(from 50 Things To Eat And Drink In Kolkata Before You Die)

The four-year-old bakery operates out of a small workshop and employees six special needs boys. The cakes are based on authentic recipes and come in Chocolate, Marble, Fruit, Mosambi Poppy Seed, Ginger Cinnamon and Walnut flavours. The madeleines and almond and chocolate financiers are the other two must-have desserts.
Where: 8/E/1, Bhattacharjee Para Road, Behala
Timing: 8am – 6pm
Price: Rs 200 for two

For the full article on 50 Things To Eat And Drink In Kolkata Before You Die click here.

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What’s Hot
by ASIF IQBAL |Updated On Apr 09, 2018

A group of specially abled youngsters are giving city bakers a run for their money
We know it as the morning star -the companion of light that has always held a special place in cultures across the world. And now, the Shuktara is spreading light in a different way -by empowering a group of young, differently abled men who run a bakery by that name in Behala. For these six energetic youngsters, baking is not just a source of livelihood, it's a way of life. And that's exactly what we felt when we met them recently. Read on...

THE SIX MUSKETEERS
The bakery was established in 2013 and is currently run by Raju Das, Bapi Das, Ashok Chhetri, Sanjay Sarkar, Pinku Das and Suman Goswami -all aged between 20 and 30 and inmates of an NGO's residential training centre for differently abled street kids. "Raju, Ashok, Pinku and Sanjay are the oldest employees of the bakery; Bapi joined a bit later and Suman has joined recently . They are given responsibilities in accordance with their abilities and no one is pressurised to do anything; they work at their own pace," said Somnath Sardar, the manager of Shuktara Cakes, who joined the team three and a half years ago.
And it's quite a team. While Sanjay looks after the outdoor work, Pinku, Bapi and Raju take care of the baking and mixing and Ashok and Suman manage the packaging and cleaning.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Nagendra Mishra, the chairman of the NGO that brought the boys up, told us that the bakery was the brainchild of French restaurateur Alain Cojean and pastry chef Fabien Rouillard. He said the latter also trained the boys to bake French specialties."In just 10 weeks, the boys transformed into amazing bakers! We feel so proud of them. Now we deliver cakes to different cafes and also take special orders. But we deliver only on against advance booking, as we don't want to put too much pressure on the boys," he added.
All the boys are paid salaries in accordance with the importance of their duties and responsibilities.They work between five and six hours every day . "In summer, they work for five hours, as the number of orders is less. They get to work at 8 am sharp and continue till noon or 1 pm. But in winter, especially ahead of Christmas, business picks up and the boys have to work a bit more to meet the increased demand," Somnath told us.

A SLOW RISE
Speaking about the hiccups they had while setting up the bakery, Nagendra told us that the original plan was to set up a cafe. "But we had to step back because of various logistical issues. Moreover, when we opened the bakery , a number of five-star hotels and established hoteliers promised help, but all of them backed out later. Then we thought of delivering cakes against advance orders and thankfully , we now have twothree permanent clients along with party and event orders," he said. "The growth is slow and we're still not making profits, but the smiles on the faces of the boys keep us going. Sanjay is now married and lives in a rented house with his family . We also want the same to happen with the other boys," Nagendra added.

THE TEAM
Pinku Das
He has been deaf since birth and became an inmate of the home when he was 10. Pinku, who loves maths and drawing architectural designs, is known to be the most dependable member of the team. And when he's not baking, he can spend an entire day watching cartoons.

Ashok Chhetri
The self-proclaimed naughtiest of the lot, Ashok was brought to the home in 2003 by an Irish nurse working in a mental asylum in Kolkata. He was wrongly diagnosed for a good part of his early years and is actually a victim of cerebral palsy.And although he has limited mobility, it doesn't stop him from going about life with vigour. In fact, the intelligent and fiercely independent boy refuses help of any kind and pity angers him.He can't speak, but can use sign language and understands English, Hindi and Bengali.

Suman Goswami
He was just 10 when he was brought to the home. And now, Suman works at the bakery and looks after the packaging station as he's physically challenged and needs help to move around. Known for his soft and polite nature, Suman is an effective worker at the bakery.

