I am a self-confessed foodie – may be the greatest
among the greats of all time. Without much of thought, I attack whatever comes
on my plate. I also love trying out my culinary excellence whenever I get some
time. However, my travel to Darjeeling was not a gastronomic journey but it did
me a great favor to tease my jaded palate. Let me share a slice of my journey with
the readers. For that, I want to start from my hotel in Darjeeling.
My hotel – shocked or surprised? Well, I do not own
a hotel either in Darjeeling or in any other part of the world still, I dare to
call it my own for all those attention, care and love showered on the visitors
there. I went with my family of eight and we were pampered with no less than
divine treatment. Our hotel was nestled close to tea garden and needless to
mention, panoramic nature at its best was an added bonanza, apart from
excellent dining extravaganza and great hospitality.
When it comes to dining…
I almost get lost in words to describe how great I
feel to go on talking about food. Food is fun, no matter whether I am gorging
on sumptuous spread or rustling up a recipe. I am also in habit of approaching
chefs – whenever I go to dine in a restaurant - to know the secrets behind a
recipe of my liking. I did it this time too in the hotel in Darjeeling where we put up for a week. I loved momo the most.
It is a Tibetan delicacy though very popular in both Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Momo is made by stuffing vegetables, cheese or
minced meat (last option is most popular) in flour dough. It is succulent and
quickly melts into mouth. What is more, steamed momos are very healthy. Another
dish that I liked a lot during my stay in Darjeeling is sael roti. It is a
signature dish of Nepal but equally popular throughout Darjeeling. A fine paste
of rice and water goes into making this delicacy and is usually served with
potato curry.
Thukpa and Phagshapa also tested
great. I dared to sneak into the kitchen to ask chefs about the recipe. They were
very friendly and shared their secrets with me. Now I need to try it out at my
own kitchen. Apart from hearty meal, we were also served heavy and heavenly breakfast.
The employees of our hotel in Darjeeling were very
amicable and hospitable, being always at guests’ beck and call with a lingering
smile.
The hotel was neat and clean. It was constructed
over a large area, with garden, parking place, swimming pool, gymnasium etc accommodated
within. Everything is neat and clean. The hotel also arranges tour guide for
sightseeing. Visiting Darjeeling is always refreshing for both body and soul.
Apart from its scenic beauty, the hilly town is engulfed with serenity. People
here live a simple life and they are very friendly.
There are several sightseeing spots of note such
as Tiger Hills, Observatory Hill, The Mall, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
etc to explore and enjoy. We came back
with a promise that we would be there soon!
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