While you may be busy planning an elaborate Bhai Phota meal for your brother tomorrow, it is just as vital to offer him the perfect platter of sweets and savouries after giving phota.
The Telegraph Salt Lake suggests some snacks you could dish out.
Srikrishna Mistanna Bhandar
What: Jeebey Goja, Kala Jamun, Badam Bahar and Butterscotch Sandesh.
This two-month old shop has fast become a favourite and owners expect demand to double on Bhai Phonta. “We’ve been living in Animikha complex for 10 years now and decided to open this store as there was really nothing good around,” says owner Soma Nandy.
Such has been the demand that on Lakshmi puja customers had started transactions even before the sweets could be shifted from the delivery van to the racks. On Ashtami, customers even took home the display trays with the sweets as they couldn’t wait for them to be packed in boxes.
“So over the three days ending with Bhai Phonta we shall keep stocks worth about Rs 3 lakh, which is double of the regular days,” says Nandy.
Where: Diagonally opposite Reliance Fresh, New Town
How much: Most sweets cost Rs 10-15 a piece
On My Way
What: Paan Shot, Strawberry Bubble Gum Shake
How about some chilled drinks to help your brother wash down the sweets and savouries? “We have lots of chilled drinks like Paan Shot, which is a liquid-paan-and-ice-cream concoction and 200ml bottles of shakes in fun flavours,” says Dharmistha Ladia, who runs the store. They have shakes in flavours like “mint oreo” and “crunchy cookie”.
Where: CF Block, around the swimming pool area
How much: Rs 40 for the Paan Shot, Rs 120 for the shake
Flury’s
What: Kalakand Patties
“People are tired of traditional sweets and want to offer new options to their siblings,” says Harman Jot Kaur from behind the counter. “So we’ve come up with fusion snacks like Kalakand Patties, that appears to be a savoury but has the Kalakand sweet within. Our in-house chocolates and assorted hampers do well this season and in case a brother is diabetic his sister can pre-order sugar-free sweets for him too.”
Where: CK Block, between CK Market and Anandalok Hospital
How much: Rs 70 for Kalakand Patties
Baker’s Nest
What: Cupcakes
If your brother is more the cake than sandesh type, pop some muffins or cupcakes on his platter.
“We shall have festive decorations on the cupcakes and while the fondants are made of sugar in most places, we shall make them from home-made marshmallows,” says Sanjukta Banik, a home-baker who started the bakery and cafe on her ground floor earlier this year. “After the pujas we had expected a slump in sales but they haven’t dipped. So we’re expecting a great turnout on Bhai Phonta.”
Where: EC Block, near EC Market
How much: Rs 20 for cupcakes
Kalpataru
What: Bhai Phonta sandesh
“Besides our regular sweets like chocolate, butterscotch and mango sandesh (in picture above), we shall prepare a special “Bhai Phonta sandesh” with the greeting spelt out in Bengali,” said a partner of the shop, Debojit Sil. “Our workshop is in AA Block and we will be replenishing stocks as and when they deplete on Saturday.”
Where: CA Market
How much: Rs 15 and 25 for the Bhai Phonta sandesh
Banchharam
What: Hampers with various sweets surrounding a massive chhanar kora pak sandesh with Bhai Phonta written on it and with the image of a sister applying the phonta on her brother.
This third branch of Banchharam in Salt Lake opened on Panchami and they are preparing the festive hamper with favourites like Moti Laddu, Kheer Ball and Kacha Gola. They are also promoting their Cakes Cookies & More section selling pastries, donuts and innovative items like Doi Aloo Puff and Baked Singara. “We have also started a vegetarian restaurant serving Chinese and south Indian cuisines and so brothers and sisters are welcome to come down for a meal too,” said manager Subhankar Mondal.
Where: FC Block
How much: Rs 450 for the sweet hamper
Pictures by Shubham Paul
