DINERS' BLUES!. Review on Blue Fox, Alipore, Kolkata

I used to love Blue Fox and was heartbroken when it closed down.However when the celebrated Munna Maharaj re-opened it I was grateful to him,was till I visited the eatery a few months after it opened.Well for one the decor is quite soothing.Tastefully done up in shades of blue it does possess a magnetic quality about it. The ambience is good for a family dinner and the large glass windows overlooking Park Street especially in the evenings should be definitely attractive to one and all. However the plaudits stop over here.The menu takes agonizingly long to come to your table.The stewards and captains are busy allotting this seemingly difficult(to them !) responsibility to each other.Who dare interrupt their gossip?After all it was not yet 8:30 p.m. and serious diners were yet to come. Only the food menu arrived.The drinks menu came a good 5 minutes later when firmly requested.However the best was saved for my next experience:I asked for a bourbon whiskey which was printed on the Menu(Jack Daniels , actually).Scratching of heads amongst all and sundry.Then the standard,never-out-of fashion reply:''Sorry!Out of stock.'' The fellow did not even show the least inclination to go and check inside.I asked for a B-52(A shooter comprising of Kahlua,Bailey's Irish cream,and Grand Marnier/Triple sec).''B-52?''said the steward.''Sir ,I have heard about Liv-52(an ayurvedic preparation by Himalaya drugs for enhancing liver function) , AND '' I am Sorry Sir, it is not served in BLUE FOX''.The fellow carried on with the confidence of a Michelin starred Chef:''You could perhaps get it in the BLUE PRINT Chemist shops!!!'' From unconfirmed reports I have since heard that the eatery has also taken in some medical representatives(those who could not succeed in their profession,considered a noble one amongst salespersons)apart from some hotel management discards from other establishments.Well then!! What more can you expect from persons of such professional pedigree!!The food menu was not impressive enough.For one I noticed the new owner had dispensed with the steaks(beef,mutton, chicken et al) that the Blue Fox of yesteryears was so famous for.The arabian food standard is just about passable;and there is no single dish which can be aptly termed the house speciality.Munna Maharaj is known for his innovative cuisine(like combining ''jalebi '' with '' sandesh ''(both Indian sweetmeats,the former fried and soaked in sugar syrup,the latter made from a variety of Indian cottage cheese called chhana and dry),to produce ''Jindesh ''.This was served with pride at L.M.Mittal's daughter's wedding at the Versailles Palace in Paris).So I for one did expect some of his genius to reflect in the menu of the restaurant he now owns.Sadly I was dissapointed! I did order a rum and coke however(the poor stewards did not know what was a ''Cuba Libra'!!!!').Finishing it almost ''bottoms-up'' style,I came out and headed for the nearest eatery.Needed some fresh air desperately ,along with some good food.The statement of the captain was more like from Ayurveda than from Larouse(the bible for hotel management students). I sincerely hope the celebrated chef-owner Munna Maharaj would look hard at his newest acquisition now that he is done with Mr. Mittal.Or its it too much for us to ask as we just cannot claim to be the largest steel maker in the world aka Laxmi Mittal? Sadly ''Blue Fox'' closed down a few days ago due to labour unrest.After all Deepak Singh alias Munna Maharaj ''managed'' to open the restauant retaining the same old employees.We all had saw this coming.The celebrated chef spends most of his time away on assignments and in reality he is very busy.So, the control of the eatery was in effect left on managerial staff whose professional pedigree and attitude towards the guests of the eatery,I have already described.With their brand of thinking it was hardly surprising that they could not ''manage'' the workers union.(Remember their attitude towards their guests-literally their bread and butter )and there was no way but for the propreiter to declare suspension of work.The establishment will open soon I am sure but then those people(the managers,captains and of course the workers) will remain.Even a week back I heard the workers shout slogans against the management''Gali,Gali Mein Shor Hai,Management Saale Sab Chor Hain''.Munna Maharaj then tried to open a chaat shop in the same premises(can you just imagine!).The idea made it to the Page 3 of Kolkata newspapers but(fortunately) never saw the light of day.Well,the latest latest is that Kolkata's first Macdonalds has opened its doors in the place of "Blue Fox" signifying not just the death of a glorious eatery of yesteryears, but also that of fine gourmet cuisine.