💡 Problem: In humid weather, salt and sugar often get clumpy and hard to use.
✅ Hack:
Drop 4–5 grains of uncooked rice or a small silica gel packet (the food-safe kind) inside your salt or sugar jar.
The rice naturally absorbs excess moisture — keeping your salt and sugar dry, free-flowing, and easy to scoop.
✨ Bonus Tip: Works equally well for chili powder, turmeric, or tea leaves.
🪶 Xavory Kaadai Wisdom:
“Sometimes the smartest kitchen tool isn’t expensive — it’s already in your rice jar.”
There’s a kind of magic that lives in every street corner of India — a mix of sizzling steam, spicy aroma, and laughter rising over tiny plates.
And if you follow that aroma long enough, it will lead you straight to a momo stall.
In Kolkata, Delhi, or Gangtok — the word “momo” means more than food.
It’s warmth on a rainy evening, it’s friendship wrapped in a steamed pocket, and it’s the street’s heartbeat in every bite.
Long before gourmet dumplings made their way to fancy cafés, the humble street momo had already stolen hearts.
Served piping hot from aluminum steamers, each momo carries the rhythm of the street — quick, fiery, and full of flavor.
You can hear the sizzling of the pan, smell the burnt chili paste from a distance, and feel the soft dough giving way to juicy fillings — chicken, paneer, or vegetables that melt into spice and warmth.
And then comes the star of the show — the red chutney.
A spicy-sour magic made of red chili, garlic, and tomato — one dip and you know, this isn’t just food. It’s emotion.
Outer Layer: Soft yet firm — hand-rolled dough that hugs the filling perfectly.
Filling: Freshly minced, seasoned with onion, garlic, pepper, and love.
Steam: Balanced to lock flavor, never soggy.
Chutney: Fiery, garlicky, and unapologetically desi.
Each stall adds its twist — some fry them crisp after steaming, some toss them in schezwan sauce, and others sprinkle a secret spice mix known only to that lane.
Picture this — it’s twilight in Kolkata.
The air smells of rain, traffic hums in rhythm, and a momo vendor lifts the steamer lid. Steam curls up like a whisper.
A crowd gathers.
In that moment, no one’s a stranger — everyone’s just hungry for comfort.
Because they’re not made in silence — they’re made in chaos, laughter, and heart.
They’re food that connects people, not just fills stomachs.
Street momos remind us that taste isn’t about perfection — it’s about emotion.
And that emotion, wrapped in dough and dipped in chutney, is pure Xavory Kaadai magic.
There’s something magical about the smell of freshly baked biscuits wafting through the house.
It doesn’t just fill your kitchen — it fills your heart.
At Xavory Kaadai, we believe every recipe tells a story, and this one whispers of slow mornings, family laughter, and the soft clink of chai cups.
Before fancy cookies came into our lives, there was the humble butter biscuit.
Golden edges, melt-in-mouth softness, and that comforting aroma of ghee and sugar — the taste that instantly transports you back to your childhood.
Whether it was your grandmother’s tin box or the bakery down the lane, these biscuits were the real soul snacks of Indian evenings.
1½ cups all-purpose flour (maida)
½ cup soft butter
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp vanilla essence
2–3 tbsp milk (as needed)
A pinch of salt
Optional: cardamom powder or crushed nuts for a touch of tradition.
Cream the Butter & Sugar
In a large bowl, whisk butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. This step makes your biscuits soft and airy.
Mix in the Flavors
Add vanilla essence (and a pinch of cardamom if you love the Indian twist).
Sift & Combine
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold it into the butter mixture.
Form the Dough
Mix gently — add milk little by little till the dough comes together. It should be soft, not sticky.
Shape & Bake
Roll out the dough and cut into your favorite shapes. Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (340°F) for 15–18 minutes, until the edges turn golden.
Cool & Relish
Let them cool on a wire rack — they’ll crisp up beautifully.
These homestyle butter biscuits pair perfectly with:
Hot masala chai
Filter coffee
Or just your quiet thoughts on a rainy afternoon
Because simplicity never goes out of taste.
