Ilish biryani was pitted against golda chingri chaap. Dhakai jaali kebab had a face-off with the classic Calcutta fish fry.
A two-day food festival at City Centre 2 in New Town, showcasing traditional and innovative cuisines of Bengal and Bangladesh, drew thousands of visitors on Saturday and Sunday.
The Nutrela Jeevan Utsav Presents Patrika Ek PaateDui Bangla Powered by Indian Institute of Hotel Management had around a dozen stalls that offered a bouquet of dishes.
On Sunday evening, space came at a premium at the festival as the venue resembled Garaiahat in the run-up to Durga Puja.
Some of the popular eateries of Calcutta had set up stalls for the programme.
The festival was supported by the Bangladesh deputy high commission in Calcutta. A stall set up by the commission, selling some signature dishes from the neighbouring country, was one of the most-visited ones.
Desserts and sherbet stalls were also busy on both days.
A major part of the programme was a cooking competition.
More than 1,000 entries — in the form of recipes — came from all over the state, said organisers.
A little over 150 entries were shortlisted and people who sent the recipes were invited to the festival to cook the dishes. The next round shortened the list to 10, with five entries each from both sides of Bengal.
The winner was chosen on Sunday.
“We are proud and privileged for this association. The confluence of the cuisines of Bengal and Bangladesh has won many hearts,” said Bhaskar Sen, regional manager (east), Patanjali Foods.