Raju Das
Born on a pavement near Kalighat, Raju's grandmother took care of him after his mother passed away and father abandoned them. He has cerebral palsy and severe disability in both legs. As a child, he would crawl under cars and onto the street, endangering his life. When brought to the NGO's home, he could not walk or talk.But now, after completing his preliminary studies, he's doing extremely well at the bakery, despite his handicap.

Sanjay Sarkar
He was brought to the NGO at the age of nine in April 2000 and no one knows anything about his background or family. Sanjay, who is deaf and communicates using sign language, has always wanted to have a family of his own. And in 2015, his wish became true when he married Munni. The couple now has a girl, Sumi.

Bapi Das
He's the laadla of the group, as he's a very matured and amicable despite having a severe hearing impairment. He was brought to the home as a child after the workers of an NGO found him moving around Howrah station.He can now communicate effectively using sign language, is good in studies and really proficient in using computers.

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by Amita Ghose | Jun 19, 2017
Click here to read original article.

শুভ্রবিকাশ নন্দ | ৯ জুন, ২০১৭, ০২:১৯:৩৯ | শেষ আপডেট: ৯ জুন, ২০১৭, ১৭:০২:০৬
উত্তরণের নেপথ্যে রয়েছে লড়াইয়ের ইতিহাস। একে অনাথ। তার উপর প্রতিবন্ধী।

দয়া বা দাক্ষিণ্য নয়। প্রতিবন্ধকতা ছাপিয়ে গিয়ে মেহনতের রোজগারে বেঁচে থাকা। এমনকী, সংসার প্রতিপালনও। মিলেছে কেক তৈরির প্রশিক্ষণ। আর তাতেই আমূল বদলে গিয়েছে বেহালার একটি স্বেচ্ছাসেবী সংস্থার ছয় প্রতিবন্ধীর জীবন।
উত্তরণের নেপথ্যে রয়েছে লড়াইয়ের ইতিহাস। একে অনাথ। তার উপর প্রতিবন্ধী। রাজু দাস, অশোক ছেত্রী, সুমন গোস্বামীরা প্রত্যেকেই ভাবতেন, সারা জীবন অনুকম্পার পাত্র হয়ে থাকলে চলবে না। নিজেদের গ্রাসাচ্ছাদনের ব্যবস্থা নিজেদেরই করতে হবে। স্বাবলম্বী হওয়ার স্বপ্ন দেখতেন বাপি দাস, পিঙ্কু দাস, সঞ্জয় সরকারেরাও। স্বপ্ন ছিল। বিশ্বাস ছিল। উপায় ছিল না। সংশ্লিষ্ট স্বেচ্ছাসেবী সংস্থার তরফে নগেন্দ্রকুমার মিত্র বলেন, ‘‘ওই ছ’জনই আমাদের হোমে থাকতেন। প্রত্যেকেই জানান, তাঁরা কাজ করতে ইচ্ছুক। এরপরই কেক তৈরি ভাবনা মাথায় আসে।’’

কেন হঠাৎ কেক তৈরির ভাবনা? নগেন্দ্রকুমার জানিয়েছেন, প্রথমে রেস্তোরাঁর কথা ভাবা হয়েছিল। কিন্তু পরে সিদ্ধান্ত বদল করা হয়। কারণ, রেস্তোরাঁ চালানোর চেয়ে কেক তৈরি অপেক্ষাকৃত সহজ। ২০১২ সালে যখন এই ভাবনাচিন্তা চলছে, তখনই হঠাৎ ফ্রান্সের একাধিক রেস্তেরাঁর মালিক অ্যালেন কোজোঁর সঙ্গে ওই স্বেচ্ছাসেবী সংস্থার যোগাযোগ হয়। তাঁর পরামর্শ এবং আর্থিক সহায়তায় টানা প্রশিক্ষণের পর ২০১৩ সালে কেক তৈরি শুরু হয়।
বর্তমানে শহরের একাধিক ক্যাফেতে নানা ধরনের কেক সরবরাহ করে ওই সংস্থা। সারাটা দিন মজা করেই কাজ করেন রাজু, অশোক, সুমন, বাপিরা। তাঁদের মধ্যে কেউ দক্ষ মিক্সিংয়ে। কেউ বা আবার প্যাকেজিংয়ে দড়। প্রত্যেকেই জানিয়েছেন, মাসের শেষে বেতন পেলে মন ভরে যায় খুশিতে।

