With so many choices of cuisines, budgets and styles, eating out in the city can be overwhelming for new people. Here's a suggestion. Why not join a foodie group and meet fellow food lovers over a meal? Kolkata has many such groups - from a group that showcases the mindboggling variety of pork dishes in the city to those who organise food walks. Small groups are held in carefully selected venues that showcase the aesthetic and culinary expertise of the city of joy. They fall halfway between photowalks and history walks around Kolkata. The mood is laid back but deliberate. Though not unduly formal, the cuisine is based entirely on the stories each corner of Calcutta has.
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These often feature chef-led courses, carefully chosen pairings, or the backstories of each dish, revolve around food-forward menus and genuine conversations that tie the entire palate of Bengal to the story being heard. Anyone can be a part of these food groups and communities. If you truly wish to explore, learn, and dig deeper into why the city breathes on its food and cannot think without it, this is our chance to get to know the city better or in a new way completely. Here’s a list of food groups and communities you can join:
Foodies Of Kolkata
This Facebook page helps you discover the best street foods and restaurants in and around Kolkata. So if you’re someone who never leaves the restaurant without looking at the dessert menu or if someone who thrives on street food, this page is definitely for you. In this group, you can post and share your own thoughts on certain foods that you like or wish to try, share recipes that you think others might love to try as well, and so much more. Keep an eye out for new restaurants and food fests that happen around the city, and who knows, you might be able to participate in them.
FoodZpah
Members of this Facebook group actively share photographs of food with the hashtag #foodZpah from all over the city of joy. They also have a weekly section where the best photograph gets featured as the group picture. The winners get other cool benefits like all expenses paid, invites to their monthly food walks, invitations to restaurant visits, etc. They are also active on Instagram. Although it is Kolkata-focused, the members of the group also share cuisines from around the world that they have tasted or want to taste, and the conversations thereafter are a blend of witty humour with a side of history.
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Kolkata Food Guide
This group is a hub for foodies to bond over their shared love for food. Members post everything from blog posts related to food to workshops and events in the city. You’ll also find catering services that prepare homemade food. You will have plenty of the best biryani in the city from the best restaurants or well-known biryani places, phuchkas, roshogollas, cutlets—you will already lose track once you actively join in. If you want to discover more from the street stalls and go beyond the usual stuff in the city, you should try Kolkata Food Guide.
Calcutta Foodies Club
Formed in 2014, this group lets foodies share any photo, post or blog post, provided it does not contain any product ads. And they believe food has no religion, and anything that suits our taste buds is good food. The fact that they are active on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and god knows what other social networking sites makes it a game-changer in today’s digital world. The host provides proper food fests and events, often helping even those in need as well with food. The planning and execution phases differ, and both are distinct in character. However, rather than merely going out to eat, the organisation attempts to share joy–the joy of a satisfying meal, the joy of being acknowledged.
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Kolkata Foodies
This Facebook group is the ideal place if you’re looking for any recommendations related to food in town. From sharing reviews of new eateries and hidden gems, to where to find what in which part of town, it is packed with foodies who trawl the streets of Kolkata looking for the yummiest dishes. From mouthwatering desserts to hearty meat dishes and delectable seafood, Kolkata's culinary landscape caters to every palate. If you're looking to eat your way through the streets of Kolkata, then this group has got you covered.
Central Kolkata Food Walk
Several local travel agencies like Let Us Go, Calcutta Walks, and Heritage Walks organise food walks around the city where you can sample iconic dishes and learn about the cultural roots. If you’re interested in knowing interesting food stories about small local joints, these walks are for you. Admit it! There's nothing better than street food. No fine dining restaurant menu can beat the taste and fun of eating on the roadside with your gang. And this food walk will let you do exactly that. Learn about the different influences that shaped our culinary heritage. From the iconic Kolkata biryani and club kachori-aloo ki sabzi to the tangy chaat, mithai and lassi, you'll get to try it all here. You don't just get to eat, but also learn about the different communities that exist and their history.
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Kolkata Food Trotters
Bengalis live and breathe food. One carefully thought-out culinary offering after another is provided by Somek from Kolkata Food Trotters. If you enjoy attentively monitoring the group's activities for the greatest places to eat in town, this is it! You can meet passionate foodies in this community, which is dedicated to uncovering home chefs and secret culinary locations through food trails. It also features open mics and a collaboration with a children's welfare organisation. Another distinctive aspect of this Facebook family is that they are one of the few communities that have only had one moderator and one administrator since the beginning, and that is how it will always be. As a result, they are entirely dependent on our members to increase the member strength.