VenuG Presents Durga Puja in Kolkata through his Nokia E63 with Pictures and Videos Happy Pujo 2012 & Shubho Bijoya 2012 May Durga Ma Bless you all

Maa Ashey
Oboshyo Ashey
Shubho Sharadotsava

Ma Asun Goddes Durga

The Sindoori Face

Kumartuli Durga

Shubho Bijoya
Perfect for th Pujo DP

VenuG Presents: The Best Rajasthani Thali in Calcutta, Kolkata : Om Ji Ka Basa +913322711689 , Tula Patti, Machua, Kolkata

You may ask a Marwari, a permanent resident of Kolkata, where to have Marwari/Rajasthani Thali, in Kolkata/Calcutta, S/he may suggest you Gupta Brothers/Jeeman on Sarat Bose Road. But the place I am suggesting to you is

OM JI KA BASA
BEST RAJASTHANI THALI IN KOLKATA

This picture is not of Basa
the food is simpler and tastier.
No Bati Kachori here OK!!!

TULA PATTI

BABULAL LANE, BARA BAZAR, KOLKATA 
The above link is a Map for Thakur Mahal 
but om ji ka basa is THE BEST
&
NOT
TEEJ ( which is upmarket)
If you lose your way call at the # below

Telephone +913322711689

The Map is to Thakur Mahal

when you start from Machua Bazar

towards Tula Patti/Babulal Lane

1 Rajasthan Hotel

2 Thakur Mahal

3 Om Ji Ka Basa

(Third Floor)

Now Om ji ka Basa is I am cautioning you, the way to it is pretty Dirty, so are the surroundings, you may find the men, in Angocha's and Banian's offending, but the moment you touch food, you will forget everything

नियम 

1 कौप्न धारक भोजन करने se पहले कौप्न जमा दे देवे।
2 एक्स्ट्रा कौप्न पर र5 रुपया प्रति कूपन एक्स्ट्रा चार्ज है।
3 दही, लस्सी, दूध, खीर, अमरस, आम, ठंडा पानी वाली बोतल ka एक्स्ट्रा चार्ज लिया जावेगा।
4 पापड़, मिस्सी रोटी, चावल का एक्स्ट्रा चार्ज होगा। जो की रु2, रु3 रु5 क्रमशः होगा।
5 ग्राहक यहाँ मदिरा पान या गुस्सा नहीं कर सकता ( But Ajay Sharma the cook became angry when I was writing this and took away the board where these rules were written। ) :-)

मूल्य तालिका
==========

भोजन नकदी मासिक
देसी घी रु60 रु2880
बिना देसी घी रु55 रु 2580
दही रु 10
घी रु 10
लस्सी रु 15
अमरस रु 20
खीर रु 20

नोट मदिरा पीने वाले या गुस्सा करने वाले को बैठने नहीं दिया जावेगा
:-)

And Ajay Sharma the cook, lost his temper, and was later embarrassed, when I pulled his leg for breaking his own rules. :p.

What was served to me.

1 Potato Curry( Alu ki tari wali subzi with saunf and desi ghee, swimming in ghee, and smelling of it) 2 ladles

2 Besan Karhi ( with mangodi in it no onions in food_

3 Patol Bharvan ( filled parwal YUMMMMMMMYY WOW WHATAY TASTE, SWIMMING IN DESI GHEE.

4 Salt.

5 Lahsun(Garlic) RED Chutney. Yummmmm

6 1 chappati(chappati is unlimited here eat as much as you can(if with ghee Ra60 w/o ghee Ra55)

7 1 Chappati

8 1 Missis roti, simply out of the world

9 1 Chappati second helping of Alu sabzi(free helping)

10 2 Patols (second helping free)

11 1 Chappati

12 Potato Curry

13 Chappati

14 Rice ( As long as the great wall of china the Longest rice Grain I have seen in my life, that is why there is an extra charge for extra Rice Ra5 per plate.)

15 Roasted Papad 1 pc(extra Ra2 if you want another)

16 Missi roti extra also Ra 3 extra

I was Burrrrp

The regulars told me , lassi pee ke jao, have lassi before going, I said, the only place I can have now is Fart/Sleep, noplace in stomach for anything help.

I had 5 Chappati's 1 Missi Roti, 1 plate Rice while My normal diet is 3 Chappatis and no Rice(If I have Rice No chappati and vice-versa)

Photo Shall happen next time, Cook Ajay Sharma is now  my friend, his suggestion, Ditwar Shaam ne aujo, come on Sunday Evening, you get Besan ke Gatte Ki Subzi and Kabuli. Yummy. So next time it is Sunday evening, then Monday, Kheer is available on Monday evening only. 

