Kati Roll and Kolkata are synonymous. Even before I had tasted my first ever Kati Roll, I guess, I had already heard so many stories of the famous Kati Roll. How this quintessential Kolkattan snack played a role, in so many romances(including my parents). Ma would often relate stories of their courtship days, when a typical date started off with munching Kati Rolls from Nizam's in New Market, in Kolkata, and then an English film, at New Empire or Lighthouse. Lighthouse does not exist any more as a movie theatre, and New Empire hardly has an audience these days, Nizam's has re-opened after a hiatus. Luckily, in the ever changing Kolkattan romance circle, the Kati Roll, still, has a pronounced presence. My mother's daughter's love story also has a special attachment, to the Kati Roll !!
I went to college in the most happening street in Kolkata: Park Street !!! And also had my own connections with Kati Roll. After college, we had to walk up to Park Street metro station everyday,and that meant, passing two Kati Roll Meccas of Kolkata. 'Hot Kati,' located just opposite to the Russel Street connector and 'Kusum Snacks,' located in Karnani Mansions, located about midway in Park Street. So it just meant that the pocket money got spent mostly on variations of Kati Roll, in the evenings, with the debate continuing, as to which joint was better in their rendition of the Kolkata Classic !!
As I am struck by the flu bug, my mind is wandering off to all that I miss being far away from my homeland.Kati Roll features quite high on that list, somehow. But then I soothe my feverish mind, with the idea, that I did recently savor a lot of Kati Roll !! No, I was not in Kolkata. Not that lucky. I was in Times Square in New York City !! Yes, I did have my fair share of Kati Rolls. It was not a Kolkata Konnect but a Bangladeshi Konnect !!
We were on a typical touristy run at the Big Apple, and needed an evening snack, before we headed to my cousin's apartment for dinner. Among the various food trucks, there were two which definitely did catch my eye. My cousin's eye. And Hubby's eye !!! So we nailed in Kati Roll !!!
The man smilingly chatted with us. Asked me," Didi, Jhaal Khaben?" (Do you want your Kati Roll to be Spicy?) " Hya, besh jhaal kore banan amarta, Dada, " I chipped in almost instantaneously (Make mine spicy !) Now I was smiling, as I saw him, chop some green chilies very finely !!
Finally it was time for the taste test !! The way, Hubby and Bro wolfed down theirs, as I was paying the man, I knew, the investment had been a good one.
Now now, look at that big bite !!!
Finally it was time for the taste test !! The way, Hubby and Bro wolfed down theirs, as I was paying the man, I knew, the investment had been a good one.
Now now, look at that big bite !!!
Aaah, the man, savoring his Kati Roll, with Nirvana reflecting on his face !!
I was the last one, to munch onto the goodness.
Expectations were pretty high. I had such high standards to compare it to. I was almost behaving like a kid in a candy store, who had been given a run of the place.
The paratha was a good combination of crispy yet soft. The paratha was slathered with two eggs,I guess. Now that was a familiar Kolkata connect. Egg Chicken Roll, anyone !!! Too many memories poured in . The meat was chunky and perfect kebabs, grilled on the katis, or so it seemed. Chef had made us a mixed meat one, so there were chunks of lamb kebabs and chunks of chicken kebabs, doused in a heady squirt of lime juice. Another Kolkattan touch.
The chopped red onions and green chilies completed the party. The only Amreekan addition, to the typical Kolkattan Kati Roll, was some chopped lettuce. Now that was a faux pas when compared to our Kolkattan gastronomical standards. But then, it was a reminder that one did compromise a bit even with quintessential Kolkattan tastes, when one was savoring it, literally oceans apart.
Well, I walked off with my Kati Roll, in hand, amidst all the bright and shining lights of Times Square, along the melee of people. My mind partially lost in a trance like state. Did the Kati Roll have an hallucinogen in it?! I guess not. My mind itself was playing games with me, as I took bite after bite, of my favorite, roadside snack from Kolkata. I was feeling that I was probably in Kolkata during Pujo, and was savoring in some typical midnight snack, during Pujo Porikrama.
The taste did bring forth a lot of nostalgia, and I hailed the cab, for Manhattan, for the wild night, which was awaiting us.
I was the last one, to munch onto the goodness.
Expectations were pretty high. I had such high standards to compare it to. I was almost behaving like a kid in a candy store, who had been given a run of the place.
The paratha was a good combination of crispy yet soft. The paratha was slathered with two eggs,I guess. Now that was a familiar Kolkata connect. Egg Chicken Roll, anyone !!! Too many memories poured in . The meat was chunky and perfect kebabs, grilled on the katis, or so it seemed. Chef had made us a mixed meat one, so there were chunks of lamb kebabs and chunks of chicken kebabs, doused in a heady squirt of lime juice. Another Kolkattan touch.
The chopped red onions and green chilies completed the party. The only Amreekan addition, to the typical Kolkattan Kati Roll, was some chopped lettuce. Now that was a faux pas when compared to our Kolkattan gastronomical standards. But then, it was a reminder that one did compromise a bit even with quintessential Kolkattan tastes, when one was savoring it, literally oceans apart.
Well, I walked off with my Kati Roll, in hand, amidst all the bright and shining lights of Times Square, along the melee of people. My mind partially lost in a trance like state. Did the Kati Roll have an hallucinogen in it?! I guess not. My mind itself was playing games with me, as I took bite after bite, of my favorite, roadside snack from Kolkata. I was feeling that I was probably in Kolkata during Pujo, and was savoring in some typical midnight snack, during Pujo Porikrama.
The taste did bring forth a lot of nostalgia, and I hailed the cab, for Manhattan, for the wild night, which was awaiting us.
Enjoyed reading it..hugs
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