A Fridge-Clearance Brunch

The next thing I did after Adda was host a small brunch for five. It was completely spontaneous — an open invite and a challenge to myself to use what was already sitting in the fridge and pantry.

I often catch myself buying more than I need, a habit that perhaps comes from family traditions of always stocking up and rationing for big households. But living alone, I wanted to make a conscious choice: to use, to repurpose, and sometimes to elevate simple food with just a dash of colour.

Artwork by : PALOMA BHATTACHARYA @palzpvt

So out came the hummus from my local Turkish shop, brightened with garlic, olive oil, sumac, and pomegranate. Two large aubergines turned into Bengali-style begun bharta, lifted by paanch phoron and shorsher tel. The falafel — spiked with diced chillies, coriander, and gorom moshla — almost tasted like the daaler bora my mum made on quiet evenings.

This little brunch became a menu only after it was served. The ingredients spoke first, and the dishes followed — a fun, resourceful reminder that food doesn’t always begin with a recipe, but often with what you already have at home.