Baraanda or (Veranda) is always the most comfortable place in your home. This is closely knitted with Bengali culture and with our growing up. At the new Bengali fine dining outlet Baraanda opened at Southern Avenue, one can gorge on exquisite Bengali cuisine at the comfort of homely yet classy ambiance. Golden hue ambiance got elegance of a zamindar house dripping from all corners.
In appetizer we started with Gondhoraj Fried Chicken. Gondhoraj is a Bengal kafir lime and once upon a time used to grow in abundance in every household in Bengal. This is the inspiration to cook boneless succulent chicken strips infused with kafir lime and finishing of coriander and mint. Items in the detailed menu is not limited to only authentic Bengali cuisine but a distinct colonial touch can be noticed. One such example is Fish Cordon Bleu. A cult classic is a cutlet in which a thin slice of fish fillet is stuffed with cheese and mushroom and coated with bread crumbs for a crispy shell. Enjoy this with kasundi (mustard sauce).
In the first round of main course, we were presented with Daab Chingri and Aam Kasundi Ilish. Daab Chingri is a prawn dish cooked in coconut shell. It is made with fresh prawns that taste amazing since they are cooked in coconut paste, mustard and turmeric. These ingredients give them a nice and fresh earthy flavor. The tender and juicy prawns in this curry taste like heaven. Aam Kasundi Ilish is a seasonal menu where a hilsa fish cooked in bengal green mango and mustard sauce. The creamy textured aam kasundi sauce has a very rich and sharp taste with a hint of sweet and sourness coming from the unripe mangoes and is truly a delightful dish.
Coming to rice nothing beats the royalty and flavor of Thakur Barir Pulao. Similarly in colonial menu there is a fish and herb rice dish called Baked Fish Patricia Memsaab. The fish fillets marinated in Indian spice and served with saute vegetables, mashed potatoes and herb butter rice.
In the main sides, there were comfort dishes like Kasha Murgir Mohima, Bahari Bati Chorchori and Kosha Mangsho which needs no introduction. These dishes can be relished with both pulao and luchi. Ah! its a bliss.
Bro Tip: Must try Gondhoraj Fried Chicken, Aam Kasundi Ilish, Kosha Mangsho and Thakur Barir Pulao
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