National 9 (Spotlight Weekly)

Global Fare

Kathmandu's tourist hub caters to taste buds from all parts of the world

By THAKUR AMGAI

After a three-week visit to Nepal, Philip Anderson has many sweet memories to share with his friends and relatives back home in Switzerland. And he has much more than the beautiful terrain and the hospitality of the people of this mountainous country to talk about. "I will cherish the varieties of delicious food I had in the restaurants of Thamel during my short stay here," Anderson says.

The land of Gautam Buddha and Mt. Everest has established another prime attraction: Thamel. Kathmandu's tourist hub is known for the curios, thankas, antiques, Nepali stones, jewelry and hand-woven carpets that adorn store windows. Now it can also be identified for the wide range of delicacies it serves. One can find a delectable variety of foods from all over the world in the restaurants of Thamel.

A typical Nepali restaurant : Taste of traditional cuisine

A hungry man does not have to come out of a restaurant just because he cannot find his favorite fare. Whatever one's nationality, Thamel exists for everyone. A few weeks ago, this reporter had overheard a tourist speaking over the phone to his relative back in US commending the food and hospitality of the people in Nepal. Comparing these with our southern neighbor, he kept the food of Nepal at a high esteem.

From Chinese to continental and from Mexican to Korean, all kinds of foods are served in these restaurants. Some serve food in general; all kinds of food, while others are highly specific. There are typical Nepali, Italian, Korean, Russian, Mexican, Tibetan, Chinese and Indian restaurants. The Old Vienna restaurant of Thamel serves Austrian dishes, the Casa Dela Pasta serves typical Italian food and The Utse serves Tibetan delicacies.

According to sources from the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal, there are 56 restaurants and bars affiliated to the association. Most of them serve continental and general food, while others provide specific cuisine. Going through the streets of Thamel, however, one can find many other restaurants, which are not on the list of the association.

If one likes American food, he can go to Mike's Breakfast Corner, If Italian is the choice, Rum Doodle is close by. For Korean, he can go to Villa Everest restaurant. No matter which corner of the world one might have come from, one can get food of his tradition and culture or taste.

Visitors do not have to be nostalgic for hometown fare any longer. If one is interested in trying out what others eat, there is a wide range of choice. In the restaurants of Thamel, while many people seek food of their own kind, there is a considerable number of people who go to restaurants serving food other then their typical food. Says a waiter at the Villa Everest restaurant, which serves typical Korean food, "Most of our guests are Korean, but guests from other countries and even Nepalese come to our restaurant."

Most tourists come to Nepal to observe the culture, people, and other typical features of the country. Food is part of the experience. If one is interested in savoring typical Nepali food, there are several restaurants, including Bhanchha Ghar, Bhojan Griha and Thamel House, which serve a range of delicacies. Whether the modern-day staple of Nepalese daal-bhat-tarkari or the traditional gundruk-dhindo, food is served in a typical Nepali way. There are places where people can dine sitting on straw woven mats cross-legged. Chinese restaurants have places where one can eat knelt down. Bon appetit!