Christmas delicacies return to festive platter at clubs, restos – Times of India

Kolkata: Traditional Christmas delicacies — an integral part of Yuletide meals that had bowed out during the Covid period — are making a comeback this season. Dishes like turkey roast, apple-glazed ham steak, duck and pork roast are back on the menu at several restaurants and clubs across Kolkata. A revival of supply and a spike in footfall in restaurants post Covid have helped revive the tradition.
Supply of turkey, which had slowed down over the last two years, has gained pace, said managing director of state animal husbandry department Gouri Shankar Koner. “Till the pandemic, the state produced 5-6 metric tonnes of turkey a year. This year, the production is much higher. We are receiving requests for turkey from restaurants and markets across Kolkata and south Bengal. The rise in supply has pushed up the demand,” said Koner.
Bengal Club will serve leg ham dipped in honey and turkey roast at its Christmas lunch after two years. “Christmas lunch and New Year’s Eve parties had to be cancelled since 2020. Supply of turkey and ham, too, had stopped. This year, things are back to normal and we are reviving all the traditional dishes we are known for. Supplies are better than the pre-pandemic period and we will have a five-course New Year’s Eve dinner,” said club president Dinyar Mucadum.
Chapter 2 on Southern Avenue will be serving turkey roulade in mushroom sauce, roast turkey, roast pork in red wine sauce and apple-glazed ham steak, among several other exotic dishes. “Supply of turkey and pork would be slow before Christmas even in the pre-pandemic years. This year, there seems to be a sudden spike in supply. We have been approached by several suppliers,” said co-founder and owner Shiladitya Chaudhury.
Tollygunge Club will serve turkey and pork roast for Christmas lunch. “We are bringing back the traditional delicacies,” said CEO Anil Mukherjee. Songhai on Waterloo Street will serve chicken roast from Christmas till New Year’s Eve. “People have started flocking back to restaurants, and this time, most will be eager to enjoy the Christmas-New Year period at restaurants — something that had been missing lately,” said owner Sudesh Poddar.
Calcutta Rowing Club will serve a range of traditional dishes for Christmas lunch, including grilled Caribbean chicken, sliced roasted mutton leg with mushroom sauce, and cottage cheese steak with saffron sauce. “We had no Christmas lunch or New Year’s Eve dinner for the last two years. This time, we have revived traditional dishes and added a few,” said secretary Chandan Roy Chowdhury.
Royal Calcutta Golf Club will serve turkey for Christmas lunch after two years. “We always stick to traditional dishes on Christmas,” said Titu Baweja of RCGC.