Gourmet Couch by ITC Royal Bengal, Science City Area, Kolkata

Restaurant Name: Gourmet Couch by ITC Royal Bengal, Science City Area, Kolkata
Phone: +913323454545
Address: JBS Haldane Avenue, EM Bypass, Science City Area, Kolkata 700064 West Bengal India
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 900
Cuisines: Desserts, North Indian, Continental, Bengali, Kebab
Facilities:

If there’s one lesson the pandemic has taught us, it is mindfulness. Defined by Oxford Languages as a conscious mental state acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, bodily sensations and surrounding environment, used as a therapeutic technique.

Ancient Indian mythology has several reverberating instances, but who knew a pandemic in the 21st century could drive it into our daily experiences. Take the example of the Feel Good – Vocal for Local menu launched countrywide by the ITC Hotels on the recent World Environment Day. Now available on their exemplary home delivery service platform, the Gourmet Couch, it is a remarkable model of connecting back to your roots, through a mindful natural progression of food. “It is not until you taste these locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that you realize that your immediate environment has actually provided for most of our requirements of nourishment and immunity boosting solutions. You think, touch, eat and feel healthy, ultimately connecting back to nature,” summarises Chef Vijay Malhotra, Area Executive Chef, ITC Hotels.

Gourmet Couch by ITC Royal Bengal, Science City Area, Kolkata: Food

The menu is an exposé of sorts. It is crafted with indulgence on freshest seasonal variety, with a foundation of natural healing essentials, focus on regional revivalist methods, showcasing artisanal local producers and cultures embedded in the Indian diversity; deriving an impactful message of environmental sustainability.

Convenient combinations in vegetarian, fish and poultry, make great value for money in exotic sets for two. If you are picky, order from the a la carte options beyond. We choose the authentic fish set (₹1,450) with Anar shikanji, Lasooni palak, Kacchi haldi tahri,Thande masale ki machhi and the poultry set (₹1,250) with Dhuan chaas, Doodhi kofta saalan, Kacchi haldi paratdar paratha, Murgh moringa; both ended with Amla ki launji and nouveau desserts of age-old grain infusions.

Plus & Minus:

Expect legendary ITC hospitality when it comes to the Gourmet Couch transaction. Call the concierge desk, place your order with contactless digital payment, the meal arrives at our door — 45 minutes preparation plus location transport time, enhanced with liveried service and impressive smile. The bulging shopping paper bags are branded, sanitizer pouches attached and carry a fixed set of corrugated paper and biodegradable cornstarch containers.

The drinks come in leak-proof spout pouches, in soothing summer hues of oldrose and pale minty-green, refreshing with the goodness of antioxidants of crushed pomegranate and gut-health boosting churned yoghurt chaas, sprightly mint added. For vegetables, the cooling perennial bottle gourd julienned koftas in robust onion and yoghurt gravy cooked in first pressed mustard oil; and spinach leaves along with local summer greens tossed in garlic and cumin tempering, incite the palate and nourish the body. Next, the soul stirring rendition of local freshwater Rohu (visibly and vocally local, deviating from the obvious beckti) cooked in a UP Kayastha recipe with Thande masale —magic stone flower or patthar ke phool, bay leaves and cardamom crush blend, is a star. The cauliflower and potato added staple, Tahri, cooked with mustard oil, onion and freshly pounded turmeric, makes a great combination dish. While the boneless chicken thighs (wish it had bones for extra homeliness) in simmering coconut cream with nutritional anti-cancer cure moringa leaves are easily mopped up with layered, fresh turmeric infused flatbreads or parathas. Grandma’s favourite remedy against common cold, amla or Indian gooseberry and raisins come in a sweetened preserve before we end with the delish adventure desserts of Muletthi badam kheer, barley in kheer with liquorice and sliced almonds and Jowar aam ki phirnee, sorghum flour infused phirnee with slivers if ripened mango and pista crush.