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Womanhood is hard. Period. The amount of expectations and responsibilities most of the women are burdened with is quite unimaginable to many. Hence, considering Women's Day to celebrate their aura is nothing but respecting their effort and contribution to society. Let's take a pause from your 'busy' schedule and wish her, perhaps, before she even sips her favourite morning chai?
To quote Jane Austen from her Mansfield Park, “We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.” Her manifestation reflected through her words beyond centuries. And somehow unknowingly Bengalis connect the dots as they put it in simple words, “Je Radhe Shey Chul O Bandhe!” Multitasking is somehow the inherent quality almost every woman is born with, and it strangely starts in the kitchen. Be it cooking for the family, fulfilling thousands of responsibilities or leading a workforce, women are spreading magic in every field they are stepping into.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
This transition from "home cook" to "Culinary CEO" is about reclaiming identity and empowering others. On this special occasion of Women’s Day 2026, Slurrp looks at the journeys of five formidable women: Chef Nayana Afroz, Susmita Chakravarty, Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar, Sutapa Barua, and Vidisha Bathwal. Their stories prove that when a woman commercialises her skills, she doesn't feed a crowd, she fuels a revolution.
Women's Day 2026: How These Female Entrepreneurs Are Scaling Flavours And Empowerment
Image Credit: Vidisha Bathwal
They dreamt, they came, and they won. The narrative surrounding women and the kitchen has gone through a seismic shift as it approaches Women’s Day 2026. For centuries, the kitchen was witnessed as a space of domestic duty—a private sanctuary where women laboured for the love of family. Today, that same space has become a launchpad for global empires. Women are no longer just keeping the hearth warm. They are commercialising their ancestral wisdom, scaling their "secret" recipes, and leading massive logistics operations through cloud kitchens and boutique cafes.
Chef Nayana Afroz, The 'Interpreter' Of Bangladeshi Culinary Heritage
Image Credit: Chef Nayana Afroz
Chef Nayana Afroz translates the soul of a nation. As a renowned culinary expert based in Dhaka, her work encompasses prestigious halls of five-star properties as well as diplomatic embassies. While her resume is decorated with the Tumi Ananya Award and Durga Samman, her heart remains in the rural courtyards of Bangladesh. The former interpreter who never actually 'planned' to become a chef, she ensures that her work represents "Bangladeshi cuisine" as a rich tradition of nuanced flavours, not a monolith. By introducing Kolkata to the authentic Bhorta and making it a permanent fixture in luxury catering, she has taken the traditional dishes to the real heights of global gastronomy. Chef Afroz also shared how amazing her recent workshop with kids from the North Eastern institutes was, where people welcomed the authentic Bangladeshi cuisine for the very first time.
Image Credit: Chef Nayana Afroz
Nayana is an executive member of the WICCI Arts and Crafts Council, where she mentors others on the importance of culinary documentation. She believes that for a woman to succeed in the commercial kitchen, she must first trust her own sensory heritage. This Women’s Day 2026, she stands by the fact that "home flavours" no longer remain domestic but world-class.
Image Credit: Chef Nayana Afroz
"My culinary excellence is rooted in the morning courtyards of Bangladesh, not in the pages of a cookbook. When I cook, I am bringing the 'nuances' of my home to the plate—those subtle differences that distinguish true Bangladeshi cuisine from what is often served in its name. I take immense pride in having introduced Kolkata to the authentic Bhorta. Before my 2014 event, many were unaware of the depth of this dish. Now, after my festival with 6 Ballygunge Place, bhortas have transitioned from a specialised event item to a permanent fixture on their catering menus. To see a traditional, simple dish gain such status in five-star properties, to me, is the ultimate success."
Image Credit: Chef Nayana Afroz
So, what does Chef Nayana think helps in rising in the food business? As Chef mentioned, "Things I'll definitely tell anybody who wants to come into the cooking profession? Two P's are very important i.e. Passion and Patience. If you don't have a passion for cooking or you don't have the patience for the food to be made, you won't succeed. And this patience lies in the time the food has been cooked and for the period you have to struggle to reach the top.”
Image Credit: Chef Nayana Afroz
“Preparing the basic ingredients, cutting, chopping, and everything, and cooking this entirely. If you have these two, you will succeed because food is necessary for everybody. Nobody can survive without food. Even a small kitchen, which maybe just gives out 50 dishes or even fewer, maintains a certain standard, it's bound to flourish,” she added further.
Eastern Staple By Susmita Chakravarty: Redefining The Love For 'Barir Khabar'
Image Credit: Susmita Chakravarty
Staple got its personification with Susmita’s choice of ‘rojkar barir ranna’. From basic vaat dal to occasional biryani, through Eastern Staple, Susmita Chakravarty has proven that mass-scale institutional food can still possess a "home-cooked" soul. Taking it from her career as a Mathematics teacher, she began in 2020 as a gesture of kindness for neighbours and has exploded into a B2B space serving 2,000 meals daily across corporate cafeterias and hospitals. Susmita’s genius lies in her "Cafeteria-As-A-Service" (CAAS) model. She identifies a massive gap in the modern workforce, as nearly half of Gen Z employees skip lunch due to stress. To combat this, she has built a system where technology acts as a "quiet partner," allowing her to predict volumes and ensure that 7:00 AM means 7:00 AM, without ever losing the human touch.