These biscuits need no decoration, no extra glaze — just a bit of butter and a whole lot of warmth.
At Xavory Kaadai, we call it “baking memories, one bite at a time.”
Kolkata :This Father’s Day, ITC Hotels helps you find the perfect answer to your quest of ‘What to gift to dad!’ with their delectable culinary preparations. ITC Hotels has put together a specially curatedFather’s Day menu that not only elevates the gourmet flavours but is also rich in goodnessand can be ordered right from the comfort of your home. From 18th-20thJune 2021, you can gift you dad a special feast curated by ITC Hotels for this occasion. Whether it is the love for Biryanis, chaat, or desserts ITC Hotels has you covered. You can select a delicious meal from a wide variety of dishes:
The Biryani & Pulao Collectionby ITC Hotelsthatbrings together a fine curation of authentic recipes and culinary classics perfected by master chefs for your dining pleasure. Starting at INR 1900 for four, reap into the timeless flavors of Kathal Pulao, NimonaMirch Pulao or Chemmeen and Bibi ka Murgh pulao. Relish the flavoursome biryanis and pulaos that are crafted with utmost care and hygiene to ensure wellbeing and a safe dining experience.
Weekend Binge provides an exciting menu that is apt for brunch or a special evening. Enjoyan exquisite collection of their signature menus and tastes encompassing the tangy overtures of chaat, the aromas of signature biryanis and sweet nothings. Ring in this special weekend with the wholesome ‘Weekend Binge’ menu where each bite is a complete celebration. Starting at INR 2500 for two,savor your tastebuds with Indian cuisine classics like Paneer Khurchan, Vegetable Jalfreizi, Kunni Dal, DahiGujia, MeenVaruval or Chef’s Highlights Cheese & Peppercorn Calazone, Aspara Tempura Uramaki, Olive Focaccia or flavors from the World Kitchen Chilli Bean Tofu, Thai Red Fish Curry, Vegetable Fricasse andcomplete the treat with the signature desserts Tiramisu, KesariPhirni, Rasmalai, Berry Yogurt Granola, Tropical Fruit Pastry.
Father’s Day Special Delight from Nutmegmust be on your list if you and your dad share the love for desserts. You can choosefrom Father’s Day themed cakes, celebrating dad cupcakes and I love you dad brownies to express your love for this special man. What better way to celebrate this day than having an evening with family and scrumptious delicacy boxes for four from ITC Hotelsstarting at INR 1100.
Guests can place their orders through Zomato, Swiggy and EazyDiner. This special feast for your dad may also be ordered via Gourmet Couch on the ITC Hotels F&B App or through a takeaway from the hotels ordirect delivery by the hotels.Enhancing its philosophy of Responsible Luxury, strict safety, and sanitation “WeAssure” protocol is followed at every point to ensure safe, low contact and careful food delivery. The Packaging has been thoughtfully done and put together after thorough research on temperature, distance travelled, mode of transport, consumption techniques, re-heating norms, and more. The food is packed in environment-friendly
ITC Hotels’ Father’s Day special menu is available at 17 hotels across cities - ITC Maurya (New Delhi), WelcomHotel Sheraton (New Delhi), ITC Maratha (Mumbai), ITC Grand Central (Mumbai), ITC Royal Bengal and ITC Sonar (Kolkata), ITC Kohenur (Hyderabad), ITC Kakatiya (Hyderabad). ITC Gardenia (Bengaluru), ITC Windsor (Bengaluru), ITC Grand Chola (Chennai), ITC Rajputana (Jaipur), ITC Mughal (Agra), Welcomhotel Dwarka (New Delhi), Welcomhotel Jodhpur, Welcomhotel Rama International (Aurangabad) and WelcomhotelVododara.
This Father’s Day, celebrate the spark of this beautiful bond with the special delectable spread by ITC Hotels and create new memories.
