighat is little different. However, the underlying mood that can be sensed is no different that the earlier shop. BTW do take a walk from Ravindra Sarovar Metro station to Kalighat Metro station. The area is just poetic. From Ravindra Sarovar station walk down under the Tallygunj bridge and then turn to right. Take Sarat Chandra Avenue and walk down circling the Ravindra Sarovar. I just could not pass from there without taking at least 3-4 pauses. The scene is so beautiful. At the crossing main road turn left. Then via Southern Avenue walk to Kalighat Station. While walking from Southern Avenue, there is one Southy hole in the wall kind eating joint. They serve good idlies and chutney too but the sambar is bit difficult to accept. However, one must accept that fact that, after all, he is in Bengal and not in Matunga or Chennai. On that semi circular road, on both sides, you will find cute bungalows and two storied buildings belonging to the names like Das, Basu, Chatterjee, Makherjee, Ganguly etc etc. The area is belonging to circa 1940's-50's pucca.
Near Kalighat Metro station, there is one authentic Punjabi dhaba. It was just love at first sight! After a gap of about 4 days, I could get daal tadka and tandoori roti there! They serve excellent Tandoori Chicken, daal tadka and tandoori roties directly from the 'bhatti' to your plate. Piping hot. No halt in between. They proved their authenticity to a foodie like me by bringing a blob of white butter in a small plate even without asking.
Near the Kalighat temple, there is a mishti shop which I mentioned above. That's a cult shop more than a century old. The owners and managers of that shop are very imaginative. Sensing the political mood of the city due to ongoing Parliamentary (Loksabha) elections, they presented a election special item naming it as "Nirbachoni Sandesh". (Election (special) Sandesh). What a imagination and timing in naming the item! Their show cases are filled with this eye-fetching sweets embossed with symbols of various political parties. Bengalis truly love their mishti!
No comments:
Post a Comment