Nepalese Hon Consul Dinesh Khadkah says a common question he often gets asked is “What is Nepalese food like?”
Nepalese celebrity Masterchef Santosh Shah is coming to town, and the best way to find out and experience is to attend a dinner event where Shah will be cooking a stunning nine-course meal to showcase the best of Nepalese cuisine.
Shah is the 2021 winner of Masterchef UK and is often described as the “Pride of Nepal”. He will be touring Auckland, Christchurch and Tauranga, and the Auckland event will be at Uglyz Cafe on December 4.
“Santosh Shah has been a true ambassador of Nepalese cuisine, showcasing its rich heritage and unique flavors on the global stage,” Khadkah said.
“His culinary journey continues to inspire, and now, he’s bringing that magic to New Zealand to promote Nepalese delicacies and share the vibrant taste of Nepal with food lovers here.”
He said to Nepalese, food is not just for nourishment.
“It is a bridge that connects us to our roots, history, and identity. This initiative is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on Nepal’s diverse culinary traditions and bring communities together in appreciation of our rich heritage,” Khadkah said.
Nepal is most famous among Kiwis for Mount Everest and is often romanticised by Kiwis for its astounding landscape, but its amazing cuisine still needs to be discovered.
The flavours are incredibly complex, and draws influences from cultures in and around Nepal.
Some unique dishes include dal bhat, which is just a simple lentil soup and rice but it is a special meal that is often a climber’s rite of passage as they trek towards Everest Base Camp.
Then there’s of course Nepal’s most famous dish - momo dumplings - that originated in the mountains of Tibet before they were introduced to the world by traders.
Usually these are filled with meat like buffalo and pork and eaten steamed or fried.
Shah’s culinary style intertwines his Nepali heritage with insights gained from working at Michelin Star restaurants and award-winning kitchens.
His menu features canapes which include sande ko bogatey with marigold (tempered pomelo in filo basket), dungri papad (papadum, tuna kachila) and goat pie, dried fish chutney.
There will also be lamb and egg bara (lentil pancakes with ground lamb and quail egg), hans ko choila (spicy duck breast salad) and tarai aloo chop.
Then experience the fresh flavours of Nepali chargrilled octopus and for mains, Shah will be cooking lamb with mustard greens, masala bhat, lamb jhol and gundruk ko achar.
The dinner will be ended sweetly with kodo ko kheer and mango snowball, Sichuan biscuit, mixed berries and gold leaf.
The event promises an unforgettable gastronomic journey with Chef Shah’s meticulously crafted dinner that will spotlight the uniqueness and richness of Nepali cuisine.
A TASTE OF NEPAL
The Uglyz Cafe, 34 McCrae Way, New Lynn. 6pm, Wednesday 4 December 2024.
For tickets in Auckland, contact
@the_uglyz24
022 398 4615
022 425 5303
A TASTE OF NEPAL
The Uglyz Cafe, 34 McCrae Way, New Lynn. 6pm, Wednesday 4 December 2024
For tickets in Auckland, contact
@the_uglyz24
022 398 4615
022 425 5303