Image Credit: Susmita Chakravarty
Susmita believes that the strength of her business is its refusal to chase "Instagrammable" trends. Instead, she prioritises the "daily staple"—the comforting, non-extravagant meals that sustain life. Within her team of 55, women hold central roles as kitchen and taste supervisors. Hence, calling these women the guardians of quality at Eastern Staple won’t be an exaggeration. For Susmita, this everyday ecosystem of women leading the kitchens is a more meaningful way to celebrate Women’s Day 2026 than any symbolic gesture. 
Image Credit: Susmita Chakravarty
Susmita advises aspiring entrepreneurs to perfect their core offering first, asserting that if you place yourself before the product, you become the product instead of building a business that stays. “ Also, in the upcoming years, we are planning to welcome more women team members in our operations and thrive as a household name whenever they think of staple food,” she adds.
Image Credit: Susmita Chakravarty
"I believe in simple food that you can enjoy every day without a second thought. So cooking something over the top has never been a highlight for Eastern Staple. It's the basic rice, dal, sabji, mashed potato, and fish and chicken curry that we cook with utmost care. Nobody wants to eat fancy food every day. And that Bengali urge of asking, 'aar ki khabe?' (Want to have some more?) keeps us going. People are busy, and that’s why we wanted to reach out to people with a plate of comforting food. The food should be delicious, satiating and bring that comfort of your home-cooked food; this has been our motto. Not something extravagant or too spicy! As a woman, I’ve always felt empowered in taking care of things as a nurturer, and that spirit is something my entire team brings into the kitchen," Susmita heartily shares. The hosting, the taste of homemade food and the love, Eastern Staple serves it all in one plate. You don't need to visit a particular space to taste their delicacies, the food will reach at your doorstep!
Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar, Café Courtyard: Crafting A Haven of Leisure
Image Credit: Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar
Food speaks, and so does the ambience. Café Courtyard pronounces this heavenly combo as soon as you drop in. Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar represents the modern multi-hyphenate woman. A corporate communications leader by day and the founder of Café Courtyard by heart, she has brought the slow, sun-drenched spirit of the Mediterranean to the bustle of New Town, Kolkata.
How did this idea come to her mind? “I remember sitting in small courtyard cafés surrounded by white walls, flowers, and warm conversations. I genuinely wondered why we didn’t have more spaces like that in our fast-paced city life. Café Courtyard was born from that thought of creating a place where people could slow down for a moment. I wanted to bring the feeling of a relaxed European courtyard to Kolkata,” the owner mentioned.
Image Credit: Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar
Her café is an escape—a 1,200-square-foot destination featuring white walls and blooming bougainvillaea designed to foster "self-acknowledgement." As she mentions, “We paid attention to small details. Take it from the sunlit corners, open seating, soft colours, or natural greenery. We made sure that every table feels like a cosy retreat. The goal was to ensure that when someone steps into Café Courtyard, they feel like they have briefly travelled somewhere far away, even though they are still in the heart of New Town.”
Image Credit: Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar
Sudarshana’s management style is a masterclass in balance. Her corporate background helped her in structure and planning, while allowing her entrepreneurial side to experiment with seasonal menus and soulful storytelling. “At Café Courtyard, we try to build a culture where every team member feels ownership of the space and the guest experience,” she stated.
Reflecting her journey, Sudarshana mentioned, "Interestingly, this Women’s Day also coincides with Café Courtyard completing five years, which makes the celebration even more special for us. For me, Women’s Day has always been about acknowledging the woman we often forget to mention while celebrating others, that’s ’me, myself.' As women, we are constantly nurturing families, careers, and communities. However, rarely pause to acknowledge our own journey."
Image Credit: Sudarshana Dutt Chakladar
"This year at Café Courtyard, the celebration is about self-acknowledgement and self-care. Through warm gatherings, sharing platters, and a relaxed courtyard experience, we hope women can take a moment to celebrate themselves, unwind, and enjoy the comfort of good food and good company." Sudarshana shared.
The café is a community platform. Sudarshana’s space also hosts creative gatherings and encourages young hospitality professionals. She believes that empowerment begins with creating an environment where people feel confident in their abilities. As Café Courtyard celebrates its fifth anniversary this Women’s Day 2026, there will be special offerings that encourage female patrons to celebrate themselves. Sudarshana’s mission is to make ‘Café Courtyard a place where people feel comfortable being themselves.
