Gorkha Grill’s new look

-By A Staff Reporter

The Pre-Marital in action at GGs.

After an innovative facelift the Gurkha Grill, one of the five restaurants at Soaltee Crowne Plaza, has became the hottest spot for the restaurant goers in the Kathmandu valley.

 Soaltee Crowne Plaza refurbished the Gurkha Grill and gave it a new look, and new name GGs. All its menus were given new taste as well as new name. They have also brought a sensational band called “Pre Marital,” all the way from the Philippines.  

The Gurkha Grill, once known as the finest French and continental restaurants in Kathmandu, reflects Soaltee’s constant push to upgrade its services for the overall promotion of tourism services in Nepal.

 The cordon bleu cuisine prepared by Master Chef Brian Hewitt has a change in identity. People who made a faux pas pronouncing the tongue twisting French dishes can now breathe with relief. All the French dishes have been given names of chart-topping songs of present and yesteryears.

With the new names of its menu, Gurkha Grill adds in an imaginative promotion. It has added fun to dine at GGs. Guests can win an exclusive Soaltee Crowne Plaza memento if they can sing first few lines of the dish which they ordered. However, if one cannot sing, there’s still the cuisine to enjoy.

Moreover, GGs, the pride of Soaltee, introduces a new concept in dining out. It also introduces a special Grill and Mash menu that allows the guest the flexibility of simply making his own combination of grill, mash and sauce.

“GG’s all new look reflects Soaltee Crowne Plaza’s constant push to upgrade its services for the overall promotion of tourism services in Nepal,” said Ribhu Chatterjee, General Manager of the Hotel.

FBNNTO to promote tourism in UK

-By A Staff Reporter

Rriends of Britain and Nepal-Nepal Tourism Organization (FBNNTO), a UK-based organization, has announced to promote Nepalese tourism in the United Kingdom by actively participating in various promotional activities.

At a press conference organized at the premises of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the officials of FBNNTO informed that they were working in close co-operation with the NTB to create closer links between Britain and Nepal. They also apprised journalists and representatives from the travel trade organizations of the activities and plan of action to achieve their goal of promoting Nepalese tourism industry in the international market.

“We work closely with His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, NTB and other related private and voluntary organizations,” said Raja Ram Giri, General Secretary of FBNNTO, while addressing the gathering. Giri is also the Editor of a travel magaizne, “Kingdom in the Himalayas-Nepal”, published by FBNNTO twice a year.

In their bid to promote Nepal as a prime holiday destination in the UK, the FBNNTO has also brought two British journalists to Nepal. “The idea is to establish dialogue between all interested groups and to discuss on the strengths and weaknesses of the tourist industry in Nepal,” Giri said.

Visiting journalists Malcolm Harris and Anna Scott Brown has spent the last ten days visiting some of the major tourist sites in Nepal such as Bhaktapur, Kathmadu, Patan, Dhulikhel, Pokhara and Chitwan National Park.

Radisson’s pastry shop

-By A Staff Reporter

The Radisson Hotel formally launched its Pastry Shop on January15 after a soft opening on December 22. The location of the Shop just outside the hotel means it makes it convenient for the guests at the hotel and also the others.

“We specialise in creative desserts and pastries,” says Nabhoji Ghosh, Executive Chef of the hotel. He gives much of the credit to Chabbi Lal Gurung, the pastry chef, who has 17 years experience in pastry-making for the creative desserts and pastries and style of presentation.

However, the point that Gurung has specialized training in pastry making in Germany makes him familiar with the true European tastes. Such as Sacher torte, is a traditional Austrian receipe and it has authentic taste, says Gurung.

The shop currently has seven varieties of pastries, about 14 varieties of cake and a couple of varieties of bread.

“Our specialisation is we don’t use essences and flavour, still the prices are very competitive,” says Ghosh.

The shop also plans to have ice cream and even thinking of having ready to cook meat products like mince meat and steak.

Even the customer can order the dessert prepared in his own pot or bowl to give a homely look.

Dr. Aidi calls on Prime Minister

-By A Staff Reporter

The President of International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) Dr Osmane Aidi, who is on the two day visit to Nepal at the invitation of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), called on today Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. He discussed the different aspects of mutual cooperation in the field of tourism with Prime Minister. He expressed his willingness to support Nepalese tourism in the capacity of IH&RA president. Dr Aidi also called on Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Bijaya Kumar Gachchadar and vice-chairman of National Planning Commission Pritivi Raj Ligal. The president of HAN Gautam Das Shrestha and other Executive Members of HAN were also present on the occasion.

The keynote speech of Dr Aidi in the 33rd Annual General Body Meeting will be delivered by Andrew Jones, Director - Asia Pacific Affairs, IH&RA. Dr Aidi left Kathmandu today to attend Fitur to be held at Madrid on January 25.

Jharana Coffee Shop enters 2nd year

-By A Staff Reporter

Royal Singi Hotel, a four-star establishment located at Lal Durbar, observed the second anniversary of its restaurant, Jharana Coffee Shop, Friday. “With the recent extension, the restaurant is now more spacious. It can serve more guests and relieve pressure on other restaurants of the hotel,” the executive assistant manager Sarad Pradhan said.

The hotel has altogether 84 bedrooms, including four suites. Beside Jharana Coffee Shop, the hotel also houses Mandala Restaurant, Bhanjyang Bar and China Mountain Restuarant in its premises.

Arniko festivities

-By A Staff Reporter

The everpopular Chinese restaurant, Arniko Room at the Hotel de L’ Annapurna is sizzling yet again with an array of festivities.

The ongoing Chinese Sizzler festival at Arniko Room, has a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian contemporary classical dishes from the traditional Chinese menu. These include the famous shandong chicken (a crisp roulade of chicken stuffed with a juicy mine chicken mixture flavored with Chinese herbs). The menu also includes the traditional crispy fried duck in a sweet honey based sauce. The menu features hot preparations from the Sichuan provincee of China, namely; barbecued chicken in chillibean sauce, crispy fried pomfret in a hot Gananese garlic butter sauce.

The menu has vegetarian delicacies to tickle the palate of the loyal vegetarian clientele. Likes of these are broccoli and wild mushrooms stirfried in chilli garlic sauce, pan-fried shredded vegetables with crispy spinach, crispy fried panner coins tossed in a spiced honey sauce.