Bengali-Indian Supper Club

Welcome to London’s first and only Bengali Supper Club! In fact it is probably the UK’s first and only Bengali Supper Club! This is an exclusive and unique experience!

Venue: Bromley South (Zone 5, 20 mins on overland train from London Victoria and Blackfriars)

Format: Family style, maximum 8

Upcoming Dates: December 13, 2014; January 3, 2015; January 10, 2015)

Donation: £25 per person

Drinks: Bring-Your-Own-Beverage

Contact: bengalisupperclub@gmail.com

I look forward to welcoming you!



Some Background....

Bengalis are true foodies – they are always talking about food and are known to discuss the menu of the next meal between mouthfuls of the current meal! Even though they love their own cuisine, Bengalis are always seeking new experiences, whether it’s other Indian cuisines or International ones. It is with this foodie genetic makeup that I moved to the UK 26 years ago from Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). I remember being shocked (and continue being shocked) at the poor imitation being passed off as Indian food on the High Street. Ever since then I have been trying to raise awareness about authentic regional Indian cuisine to whoever cared/cares to listen!Sainsbury's Cooking Competition

Winning Sainsbury's Magazine's Dishy Dad 2014 competition with my Bengali fish curry was a fantastic opportunity to introduce Bengali cuisine to the British public!

So what is Bengali cuisine? What’s so special about it? And why aren’t there any Bengali supper clubs or indeed restaurants anywhere?

Countryside Bengali cuisine is the regional style of food which originated in Bengal, the region which in modern times has been divided into the Indian State of West Bengal and the present-day country, Bangladesh, in the north-east of the Indian Sub-Continent . The southern half of the region is dominated by the fertile Ganges Delta with its myriad rivers and tributaries and inland by thousands of ponds and lakes.

Consequently, fish, namely fresh water fish, an abundant array of vegetables and rice are synonymous with Bengali cuisine. The northern half of Bengal comprises of vast plains leading up to the mighty Himalayas where chicken replaces fish as the main protein. Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh.

Bengali Cuisine....

Bangladeshi and Kolkata cuisines are very similar but with two distinct characteristics. Notably, unlike Bangladeshi cuisine, Kolkata cuisine is significantly less oily and uses fewer chillies, just enough to impart some heat and flavour.Bengali Thali The flavours of Bengali cuisine are very aromatic, typified by the use of whole spices, mustard and ginger, while the gravies are light and the use of minimal oil (in Kolkata cuisine), makes it very healthy. It is the only Indian regional cuisine that is similar to European cuisines in that the dishes are eaten in order even though they are served at the same time – vegetables and lentils first, followed by fish and meat and then a sweet chutney and dessert. Rice is typically served as an accompaniment to each savoury course.

The dishes served at the Bengali-Indian Supper Club reflect the cuisine influenced and developed in Kolkata, my birthplace.

It is a real shame that the Bengalis in the UK, both Indians and Bangladeshis alike have not shared their pride of this delicious cuisine and celebrated it with the rest of Britain. It is simply a matter of will or the lack of. So I hope the Bengali-Indian Supper Club will do the cuisine justice and raise its profile amongst Londoners and further afield. Hail the 'new' Indian cuisine!

If you would like to experience Bengali cuisine, beyond the High Street tikka masalas and Madrases, then please do contact me at bengalisupperclub@gmail.com. I will provide you with further details.

See you soon at the Bengali-Indian Supper Club!