Eat Out: Raj's Spanish Cafe, Sudder St, Kolkata

I will admit to the fact that the first time I went to Raj's Spanish Cafe, I almost got lost because the place is very easy to miss. What you need to do is keep an eye out as soon as you hit Sudder St. It is inside a building, and opposite a roadside stall called Tirupati, which, till date, has served me some tasty Kimchi Soup and Kimchi Fried Rice.

Menu Card. 

However, coming back to this cafe. This is one of those places in Kolkata I will return to again and again, and not feel guilty about not visiting other places.

Iced Coffee.

There are several reasons why I love Raj's Spanish Cafe, or, simply, Spanish Cafe. The reason is this - its really really laid back, relaxed and perfect for those times when you want to do nothing but sit in one corner and type away at your computer.

In exchange of your money and a valid id, you can get paid wifi here. I love the decor here, with the brightly colored walls, and a lovely artwork gracing the outside of the cafe. I can stare at other people's paintings for hours in the end, and this place has this lovely mural of India right outside, which is to be savored. Just look at it for a few minutes, and you would see minute details gracing the picture. I for one, a person not blessed with artistic talent, love the current mural they have to bits. The place has a sprawling sitting arrangement, and although without the benefit of an AC, the place is shady and cool, so you rarely need that. Also, inside, there is a large book rack where you will find a lot of books, from a lot of different countries. Read one, if you want, its a lot of fun sitting here with a glass of something cold, reading a philosophy treatise.

Ordering is simple enough. You are given menu cards, plus pen and an ordering pad. You write down the things you want to eat and in what quantity. Also, a daily special is provided on the side, where you can order the day's special if you like. Recently, I got meatballs.

Iced Mocha

The other day, when we went in,  my friend was in a hungry mood, and she ordered the iced coffee. I am an Iced Mocha girl, so I decided to order mine. It came laden with a mountain of cream and chocolate sauce. Generally, when I need a quick hit of caffeine, I order the Cafe Bom Bon, which is condensed milk, espresso and whipped cream, meant to be sipped after all three are mixed vigorously together.

Iced Mocha.

While sipping our drinks, we contemplated our next order. I generally order the chicken platter, which equates to two pieces of breaded and fried chicken, salad, fries and coke. You can switch the coke for a diet for 10/- extra, and I generally do that for a very filling meal. However, today, I did not feel like it, so decided to order Huevo Rotos (60/-), a simple dish of a big bunch of french fries topped with a fried egg, sunny side up. I absolutely love this dish. Its key is the simplicity, and the fact that I totally break the yolk right on top of the fries and eat the fries coated in yolk, savoring the salty gloriousness of the yolks with the crunchy fries.

Huevo Rotos (Fries topped with a sunny side up egg)

On the other hand, my companion ordered the Meatballs with Spanish Salsa (100/-). This was a bit of a let down. Although the mash it came with was brilliant, the meatballs were underseasoned, and so was the salsa. The quantity was also measly for 100/- (this has also happened to our Cannelloni which was a very small portion. On the other hand, the quantity they serve in their salads is astounding and their Espinacha Crema, a Spinach dish in bechamel sauce, is a big bowl full of creamed spinach and is enough to fill me up any day).

The service is brisk, the servers are smart, and absolutely indulgent. I love every bit of this place, and I do recommend a few things on the menu, including the Huevo Rellenos (Egg stuffed with tuna, brilliant!), the Pasta Aglio Olio and the Mediterranean Salad (its amazing with the lashings of feta and olives). Go there because you want to have a bit of relaxation after a long day of shopping at New Market, or drop in for breakfast. They are great for pancakes!

Raj's Spanish Cafe

7, Sudder Street, 

Near Treasure Island, 

Dharmatala

Kolkata

We Chat with a Few Favorites

If you are not aware of the current Indiblogger contest on We Chat, then you should be. Its a lot of fun, has amazing prizes, and asks a simple question - "If you could connect with five or more people in a WeChat group - who would they be, and why? What would you talk about? They can be friends, family, dead, alive or even fictional."