Winter is finally here and Kolkata is rejoicing the festive season with scrumptious food. Kolkatans love to indulge in a variety of culinary fare during this time and Chinese cuisine ranks very high in that list. So, your favourite neighbourhood destination for delectable Chinese food, Shanghai–Flavours of China Town has come up with its special winter menu to welcome the New Year with superior taste and make the Christmas season more enjoyable.
This year, Shanghai has decided to celebrate the delight of food lovers with a delicious Chinese assortment by creating a special new year/winter menu available across all its outlets. The latest menu consists of special dishes like Ming-Har Prawns – Rs. 549, Peking Duck – Rs. 475, Squid stuffed in Tausi sauce – Rs. 349, Crab curry pepper – Rs. 449, Kra Pao rack of lamb – Rs. 349, Lobster chilli orange sauce – Rs. 999 and Chrysanthemum fish – Rs. 449 along with their regular specialities like Phongkari Poo, Chilli garlic pepper chicken tangra style, Golden fried prawn and Chef’s Special Indo Bongo Chinese Chicken
Moreover, guests can customise the dishes according to their taste! The menu also offers a varied range of starters like Chilli mustard prawn, Pork spare ribs, Roast lamb in Charsui sauce, Shanghai chilli paneer, Conjee crispy mutton etc. This eatery dishes out not only a comfortable experience but also a unique food fare.
Special menu availability: 24th December 2021 to 9th January 2022
Nagerbazar outlet: 1st Floor, 5/2 Nagerbazar, Dum Dum Road, Kolkata - 700074
Salt Lake outlet: BF - 179, BF Block, Sector 1, Bidhannagar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700064
Bagha Jatin outlet: 18, Raja SC Mallick Rd, Kusum Kanan, Garia, Kolkata – 700047
Timing: 12pm-11pm
Cost for 2: Approx Rs.800 plus taxes
Website: https://shanghai.net.in/ (Also available on Zomato and Swiggy)
After successfully supporting local restaurants in Bengaluru, Delhi and Hyderabad, KFC’s India Sahyog program now commences its next chapter in the city of Kolkata. In this phase, the program will work with 100 local restaurants and food joints, helping them in business revival through training modules in food safety & hygiene, customer service, profitability and more. This program was launched in 2020, in association with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) to support and promote the Food Safety and Training Certification (FoSTaC) program of FSSAI; and aims to support 500 restaurants across the country by the end of the year 2022.
Speaking about the continued effort to augment the growth of the food industry in India, Samir Menon, Managing Director, KFC India, said, “As the pandemic slows down and the economy opens up, there are several small food businesses who still haven’t been able to bring their operations back to pre-pandemic levels. We want to extend support to these businesses and help them get back on their feet. KFC’s India Sahyog is a step in that direction and as part of this program we’ve successfully empowered 300 restaurants across 3 cities in the past year. Now, we are looking to provide relevant training, knowledge, and technical expertise to 100 food businesses across Kolkata. We will continue to strengthen our commitment and take this program to more cities in the coming months, fulfilling our pledge of supporting 500 restaurants nationally by 2022.”
On the occasion of the launch Ms. Inoshi Sharma, IRS, Executive Director, FSSAI, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, said, “A big congratulations to the India Sahyog program team. The program aims to extend training & build know-how for local food joints, as many of them may currently not be aware of food safety standards and requirements. The India Sahyog program is pertinent considering there is so much to do in the space of basic food safety & hygiene, more so, in the post-COVID era, and will definitely be useful in re-instilling faith amongst customers who might still be wary of stepping out of their homes.”
Col. Pramod Dahitule, Regional Director (East), FSSAI, added, “Sahyog is a great initiative, and FSSAI appreciate the efforts of the team in this endeavour. The pandemic brought forth many challenges which severely impacted the F&B industry. In the post-COVID world, the need for safety & hygiene has become even more essential. Local food joints need the right knowledge and skills to combat these challenges by modifying their operating procedures. We are excited at the prospect of local restaurants & food businesses in Kolkata benefiting from this program which will lead to the overall growth of the food industry.”