সঞ্জয় এখন আর হোমে থাকেন না। বিয়ে করার পর বউকে নিয়ে আলাদা বা়ড়িতে ভাড়া থাকেন তিনি। স়ঞ্জয় জানালেন, দিনের শেষে বাড়ি ফিরে এক বছরের সন্তানের মুখে হাসি দেখলে অতীতের সব তিক্ততা ভুলে যান তিনি। আর রাজুর কথায়, ‘‘মাইনে পাওয়ার পর বন্ধুবান্ধবদের সঙ্গে ঘুরতে যাই। খাওয়াদাওয়া করি।’’
সংস্থার তরফে সোমনাথ সর্দার বলেন, ‘‘এখনও অনেক পথ যেতে হবে। আমরা বিজ্ঞাপন করি না। তাই বছরভর চাহিদা থাকে না।’’
সমস্যা আছে। কিন্তু তাতে ভাটা পড়েনি আন্তরিকতায়। কেকের গন্ধে ডানা মেলেছে স্বপ্নউড়ান।

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আরও পড়ুন: https://ebela.in/state/handicapped-persons-do-something-worth-remembering-1.625446#.WTqLsFWiBRA.facebook

(from Kolkata’s favourite online magazine)

While we have a plethora of bakeries in Kolkata, some stand out and some shine bright but Shuktara is no ordinary bakery; the five differently-abled orphan boys here, can melt your heart with their beaming smile and vibrant professionalism. Some of them can’t talk but they let their handmade cakes and authentic French patisseries do all the talking, which more than just compensates; it overwhelms your senses and touches your soul.

Their silence has made them the talk of the town and praises keeps raining over them for their brilliant work and constant effort to beat all odds and prosper despite their innumerous daily physiological disabilities.

They are baking to make a difference in our city. They are showing the world the example of an inclusive society where they aren’t only accepted wholeheartedly but also encouraged to excel in their endeavor. Their baking skills can undoubtedly put most other bakeries to shame. You have to taste it to believe it.

One of the customers complimented saying, "after eating your cakes, I don’t feel like eating from anywhere else. These are the tastiest cakes I have ever had"

About Shuktara

Shuktara is a charity based in Kolkata that provides care in a home environment to children and adults with disabilities who have been orphaned or abandoned.

Shuktara Cakes is the brainchild of Alain Cojean, who runs a chain of restaurants in Paris called Cojean and a Foundation called Nourrir, Aimer, Donner (Eat, Love, Give). Alain was so deeply touched by the plight of these children that he decided to give them vocational training by starting a French Patisserie training centre. A team of physically challenged boys from the Shuktara shelter home were taught the intricacies of French Patisserie by Fabien Rouillard, former Head Executive Pastry Chef at Fauchon, a gourmet food company in Paris and Shuktara Cakes was officially launched on 10th March, 2013.

The team

The team that works in the bakery, despite being disabled, earns their living through baking traditional French goodies. Sanjay, Bapi and Pinku are deaf-mute, while Ashok and Raju suffer from cerebral palsy.

THE BOYS ARE NOW HONED TO PERFECTION AND THEIR STORY OF SUCCESS IS MOTIVATIONAL AT SO MANY LEVELS

"I have been working here for 3.5 years now. It has been a great learning and growing experience for all of us. Initially I had a little problem communicating with the boys but now we all understand each other very well through the use of sign language. I am very happy working here." – Somnath Sardar, Manager at Shuktara Cakes.

Sign language is the preferred mode of communication among them even though some of them can talk.

Their products

Shuktara cakes serve you with the best quality of French products like Madelienes, Financiers and cakes. Their range of freshly baked cakes include Chocolate cake, Marble cake, Fruit cake, Orange & Poppy seed cake and Ginger Cinnamon & Walnut cake. They also sell fruit cakes.

