Bengal is a treasure trove of scenic places. You have the sea, the mountains, the forests, the mangrove, the tea gardens, and the heritage towns.
For a middle class traveller, visiting any tourist place in West Bengal is delightful. Not only a range of trains and buses are available for reaching the spots, but there's also a plethora of budget stay options. The West Bengal Tourist corporation lodges and resorts are very convenient options for decent boarding and lodging. You get spacious air- conditioned rooms, with all facilities at reasonable rates.
As a traveller who loves to explore Bengal, I have stayed in many WBTDC properties, like Bolpur/Shantiniketan, Bishnupur, Kurseong, Digha, Jhargram, and Gadiara.
While facilities and comfort are quite satisfactory, I have a major gripe about the food options available in these properties.
The menu promises a range of fish and meat options, Continental and north Indian dishes, but what you generally get is absolutely basic Bengali and Chinese cuisine.
Think dal, alu posto, begun bhaja, rui machhr kalia, chicken kosha, or chilli chicken, fried rice chicken/veg manchurian and noodles. At seaside resorts you expect to be spoilt for choice in seafood. But prawns and crabs are exorbitantly priced, if available. Similarly, fish like pabda, parshe and pomfret, bhetki are rarely affordable. Mutton has to be ordered in advance. Forget about any speciality vegetarian dishes like dhoka or enchor dalna.
For buffet breakfast, there's only a choice between luchi torkari, bread omelette and cornflakes and milk. No stuffed porota, chirer pulao, ghugni or even French toast. Imagine staying for 3-4 days and having luchi torkari or bread omelette daily. Even the staunchest lover will get tired.
Now, I know it's not possible for government- run properties to offer 4-course meals on a regular basis, but all these hotels are privately leased. How about investing in a couple of good cooks and a trained chef? Some hotel management graduates - skilled in various cuisines, can become sous chefs and train the staff in cooking a wider variety of food?
After all, the customer deserves more, don't they?
Please note authorities of #westbengaltourism
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