Talking about Kolkata and the need for the program, Mr. Piyush Kankaria, NRAI Kolkata Chapter Representative said, “Kolkata is a food hub and people here are extremely passionate about food. We are thrilled to partner with KFC’s India Sahyog program and launch the Kolkata chapter. F&B is a booming sector in the country, and this initiative provides a platform for existing & upcoming restaurants to learn and grow. The program supports the F&B industry, by training businesses on various important aspects of running a food business including food safety, hygiene, customer experience, delivery, etc. We are excited to take this program to local food business in Kolkata and add value to their business & growth.”
Building on the brand’s global commitment to lend entrepreneurial support to small food business owners, KFC’s India Sahyog has been imparting expertise to various food joints and eateries severely impacted by the pandemic. In the previous phases of the program, 300 restaurants across Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore were imparted specially designed modules on various aspects of the restaurant business, with training sessions on Enhancing Sales & Customer Service, Improving Profitability, Food Safety, Hygiene & Sanitation. Upon completing the modules, participants receive a certification by FSSAI, NRAI and KFC India.
In the past, KFC India pioneered a street food vendor training program in association with FSSAI, training over 1500 street food vendors across 4 states on food safety parameters. In addition, the brand also undertook a Food Safety Officers capability enhancement program along with the State Food Safety Authorities.
As the fragrance of Shiuli fills the air with the rhythm of Dhaak echoing through the streets with a symphony of "Maa ashche", The LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata invites you to come together and celebrate the grandeur of Durga Puja where tradition and taste converge in an extraordinary blend of culinary delights and festive events.
From Shashthi till Dashami, The Alfresco at The Lalit beckons you with an exceptional buffet that captures the heart of Bangaliyana. The thoughtfully curated menu with flavors inspired by the rich traditions of both West and East Bengal, resonate with nostalgia and authenticity. In Chef Sunayan Pramanik- Executive Chef, The LaLit Great Eastern, Kolkata's words, “The Gastronomic capital of the country is all geared-up again for a Grand Durga Pujo celebration with delicacies from countryside Bengal along with live Culinary stations of nostalgic dishes.”
From Beguner Bhorta Salad, Jhinge Chingri’r Monohora, Chitol Maachher Muitha, Kochu Lotir Chorchori, Chanar Malai Curry, to Ghati Kochu and Koraishutir Bhuna, all the dishes have been crafted to perfection in the traditional Ghoti style. The menu also presents opulent options from the East, including Macher Chokka, Gondhoraj Lebu diye Macher Pithey, Morog Roast Salad, and much more.
For those seeking something out of the ordinary, join us for the Akal Bodhan, the victory of good over evil with a midnight supper from 1 AM to 3 AM, offering a late-night feast that promises to endow your pujor bhuribhoj with adventure and vibrance! This late-night feast promises to infuse your culinary experience with the excitement of Kolkata’s iconic street food. Relish offerings inspired by the nostalgic by lanes of the city, including New Market Chat Galli, Pav Bhaji, Pani Puri counters, and a host of other delights.
And don’t forget the sweets of Bengal like the Malai Chumchum, Malai toast, Chenardudhpuli or the classic North Bengali kheerer and gurerkhaja as you conclude your meal.
On the night of October 11th, as the dhaaker taal reaches its crescendo, partake in a Dandiya dance at the Great Ballroom. On October 12th, get ready for The Pink Navami, the biggest LGBTQ+ celebration in the City of Joy! Expect thrilling drag performances and a night of inclusivity and entertainment, concluding your sharodiya utsav with a unique flair.
So this Durgotsav, let The LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata be your destination for a celebration that blends tradition, flavor, and festivity into a truly unforgettable experience, leaving you with the heartwarming promise that whispers— "Asche Bochor Abar Hobe!"
Venue: Alfresco, The LaLit Great Eastern Kolkata
Date: 9th to 12th October
Price: 2299+ taxes
Time: Lunch (1pm to 4pm), Dinner (8pm to 12pm)
Midnight supper
Timing: 1:00 am till 3:00am
Price: 1200 + taxes
For more details, please call: +91 90077 28074