India’s culinary heritage is a rich tapestry that’s an amalgamation of native flavors and diverse influences brought in by the Mughals and other foreign dynasties. And if you’re someone who loves the bold, aromatic flavors of Mughlai cuisine, chances are that succulent kebabs and aromatic biryanis are always on top of your mind.
While Lucknow is often hailed as the mecca of Mughlai food, Kolkata isn’t far behind. In fact, the City of Joy hosted a vibrant Kebab Festival/Biryani and Kebab Festival in 2024! And in case you missed it, worry not, for there’s hope that it will make a comeback in 2025. Until then, here’s a quick recap of all that you missed!
Biryani And Kebab Festival In Kolkata: About The Organizers
In 2024, Ambuja Neotia, a top real-estate firm run under the vision of Harshavardhan Neotia, organized this exciting festival in two different locations in Kolkata. They organized the Biryani and Kebab Festival in the month of December 2024, when the winds get colder and cravings for warm, comforting food reach their peak.
This festival was organized by Ambuja Neotia in partnership with t2 and t2ONLINE, a multimedia brand that’s all about fashion, entertainment, food, travel, sports, and everything in between.
Location Of Biryani And Kebab Festival Kolkata
Ecospace Business Park
The Ecospace Business Park stands out as an important center of business in the commercial hub of New Town, Kolkata. This business park has seamlessly integrated contemporary and sustainable design – a harmonious mix of modern buildings and green landscaping. The Ecospace Business Park has plenty of curated outdoor spaces perfect for hosting plenty of exciting events. The Biryani and Kebab Festival in Kolkata’s Ecospace Business Park was organized from December 4 to December 6. Over the course of three days, the food festival was a grand success – primarily hosting a large corporate crowd working here.
City Center Salt Lake
Kolkata is home to quite a few extravagant luxury and retail spaces and malls, but nothing comes close to City Center Salt Lake’s opulence. The place where it stands today was once a vacant wasteland, however, now it has become an important landmark on Kolkata’s map. City Center Salt Lake, with its neatly laid-out retail spaces and innovative use of outdoor spaces, captures the essence of Kolkata. Be it shopping at the most premium stores, enjoying a blockbuster movie, dining inside multi-cuisine restaurants, or participating in exciting indoor activities, City Center Salt Lake makes for the perfect hangout spot in Kolkata. The Biryani and Kebab Festival in Kolkata was organized here between December 13 and December 15, 2024.
All The Food At The Kebab Festival In Kolkata 2024
Chicken Reshmi Kebab
A delicious, succulent kebab made of smooth, creamy boneless chicken and fragrant spices. Chicken Reshmi Kebabs are served best with condiments like mint and coriander chutney and chilli-tomato chutney.
Mutton Champaran and Basanti Pulao
Mutton Champaran is one of Bihar’s most savored meat dishes, originated in the Champaran region. It is usually served with Basanti Pulao, a distinct, sweet and savory fragrant rice mostly made in Bihar, West Bengal, and the surrounding regions.
Baklava
After all those lipsmacking spicy food, nothing comes close to a decadent piece of Baklava. The traditional Middle Eastern delicacy is made using layers of thin phyllo sheets that are filled with pistachios, cream cheese, nuts, and rose syrup.
Hyderabadi Boneless Chicken Biryani
Hyderabadi Biryani needs no introduction – it is one of the best-known biryani variations in India. However, if you don’t love bones in your chicken, you must try out the boneless version of the iconic Hyderabadi Biryani.
Kulhad Pizza
Indian street food is known for being a little too creative at times – take the Kulhad Pizza for example. Pizza toppings, vegetables, and cheese are stuffed inside a traditional kulhad – an earthen cup-like vessel. The result is a unique kind of pizza that’s smoky, flavorful, and easy to eat on the go!
Gosht Tabak Maaz
A highlight of the Kashmiri Wazwan cuisine, Gosht Tabak Maaz is a special lamb-rib delicacy made in the signature Kashmiri style. The ribs are cooked in a broth until they almost fall off the bone and then pan-fried in ghee. Does that already make you drool?
Summing Up
While the 2024 edition was definitely a success, we’re hopeful that we’ll see it make a comeback in 2025. The vibrant food festival brings a variety of cuisines under one roof, predominantly Mughlai and Mughlai-inspired cuisines. Worry not, we’ll keep you updated about the 2025 edition of the Biryani and Kebab Festival happening in Kolkata!
