Bengali restaurants

[Cpt. Rishwat]

A lot of restaurants these days are owned and run by Bengalis and I'm intrigued as to the origin of their menus. They look mostly the same as most "Indian" restaurants where the main dishes are based around food originating loosely from Northern India and Pakistan region.

Now as far as I'm aware, Bengalis traditionally didn't eat a lot of that food and their regional food is very different based mostly on fish and rice. Has this changed now and this is why they are re-branding food which we would call Pakistani as Bengali?

[Eagle_Eye]

Curiously, the Bengalis have always owned more restaurants than Pakistanis and Indians and were the first to take the Indian restaurant to the British masses...... Not sure when the menus decidedly became Northern subcontinental... perhaps few of the older PPers can shed some light on this....

[Gujar]

It's when they realised there's only so much variation with fish and rice.

On a related note, I have a theory on why Bengalis are on average smaller than other races. We all know you can't eat fish and drink milk on the same day, that's practically suicide. So Bengalis remained loyal to fish and therefore had to stay away from milk. Therefore they didn't grow as much.

[Bangla Tiger]

Firstl the reason is very simple. Calling it an "Indian" restaurant attracts more attention than calling it a "bengali" reastaurant. There are also hardly any "Pakistani" restaurants anywhere in the world.

The menus look "Northern Indian" or "Pakistani" because of centuries of Mogul rule in Bengal. The cuisine of Bengal is not that different from the rest of Northern India. Biryani, curry, tandoori, naan, raita, daal, samosas, paratas, roti, kebabs, etc are all massively consumed in Bengal just as it is anywhere else.

The only difference is that the average Bangladeshi eats a lot of fish, but then again you don't expect the average Mexican to eat tacos or the average Chinese to eat Sweet and Sour Chicken.

And no one goes to a restuarant to eat fish. Thats why the menu looks like it does.

[KingKhanWC]

It's when they realised there's only so much variation with fish and rice.

On a related note, I have a theory on why Bengalis are on average smaller than other races. We all know you can't eat fish and drink milk on the same day, that's practically suicide. So Bengalis remained loyal to fish and therefore had to stay away from milk. Therefore they didn't grow as much.


:)))

They are 'Indian' restaurants owned by Bengalis, very few have a typical Bengali menu, maybe for the reason mentioned above.

Nothing personal against Bengalis but I've never eaten from their restaurants.

[Eagle_Eye]

BT Good point... The bengali version of the dishes are usually more richer in spices ....

[Looney]

i do not know about Indian state Bengal but Bangladesh's food revolves around fish and rice . I do not think Bengal state's culture would be too different . I have to say , though , sweets made by Bengali people are the best . Others make it too but they never come close .

[Striver]

I'm sorry but is there even a such a thing called Bangali restaurants? I'm yet to see some in Toronto lol.

But if I do see them, question is will I eat there?

[Abdullah22]

Bengali food is delicious though it isn't that different but they do add too much nuts in the rice for my likening. It does tastes a bit different, maybe they add different masalas but it's still fine (my mouth is watering right now).

I never went to a bengali/indian restaurant but I do get invited to Iftar-parties from Bengali friends. Can't wait to be invited this time.

[GulabQ]

Bengali food is delicious though it isn't that different but they do add too much nuts in the rice for my likening. It does tastes a bit different, maybe they add different masalas but it's still fine (my mouth is watering right now).

I never went to a bengali/indian restaurant but I do get invited to Iftar-parties from Bengali friends. Can't wait to be invited this time.
Ohh ,bengali/indian restaurants are expensive..

[Abdullah22]

It's when they realised there's only so much variation with fish and rice.

On a related note, I have a theory on why Bengalis are on average smaller than other races. We all know you can't eat fish and drink milk on the same day, that's practically suicide. So Bengalis remained loyal to fish and therefore had to stay away from milk. Therefore they didn't grow as much.

Yaar I believe this 'no milk drinking after eating fish unless you want white spots' is one of those subcontinental myth that are not true just like avoiding water after eating a water melon.

[Equinox]

Firstly Bengali cuisine does not revolve around fish and rice. That is a stereotype similar to believing the Japanese eat Sushi everyday or that all Italians eat are pizzas. Yes rice is the staple food and most Bengalis eat it almost everyday but with many different dishes not just fish. Most "Indian restaurants" in London are owned by Bengalis. They use the term Indian to gain more attention. Most of these restaurants are sub-standard and cater to people not aware of proper Indian cuisine. But there are also very good Bengali owned authentic Indian restaurants in the UK such as Lasan in Birmingham. They won Gordon Ramsay's F Word a few years back and were also the finalists in the BBC Good Food programme.
http://www.lasan.co.uk/

[RWAC]

I'm sorry but is there even a such a thing called Bangali restaurants? I'm yet to see some in Toronto lol.

But if I do see them, question is will I eat there?

There are a few in the Danforth/Victoria Park area. Never been to one though.

[Cricketismylife]

Yaar I believe this 'no milk drinking after eating fish unless you want white spots' is one of those subcontinental myth that are not true just like avoiding water after eating a water melon.

It is in fact a myth and it comes from older Indian Ayurveda line of thinking (things that should and shouldnt be eaten with milk).