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Host: Debjani

Kolkata (Calcutta), India

USD
$42-$76 per person

Authentic Bengali Cooking in Kolkata using Grandmother's Recipes

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Debjani

Residing in Kolkata, the vibrant “City of Joy,” Debjani delights guests with authentic Bengali dishes that beautifully showcase the region’s rich culture and culinary traditions. With a Ph.D. in Horticulture, Debjani’s deep connection to nature shines through in her fresh, seasonal approach to cooking. Over the years, she has also cultivated a love for design and art, creating elegant and inviting experiences during her three decades in the hospitality industry with prestigious groups such as Taj and Oberoi. Passionate about connecting with people from around the world, Debjani loves sharing stories, exchanging cultures, and introducing guests to the flavors that make Bengali cuisine so special.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-5 guests) Enjoy an authentic Bengali dining experience at Debjani’s cozy, art-filled apartment in Kolkata, a charming space that beautifully blends old-world charm with modern aesthetics. Debjani cooks with traditional ingredients and heirloom recipes passed down through generations. One of her favorites is her grandmother’s shukto, a comforting mixed vegetable dish that reflects the essence of Bengali home cooking. She loves preparing the dishes she grew up eating, inspired by her mother and grandmother, and takes pride in offering guests a true taste of Bengal’s rich culinary heritage. Join Debjani at her dining table to savor a flavorful spread that may include begun bhaja (crispy eggplant fritters), shorshe bhapa chingri or maach (prawns or river fish steamed in a mustard sauce), or kosha mangsho (slow-cooked mutton curry with a home-ground spice mix), often cooked in traditional earthen pots. End your meal on a sweet note with iconic Bengali desserts like rosogolla (soft cheese dumplings in light sugar syrup) or rosogolla payesh (sweet milk pudding), a wintertime favorite.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join your host Debjani in her home kitchen for an authentic Bengali cooking class in Kolkata. Learn to prepare flavorful regional dishes using recipes passed down from her grandmother, reimagined with a modern touch. During this hands-on cooking class, you’ll help Debjani make traditional favorites such as masoor dal (spiced lentils), begun bhaja (crispy eggplant fritters), and shorshe bhapa chingri or maach (prawns or fish steamed in mustard sauce). Your Kolkata cooking experience will last about 1.5 hours, ending with a shared meal where you’ll enjoy the dishes you prepared together with Debjani and, when they’re home, her warm and welcoming family.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) Meet your host, Debjani, at her apartment before heading out together on a short drive to explore one of Kolkata’s bustling local markets, such as Lake Market or Jodhpur Park Market, during your Kolkata market tour. These lively markets are filled with colorful stalls selling everything from fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables to local arts and crafts. As you walk through the market with Debjani, she’ll introduce you to her favorite vendors and help you discover the vibrant ingredients that define Bengali cuisine. After your market visit, return to her home for an authentic Kolkata cooking class, where you’ll use the fresh produce you picked out to prepare traditional Bengali dishes together.

Notes: Debjani can accommodate lactose-free and vegetarian diets, on request. Please indicate your preference when creating a booking online. If you're interested in round-trip transfers, Debjani can connect you with a car rental and driver contact who can help.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Bengali

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Steamed rice
  • Bengali masoor dal (lentils)
  • Begun bhaja (eggplant fritters) or ​Shukto (traditional mixed vegetables)
  • Shorshe bhapa chingri or maach (steamed prawns or fish in a mustard sauce)
  • Rosogulla (ball-shaped dumplings cooked in light sugar syrup) or rosogolla payesh (sweet milk pudding)