Almost immediately, my mother started to rib me to get married. In India, a woman, approaching thirty, and is single, quite happily, is seen as a social misfit. My mother has never wanted me to be a misfit, so she decided to take the opportunity to get me married off. I was contemplating majorly about the kind of men I would want to add, but given my proclivity towards adventure, I decided to add five men who I could choose from.

As per the instructions, I decided to get on We Chat and find myself my true love. I added a few people on my We Chat group, and decided to let things flow that way. After adding myself, I proceeded to add Ranbir Kapoor, because he is exactly a year older than me (and therefore, very much available till he ties the knot),  John Keats (because really... what woman can resist a cute poet?), Robin Hood (who doesn't like men in tight pants hopping around jungles taking money from the rich and distributing it to the poor), Nicola Tesla (for really, he was the coolest man, ever!), and Lord Shiva (because he is absolutely great, smokes up, has weird pets, wears dreadlocks and tattoos and is super cool, plus considered to be the ideal husband by most Indian women ... ahem).

After my choices were put in front of my mother, she fainted for a few seconds after seeing them, but told me to NEVER look at Lord Shiva from any other angle but that of a devotee, or I will surely incur the WRATH of PARVATI (ouch!! that is not just seven years, but probably seven births' worth of bad luck). Then she told me how most actors were faithless, scientists would never give me time because they will always be buried under work, and men who were criminals would have the law knocking at the door. I was quite happy that she was leaving Keats alone. At least, it was a good poet versus a non-poetic me.

However, as my conversation started on We Chat, I realized that his words were all garbled. Then I realized, that the poor man, dying from consumption (Tuberculosis for those who are uninitiated), was unable to type normally, since he was coughing up blood.

Naturally, after that, I stick to normal, not so famous, and probably not dead, people. And that is a relief. 

Shorshe Kachalonka Ilish, or, Hilsa Fish with Mustard and Green Chillies

 A good Bangaal girl eats her fish. Especially fishes which are also Bangaal. To those who are uninitiated, "Bangaal" is a term that refers to those who are originally from lands which are now in Bangladesh. In our family, it is important to be so. My grandparents still speak the language, and have no issues communicating with us in it. In fact, we actually are reserved towards those people who marry non-Bangaals, and sniff at their non-Bangaalhood. It is in that spirit I will speak of one of my favorite things that many people in my family love. Because, this is one of those recipes that have a beautiful conglomeration of all things Bangaal with one essential non-Bangaal touch, which smacks of "Edeshi" cuisine.

I speak of the humble poppy seeds, or posto, a product of the West Bengal cuisine, added to many many fabulous dishes. This recipe is originally my aunt's, who learned it from an old newspaper, and made it once, then again and again, because the sharpness of mustard and heat of chillies balanced beautifully with the smoothness of poppy seeds, all pasted together. This recipe calls for a fresh hilsa fish, and no, I strongly urge you to find the freshest hilsa available in town. My mother has often cheated and made it with a number of other fishes, and says that this goes really well with firm white flaky fishes as well. However, aunt swears by hilsa, and as this is the middle of the season for that fish (for Bengalis swear by the beauty of fresh hilsa, their eyes perfectly red, filled delicately with the silkiest roe you would find, skin perfectly white and gleaming moistly when slightly nudged with a marauding finger), I decided to make this recipe. The fish in question was around 1 kilo, and it consisted of 7-8 pieces, or rather, steaks of fish, which would alleviate the distribution of the fish roe to each piece.

Wash the fish and apply a tiny bit of salt on the pieces. Make a paste of 50 gm. poppy seeds, 50 gm. mustard seeds, 2 teaspoon lime juice, 6 green chillies together with a bit of water. The paste should not be too runny or too dry. It is advised to make as fine a paste as you possibly can. Add to the paste 1 tablespoon of mustard oil, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, and some salt to taste. Combine and set aside. Beat 75 gm. plain yogurt with 2 tablespoon water and add to the mustard-poppy seed mixture.

