The romance, flavours and cultural spirit of the monsoon came alive in Kolkata as Primarc Podium, in association with Kolkata Baarish Season 3, brought together food, conversation and humour at a specially curated monsoon lunch at Nishtara – The Luxury Banquet.
The afternoon celebrated the distinctive flavours of the monsoon and the culinary traditions associated with the rains. The experience was part of the third edition of Kolkata Baarish, a celebration that brings together literature, food, comedy, cinema and music under one umbrella. The event featured a special edition of Primarc Podium, the thought leadership platform, with a conversation titled ‘Do the Rains Have a Taste?’ The discussion explored the relationship between the monsoon, food, ingredients and memory, while examining how the changing season influences culinary traditions and the Bengali palate. The conversation brought together Shaun Kenworthy, UK-born and Kolkata-based chef, restaurant consultant and storyteller with over two decades of experience in shaping restaurants across India, and Sujoy Chatterjee, co-founder of Amar Khamar, who works in sustainable farming and heritage sourcing of rare and indigenous rice, lentils, ghee and honey. Moderated by Malavika Banerjee, Director of the Kolkata Literary Meet and Gameplan, the conversation explored the connection between food, seasonality, indigenous ingredients and the cultural memories associated with the monsoon.
The diverse perspectives made the discussion an engaging exploration of how food can become a reflection of place, heritage and community. Adding a generous serving of humour to the afternoon was popular content creator Subham Chaudhuri, better known as Bong Short. Through his characteristic observations, he reflected on Bengal’s enduring love affair with food and the many emotions, rituals and conversations surrounding the Bengali dining table. The conversation was followed by a specially curated monsoon lunch by 6 Ballygunge Place, giving guests an opportunity to experience the flavours of the season in an intimate and engaging setting. The combination of conversation, cuisine and humour created an afternoon that brought together different facets of Kolkata’s cultural personality.