Traveler reviews

5.0 (6)
The highlight of my trip to Kolkata! I had the most incredible home-cooked Bengali meal at Debjani’s beautiful, centrally located home. She welcomed us like family, and the setting, filled with antiques and artwork, was absolutely charming. The meal was delectable: masoor dal, begun bhaja, shorshe bhapa chingri, maach, and the perfect finish - mishti doi. Every dish was flavorful and prepared with love. It was also lovely to meet Debjani’s friends and share stories, it felt like having lunch with a group of my girlfriends. If you're looking to try authentic Bengali food in Kolkata, this experience is a must. Highly recommended!
- Neha October 08, 2025
A Must-Do in Kolkata - Authentic Bengali Home Dining Experience! The highlight of my trip to Kolkata! I had the most incredible home-cooked Bengali meal at Debjani’s beautiful, centrally located home. She welcomed us like family, and the setting, filled with antiques and artwork, was absolutely charming. The meal was delectable: masoor dal, begun bhaja, shorshe bhapa chingri, maach, and the perfect finish - mishti doi. Every dish was flavorful and prepared with love. It was also lovely to meet Debjani’s friends and share stories, it felt like having lunch with a group of my girlfriends. If you're looking to try authentic Bengali food in Kolkata, this experience is a must. Highly recommended!
- Neha October 08, 2025
This was my first traveling spoon experience, and it was just amazing! Debjani was an excellent host. We started in the morning markets to get a few ingredients and to have a nice cup of chai with local biscuits. Later we cooked and she gave me more insights into Bengali cuisine. After seeing and smelling all the mouthwatering cooking, I was served a delicious thali of several traditional Bengali dishes (My favorite new cuisine in India). Not only did I have a delicious meal but an engaging conversation with Debjani and I now have a new foodie friend. If you’re visiting Kolkata, you must book this wonderful Traveling Spoon experience with Debjani!
- bigbr2024 May 10, 2024
Wow! What an amazing experience to have had the opportunity to be hosted by Debjani, for my first Traveling Spoon. She took me to local markets nearby her lovely home and we stopped to have some tea and snacks as well. She did detailed insights into the cooking method and ingredients and then a beautiful thali presentation of fabulous Bengali cuisine was served to me. We shared travel, food and life stories and not only did I have a wonderful meal but also engaging conversations with Debjani. I can highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking to find a truly local Bengali food and life experience, it will be the highlight of your Kolkata visit!
- BrianR1 April 10, 2024
First I must thank Debjani, for welcoming us into her home and making us feel so comfortable. We spent the afternoon learning to cook some Bengali traditional dishes. Debjani and her assistant did so of the preparation before so we could make some delicious dishes that we would not of be able to make in the time we had for the class. I learned so much about the different herb and spices that go into Bengali cuisine. So if you want to learn about India cuisine you should consider looking into this class. You will love it.. I can’t wait to try and make some of the dishes we made for my family back home.
- Jill_J February 14, 2024
The cooking class with Debjani was my absolute favourite part of visiting Kolkata! I went for a lunchtime class, along with the market tour—here are some of my highlights: - Debjani was such a lovely host! She made me feel really comfortable immediately and had so many interesting stories about her life, the food, and Kolkata - Her apartment is beautiful! It's a love letter to Kolkata, full of tasteful pieces of art, all of which have fascinating origins - The market tour was my favourite part of the whole day. We drove down to a nearby farmer's market and tried and bought lots of super fresh and unique ingredients—most of which I had never seen before. We also went to a classic Kolkata fish market with some of the freshest seafood I've seen - Debjani also drove me around that area of Kolkata and gave me a lot of background and stories about the different parts of the city. We stopped by an iconic tea stall and got chai and snacks too! - The cooking was so much fun—Debjani had planned five or six separate dishes and some of the prep (like overnight marination and mise en place) had already been done to make things a bit smoother - Everything was incredibly tasty and there were lots of dishes that I had never heard of before but will definitely be making again! It ended up being a full afternoon and the whole experience gave me a view into Kolkata that I would have completely missed if I just did all the touristy spots. I'd highly recommend the class for anyone who is interested in food, history, architecture, or Bengali culture!
- 762arn December 12, 2023
Read More
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Debjani

$42-$76 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$57 $47 $42
Cooking Experience + Meal
$66 $57 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$76 $66 Not offered
Alcohol
$14 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$57 $47 $42
Cooking Experience + Meal
$66 $57 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$76 $66 Not offered
Alcohol
$14 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
9:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-9:00pm

