While it’s redundant to ask anybody in Kolkata if they’re bored of phuchkas, 22-year-old entrepreneur, Ishita Roy decided to reinvent everyone’s favourite street food delicacy.
Tucked away in a narrow bylane of south Kolkata, the Phuchka Parlour, which Roy started with her own pocket money, has 50 different types of phuchkas. Ranging from chicken to chocolate to spicy ice-cream, Ishita’s menu is experimental, and in less than six months of operations, she has managed to break-even, and has also gathered a loyal customer base. We tried four of the flagship dishes (because we are bhukkad like that) and here’s our review:
1. The Chatpata Chicken Phuchka
Chicken in phuchka? “Eshob kiiiii?”, your parar maashi (neighbourhood aunty) would ask. But once she tries this dish, she is sure to change her mind. Made with shredded chicken, mixed with tamarind chutney and Phuchka Parlour’s homemade sauces, this is a departure from your average phuchka, but it’s an aberration you’d enjoy.
2. The Dragon’s Kiss
Aptly named, the Dragon’s Kiss is their signature spicy ice-cream phuchka. Sweet and spicy – all at the same time – Ishita says the recipe of the ice-cream is a trade secret. The first bite you take will make it seem like regular ice-cream, but three seconds later, the spice will hit you and you’ll go ‘wowww’. The tangy component in the phuchka filling just adds to the flavour, and you will experience sweet, tangy and spicy, all in one palette.
3. The Katori Chaat
While there are many variants to this, we tried the creamy chicken chaat. The ‘katoris’, or the tiny edible baskets that the chaat is in, is what makes this dish special. Think of it as papri chaat, but crunchier, with lots of chicken and cream.
4. The Choco-Nut Phuchka
To finish off the meal, we tried the Choco-Nut Phuchka. A great relief to the taste buds after the Dragon’s Kiss, the Choco-Nut phuchka is crunchy and sweet, and tastes like a chocolate sundae. Our personal favourite from all of the above, this one is a dream for all the sweet-tooths out there.
Intrigued? Head over to the Phuchka Parlour in Kolkata and try all this and much more!
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