Kolkata confectioners busy preparing FIFA-themed cakes and sweetmeats
As the World Cup frenzy reaches feverish pitch in the alleys and lanes of Kolkata, the confectioners here are set to make the most of the occasion by rolling out FIFA-themed cakes and sweetmeats. From a kheer-made football ground, to Sandesh (Bengali dessert) dipped in the flag colors of Germany and Argentina, the sweet-shops have spread out a wide array for the soccer-crazy fans.
A football stadium made with 8-10kg of 'sandesh'!
A prominent confectioner, with branches across the city, has set up a giant football stadium with eight to 10kg of 'sandesh' at one of the stores. The players of two rival teams are seen facing each other on the pistachio-sprinkled ground. It took the sweetmeat makers a week to come up with the sandesh-made stadium, said Pompy Mullick, the owner of the shop.
Replica of golden cup also prepared from 'sandesh'
"The stadium has been put on display to draw customers. It's not for sale. A replica of the golden cup, also made of sandesh, has caught the fancy of customers. People are buying it in large numbers," Mullick said. "We have mostly used sweet, kheer, pista to prepare the sweets while natural fruit-color preservatives have been used to add color to items," she added.
Rosogollas, 'sandesh' dipped in jersey colors of three countries
Another popular confectioner is preparing customized rosogollas and sandesh, taking inspiration from the jersey colors of three strong contenders of the Cup- Germany, Brazil and Argentina. "The mango 'sandesh' with green pista is themed on Brazil, the Argentina sandesh has been made of blue berry and vanilla. There is also World Cup Memento 'sandesh' made with chocolate," said Amitava Dey, who runs the sweetmeat-chain.
