Festive Feasts: Celebrate Durga Puja with Aaheli Special Menus

“Durga Pujo” in Kolkata means many things to many people. For some, it is an intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognised by UNESCO. For others, it is a socio-cultural extravaganza spread over five days that has no parallels anywhere else in the world. For others still, it is about throwing all caution to the wind, decking up in one’s finest attire, endless pandal hopping, and indulging in gastronomical delights at Aaheli, the critically acclaimed heritage Bengali food restaurant at the Peerless Hotel.

Indeed, Durga Pujo, is also a celebration of the palette. It is estimated that Kolkata’s fine dining restaurants alone clock over Rs 1100 crores* during these festive days. And Aaheli, the epitome of Bengali cuisine in kolkata, Peerless Hotel’s destination restaurant, feeds this frenzy. As a matter of fact, enjoying of Bengal’s heritage dishes at Aaheli has long been considered to be a part of the Durga Pujo rituals by the city’s hoi poli and the visitors alike – a tradition that has been painstakingly catered to by Aaheli for over 32 years now.

Bengali Culture and Cuisine

Bengali culture finds a unique reflection in its cuisine, having evolved inclusively by incorporating influences from places as far as central Asia and Europe, a potpourri to which successive generations of Bengali women have left their indelible mark in search of culinary excellence. It is this tradition, that borders on the spiritual, that is being upheld by the chefs and food researchers at Aaheli, perhaps the only one of its kind in the state.

The five festive days see a remarkable increase in footfall in Aaheli, and the restaurant works overtime to surpass itself. It will not be out of place to mention here that Peerless Hotels, because of its enviable location, straddles the “pilgrim’s progress” between the Puja pandals that dot the North and South of Kolkata, and has emerged as an oasis where weary souls seek rejuvenation in the form of a heavenly gastronomical experience that is as integral part of the Durga Pujo celebrations as pandal hopping, at Aaheli.  

Eating the Same Twice Over is a Sacrilege!

Carefully curated Durga Puja special menus are created at Aaheli that aim to pamper not only the city’s connoisseurs with the most exotic gems from the khazaana of Bengali kitchens, but also for outstation and overseas visitors who wish to dig into the gastronomic tradition but are less adventurous in terms of their palette. So here are the glimses of the spread on offer during the Pujo days.

A middle ground is the bestseller thali – a delectable spread that comprises the best examples of Bengal’s tradition with a contemporary twist, a synthesis of the past and the present. However, keeping in mind the time constraints of the guests who want to tick all the right boxes during the five festive days, thali and à la carte ordering is also made available. 

To further add to the festivities, live music is performed during dinner and lunch, and Pujo-themed decorations adorn the hotel. The bengali thali menu too is changed during Soshti, Saptumi, Oshtumi, Nabumi, and Dashumi, in tune with the traditions so that dishes aligned to specific days of the Pujo can be sampled by the guests. The spread naturally has enough variations to cater to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. 

• The main course on all days, for example, comprises of five vegetarian and 3 non-vegetarian dishes. 

• As a long-standing Peerless tradition,  a box of specially made sweets is also offered to all hotel guests on Dashami.    

       

Dishes that have seen a revival thanks to the continuous research of the chefs at Aaheli and are offered as a pièce de résistance include, among others, 

• Mochar ar Channar devil, 
• Aamada cutlet, 
• Chingri salmi, 
• Gondho raj Chicken Kurkure, 
• Poddo patay mora Bhaat, 
• Kucho mangshor Pulao, 
• Palong Channar Kofta, 
• Doi Begun, 
• Kakrar tel jhol, 
• Posto Katla,
• Kala Bhuna Mangsho, 
• Pyaaj Postor Murgir Bharta, 
• Goalando Ghater Murgir jhal, and 

• Sorai pora mihidana.

   

Bear in mind that similar spreads with some variations will also be available at our Axis Mall outlet at the New Town and at the one at Sarat Bose Road.

It has been more than three decades since Aaheli took Bengali cuisine kolkata to a different orbit altogether. Naturally, over time, thanks to the patronage of satisfied bon vivants, the number of people eager to experience a festive meal at Aaheli is on the increase, which is why it is advisable to make a prior booking to avoid last-minute disappointments.      

*Restaurant Association of Eastern India 2023 


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