Madeleines are sponge cakes with a shell-like shape. Financiers contain almond powder and are shaped like ingots. Made from almond meal and pure in every bite; these treat are straight from heaven.

SHUKTARA CAKES OFFERS A RANGE OF FRESHLY BAKED PASTRIES MADE OF NATURAL AND SELECTED HIGH-QUALITY INGREDIENTS.

The fabulous aroma of the freshly baked products coming out of the giant Eurofours oven, overpowers the entire bakery and its surroundings.

Raju Das, one of the special workers in Shuktara Cakes, "I am very happy to work at Shuktara Cakes. Now we can say to people that yes we can also work and earn money. We used to think that we are disable people we can’t work but Shuktara Cakes has given us this opportunity, we feel blessed."

Now you can home deliver lip-smacking treats made by special boys at affordable prices. Orders have to be made at least 48 hours in advance.

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by Santana Fell
2 June 2017

Two years after it began baking French delights, Shuktara Cakes is scaling up

KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 13:
Sanjay, Bapi and Raju are hearing impaired. Ashok and Pinku suffer from cerebral palsy. But the five surmounted their disabilities and came together for a common love: baking.

Their bakery, Shuktara Cakes, makes typical French delights such as Madeleine (sponge cakes) and financiers (cakes with almond powder and shaped liked ingots). French restaurateur Alain Cojean, who runs 24 restaurants in Paris, helped them take the initial steps by providing the baking moulds, work table and the Eurofours oven.

Now, the two-and-a-half-year-old bakery, which does home deliveries only, is looking to scale up, ensure a greater retail presence and make profits.

“We need to ramp up and are looking for partnerships (to ensure regular supplies) so that we can start making profits,” says Pappu Mishra, Chairman of Shuktara, the NGO that runs the bakery.

The journey
Shuktara, a Kolkata-based NGO (catering to children and youth with disabilities) started in 1999 after David Earp, a UK-based citizen, was moved by the plight of orphaned street children with disabilities. He roped in local lad Mishra and opened the home, which now has 23 boarders.

In the course of time, Earp met Cojean. The restaurateur mooted the idea of teaching the disabled boys how to bake and make them self-sustainable.

The intricacies of French patisserie were taught by Fabien Roulillard, former head pastry chef at Fauchon, a Paris-based gourmet food company.

And, in March 2013, Shuktara Cakes began its journey.

Ramping up
The bakery gets 12-15 orders a month — mostly over the phone or via email — and the average monthly income is around ₹30,000. But this isn’t enough to break even. Sales have to go up.

Interestingly, the first steps towards this goal have begun. Laura Chantebel, a business consultant from France, has come on board for a year to boost the prospects of the patisserie unit.

The Consulate General of France in Kolkata, too, has come forward to help the bakery. The bakery’s products were showcased in some of the events it organised recently.

“We will do whatever we can to promote Shuktara Cakes and also support them through our various communication channels, including on social media,” Damien Syed, Consul General told BusinessLine.

This apart, Shuktara has also tied up with a city-based café, Sienna, to feature its baked products on its menu. Talks are also on with city schools and a leading multiplex chain.

The ultimate dream is make Shuktara Cakes a self-sustaining organisation, and the five boys role models for others.

Shuktara Chairman Mishra knows there’s a long way to go and that the baking journey has just begun.

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by ABHISHEK LAW
13 November 2015
Click here for original article.

Shuktara trust (UK) is an NGO that provides a loving home for children and young people with disabilities who have no family of their own. Many of the young people living in the boys’ house who had reached working age were still unable to find jobs. In 2013 this changed. Alain Cojean, who runs a chain of restaurants in Paris called Cojean and a Foundation called Nourrir, Aimer, Donner (Eat, Love, Give) which supports other projects around the world, decided to help them. were taught baking and the art of French patisserie by a team including Fabien Rouillard, former Head Executive Pastry Chef at Fauchon, a gourmet food company in Paris. On 10th March 2013, Shuktara Cakes was officially launched at the French Consulate in Kolkata.

