Riding on the success of their food venture in Kolkata during Durga Puja, the Hong Kong based food and travel consultancy Gormei is all set for a re-run during the year end. This time they have chosen &lsquoCalcutta Christmas&rsquo as the theme because &ldquoChristmas in Kolkata is unique,&rdquo said Argha Sen, Founder and CEO of Gormei, &ldquoit is not merely an iteration of faith but a celebration that cuts across all divides.&rdquo
Recreating the food culture of the city&rsquos &lsquoBurra Din&rsquo (as Christmas is known as in Kolkata), Gormei has come up with curated meals celebrating the storied, diverse tradition of Christmas and New Year in Calcutta (as the city was known before 2001).
&ldquoTo retain the authentic style and taste, we have collaborated with renowned chefs who are not only expert cooks but also keepers of the culinary legacy,&rdquo said Sen. Some of the headline chefs include Rakhi Purnima Dasgupta, Sima Ahmed, Srabani Mukherjee, Bibi Sarkar, Chanda Dutt, Doma Wang and Rajesh Sen.
Hence, when you order from the special set menu (no a la carte options), you will be travelling through a variety of cuisines which have evolved through the past century. There will be Christmas classics from grand feasts of the past served in elite homes or the legacy clubs, secret recipes from Anglo Indian and Goan families, rare or forgotten Bengali delicacies, traditional Awadhi cuisine with a secret twist, specialities from Tibet, China or Myanmar, even exclusive presentations such as specialties from the 300 Club (a nightclub founded by a Russian adventurer).
The event is being curated by noted food historian Pritha Sen who draws upon her extensive expertise, historical research and relationships with the chefs to curate extraordinary menus according to the theme.
Like its previous edition, the menus will consist of sets for two people and will be delivered to the customers&rsquo doorstep in hygienic packaging by a specially trained delivery team, which is reassuring in this pandemic situation. In fact, it is the combination of unique menu and the safel delivery which got them a large number of orders from Indians staying abroad, who ordered the meals as gifts for their families in Kolkata, especially elderly parents.
Bookings for the Christmas special edition will open from December 9 for the event to be held between December 18, 2020 and January 3, 2021. However, do remember, for any particular day, you have to order at least 48 hours ahead. Bookings will be handled by the Gormei concierge on whatsapp (918584925069) and phone (918420623579).
International bookings (people ordering from abroad for their folks in Kolkata) will be handled by the Gormei International Concierge on WhatsApp 85296307513.
Gormei will reveal the menus soon on its website. To stay updated about the new menus and other offers, join the Priority List here.