Authentic Bengali cuisine at the Navratna, Taj Samudra

Friday, 19 October 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Navratna, the specialty Indian restaurant at the plush Taj Samudra Hotel, is marking this October’s Navratri festivities with an authentic Bengali food festival.

‘Nav’ means ‘nine’ and ‘ratri’ means ‘night’. Thus, ‘Navratri’ means ‘nine nights.’ There are many legends attached to the conception of Navratri like with all Indian festivals. All of them are related to goddess Durga (Hindu Mother Goddess) and her various forms.

It is one of the most celebrated festivals of the Hindu calendar and it holds a special significance for Gujratis and Bengalis and one can see it in the zeal and fervour of the people with which they indulge in the festive activities of the season.

Bengali cuisine is appreciated for its fabulous use of ‘panchphoron,’ a term used to refer to the five essential spices, namely mustard, fenugreek seed, cumin seed, aniseed and black cumin seed. The specialty of Bengali food lies in the perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavours. For Bengalis, food is one of the most essential aspects of their day-to-day lives.

Master Chef Sujoy Gupta joins the Taj Samundra from Taj Bengal in Kolkata to present carefully crafted authentic Bengali cuisine during this exclusive food festival. Currently established as the Executive Sous Chef of Taj Bengal, Chef Gupta has been with the Taj Group since 2005, and has had the honour of representing India at the highly acclaimed Maximum India Cuisine Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington D.C. in 2011.

The Navratna restaurant will feature a special a la carte menu consisting of Bengali favourites such as chingri macher malai curry (fresh river prawns cooked in coconut cream), kosha mangsho (lamb cooked in special Bengali masala – traditionally cooked on special occasions), machher paturi (steamed fish with mustard, wrapped in a banana leaf) and mogewala kukkad (an immensely popular village dish of slow cooked boneless chicken simmered in fenugreek flavoured rich tomato gravy)

Other scrumptious treats include kofta sam severa (large dumpling of spinach and cottage cheese filled with nuts fried and simmered tomato and cashew nut gravy), saag bhutta (a delightful preparation of golden corn kernels and creamy spinach cooked), basanti pulao (Green cardamom, orange and saffron flavoured rice) and much more.

Taste the authentic Bengali flavours of India at Navratna, Taj Samudra – cuisine unparalleled. This exclusive promotion is available during lunch and dinner from 18 to 29 October.