Picture by taureandude_23
Flurys has been conquered FINALLY. Everyday while passing outside the Flurys outlet, when i was working in and around Park Street, Kolkata, watching those firangs and desis eat their way to glory, a hallowed breakfast, i always used to wonder, when the hell am i gonna eat The Breakfast! Having stayed in Kolkata for 8 months and not having visited Flurys for a breakfast is unthinkable, and having done that the determination to get it right this time was sky high. The hard part was convincing my friends there! If that was done, then rest of it was bacon and chicken alongwith juice and coffee.
I mean c'mon its no mean task to convince people to wake up early on a weekend, and going all the way from Salt Lake City to Park Street for something as trivial as a breakfast. On top of that spending a BOMB on it. A thing that more or less can be had under 50 bucks at a walking distance from your Salt Lake city pad, to go the whole nine yards to spend a huge sum of money on that is a tough ask. But if i convinced three people to join me in my quest for the ultimate breakfast in Kolkata, i can safely proclaim that i was successful.
Flurys - Five Generations of Fine Confection, goes the tagline. It’s been around in the famous food district of Kolkata, Park Street, for a good eight decades. Founded in 1927, by Mr. and Mrs. Flurys, Flurys introduced the European cafe culture in Kolkata. It was and still is famous for the lip smacking delicacies it has on offer. Creamy Pastries, Crossaints, fabulous cakes and a variety of exotic breads form a key market segment of Flurys, with regular customers who visit Flurys to collect their regular quota of bakery products. However, the place is known far and wide for the one thing i was there for that day, the breakfast.
The first thing that one will notice when he/she enter's Flurys is the ambience. One has got to hand it to the interior decorator who has renovated the old Flurys to the present day beauty that it is without killing the soul of the place. Outer glass walls with the Flurys printed in a calligraphic pink font makes it stand out amongst the other restaurants in the locality. Brown is the color theme inside which is followed to the tee. The light and dark brown chequered pillars leading to the main pastry counter stand strong. The warm lighting adds to the charm of the place, and the chandeliers seems straight out of some Maharajahs palace. On the wall to the right side, are sepia toned photo frames, showcasing various aspects of the place from the customers to the kitchens. The brown colored wooden chairs with a slightly curved strong back are instantly relaxing. And finally completing the color theme are brown liveried waiters wearing a white apron.
The seating arrangements by the glass walls is the best according to me. It really gives one a feeling of being in some roadside European cafe. Watching the flood of humanity going to and fro along the footpath and the vehicles zooming past the busy and chaotic Park Street, in such calm environs, is an experience worth savouring.
Scanning the menu was just a formality as I was very sure what me and my three friends were going to have. The Non Veg Breakfast, hands down! According to the menu, it comprised of two pieces of chicken sausage, one piece of bacon (pork), a potato cutlet, baked tomato, one omlette, two slices of bread and butter. Juice would be served along with all of them, followed by coffee for me and tea for the rest. On reading the menu, i felt, whats so special about this. That was till the order actually arrived. It was a riot of colors, a treat for sore eyes. Only color which didnt feature prominently, was green, actually it didnt feature at all.
Picture by taureandude_23
Without further ado, i started with the proceedings while the others were thinking of where to start first. Having stayed away from chicken for a good 25 days, as Kolkata was gripped in the shackles of Bird Flu, i was more than delighted to cut the sausage and pierce it with the fork, and guide it to its final destination. The chicken was a quite soft and juicy and i just enjoyed my first chicken bite, after ages, for a good minute.
Bacon was something i had last tried in 1992. Yeah, its almost sixteen years since. I had completely forgotten what it tasted like. Now this is the part where i actually had to struggle with my fork. The bacon was hard, and although cutting it was some task, piercing it with the kinda blunt fork was a tough ask. I somehow got it to my mouth. Ive gotta say, it was like chewing gum. It was hard meat alright, but the constant chewing made the juiced ooze out of the meat and add another dimension to its taste. I continued with the 'jugal-bandi' of chicken and bacon.
Then i attacked the omlette. Now this omlette was very subtle and was very lightly cooked, thus retaining its liquidity. The vivid yellow yolk seemed like a balloon filled to capacity about to burst, and burst it did, when i touched it with my fork. I am not a fan of yolk, so the best thing i could think of was dipping the bacon/chicken into the yolk and eating the combination, and trust me, it actually amplified my respect towards the yolk part of an egg.
The potato cutlet was as normal potato cutlets are, filled with bits and bits of potato. It kind of neutralized the OD of non-vegetarian variety. I couldnt make heads or tails of the baked tomato, i mean it had a brownish crust on it, and there was no post processing done (couldnt think of anything, so added a photoshop slang). I didnt even try it. Finally the color theme of the food was matched with that of the interiors by the golden brown color of the bread. Have to add, the bread and butter did make the overall breakfast that much heavier.
The juice, which i was expecting to be made inhouse with fresh fruits, was a let down as it was of those synthetic juice variety and had a wierd taste. But as always cant abandon juices, so finished it off along with the solid food. The final order, coffee for me and tea for the rest, followed.
We raised a toast to Flurys with my coffee and their tea. It was indeed an experience. For the first time in my life, i actually had had such a heavy breakfast. Not to mention, the most expensive breakfast too. But then none of my friends complained about that fact, as that was our last meet in Kolkata. As a memento, i secretly picked up the packets of white and brown sugar which were enclosed in paper packets having the Flurys insignia.
Take Care
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The moment one enters Flury,s the mixed aroma of cake getting baked and coffee knocks one out..a great ambience to sit for a while with a steaming cup of cappucino..cheers
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Hi Dude,
I have heard paens being sung about Flury's...No self respecting Kolkata resident has gone without a taste of their cake and pastry ensemble...What i loved best about your post is the balanced review and the gorgeous photographs...where did you learn to take such photos? absolutely smashing....
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Hey dude!
Now this is definitely a first for me... to read an ode to a meal...
Your description of the place as well as the breakfast was spot on!
cheers,
Keshav
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my father used to take me to flurys in 60's for wrapped chocolates all in square chambers and one could order any flavor most time i would end up with mint which was not my fav, but again thanks for bringing back those park street days thobu thumi shundori kotho thumi amar kolkata ..sunkan
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hi DSampath
you should definitely try out the brakfast there, its gonna be something worth savouring.
take care
ciao
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hi PF
yeah man, the wallet was sure lighter wfter the breakfast. the food is very inviting. infact just as the door of flurys opens, one is arrested by the aroma of the breads and confectionaries, so much so that one definately will have a bite.
i have been to Colaba many times, but havent been to Cafe Mondegar. i have been to Picadillys there which serves Lebanese food. i also dig Iranian Cafes purely for their ambience. Have been to Kayani's Bakery, Sassanian Boulangerie, and an Iranian joint just opposite Byculla stn. will sure do the Mondegar, Leopolds circuit soon:D
yeah once a foodie, always a foodie, moreso in my case cus i am a Taurean, n being a foodie is a typical Taurean trait.
thanks for coming by,
take care
ciao
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twenty years back we used to go and get some pastries and coffee. i should have my breakfast there the next time...
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Hiya dude,
So had a heavy breakfast at Flurys...walked down Park Street with a relatively lighter wallet...
I had a good time reading your experience...man...you almost took me there...the pictures are awesome...the food looks so inviting...yummmmyyy...but can't eat non-veg...
Have you been to them Cafes in Colaba...Cafe Mondegar is moi fave...I dig the Irani cafe outside Andheri station...for its old world charm...and I love their puddings!
Always, a foodie
PF
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