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Authentic Bengali Cooking Class in a Local Kolkata Home

Kolkata, India
2 to 3 hrs
(4)
Date
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What You Will Do

Zinnia lives with her husband and their 14 year old daughter in Kolkata. For Zinnia being in the kitchen is truly a stress buster! Zinnia taught herself to cook after she got married from recipe books and long phone conversations with her mother!  Zinnia will welcome you to their apartment in New Town with a warm smile. While you sip on your welcome drink, Zinnia will share all about her love for cooking. She cooks not only traditional Bengali food but can also fix up a few delectable North Indian dishes. The menu is thoughtfully chosen to feature 3-4 Bengali specialties and the distinctive use of mustard oil and mustard seed paste which is unique to Bengali cuisine. Join Zinnia in her small kitchen for a one hour hands-on cooking class and then sit down at the dinning table to enjoy the meal you helped prepare. Zinnia can offer vegetarian meals on request. Any dietary preferences may be available.

What's Included?

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Private cooking class with your host Zinnia
  • Local alcohol (1-2 glasses of local beer)
  • Home cooked meal (lunch or dinner)

What's Not Included?

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 2 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Itinerary

Meeting Point

1

Traveling Spoon

2 to 3 hrs

Join Zinnia in her small kitchen for a one hour hands-on cooking class. The cooking class will begin with an introduction to Indian spices and Zinnia will show you the ingredients of panch phoran, a spice blend of cumin, brown mustard, fenugreek, nigella and fennel which is commonly used in Eastern India. She will also explain why mustard oil is used in Bengali cuisine and will show you how mustard seeds are ground into a paste. After which you will learn to roll out the dough and fry luchis (a deep-fried flatbread), prepare the shorshe chingri (prawns in mustard gravy) and tomato and dates chutney from scratch.  You will then join Zinnia and her family (when at home) at their dining table for a home cooked Bengali meal that might include a few dishes such as shorshe maach (fish cooked in mustard sauce) or kosha maangsho (mutton curry), aaloo posto (potatoes with poppy seeds) or begun bhaaja (eggplant/aubergine fry) and cholar dal (lentils) served with rice or flat bread and a tomato and dates chutney. Your meal will end with some paayesh (rice pudding), the most favored dessert in Bengali homes for any occasion.


Additional Information

This activity is operated by Traveling Spoon
  • Menu may vary depending on the season
  • If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • Private, personalized experience
  • Notes: Zinnia can offer vegetarian meals on request.

Guide Options

  • Guide - English