Cost on Pocket Rs 60

1 Ambience 1/10 dirty appearance while entering and basins, but it is hygeinic)

2 Food Taste 9/10

3 Service except that initial anger(which I caused) excellent and courteous 9/10

4 Value for Money 10/10 it is the best and cheapest full meal in Desi ghee with the longest grain rice

5 Gourmands comment Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy

:-)

One Black Coffee Please! This is not About Ericsson Cellphone or Even Erection, But What Filter Kaapi means at Sarvana Bhavan Chennai

                The Story Starts Here, Chennai Central Station, Thursday, March 3 Rd, 2011!!!

I was  returning wth 20 of my SBOA comrades, We were travelling from Kochi to Kolkata (via Chennai Central) as we did not get a direct return ticket by Shalimar Express, the best direct train between Kochi(The Corporate Commercial Capital of Kerala, Thrissur being the trading Capital) to Kolkata and now while returning to Kolkata, From Kochi to Chennai, we had booked In Kanyakumari-Chennai Express & From Chennai, to Kolkata by Coromandel Express. Here, as soon as I got down at Chennai Central, immediately I asked the nearest Porter in Tamil."Ingey Filter Kaapi Shaap Irrukiya?" (Do we have Filter Coffee shop here?) . He Said " Kaafee Shop, Angeythaa..(there was a stretch of the end of Angeythaa..., like in they do when you say "do you know?" in english, or "Aapke ke paas paise hai?" "Yeh PSPO Nahin Jaantaaaaaaa" in Hindi )  Sarvana Bhavan Irrukai  Saar" (pointing towards the end of the platform) meaning "Look.. There is Sarvana Bhawan  towards that side, Sire."

I had had this memorable fragrant, thick and frothy Filter Coffee at Sarvana Bhavan, At Karol Bagh & Janpath..They were the branch of the main one at T-Nagar, Chennai.So I rushed and ordered a Cup. It cost me Ra15, but My Word, I could smell the fragrance of Freshly Ground Peaberry Coffee Beans in my nostrils, when my Cup was at my waist level.

Let me pause the coffee thingy for a moment,let me tell you about the purpose of my viosit first. The occassion was the 6th Triennial conference of my officers association, Syndicate Bank Officers Association (Regd) (SBOA), 6 Th Triennial Conference, Kochi.held betweeen  26-2-2011 to 28-2-2011, At Town Hall, Kochi, Kerala.Kochi is a Commercial & New IT HUB of Kerala State in India.I as the normal habit for the past 20 Years,was the Lead Speaker ,at the Plenary Delegates Session.

Here I am

Addressing The Fellow Comrade Delegates

Delegates Session 28-02-2011

One of my close buddies Murali Behera said, Daru Out of Stock, So Here I was, In a new city, looking for Liquor :-),  I asked an auto driver "Daru Milega?"  It was 06:00AM!!! .He said yes, try panni nokam Saar, he knew I was a Malayali, so he started talking in a pot-pouri, of TaLayalam or Tamil mixed with Malayalam. We went to some 10 places, and we found it at a botleg, real stuff in a place, you would find last, in a Pan shop :p. He took us around and we did get, 2 half bottles of 3X Rum and a 100 Pipers. The price was 3 times, but in 10 minutes we did achieve out goal. But I had 2 other Goals, to meet Gopi, Ponnu, Nimisha and Anku, but I could not, their house was too far. 

Here is Murali, Google Eh Meri Zohr Jabeen VenuG and you find him dancingg with me singing on YouTube

Murali Behera, I miss him so much :(( Now he is transferred to his hometown,
Bhubhaneshwar, I met him on Christmas Eve,2011, when I had gone there for a wedding, and also to go to Puri.

One for Me & One for You 

Search this song on YouTube and hear it, 

It is by La Bionda

Extended version fit for Salsa

it is a peppy song from the late 70's.

But here I am referring to Coffee. Lets Get back to Filter Kaapi :)

Here it is a reference to Me & You sharing a Cuppa,

Of Frothy Hot & Piping Cup of Filter Kaapi

At Sarvana Bhavan Kiosk

Chennai Central Station

Either at Chennai Central Railway Station,

(where I was for 2 hours intransit, had 1 Rava Khichdi, 2 Medu Vada & not 1 but 2 Cups of Filter Kaapi.

The Hole in the pocket was Ra 15+15+25+25 Total Ra 80 INR)

or AT Ananda Sarvan Bhawan, Tambaram, Chennai,

or At Karol Bagh, Delhi

Ra 20(NOW) per cup

I give a Thumbs Up to one cuppa

The Other One is for YOU

YES YOU I ZAY

Chumma Tcha KUDIKYAMATE aA?