Meet Debjani

Residing in Kolkata, the vibrant “City of Joy,” Debjani delights guests with authentic Bengali dishes that beautifully showcase the region’s rich culture and culinary traditions. With a Ph.D. in Horticulture, Debjani’s deep connection to nature shines through in her fresh, seasonal approach to cooking. Over the years, she has also cultivated a love for design and art, creating elegant and inviting experiences during her three decades in the hospitality industry with prestigious groups such as Taj and Oberoi. Passionate about connecting with people from around the world, Debjani loves sharing stories, exchanging cultures, and introducing guests to the flavors that make Bengali cuisine so special.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-5 guests) Enjoy an authentic Bengali dining experience at Debjani’s cozy, art-filled apartment in Kolkata, a charming space that beautifully blends old-world charm with modern aesthetics. Debjani cooks with traditional ingredients and heirloom recipes passed down through generations. One of her favorites is her grandmother’s shukto, a comforting mixed vegetable dish that reflects the essence of Bengali home cooking. She loves preparing the dishes she grew up eating, inspired by her mother and grandmother, and takes pride in offering guests a true taste of Bengal’s rich culinary heritage. Join Debjani at her dining table to savor a flavorful spread that may include begun bhaja (crispy eggplant fritters), shorshe bhapa chingri or maach (prawns or river fish steamed in a mustard sauce), or kosha mangsho (slow-cooked mutton curry with a home-ground spice mix), often cooked in traditional earthen pots. End your meal on a sweet note with iconic Bengali desserts like rosogolla (soft cheese dumplings in light sugar syrup) or rosogolla payesh (sweet milk pudding), a wintertime favorite.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join your host Debjani in her home kitchen for an authentic Bengali cooking class in Kolkata. Learn to prepare flavorful regional dishes using recipes passed down from her grandmother, reimagined with a modern touch. During this hands-on cooking class, you’ll help Debjani make traditional favorites such as masoor dal (spiced lentils), begun bhaja (crispy eggplant fritters), and shorshe bhapa chingri or maach (prawns or fish steamed in mustard sauce). Your Kolkata cooking experience will last about 1.5 hours, ending with a shared meal where you’ll enjoy the dishes you prepared together with Debjani and, when they’re home, her warm and welcoming family.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) Meet your host, Debjani, at her apartment before heading out together on a short drive to explore one of Kolkata’s bustling local markets, such as Lake Market or Jodhpur Park Market, during your Kolkata market tour. These lively markets are filled with colorful stalls selling everything from fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables to local arts and crafts. As you walk through the market with Debjani, she’ll introduce you to her favorite vendors and help you discover the vibrant ingredients that define Bengali cuisine. After your market visit, return to her home for an authentic Kolkata cooking class, where you’ll use the fresh produce you picked out to prepare traditional Bengali dishes together.

Notes: Debjani can accommodate lactose-free and vegetarian diets, on request. Please indicate your preference when creating a booking online. If you're interested in round-trip transfers, Debjani can connect you with a car rental and driver contact who can help.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Bengali

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Steamed rice
  • Bengali masoor dal (lentils)
  • Begun bhaja (eggplant fritters) or ​Shukto (traditional mixed vegetables)
  • Shorshe bhapa chingri or maach (steamed prawns or fish in a mustard sauce)
  • Rosogulla (ball-shaped dumplings cooked in light sugar syrup) or rosogolla payesh (sweet milk pudding)

