Kolkata Food Guide|Paramount- A Hidden Gem| Interesting Fact

Kolkata Food Guide-  Traversing the well known College Street in Kolkata signifies the Boi Para(Book-Mart), Adda with Friends in Coffee House and Academic Institutes, which we’ve heard very frequently from our friends and family.

Last year around mid-November we visited Kolkata “The City of Joy“. Being in Kolkata: first few things that come to mind are as follows: Arsalan’s Biryani, Rosogolla, Mishti Doi, Nakur Chandra’s variety of Sandesh, Mutton Kaviraji, Mughlai Parantha, Mutton Kathi Rolls and what not!!!!

Explored all the places during our visit to Kolkata, but this post is specifically about a Hidden Gem which we have identified, i.e. Paramount a one-stop shop for sherbets.

Paramount is a 100 years old(The shop became 100 years this February) sherbet shop that claims a vibrant culture.

Founded in the year 1918, by Mr Mazumdar. Initially, the shop was located at 1/a Bankim Chatterjee Street, and the name was “Paradise” during the British Rule. but now the present location is at 1/1/1D, Bankim Chatterjee Street as they have shifted here as well as renamed to “Paramount.”

Earlier Paramount was operational only during summertime and remained closed in winters. But nowadays, mainly because of the widespread demand by the patrons, the Sherbets parlour is open round the year. The Shop is open from 12pm to 10 pm Monday to Saturday and  Sunday 4pm to 10pm.

Another vital reason because of which so many customers/ locals have patronised this place is the personal touch of Mr Majumdar and his team renders to every customer.

Paradise(now Paramount) has its history connected with our freedom fight. It was primarily a meeting place for revolutionaries involved in Indian freedom struggle – the Swadeshi movement. Notables like Subhash Chandra Bose, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Mrinal Sen, Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, Soumitra Chatterjee, Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen have frequented this place.

The ambience is very simple — the old marble top tables, narrow benches, glass framed menus . The deer trunks grace the shop that perpetually connected with tradition, heritage and nostalgia.

At the entrance of the shop, there is a notice board full of newspaper cuttings, articles that have ‘talked’ about Paramount over the years. They have pictures of great leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Prafulla Chandra Roy etc. who have visited this place.

Kolkata Food Guide: Paramount -Tried’n’ Tasted

The must-try sherbet is Dab – a Sherbet made up of tender coconut water, ice, syrup and the white pulp of the coconut. A slurp of the Dab sherbet will make you feel . Also understand why locals favour Paramount’s Sherbet than any regular soft beverages to quench their thirst. Dab Sherbet is famous because of the recipe was given by renowned Indian chemist Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray in collaboration with the founder Niharanjan Majumdar.

Dab Sherbet

Kesar Malai

Price List

The other variants of sherbet include Green Mango, Cream Vanilla, Cocoa Malai, Rose Malai, Passion Fruit, Pineapple Malai, Banana Malai, Tamarind and Lichi.

How to reach Paramount?

Paramount is located in Bankim Chatterjee Street. Near to the famous Indian Coffee House, about a 4mins walk. Perfectly marked on Google Maps.