Kolkata Roll

You can find us on Mangesh Shenoy Street, inside Sitaphal Bang Colony 13. We mostly focus on making rolls because that’s what we know how to do best. It’s a small stall, really, nothing too special to look at. We spend the whole day rolling out dough and frying it on the big flat tawa. The oil sizzles and the smoke goes up, and that’s our daily view for about twelve hours. We get our eggs and chickens from the same guy every single morning. He’s been reliable for years, even when the weather is terrible or the roads are flooded. Sitaphal Bang Colony is a bit of a maze if you aren't from around here, but people always seem to find their way to us for a quick snack. We don't have a fancy dining area with tables and chairs, just a metal counter where you stand and eat while it's hot. Sometimes we run out of fresh lemons or green chilies by the evening, and I have to run down to the corner shop to buy more. The work is very repetitive, but there's a certain rhythm to it that I’ve grown to like. We don't use any complicated sauces or secret ingredients, just the basic stuff that tastes good. My younger brother helps me with all the chopping while I handle the frying. We close up once the dough finally runs out, which is usually around nine or ten. It’s just a small family business trying to make an honest living. We don't ask for much more.