Breakfast at Flurys

If any one place mirrors the heyday of Kolkata, its subsequent decline and recent rise, it is Flurys.

Started in 1927 by a Swiss-couple by the name of J flurys as a cross between a patisserie and a European style tea-room, it was legendary as much for its cakes, rum-balls, pastries, puddings, and Swiss chocolates, as for its breakfast menu.

The outlet changed its management in 1965, when it was bought over by the Pauls, who ran The Park across the street, but its charm and reputation for good food remained intact, especially with tourists and polite society, not just in Kolkata but all over India.

Among its distinguished local clientele was Satyajit Ray, who's said to have maintained a credit account here, as also L N Mittal, in the days when he was just a student at the nearby St Xavier's college.

Flurys was no less a favourite with the Bollywood set. Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar were regulars, and their confectionery manager Rajiv Khanna, who's been with flurys since the '80s, says he's served Vyjayanthimala Bali, Asha Bhonsle and M F Hussain, all of whom make it a point to come at least once to flurys on a visit to Kolkata.

The flurys that you see today, the brightly lit place in vibrant colours with Chicken Chettinad Patty co-existing alongside the Cheese Quiche on the menu, is the result of a makeover less than three years ago.

And now, the flurys' brand is going places "" soon flurys' confectioneries will be sold in counters at Spencers stores, while in upmarket Alipore, another flurys' outlet will open later this month, says Salmoli Mukherjee, director, public relations.