Sutapa Barua: Running Himur Heshel Reviving The Lost Flavours
Image Credit: Sutapa Barua
The owner of Himur Heshel, Sutapa Barua’s story, is yet another highlighted narrative of Women’s Day 2026. A native of Chittagong who rebuilt her life in Kolkata, she faced years of uncertainty before receiving her Indian citizenship after the age of forty. However, her kitchen has been her constant anchor. It began as a spontaneous moment at a dinner table—where guests were moved by her mother’s authentic recipes. Later, the whole setup evolved into Himur Heshel. This restaurant is a trusted name in Kolkata’s culinary world, specialising in the "lost flavours" of undivided Bengal and Bangladesh. Sutapa balances creative fusions like Daber Shashe Gondhoraj Chingri with the rigorous preservation of 17-spice Kala Bhuna.
Image Credit: Sutapa Barua
As a solopreneur, Sutapa honours the women who quietly kept culinary heritage alive. She is also tirelessly working on the documentation of recipes that were previously passed down only through instinct and love. This Women’s Day 2026, she celebrates the spirit of togetherness, viewing every plate served as a tribute to the women who shaped her.
Sutapa was born in Chittagong and later rebuilt her life in Kolkata. She became an Indian citizen after she turned forty. Though it began as a small home kitchen on the weekends in 2017, it has now grown into a busy restaurant known for serving real Bangladeshi and Bengali food. Sutapa gets ideas for her cooking from her mother's and grandmother's recipes. Her food honours tradition while also introducing thoughtful new ideas.
Image Credit: Sutapa Barua
So, how does her cooking pay tribute to the “lost flavours” of your mother and grandmother? As Sutapa mentioned, “Every recipe I cook carries the memory of the women who shaped my life. My mother and grandmother were extraordinary cooks, yet their knowledge existed only within the walls of the home kitchen. Their recipes were never written down. They were actually passed through observation, instinct, and love. By celebrating these recipes and stories, I hope to honour the women who quietly kept our culinary heritage alive.”
Through Himur Heshel, it’s her attempt to preserve those disappearing flavours by recreating traditional recipes and documenting them for future generations. At the same time, women possess extraordinary culinary talent that deserves recognition. The wisdom that exists in home kitchens is incredibly powerful.
Image Credit: Sutapa Barua
"From my own life experience, I can confidently say that it is never too late to begin. I started my entrepreneurial journey later in life, after numerous responsibilities and hardships. And I truly accept it as it is. Sometimes life’s later chapters carry the strongest courage, built on experience, patience, and resilience. To every woman who feels it is too late, I want to say this: your dreams do not have an expiry date. Start small if necessary, but start with belief. Your experience is not a limitation—it is your greatest strength. For me, every plate served that day becomes a tribute to the women who kept our traditions alive," Sutapa concluded.
Vidisha Bathwal: Paprika Gourmet, A Reliable Name For Artisanal Wellness
Image Credit: Vidisha Bathwal
Since 2011, Vidisha Bathwal and Paprika Gourmet have been commonly known for luxury dining in Kolkata. Vidisha has successfully navigated the shift toward mindful eating, offering a menu that "nourishes both body and soul." In 2021, despite the uncertainties of COVID-19, Vidisha took Paprika international with the launch of Paprika Dubai
Vidisha's cloud kitchen offers a variety of handmade foods, including Chocolate Baked Alaska, desserts suitable for the keto diet, and vegan Vietnamese rolls. She thinks that food helps women deal with the busy, stressful lives they live now. From their Irani Platter, Tex-Mex Platter or Punjab Da Dhaba Platter to gluten-free low-carb meals, Paprika has brought a pocket-friendly combo for everyone, including fitness enthusiasts.
Vidisha builds a supportive environment where her team can express creativity while taking up the full ownership of their roles in the kitchen and operations. Her long-term vision includes continued improvement with global trends while staying rooted in quality. For Women’s Day 2026, she has curated exclusive platters perfect for gatherings that honour the "wonderful women in our lives."
Image Credit: Vidisha Bathwal
"Watching Paprika grow from a small passion project into a trusted name in Kolkata’s luxury catering space has been incredibly meaningful. I believe in giving women real responsibility and the confidence to lead, whether in the kitchen or in operations. At Paprika, we try to build a supportive environment where women can grow, express creativity, and take ownership of their roles.” So, how can a newcomer take a step ahead in this field? Vidisha mentions, “It's all about how you start with a passion, then build the rest with discipline and consistency. All that you need is to to jhave a vision, be patient with the process, and never stop learning."
Image Credit: Vidisha Bathwal
On March 8, 2026, as the world celebrates International Women's Day, the success stories of these five business owners pave the way for the future of the food industry. Their paths from home kitchens to commercial landmarks bring to the fore how common "home skills" actually grow into high-level management skills.
As they say, hope never dies, nor does the passion fade away. The sense of hope and joy wrapped in the stories of Chef Nayana, Susmita, Sudarshana, Sutapa, and Vidisha. So, the next generation aspirants out there, it's time to take the lead, trust their gut, and turn their passion into a legacy that lasts for years.
