IT’S MACCHLI BABA, BENGALI’S NEW MAACHER BAZAAR

By Swarnali Goswami (TNI Kolkata) ~ Edited By R. Subrata (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Kolkata, 17^th March, 2016: After nearing two decades of offering traditional Bengali cuisine, especially for the middle-class section the most talked about ‘Bhojohori Manna’ comes up with yet another concept of retailing Bengali’s favorite ‘Maach’ i.e. Fish. A new and modern way of fish shopping, which we call ‘Macher Bazaar’ is here in your city. Obviously, the delight is for Kolkatans as of now. ‘Macchli Baba,’ the new venture of ‘Bhojohori Manna’ inaugurated on 10^th March at 24/A, Lake View Road Kolkata.  The store has been designed keeping today’s typical nuclear families and micro families as the target customers. People from Bengal’s urban areas liked different types of fish, but due to a shortage of time and the nature of the normal market, they are compelled to buy a large amount of fish. In this fish, store they can go for two super jumbo pieces at Rs 280 each. Slightly smaller Hilsa pieces are priced at Rs 245 each. Customers can also go for Topshe (Rs 20 each), jumbo Pabda (Rs 90 each), large Bagda Chingris (Rs 50 each) or frozen rock lobsters (Rs 250 each). Now, a gourmet can walk into Machhli Baba and get a jumbo chital piece for Rs 190.

“We have decided to pass on whatever is not sold within a couple of hours to our restaurant chain. We will replenish our stock with fresh fish twice a day” said Siddhartha Chatterjee the actor, Satyajit Ray’s ‘Topse’ fame and one of the founder members of Bhojohori Manna. About, ‘Machhli Baba’, he said it is inspired by Ray’s character in’ Joi Baba Felunath’. Ranjit Dutta Gupta, one of the owner told that they also trying to open ‘Macchli Baba’ at North Kolkata. The store also has basa and squid. A 2 kg packet of frozen squids would cost Rs. 600 here while the same would be available for Rs. 800 in the market. Customers can also find a range of books with delightful recipes at the corner of the shop. The store also has home delivery facilities for customers within a radius of 5 km. But the bill amount has to be Rs 500 at least. “After observing the response of 2-3 months we will be trying to open another 5, 6 outlets at various localities of Kolkata. We also have the desire to open an outlet at Siliguri also” said Siddhartha Chatterjee.

Photos: Swarnali Goswami (TNI)