The Shuktara boy are amazing. With their superb kitchen skills they could put the best of the bakers to shame. Honed to perfection by French patisserie chefs, these boys dish out perfectly made a variety of French cakes, Madeleines, and what stole our hearts away, some excellently decadent financiers. Made from almond meal and pure in every bite; purity in ingredients applied to all their products and is perhaps the biggest reason they stood out in terms of quality. The orange poppy seed cake for example, is not just ‘dusted with poppy seeds’ but has them all the way for texture and nuttiness in every bite. Here is a glimpse of their daily bakes; one can order in their freshly made French patisserie products at your doorstep with a 48 hour advance notice.

Shuktara cakes are also looking for distributors that would help them scale up. For people reading this, if you’re in Kolkata I urge you to order their products once and see for yourself what a fabulous job these kids do in the kitchen. And how much they deserve to be promoted. Those interested can also feel free to pay a visit to their Behala workshop/factory to check them out for themselves.

For orders and enquiries, please contact:
Somnath Sardar
+91 9874349175
order@shuktaracakes.com

Website: shuktaracakes.com.

I attended the press meet along with my Kolkata Food Blogger friends – Amrita Gill, Anindya and Madhushree.

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Click here for the original post.

A fresh range was added on Friday to the bakery products coming out of the giant Eurofours oven that had been installed in a Behala Silpara workshop two years ago by a Frenchman and a Britisher with the common dream of helping a group of physically challenged orphans earn a living by serving the city with traditional French baked delights.

"We are now making madeleines in three new flavours - chocolate chip, chocolate and orange - the recipes of which have been developed over the last few months. We will also be serving mini versions of both madeleines and financiers. We, the French, love these with coffee. Let's see if Calcuttans love them as well," said Lora Chantebel, a business consultant who is here for a year to boost the prospects of the patisserie unit.

Madeleines are sponge cakes with a shell-like shape. Financiers contain almond powder and are shaped like ingots. "We grew up with the scent of madeleines in grandma's oven," smiled Lora.

The existing range comprises ginger walnut and cinnamon cake, orange and poppy seed cake, chocolate marble cake, chocolate cake and fruit cake.

The new cakes, light in sweetness and subtle in flavour, were a run-away hit among the guests at the tasting session organised at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale on Park Street. The packeted products, being a rarity in Calcutta, sold out in no time.

"This is an effort to help boys with disabilities find a market. The cakes they are making are healthy and tasty and spread the French pastry tradition in Calcutta," said consul-general of France Fabrice Etienne, while praising the efforts of compatriot Alain Cojean, who runs a foundation called Nourrir Aimer Donner (Eat Love Give).

The boys served cakes to the guests and spoke on stage in halting English and in case of Sanjoy Sarkar, a deaf-mute youth, in sign language.

Beaming at them was Cojean, who flew down on Friday morning from France to attend the launch, but insisted on being in the sidelines. The French restaurateur had joined hands with British textile dealer David Earp, who had founded Shuktara Home in 1999. Their collaboration has resulted in Shuktara Cakes. The recipes were developed by his friend Fabien Rouillard, a veteran pastry chef who had trained the boys two years ago.

"Our main problem in recent times has been dwindling business. The star hotels to which we initially catered backed out as they have their own bakery. Though we do home delivery, the orders are few and far between," said Somnath Sardar, the manager of Shuktara Cakes.

Raju Das, who sports a grin broad enough to overshadow his cerebral palsy-stricken mobility problems, is in charge of measurements of the ingredients in the kitchen. "I have known Shuktara to be my home since the age of five. Now thanks to Shuktara Cakes, I am earning about Rs 3000 a month," he said.

Sanjoy, who is an expert in releasing financiers from the moulds, has recently married.

The other two are Bapi Das, also a deaf-mute, and Ashok Chhetri, whose face and neck are twisted by cerebral palsy. Nonetheless, both are workhorses in the kitchen, with Ashok doing the mixing of ingredients and cleaning of utensils and Bapi carrying heavy loads. "All we need now are distributors," said Lora.

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by Sudeshna Banerjee | THE TELEGRAPH | 20 June 2015

Click here for link to original article.