TURQUOISE CHILL

  After the mix-up at lunch, my wife and I needed something to lift our spirits that afternoon. We needed a little sweet resurrection for our rather downed spirits—and we found just the place for it: Bonne Creme . The Café District of Kolkata is perfect for moments like these. Every time you find yourself in the neighbourhood, there seems to be a new joint waiting to be discovered. This time, it was an ice cream place with some of the smartest and most tastefully done interiors we had come across. The ice cream tubs immediately caught our attention. The first flavour that caught my eye was Godhoraj Lemon . I asked for a taster and, the moment I tried it, I knew this was the one for me. The refreshing citrusy punch was exactly what I needed. My wife, meanwhile, embarked on her own serious ice cream investigation. She went through what seemed like half a dozen flavours before finally settling on Almond Nougat Salted Caramel, even though they had a  Matcha & Jasmine flavour....

  We wanted to have a light late lunch and decided to try out a place that had been getting rave reviews. They were making waves because they specialised in potato jackets , and the menu certainly looked interesting. By the time we reached the place, a light drizzle had started. We got inside, and since we were hungry, we got straight to ordering. My wife, as you know by now, has been swept up in the Matcha craze, so she ordered a Strawberry Matcha , while I went for an Oreo Shake . I settled on a Smoky Pulled Chicken from their Signature Jackets , while my wife ordered a Non-Veg Supreme from the Classic Jackets . While ordering, however, there was our first little hiccup. The menu clearly mentioned that Bacon was included in my wife's selection, but we were told that Bacon would cost extra because the menu had been updated but the printed copies hadn't yet been changed. Fair enough, we accepted that, although it didn't exactly sit well with us. Then there was another sma...

While my wife settled in for her long-awaited nail appointment, I decided to make the most of the time. Since I already had my camera with me, the obvious destination was Rabindra Sarobar, barely a five-minute walk away. Stepping through the gates, I headed east along the pathway that hugs the lake. Rabindra Sarobar has always been one of Kolkata's most beautiful green spaces. The tranquil waters, the towering trees and the abundance of birdlife make it a welcome escape from the city's relentless pace. Yet, as beautiful as it is, I couldn't help but notice that the place could do with better maintenance. Sadly, much of the deterioration is also self-inflicted by the public. Steel dustbins have disappeared, several street lamps are missing, and despite the strict no-smoking rule, groups of youngsters were casually smoking in different parts of the park. It's unfortunate to see such a wonderful public space treated with so little respect. The lake, however, was very much ...

  Sunday afternoons are usually reserved for taking it easy, but this one had a different agenda. My wife wanted to get her nails done before the work week began, and naturally, I got drafted into the outing. Apparently, getting a nail appointment these days is harder than getting tickets to a popular concert. Sure enough, when we arrived, we were told that he was free till 5 p.m. Rather sitting down there and getting on with it, we decided to make the most of the unexpected free time. The plan was simple—grab lunch somewhere nearby, after which she could head back for her appointment while I spent a leisurely couple of hours around the lakes. Just around the corner, we stumbled upon ONETON —a takeaway counter with a cosy little dining space next door. With seating for barely sixteen people across three tables and a wall counter, it was compact, practical and inviting. We were warmly welcomed by Biman, as we later learnt his name, and he turned out to be one of those genuinely plea...

  Once we crossed Jora Girja (the name refers to the twin steeple of St. James' Church), my wife announced that she wanted ice cream from a place she had recently discovered. So off we went to All Blues , tucked away on Wood Street just off Shakespeare Sarani. The café was beautifully done up and offered an impressive range of handcrafted ice creams, many with wonderfully unusual flavours. I settled on a generous scoop of Piña Colada , while my wife chose Cherry Woods . Both were served in crisp cones and were absolutely worth the detour. By now it was around half past one in the morning, yet Kolkata showed no signs of slowing down. As we approached the Park Circus Seven-Point Crossing, fruit sellers were still doing brisk business. Naturally, we stopped. One vendor had an irresistible display of mangoes, and we came away with a couple of kilograms of Chausa and Langra mangoes. This season, we've been enjoying mangoes almost every day—perhaps making up for the years when we s...

  Sometimes the best evenings are the ones that aren't planned beyond a simple dinner invitation. I had finally met Neema Kudva , someone I had been chatting with over WhatsApp for the past couple of months. My mother-in-law had connected us because Neema was planning a visit to Kolkata for a research paper and project centred around Durga Puja . Having spent years exploring the city and documenting its heritage, I was happy to share a few insights and connect her with people who could help make her visit more meaningful. When we finally met at my in-laws' home, it felt anything but awkward. Conversation flowed effortlessly and the evening quickly dissolved into laughter, stories and endless conversations. At one point, my father-in-law looked at us and asked, "So, how long have you known each other?" He simply couldn't believe that we were meeting in person for the very first time. Then came one of those wonderfully unexpected moments. Neema mentioned that she wa...

 It was my in-laws' anniversary, and we decided that the occasion deserved a special family lunch. The choice of venue was an easy one—Café De Lema. Ever since our last visit, my father-in-law had not stopped singing praises of the delicious soup and excellent food he had enjoyed there. With such glowing recommendations coming directly from him, there was little room for debate. The weather also seemed to be on our side. It had been raining earlier in the day, and dark clouds still lingered overhead, threatening another downpour. Fortunately, the gloomy skies worked in our favour. The roads were surprisingly clear, allowing us to reach the café without getting stuck in traffic. As an added bonus, we found a parking spot right in front of the eatery, making the outing even more convenient. Stepping inside, we were greeted with an unexpected surprise—the café was completely empty. Not a single table was occupied. While it felt unusual, it also meant we could settle in comfortably. We...