The war in the Middle East has hit Kolkata where it hurts – in the stomach.
Nahoum and Sons, which has withstood several headwinds, serving its customers with cakes and savouries for more than 120 years in the heart of Calcutta, has shut operations for five days thanks to the commercial LPG crisis sparked by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
A notice pasted outside the shop – the city's only Jewish bakery – said it would remain closed from March 18 to March 22 due to "unavoidable circumstances".
An official at the outlet in New Market told PTI on Thursday that the bakery had been struggling to cope with the cooking gas shortage for some time.
"We were continuing operation despite limited commercial LPG cylinder supply, but production had to be scaled down significantly,” said Jagadish Haldar. “Eventually, it became unfeasible to operate under such constraints, and a temporary shutdown was the only option."
"We will open on March 23 and hope to resume full-fledged operation as early as we can," he said.
The bakery remains closed on Saturdays in observance of Jewish customs.
Barring the Covid-induced lockdown a few years ago, the temporary order to shut is unprecedented in recent memory. The bakery had earlier closed briefly in 2013 following the death of its owner, David Nahoum.
Regarded as a heritage landmark in Kolkata, the century-old confectionery continues to hold its place as a prominent destination for those seeking classic baked delicacies, even as it adapts to changing circumstances.
The menu had long been associated with a mix of traditional Jewish and Kolkata-style baked goods and continues to draw crowds for its signature offerings such as plum cakes, lemon tarts, brownies and almond kisses.