What’s cooking in Papa’s kitchen?

There’s something special about a meal cooked by Dad. Maybe it’s the extra dollop of love, or the way he watches you with pride as you take that first bite. Whether it’s his Sunday special biryani or a secret-recipe pasta – dads are proving that the kitchen isn’t just a mom’s domain anymore. CT celebrates dads who are creating culinary magic, one dish at a time.

‘Cooking is a survival skill for everyone’
“For me, cooking is more of a survival skill,” says Amal Paul who is a retired airforce officer. “Living on my own since I was 20, I quickly realised that if I wanted to eat well, I’d have to learn to cook. So, I threw myself into it. From dosas to chutneys, and even a rich, flavourful dum biryani, I picked up recipes from colleagues who came from diverse backgrounds. Today, I love preparing those dishes at home for my family.”

The innate urge to recreate Mom’s timeless recipes
Partha S Mohanta, product director at a multinational electronics firm, believes that anyone who truly loves food will eventually learn how to cook. His journey in the kitchen began with a simple yet profound goal: to recreate his mother’s cherished recipes and pass them down to his own family. “I started cooking because I wanted to eat the dishes my mom made when I was growing up,” he shares. “Thankfully, my wife and kids have loved everything I’ve cooked for them. One of my proudest moments has been passing down my mom’s Sunday mutton curry recipe to my daughter – with a few of my own tweaks in the recipe. Now whenever they ask for Chingri bhapa or Shorshe mushroom, I happily prepare it for them,” he adds with a smile. Anjan Chakraborty, who is an insurance agent also says, “I learned many traditional recipes from my mother, like her comforting Maacher jhol.” He explains that gradually, cooking for his wife and son became something he truly enjoyed. “Everyone should know how to cook as it’s important to bring innovative flavours to the table,” Anjan said.

Dad’s secret ingredient: Love and a dash of magic in the kitchen

School teacher Pritha Paul grew up in a family where the men proudly held the title of the best cooks. “The moment we see baba cooking, we get excited because we know something special is coming up,” she recalls. To this Preksha Bardia adds, “My favourite is papa’s Rajasthani traditional dishes. He makes the best chillas & his Rajasthani halwa is unmatched.”

Quotes:

Abhijit Karmakar with his son

The best feeling in the world is cooking for my family. There’s something truly special about watching your loved ones enjoy a meal you’ve prepared with your own hands – Abhijit Karmakar, a civil engineerThe younger generation is so passionate about cooking that it inspires me to up my culinary game and try new recipes – Abhay Kumar Bardia, an insurance agent Cooking for the family creates a great bond. It also challenges the idea that only ma ke haath ka khana is the best –Kisor Nadhani, businessman