06 Aug 2016, 08:29 am
That is Hakuna Matata for you!
Started by a young couple, Prabhas Dutta and Pallavi Ruia Dutta, the restaurant, at a prime location on Park Street in Kolkata, takes its name from the Swahili phrase, which means 'no worries', and serves what they call 'hand crafted blend of Euro Asian flavour as well as some Indian tadka to American or French cuisine."
Although the rain played spoil sport as the Duttas welcomed their guests aboard the luxury air-conditioned tram waiting at the Ballygunge Tram Depot, decorated with balloons, banners and cutouts of Hakuna Matata mascot --Koko, it could not damp the festive cheer.
As the tram, dubbed the 'Hakuna Matata Express', made its way through some of Kolkata's busiest streets and junctions -- Gariahat, Rashbehari Avenue, Hazra, Alipore, Ekbalpore -- past the Maidan and finally to Esplanade, the jaw-dropping expressions of the onlookers' were a photographers' study while thankfully, the translucent glass hid the flurry of activities inside.
Music heralded the arrival of the first of the five course meal -- Peruvian Root Veggie Ceviche -- a typical seafood dish modified with root vegetables and served with quinoa tossed, feta cheese coated, limoncello vinaigrette dressing.
Next arrived a Chinese Katori, filled with noodles topped with baked apple nori wedge, beetroot quenelle, and a dollop of goat cheese.
Ekbalpore-Mominpur was lost in a blur as the Litti Chokha Shot arrived - chokha filled litti served on a shot glass filled with vodka infused pear salsa.
As the mushroom-filled Orange Polenta Bomb arrived, decked with sun-dried tomato and a pesto cream base, the tram made a brief stop within the green Maidan -- everyone rushing out to click a few selfies and groupfies.
The Choco Moon, a chocolate flower filled with basil infused chocolate sauce, praline, mousse, cream cheese dollop, followed by a Paan Booster rounded up the meal in style.
But a special mention must be made of the chef's team who, almost miraculously, conjured up the plated meals -- each a delight to the eyes and palate -- within the confines of the tram, and served them without a single complaint despite a dozen photographers blocking their way.
The trip ended at the Esplanade Tram Depot but not the celebrations as a birthday cake arrived.
Postscript: The Duttas have promised their mascot Koko a world tour -- every month guests at Hakuna Matata will be able to taste a dish from a country on Koko's itinerary.
(Reporting by Uttara Gangopadhyay)
Images: Food: Hakuna Matata; Tram: Uttara G
- Jharkhand's Best Kept Secret! Anand Mahindra Recommends This Scenic Hill Station
- Prague 48 Hours: Truly, Madly, Deeply
- You Can Live Rent-Free on This Greek Island—If You Don’t Mind Caring for Cats
- Food, travel and untold stories: Shipra Khanna’s new show promises a delicious global ride
- Beloved Timekeepers: From Kolkata’s New Market Clock to Icons Around the World
- Brussels or Liège? On International Waffle Day, the Belgian Debate Finds Fans in New Delhi
- Sleep Divorce: Why Couples Are Choosing Separate Beds
- Sacred Waters, Shared Faith: Panchu Dola Melana Lights Up Odisha’s Chilika Lake
- City Heroines – Women’s Day special heritage walk through Dalhousie’s stories of reform and resistance
- US Bakery Giant Cheesecake Factory Brings its Signature Slices to India with Bengaluru Debut
Air Canada has expanded its winter 2026–27 schedule with a range of new leisure destinations, including the only non-stop flights from North America to Tenerife.
A ground handling mishap at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Tuesday evening saw a catering vehicle crash into an IndiGo aircraft, forcing the plane to be grounded and raising safety concerns, media reports said.
Tata Group-owned Air India has announced Halwara (Ludhiana) as its newest destination in India, enhancing access for travellers from the industrial heartland of Punjab to Delhi and beyond to destinations around the world.