BTW Chumma also means A Kiss in Hindi language :-)

And do you remember the Song

"Jumma Chumma De De"
Jumma Chumma De De (((Jhankar))) HD, Hum(1991), Sudesh Bhosle jhankar Beats Remix & HQ

from The Bollywood HIT Movie "HUM"

*ing The Hot Vivacious Kimi Katkar

[ Now Mrs Shantanu Shorey(Photographer) ]

And The Amitabh Bachchan [ @SrBachchan ]

Also

Famous for KBC "Namashkaar, Mai Amitabh Bachchan Bol Raha Hoon"

Get your freinds..

"Sip The Coffee

Lick The Creeeeeam

Sip, Lick UMmmmhh"

Remember the BRU Coffee TVC

Search on You Tube and watch it, just 30s seconds and wonderful toungue, licking the foam of Chichory mixed Coffee

Closest to the taste of Filter Coffee
BRU Playlist with 104 videos. look at No 38

Coffee Brings THAT Feeling

It takes Two to Tango

Remember This

Ever if you have Coffee
Never Say "One Black Coffee Please"
It is Bad Manners :)

Even Alone

Make Coffee for Two

and Have Both the Cups

The White Stripes One more cup of coffee (valley below)

Imagine yourself sitting in tje intellectual India Coffee House

Read about How good The Adda at India Coffee House, College Street, Kolkata is
HERE

Discussing Politics, Piccasso or Parineeta

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Deliciously Hhhhottt

Coffee & Discussion

Amen

Lou You

Keep Smiling

Now I give you a feast of Coffee

1 How to make a Perfect Filter Coffee 

ഓണത്തിന്ടെ അസംസഗല്‍ Attham is here, So are Onam Festivities, Onam Food of Kerala what, where, when and how. Kerala Sadya is served explained by VenuG.

Attham Is Here
I owe this one entirely to my Late DAD

ഓണത്തിന്ടെ  അസംസഗല്‍ 

തിരുവോണം  സുഘിറ്റ് ആഘോഷിക്യു 

Pookalam Flower Art during Onam Festival ... These ones are at a competition at cooperative hall office, Thrissur, Kerala

Above indicating Mahabali

Below Depicting Nehru Boat Race

Dear Mahabali

Keralam is decked in flowers, however less it is, but they ARE THERE

Pookalam's are kept

Vegetables & Rice in The Store

Kai Kotti kali girls are ready

When Are you coming Mahabali

Enna Varappa ? Ain?

Oboshyo Asun

Ami Wait Korchi

Kesariya Balam

Padharo Mhare Des

The invitation is in Malayalam, Bangla and Marwari

So please don't ditch me

And Yes!!!

Mahabali Dude

Happy Onam

Lets meet at Ammini on the 29th

for Lunch

Then Kaapi at Banana Leaf

Pradhaman at Tamarind

Cholcehy Ki? Naki?

Choltei Hobey

Cholchey

Cholbey

For Details about The items in this Banana Platter and name of the Mumbai caterer with contacts

Please Click The Link Below

Detials here

KaikottiKali Dance performed during Onam ( Video 1)

KaikottiKali Dance performed during Onam ( Video 2)

       AS you know, Lord Mahabali was given a blessing , by Lord Vishnu, in his Vamana Avatar, to permit him, to visit, his subjects, one day every year, That day is 29Th August, 2012. So here is my Tribute to this Pious Dude, and the Kodiyan/Greedy/Mhukkad Kind, who was so smart, That he chose a day, when Kerala, is blessed with Onam Poo bloom, when New Rice is in kitchen, jaggery is delivered, and vegetables as kept iun annual stock. Of course, Cocnuts are available all through. Now, he also has attanged for Bomma Kali( Puppet shows) & Mimicry shows by Nedumudi Venu & Nehru Boat Race, Even everyone has stocked the quota of God's Own Country Liquor (Full Ra 300 crores worth, more than that sold in rest of 11 months 20 days) So Cheers Feller!!! You just have to catch a Vishnu Airways, Pushpaka Vimanam & land at Kochi Airport. Mamata Didi will provide Indian Railways services for internal travel. You just come no. And I'm sure, your flight won't be delayed, It is Vishnu Airways!!!

