“From Cabins to Cafés: An Adda Over Food & Coffee” was a lively gathering of prominent voices from the worlds of writing, music, cinema and entrepreneurship, coming together at Trincas, Park Street, to explore Kolkata’s rich culinary heritage and its rapidly evolving food landscape
The adda served as an extension of the conversations and stories captured in Strictly Delicious, the coffee-table book authored by Debaditya Chaudhury. The book is a homage to the heritage eateries that remain at the hindsight in the current culinary landscape of Bengal. The Bengal edition of STRICTLY DELICIOUS is a celebration of legacy, memory and the enduring spirit of the city’s food culture. By documenting these iconic establishments and the people behind them, the book seeks to ensure that their stories are not lost to time, but continue to inspire future generations. It is a tribute to the culinary institutions that have stood the test of time and continue to make Kolkata not just a city of food, but a city of stories, nostalgia and timeless flavours.
A conversation beyond the pages of Strictly Delicious, the adda explored a question that resonates deeply with anyone who has grown up with Kolkata’s iconic food establishments – are the city’s legendary eateries being overshadowed by its new-age restaurants and food spaces?
The conversation brought together Chandril Bhattacharya, Writer, Lyricist & Columnist; Anupam Roy, Singer-Songwriter, Composer & Filmmaker; Riddhi Sen, Actor & National Award Winner; and Ritabhari Chakraborty, Actor, Producer & Entrepreneur. The session was moderated by Debaditya Chaudhury, Author of Strictly Delicious Musician and Award-Winning Restaurateur, who led the panel through a conversation spanning food, nostalgia, culture, changing lifestyles and the enduring legacy of Kolkata’s iconic eateries.
Speaking on the occasion, Debaditya Chaudhury, Author of Strictly Delicious, Musician and Award-Winning Restaurateur said, “Ever since childhood I have been a foodie by heart, and all the credit goes to the small shops and eateries across Bengal that have helped in shaping me up. It is these small dens and hidden gems that inspired me behind the making of Chowman, Oudh 1590, Chapter 2 and now Chaudhury & Company. ‘Strictly Delicious’ is my way of preserving the stories and legacy of these iconic eateries and taking them to people who may not have had the opportunity to experience them themselves. The conversation around ‘From Cabins to Cafés’ is an extension of that very thought – to bring into focus the beautiful contrast between Kolkata’s old-world cabins and the city’s contemporary café culture. It is an attempt to understand the co-existence of these best of both worlds carving the culinary map of the state.”
The event also reinforced the larger vision behind Strictly Delicious to document and celebrate the people, places and stories that have shaped Bengal’s culinary identity. By bringing these conversations into contemporary spaces, BCC&I seeks to encourage greater appreciation for the heritage establishments that have stood the test of time while acknowledging the changing face of Kolkata’s food and hospitality ecosystem.