Heat 1/2 cup mustard oil in a flat-bottomed 9" frying pan till it is very hot, place the fish pieces on them, making sure all the fish pieces fit together in the frying pan snugly. Keeping the heat high for exactly 1 minute, and then lowering to medium, fry the fish till its golden on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn each piece of fish carefully over, and you will find that the fish has released a good bit of oil of its own. Remove a couple of slices of fish to make some space and add 1/2 teaspoon kalojeere or Nigella Seeds and 4 whole green chillies. Replace the fish pieces on top of the chillies again, stir once, and pour on top the yogurt-mustard mixture. Cover and simmer for 6-10 minutes, or until the fish is done to your liking.

 At our house, we tend to remove the cover after the 5th minute, turn the heat on to really reduce the yogurt thoroughly, and finish off by tasting the fish once and then adjusting salt. Pour 1-2 tablespoon of mustard oil on top and serve. We serve this with rice and call it a day. 

Potato Rösti‎

The Rösti‎ is a simple thing. Originating in Switzerland, it is nothing more than potatoes grated and cooked in a pan and was a filling breakfast to the farmers before they went for work. However, the recipe did gain popularity, and it began to gather momentum and finally became one of the most famous recipes from Switzerland, and some even consider it to be their national dish.

Crispy on the outside, soft inside. That's how a Rösti‎ should be. 

To make Rösti‎, all you need is love. And a big potato. And some butter maybe? Actually, goose fat is better, but in this country that is a very difficult thing to find indeed. So, if you want to add a tiny bit of vegetable oil, i would not tell. I hope you won't too. And yes, salt and pepper. I prefer freshly milled pepper, but you can be rebellious and use pepper powder. The oil actually makes this slightly crisper, and I love that.

That's about it.

Coarsely grate a large floury raw potato (around 150-170 gm. size, the big ones in the market with the very thin skin) using the larger grating side of a grater. This recipe needs thin strands of potato and not potato mush. Add a pinch of salt and let sit for 5 minutes. Get a muslin cloth and put the grated potato in it. Holding tight, squeeze out as much water as you can from the potato. Open the cloth, and sprinkle some pepper on the potato. Mix together.

In a small, flat, nonstick frying pan around 6-7 inches in diameter, heat 1/2 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Swirl the fat around the pan to cover every bit around. Put the potato over the fat in an even layer, using a spatula to press down any unevenness, into a disc like formation covering the bottom of the pan. Let cook over medium heat for 2 minutes or so.  Turn the heat to a simmer and let the potatoes fry for at least 5-8 minutes, or till the Rösti‎ looks like this on one side. Slide it out of the pan and into a plate. Quickly flip the Rösti‎ back into the pan, bottom's up, the uncooked side now exposed to the flame. Add 1/2 teaspoon oil to the sides to make sure the Rösti‎ is crunchy on the sides.

The finished products... the beautiful cooked potatoes.

 The Swiss people serve this with a sunny side egg on top, and some spinach, and call it a day. I call it a day with just the egg, and a bit of extra pepper on it too. I also cut it in pieces and serve it as a side to meat, fish or other vegetables, and it goes down excellently too.

TRESemmé Ramp Ready Hair Contest Entry: My Story

When TRESemmé asked me to pick my style, I told myself I would not be able to write down the style I chose. Shortly, I will say, I decided to leave my hair open for the day!

And all I would do is add a picture!

There's me! And my unruly curls tamed down quite a bit thanks to TRESemmé Climate Protection Shampoo and Conditioner! Thank you new shampoo! 

Eat Out: Square 4o5, Mani Square, Kolkata

Generally, I refrain from putting up a review for a place after only visiting it once. However, exceptions prove the rule. Meet Square 4o5, at Mani Square. I think I am in love.

