Kolkata: The People, Kitchens and Streets of the City of Joy
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Following an acclaimed volume on Mumbai, Heirloom Cities turns its attention to Kolkata, a city whose culinary identity has been shaped by migration, trade, colonial history, and fiercely local traditions. Produced by a team of writers, photographers, and designers, the large-format book offers a richly layered portrait of one of India’s most influential food cities.
Rather than serving as a conventional travel guide, the volume uses food, markets, neighborhoods, and everyday rituals to tell the story of the city. Essays explore subjects ranging from Kolkata’s Chinese community and the artisans behind the ten-day Durga Pujo celebrations to the markets of Gariahat and the enduring importance of home cooking.
Food serves as both subject and lens throughout. Phuchka, biryani, sandesh, mishti doi, chanar jilapi, and the city’s many beloved fish preparations appear alongside stories that reveal how these dishes became woven into Kolkata’s cultural fabric. As with the earlier volume on Mumbai, recipes, photography, and reportage combine to create a portrait of a city best understood through its table.
Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.
Published on May 20, 2025