Traveler reviews

5.0 (6)
The highlight of my trip to Kolkata! I had the most incredible home-cooked Bengali meal at Debjani’s beautiful, centrally located home. She welcomed us like family, and the setting, filled with antiques and artwork, was absolutely charming. The meal was delectable: masoor dal, begun bhaja, shorshe bhapa chingri, maach, and the perfect finish - mishti doi. Every dish was flavorful and prepared with love. It was also lovely to meet Debjani’s friends and share stories, it felt like having lunch with a group of my girlfriends. If you're looking to try authentic Bengali food in Kolkata, this experience is a must. Highly recommended!
- Neha October 08, 2025
A Must-Do in Kolkata - Authentic Bengali Home Dining Experience! The highlight of my trip to Kolkata! I had the most incredible home-cooked Bengali meal at Debjani’s beautiful, centrally located home. She welcomed us like family, and the setting, filled with antiques and artwork, was absolutely charming. The meal was delectable: masoor dal, begun bhaja, shorshe bhapa chingri, maach, and the perfect finish - mishti doi. Every dish was flavorful and prepared with love. It was also lovely to meet Debjani’s friends and share stories, it felt like having lunch with a group of my girlfriends. If you're looking to try authentic Bengali food in Kolkata, this experience is a must. Highly recommended!
- Neha October 08, 2025
This was my first traveling spoon experience, and it was just amazing! Debjani was an excellent host. We started in the morning markets to get a few ingredients and to have a nice cup of chai with local biscuits. Later we cooked and she gave me more insights into Bengali cuisine. After seeing and smelling all the mouthwatering cooking, I was served a delicious thali of several traditional Bengali dishes (My favorite new cuisine in India). Not only did I have a delicious meal but an engaging conversation with Debjani and I now have a new foodie friend. If you’re visiting Kolkata, you must book this wonderful Traveling Spoon experience with Debjani!
- bigbr2024 May 10, 2024
Wow! What an amazing experience to have had the opportunity to be hosted by Debjani, for my first Traveling Spoon. She took me to local markets nearby her lovely home and we stopped to have some tea and snacks as well. She did detailed insights into the cooking method and ingredients and then a beautiful thali presentation of fabulous Bengali cuisine was served to me. We shared travel, food and life stories and not only did I have a wonderful meal but also engaging conversations with Debjani. I can highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking to find a truly local Bengali food and life experience, it will be the highlight of your Kolkata visit!
- BrianR1 April 10, 2024
First I must thank Debjani, for welcoming us into her home and making us feel so comfortable. We spent the afternoon learning to cook some Bengali traditional dishes. Debjani and her assistant did so of the preparation before so we could make some delicious dishes that we would not of be able to make in the time we had for the class. I learned so much about the different herb and spices that go into Bengali cuisine. So if you want to learn about India cuisine you should consider looking into this class. You will love it.. I can’t wait to try and make some of the dishes we made for my family back home.
- Jill_J February 14, 2024
The cooking class with Debjani was my absolute favourite part of visiting Kolkata! I went for a lunchtime class, along with the market tour—here are some of my highlights: - Debjani was such a lovely host! She made me feel really comfortable immediately and had so many interesting stories about her life, the food, and Kolkata - Her apartment is beautiful! It's a love letter to Kolkata, full of tasteful pieces of art, all of which have fascinating origins - The market tour was my favourite part of the whole day. We drove down to a nearby farmer's market and tried and bought lots of super fresh and unique ingredients—most of which I had never seen before. We also went to a classic Kolkata fish market with some of the freshest seafood I've seen - Debjani also drove me around that area of Kolkata and gave me a lot of background and stories about the different parts of the city. We stopped by an iconic tea stall and got chai and snacks too! - The cooking was so much fun—Debjani had planned five or six separate dishes and some of the prep (like overnight marination and mise en place) had already been done to make things a bit smoother - Everything was incredibly tasty and there were lots of dishes that I had never heard of before but will definitely be making again! It ended up being a full afternoon and the whole experience gave me a view into Kolkata that I would have completely missed if I just did all the touristy spots. I'd highly recommend the class for anyone who is interested in food, history, architecture, or Bengali culture!
- 762arn December 12, 2023
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$57 $47 $42
Cooking Experience + Meal
$66 $57 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$76 $66 Not offered
Alcohol
$14 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$57 $47 $42
Cooking Experience + Meal
$66 $57 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$76 $66 Not offered
Alcohol
$14 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
9:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-9:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.