The IFBM2014 was hosted by the Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Park. Its not an easy task hosting a gaggle of bloggers and to put yourself under the watchful and critical eye of 50 foodies who showed up for this event. Amongst other super things, the themed meals were delicious and most outstanding was the Thupka at tea time. Hopefully they serve this even on non IFBM2014 days.
Its been a really fun day at the IFBM 2014 hosted by the Aloft Bengaluru CBP. Some wonderful talks on photography, food styling, wine, food writing etc. The bloggers are such a enthusiastic lot and why shouldn't they be. Most of us have created a digital community of friends and readers and here is an opportunity to meet some of the people in real life. How cool is that.
I loved the tea time Kolkatta Street food style. So my favourite dish had to be the bowl of hot steaming thupkas with chicken momos, steamed veggies like carrots and zucchinis. Add a dash of hot sauce, soya sauce, sesame oil, vinegar & chillies, peanuts and fried garlic. I loved all the graphics behind the thupka wala. Also his entire assembly unit was fun. The broth for the thupka was warm and tangy at the same time and really yum. Lots of folks were eating the momos by themselves. I really enjoyed them in the thupka broth and the veggies. Try it for sure! And all this accompanied with a cup of steaming hot darjeeling tea.
Hot steaming bowl of thupka with chicken momo and steamed bevy of beautiful veggies.
These momos were delicious
Ofcourse jhalmoori for the Kolkatta street food veterans. That mustard oil is such a deal breaker!
Finish it off with a gulab jamun. A must for all Bong food lovers.
There was a puchkas cart that I missed out on because I was seriously full. The themed food sessions were lovely. Thank you Aloft Bengaluru CBP for being such wonderful hosts.
The Thupka at the Aloft Bengaluru CBP reminded me of the Vietnamese Pho. The Thupka (a Tibetian noodle soup) is very similar to the Pho. The slight difference would be the spices used to flavour the broth- a thupka has more Indian spices of corriander and cumin while as a Pho has more Eastern spices of cinnamon and anise. You could try both. Both are served in a bowl with noodles or momos or dumplings and such. So follow this link to this lovely Pho recipe I made.
I made this pho as soon as I got back home from the IFBM 2014. The thupka got me craving...
By the way I cant stop listening to this new song by Taylor Swift.. So Shake it Off... Such true pop princess and such a fun afternoon pick me up. Makes a nice background to this post as well. Also all that twerking!