This year’s Ruposhi Ilish – A Culinary Ode to Bengal was presented by the Astor Kolkata, which celebrated traditional recipes passed down through generations in Bengali homes. When the hotel asked regular home cooks and foodies to share their favorite family hilsa recipes, more than 100 traditional recipes were submitted from all over the city.

The top five recipes from these submissions were selected for a live cook-off competition, where competitors recreated their recipes in front of a panel of experts. Out of the five, the two winning recipes won a coveted spot on the carefully chosen menu of Ruposhi Ilish, providing a platform for local culinary customs at one of Kolkata’s most famous dining establishments.

Arnab Biswas, a 33-year-old Nadia resident who works as a makeup artist and owns a home delivery kitchen, won over the judges with his delectable dish, Holud Patay Narkeler Dudh Diye Ilish Bhapa. Howrah-born designer Shilpa Shat won over the judges with her vibrant and delectable Mouri Posto Ilish Kalia recipe.

The other three participants were Rupa Bandyopadhyay, Saswati Das, and Poulami Pandey.

This edition of the festival will celebrate Bengal’s culinary heritage and the timeless flavors of its home kitchens by offering guests the chance to sample the two winning recipes in addition to The Astor’s signature hilsa delicacies.

 Amit Kobat, General Manager of The Astor, Kolkata, said, “With this initiative, The Astor Kolkata goes beyond presenting a food festival—it creates a platform where family recipes find a place on a restaurant menu, celebrating the stories, traditions and culinary legacy that continue to define Bengal’s enduring love for hilsa”.

“Everyone is a winner for us. Meeting and learning from so many home cooks who are experimenting with new methods and flavors has even greatly enriched my experience,” said Executive Chef Azad Arif.

The Ruposhi Ilish festival will be held from 25th July to 24th August as an à la carte lunch-and-dinner experience.

Priyanka Dutta