What this tour is about: No visit to Calcutta is complete without an introduction to Bengali food!

Drawing inspiration from rivers and green paddy fields, a traditional Bengali meal is an elaborate affair with multiple courses. Rice is the staple dish; and it is eaten with several delicious accompaniments; the highlight of which are freshwater fish preparations, and of course, Bengal’s famous milk-based desserts. The use of multiple cooking techniques, with unique spice combinations, lends sophistication to traditional Bengali cuisine.

Bengal’s food has also been influenced by the many communities that settled here over the ages. The refined Avadhi cuisine of the Nawab of Oudh found a permanent place in Calcutta after the arrival of Wajid Ali Shah in the mid-1800’s. The Chinese community brought their own flavours, leading to a new ‘Indian Chinese’ cuisine which is among the most popular street food all over the country. The Portuguese, Dutch, English, Jews and Armenians introduced their own techniques and preparations. 

A walk through Calcutta’s food markets is a great way to discover the city’s diverse food traditions. On this tour, we will visit some local bazaars (food markets) for an introduction to the various spices and ingredients that are used in this part of the country. We will visit a fish market, a meat and vegetable market, and a spice market. After the walk, we will go to a family-run restaurant that serves “thala” – a multi-course platter comprising a full Bengali traditional meal.