Entrance to Square 4o5

Situated at the top floor of Mani Square where The Five Rivers once used to be, Square 4o5 has a very retro and fun feel to it, and bright and sunny ambiance. It was the first thing that attracted me, and I decided to check the place out. C as usual was eager, so the two of us ambled down to the place, and was greeted with a lovely rendition of "Help me make it through the night". 

The smiling server seated us (and foolish me forgot to ask his name) and we took in the very empty place, and thought maybe we had made a mistake in coming here. However, it was just around 1, so maybe not, my heart argued, and we got a pair of tall water glass, filled with cold, but not unpleasantly chilled water. The reason why I am mentioning the glass is because, through the course of our meal, they were constantly refilled, without us being aware of it. It shows a server who is attentive, and I give full marks to any server who thinks of it.

Aforementioned Water Glass.

We got a pair of menu cards, and ordered our starters immediately. My head felt slightly in pain, so I ordered a Latte, and then we sort of relaxed, sat back, and examined the place. The view from the top floor was quite nice. 

An assortment of condiments were kept on the tables. While there are the usual suspects, what I had not expected was a pepper mill, HP sauce, and Maggi seasoning. Brownie points there!

The first thing to hit our table was the beer battered onion rings I had eyed. 

Beer-Battered Onion Rings (80/-)

For the price, the serving was very generous, and served with a sweet chilli sauce, I could not stop munching on them. The rings were crisp on the outside and perfectly sweet and soft on the inside and it came piping hot. I was helplessly munching on them when the latte arrived.

Latte (75/-)

A lovely glass mug filled with steaming latte, not too frothy or too watery, but just the right amount of steamed milk and coffee, which made me reach for the brown sugar instead of a packet of sugar free. I could not mar such rich erotica with a veil of artificial sweeteners. With one sugar in, this became a perfect cure to my headache, and I was officially out of my melancholia of not finding a good coffee joint around my home. 

Paneer and Babycorn Satay (120/-)

The first two dishes were great, but then they faltered. These Paneer and Babycorn satays came on a bed of fried mung bean noodles, and although both the paneer and babycorn was very fresh and tasty, the fault lay with the under-seasoned peanut sauce which sort of marred the taste. However, a good sprinkling of salt brought everything back to normal, and we were happy to see our server tell us that he would be okay to take the dish back. We, however, refrained him from doing anything of that sort, and ate up. 

Grilled Chicken With Lemon Butter Sauce

The server had warned us that it would take a bit of time to bring out our mains, and we did not mind the wait. We languished and watched Nigelissima on TLC, which played on one corner on a tiny LCD screen. My selection was the grilled chicken (280/-), and C chose the same. While I went for the mushroom sauce, she went in for the lemon butter one.

Grilled chicken with mushroom sauce

Our dishes came in with a very generous portion of grilled chicken breast, under which was a bed of silky mash. I have to say this out loud - possibly this was the best mash I have had in Kolkata. I swapped a taste from C's plate, and the lemon butter sauce was made perfect... and the chicken was grilled but not charred. 

On the other hand, my plate came in with a side of spinach and sauteed beans and carrots. They were not too mushy or crunchy, and I could detect hints of butter and olive oil from them. The garlic bread was crisp and perfect for swiping the mash with, and overall, I did not miss a bite. 

Toffee Walnut (160/-)

After that incredibly tasty meal, I was about to cry uncle when the server suggested a dessert.  We decided to split one, because neither one of us could finish one off by ourselves. The Toffee Walnut (160/-) was chef's special of the day, and we decided on it. And I guess I was quite glad that I did. 

Think of a mound of warm, perfectly caramelized walnuts over and under a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with a generous amount of chocolate sauce. After our heavy meal, this was the perfect way of rounding off, and we were quite happy to see the bill, which was just about 1376/- (and I declare that I would gladly pay it again for a meal like this!). 

Overall, I do recommend this place. I spotted a lot of other things I want to try on the menu, so yes, I will be going back.

Square 4o5 

5th Floor, Mani Square

EM Bypass, near Kakurgachhi, 

Kolkata

# 033 40208206/+91 8420033622