              Today is Attham 21st August 2012, around 5 years back that is 29th August 2007, When I was posted to Currency Chest Mathura, around 200 kilometers  from Jaipur, and I was living a life of a forced Bachelor, 2 monthis into my new posting, all alone in a strange land not my own.  It was the last Friday of the Month, like Jamaat-ul-Vida for every Banker, It was my duty to collect Cash from the stretch of Kosi ( Mathura UP) to Mainpuri ( the constituency of Mulayam Singh) , with 4 vehicles and 2 dozen men a mobile phone with a bsnl number which never stopped working, under my command, I could not go to Jaipur. Duty is Duty, It was Thiruvonam, The most important day for a Malayali, wherever s/he were, s/he should have been home, alas, it was not to be. It was the only Thiruvonam of 48 years of my life , I was away from my enthusiastic Dad , my gourmand Dad, My Gourmet Dad, A Dad who never for a day in Rajasthan let us feel for one day that we were not in Kerala. In all his actions , dress, language, books, maqgazines, newspapers, he was a Pucca Sahib, in Music, he was a "Hindi Kaar" ( That is what a Mallu calls a North Indian) but when it came to Food & Festivals & Dinner, he was a parfect and fastidious Malayalee. In the Ravines of Dacoit Land, The Beehad of Baaghis of Mainpuri( Recollect Paan Singh Tomar) , collecting cash. Alas, this was my Late Dad's last Thiruvonam. I did call though during lunch, strangely he was mellow in tone, spoke only few words. later when I called home at night, Shree Told him, I was the onlyone with him, and he had tears in his eyes. And he had prepared every one of the 38 items he prepared year after year after year. His Vegetable vendors would dread, if they failed to get Petha or drumstick one week before Onam. His preparation started 3 days before, and we were at wits end, and amazed at his energy level, mind you even till the last forthnight of his demise he bought vegetables himself. He passed away on 17th April 2008 and he did feed me Lunch on 28th of March 2008. That was his love for cooking, feeding me , or anyone who came to Kerala. I have tears in My eyes. I'm weeping honestly. So, I dedicate this to My late Dad.

Late Shri Kunduvara Balakrishna Menon 

12Th November 1929  Penang, Malaysia - 17Th April 2008 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Eid Mubarak Idi is not about Idi Amin Yaaba Daaba dooooooo Khaba Daaba Doooooo

This is where the idea to this post emanated. These people talking like ignoramus about food, I thought, I have eaten at so many places, let me give you some Eid eating delights from Kolkata, where I am, Hyderabad, from what I heard, have eaten Hyderabad food through my Telugu Colleagues in Moradabad & Mumbai. SO HERE GOES!!!
Nalli, Nihari, Kebab, Raan, Sheer Khurma, Firni, Sewaiyan, Eid brings these memories, memories of Moradabad, Joya, Amrioha, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow,  Mumbai, Hyderabad & Kolkata. I start in reverse order.

Mehmood Serving Haleem During Ramzan at Aminia, Zakaria Street, Kolkata     

CLICK HERE

To see a series of pictures on Zakaria Street during Ramzan by yours Truly

LIKE THIS ONE BELOW

Kerala Gods Own Country For Bongs and Gujus During Puja Holidays

 This post is an endeavor to help my colleague and friend Dipankar Chatterjee 
DIPANKAR ON FACEBOOK
for his Tour of Kerala and Madurai in the 1st week of October

               Kerala or Gods Own Country , as Kerala Tourism markets it , is the land of Lord Mahabali, the best time to travel Kerala is during Onam, when all crops , flowers and fruits are in full bloom, and the state is laden with goodies and festivities

There are two ways you Do Kerala
1 Kochi:->Kottayam(Thekkady) :->Alleppey(Allapuzha):->Varkala:->Trivandrum
Or 
2 Kochi:->Trisshur:->Guruvayur:->Kannur

Links to Help Me
What you must visit in Kochi
1Fort Kochi & its churches.
2 Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi or Marine Drive Kochi.
3 Kochi Synegogue Fort Kochi. Google
4 Kasavu Kada(Traditional Kerala Saree & Dhoti) Awesome.
Kochi to Alleppey(Allapuzha) Must take a boat ride on Backwaters.
Alleppey to Kumarakom
Kumarakom to Kottayam.
Kottayam to Thekkady.
Thekkady to Kottayam.
Kottayam to Varkala
Varkala to Kochi.
If you have time
Go from Varkala to Trivamdrum
Kovalam & Veli & Padhmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum
And from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari.
Search on Kerala HERE

Google map HERE

Travel Mike a site which helps foreign tourists coming tto India

Kerala in October in 4 days HERE

Weather in Kerala October November HERE SEE THE OUTLOOK TRAVELLER LINK GIVEN HERE It covers entire years weather

Kerala trip in October a very good thread with places to visit and 10 day itinerary HERE

My trip to Kerala a 9 day travelogue HERE The traveller is a Malayalee so read carefully knows the place and culture, is a detailed travelogue

50 blogs on Trips to Kerala on lonely planet the BEST travel guide on earth HERE

On Yahoo answers.

What is a good month to visit Kerala? HERE

Good month to travel Kerala 1 HERE

Good month to travel Kerala 2 HERE

Good month to travel Kerala 3 HERE

Good month to travel Kerala 4 HERE

Outlook Traveller Guide to Kerala


will be continued in Detail tomorrow

Guide to KERALA HERE

Poll survey Kerala outsrips Rajasthan in places to visit survey HERE

Kerala & Lakshadweep HERE