We had the first part of Food Blogger Interview series with Jayshree. It is the first part of a 6 interview series of the Top 7 Bengali Food Bloggers, which we came up with 6 months ago. This post is the second in line for the Blogger Interview Series and the lady this time is a very well known blogger, Bong Mom.
About Bong Mom
She started her blog in October 2006 with the first post as Alu posto and Musir’er Dal. She had been a regular blogger for the last 3years and a few months, catering wonderful and finger-licking recipes all the time. With a page rank of 4, Bong Mom CookBook is one the most popular Bengali Food Blogs over the internet.
What inspires you to write a food blog?
I’ve said it in my first post and I reiterate:
Growing up all over West Bengal, and some parts of Bihar, in a Bengali household I learnt one thing, Bengalis love to eat, feed others and cook (at least Bong women do).
So growing up amongst such a race it’s natural that I love to eat and to make my food dreams into reality have taken to loving cooking my food. I get solace in cooking, the comfort of the spices sputtering in the oil, the waft of the Jeera & Tejpata as they turn brown, the rich yellow of my musuri’r dal gives me peace, makes me calm and in this far off land makes me connect to my home.
I want to pass on my legacy of Bengali food to my two little daughters and all the other little ones out there who growing up in a foreign land will find a way to connect to their Bangla roots through the smell and taste of Bangla cuisine.
This is also for all others who are unaware of the Bengali Cuisine, to try out and sample the nuances of Bengali Cooking.
Who had been your inspiration for cooking?
Cooking was more of a necessity than inspiration. I didn’t really cook much when I was with my parents. I did love to eat and cooking back then was an occasional trial of the recipes in the magazines.
Cooking for survival happened when I started my first job far from home and it was pretty expensive to dine out every day.
Now I really love cooking, more so because I am so far away from home, that cooking gives me immense comfort. The smell of the spices, the sounds the smell brings back memories of home. It also lets me eat my food just the way I want. Most of the stuff I cook is Bangla Home food, things my Ma, grandma cooked at home
Who was and is your greatest support(s) for this blog?
Definitely my husband. He is the one who has to wait hungry, while I click. LOL
Sooner my Dad joined in. He even got me shaal pata’r utensils from Kolkata for shots. But then I shouldn’t leave out my dear S (my eldest daughter), she steers clear and is patient while I am trying to get the shot and of course my Ma, my most ardent reader.
What was the first dish that you prepared and when?
Don’t remember the first, maybe Maggi. But once I started cooking officially, I used to regularly make Dim er Dalna/Egg Curry. That is the only thing me and my room mate cooked and ate on most days
How many cook books do you have?
Very few. I like cook books with lots of stories
What’s your favorite cookbook?
I have been reading food memoirs recently and love them. I would recommend Ruth Reichl’s “Tender on the Bone”. I don’t think I would cook anything from there but the writing will definitely wonderful
Tell us something about food from your part of the world?
Go read my Blog. LOL
What would you eat for your last supper?
Bhaat(Rice), Musuri’r Dal, Alu-posto ar ekta pati lebu
Your most trusty kitchen companion?
My Magic Bullet processor, my dishwasher
What made you to call your blog “Bong Mom CookBook”?
Coz I am a Bong, a Mom and I Cook and would love to write a Book some day
Name three dishes (along with their links) from your blog that you like preparing often
Doi Maach, Musuri’r Dal and Kalakand
Well, that was Bong Mom for you.
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Such an inspirational post an something we all bond moms can realte to easily!!
Bengali food sounds delicious. Would like to hear more about bengali cooking. Thanks for sharing this interview with us
Goes with out my saying tough, 4000+ likes in Facebook seems like a pretty praise worthy job. Would love to see more from you guys 🙂
Looks like i missed this one, loved reading about Bong Mom as i love her place.
Thanks Sudeshna 🙂 Now it is your turn to answer the same questions 😀
Bong Mom rocks as always..Sandy hope you will write that book sometime soon..:)
.-= Srivalli´s last blog ..Chintakaya Pulihora / Fresh Tamarind Rice ~ Andhra Special Recipe =-.