A Taste Of Time ( A Food History Of Calcutta)
Kolkata wasn't just the seat of British power—it was a melting pot where cuisines clashed, merged, and transformed into something utterly distinctive. This book traces how waves of settlers, traders, and neighbours shaped what locals ate, sipped, and craved. From humble street vendors hawking spiced snacks to elegant dining rooms serving French-inspired fare, the city's food tells a far richer story than recipes alone. Mohona Kanjilal explores how Jewish bakers, Armenian merchants, Chinese cooks, and Parsi traders left their fingerprints on Kolkata's palate. She investigates beloved institutions—the 1924 teashop still pouring cups, the legendary sweet shops that invented now-iconic desserts, the restaurants that became gathering places for generations. Beyond restaurants and recipes, she uncovers the quirky rituals that define Kolkata life: the four o'clock tea ceremony, the obsession with certain street foods, the pride in regional innovations. Woven throughout are fascinating tales of influential Bengalis whose experiments in the kitchen rippled across the region. The result is a vivid portrait of how geography, history, and cultural exchange conspired to create one of India's most delicious and complex food cultures. Readers hungry for both history and flavour will find themselves thoroughly satisfied.
- Author: Mohona Kanjilal
- Publisher: Speaking Tiger
- Genre: Cooking & Culinary Arts
- ISBN: 978-9390477579
- Pages: 512 pages