West Bengal is home to many unique varieties of agricultural produces, for example, black aromatic rice known as kala bhat, short grained aromatic rice kalo nunia, gobinda bhog, tulai panji, katari bhog etc., pulses such as sona mug, bhaja kalai dal etc. and some vegetables which are found only in this part of the country. Animal Resources Development Department is also promoting various non conventional and exotic meat and meat products such as quail, turkey, rabbit, emu, pork (including exotic ghunghroo variety), black Bengal goat, bonopala lamb, garole lamb, apart from various new products of conventional meats. Fisheries Department has also started introduction of new varieties of fish with high productivity and improved taste among the people such as vennami, pungus, Vietnam koi, etc. etc.
With an objective of introducing these unique products into the Bengali platter the Government of West Bengal is organising “Ahare Bangla – A Food Festival Celebrating Bengal” at Milan Mela, Kolkata from 30th Oct to 2nd Nov 2015 to promote some of these unique food products produced by our farmers and promoted by the various Government Departments. The purpose is to let the consumers have a taste of these products for their demand driven promotion. Top restaurants and caterers of the city have partnered with the Government to bring the diversified cuisine in a unique setting – you may see, eat, buy and take home the amazing varieties of these items – cooked or raw. Our cooks will prepare regular Bengali food using unique and new ingredients as well as prepare exotic and fusion food using our traditional ingredients. It is both Ahare Bangla and Aha Re Bangla.
The Festival will be inaugurated on the 30th Oct at 6:00 PM by Jb. Firhad Hakim, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Departments, in the presence of Shri Aroop Biswas, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Housing and Youth Affairs Departments as the Chief Guest. Shri Anjan Chatterjee, founder of the Speciality Group of Restaurants, will be the Guest of Honour and Shri Swapan Debnath, Hon’ble Minister of State (In-Charge), Animal Resource Development Department and Hon’ble MOS, MSME &T Department will preside over the inauguration ceremony. The Festival will continue upto 2nd Nov 2015 from 12:00 Noon to 9:00 PM every day. The Festival days will feature ethnic cultural programmes, cookery shows, panel discussions, b2b meetings and workshops centering on the main theme of the Festival. Govt. has tied up with various associations/chambers of commerce, Ladies Groups, Hotel Management Institutes to participate in these events for individual and institutional benefits.
Come and experience a whole new world of food products made out of everything Bengali. Members of the Press and Electronic Media are requested to provide wide publicity to the event…..“Ahare Bangla – A Food Festival Celebrating Bengal”.
Inaugural Programme:
To be inaugurated by:
Shri Firhad Hakim, Hon'ble Minister-In-charge, Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal
Chief Guest:
Shri Aroop Biswas
Hon'ble Minister-In-charge, Housing and Youth Services Departments,
Government of West Bengal
President:
Shri Swapan Debnath
Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Animal Resources Development Department
and Hon'ble Minister of State, MSME Department, Government of West Bengal
Guest of Honour:
Shri Anjan Chatterjee
Founder of Speciality Group Of Restaurants
Cultural Programme :
Fakiri Gan
Natua Naach
Cookery show : Chef Shawn Kenworthy, Chef Joymalya Banerjee
Cultural Programme: 4 – 5 Folk instrumentalist and 2 Baul Singers
Panel discussion on ” The profession of cooking.......from catering to fine dining ”
Panelists : Sri Anjan Chatterjee, Sri Sujit Sinha, Sri Joymalya Banerjee, Mr. Shawn Kenworthy, Smt. Manjri Agarwal
Cultural Programme: Jhumur Nach
Lok Gaaner Dol:
Bangla Qawwali
Jatra:“MAA EK MANDIR” by Chaitanya Opera
Cookery show :Chef Mayank, Chef Kak
Cultural Programme: 4 – 5 Folk instrumentalist and 2 Baul Singers
Panel discussion on ” Evolution of Bengali Cuisine ”
Panelists : Sri Srishendu Mukhopadhyay, Sri Anup Motilal, Sri Haripada Bhowmick & Sri Nandan Baghchi
Cultural Programme:
Bhawaiya Gaan
Lok Gaan
Chau Naach
Cookery show :Chef Sujit Sinha, Chef Subir Sarkar
Cultural Programme: 4 – 5 Folk instrumentalist and 2 Baul Singers
B2B summit to be organised by CII:
Presentation by – WB Livestock Development Corporation, Mother Dairy Calcutta, Sufal Bangla, Paschim Banga Agri Marketing Corporation, State Fisheries Development Corporation, BENFISH, WB Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Development Corporation
Participants – Hoteliers, Restaurateurs, Retailers, Clubs
Cultural Programme:
Baul Gaan
Sufi Gaan
Bhatiyali Gaan
Inauguration at 6 o'clock in the evening on 30th October, 2015 Festival starting from 31st October to 2nd November, 2015 at the magnificent Milan Mela Ground, Kolkata (Opposite Science City).
12pm - 3pm (Lunch)
3pm - 6pm (Snacks)
6pm - 9pm (Dinner)