Mcleodganj: A food lover's paradise

Mcleodganj: A food lover's paradise


"Mcleodganj: A food lover's paradise
Rediff.com[Friday, April 06, 2007 13:13]
By Mohanram Inbaraj

Continuing our reader-driven series on must-sample restaurants and eating places across the country, Mohanram Inbaraj talks about the tasty fare ranging from authentic Tibetan food to Italian at throwaway prices in Mcleodganj, Dharamsala, while on a visit with a friend.

Our first impression of Mcleodganj in Dharamsala was that of a spiritual town. Since the Dalai Lama himself lived there, lot of Buddhist monks were found walking around in the streets. Prayer gongs and incense sticks of all shapes and sizes were stacked in the town's colourful bazaar.

As foodies, we were a pampered lot -- we stayed in Delhi, which is a food lover's paradise.

The three of us reached Mcleodganj at around noon, checked into our rooms and set out for lunch...."

Hmm Nick's kitchen brings back memories!! I have to say though Tibetan food is amongst the blandest food I've eaten anywhere, perhaps because of the rich spicey food available in India!

A great positive of mass tourism is the restuaranteurs it attracts!!

a link to others in the "ongoing series" would be great. McCleod Ganj isn't on my itinerary (at the moment), but it's great to get a better idea of what kinds of food are available in HP, and what exactly is meant by tibetan cuisine, what pizza toppings are like, etc.

going to search around the net and see if i can find more of these articles...

One good rule of thumb about foreign food served in India don't expect it to always resemble what your used to back home!!

Also choose your restaurant well, these places with the huge padded out menus can be a real let down as you discover that the cook can't cope with the stuff written on the menu!!

I remember the first time I went to Orchha everyone had Hutsput on the menu (simple dutch dish of carrot, potato onions)

It was only after I taught them how to make it that thay could actually provide it!! An act that earned me the title of "guru: in Orchha!

Few places in India do really good western food in many ways it's better to stick with local food if you can handle it. Fewer let downs in my experience!!

Goa is a delight in this, as are several places in the mountains. The big cities can provide good western food but you'll have to look for it the rest is pretty hit and miss!

meh. i found the other articles and none of them really seem worth posting. all on single restaurants, all so over-enthusiastically recommended that i have a feeling they're glorified ads.

here's a link to all of them, though, if anybody's curious:

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/restreview.html?zcc=rl

CH, I'll gladly give you the title for a lot of places in India. Steven too but is IM big enough for the two of you? :-)

Not a title I'm very happy with DD but it's what I'm called in Orchha, very embarrassing actually!
Most don't have a clue where the name came from

Cyberhippie Potato Guru

On IM, well just another member me old son!!

You must have never had a nice dish of shogok khatsa(spicy potato curry) - one of my favorite foods. I don't know if this is a strictly "Tibetan" dish though - might be more Sherpa.

Yeh, Nick's kitchen & JJI cafe are 2 of my faves, also discovered the Japanese Restaurant down past the snooker hall....very unusual although probably has nothing to do with Japan really .......in fact i probably eat better in Mcleod than anywhere in India or UK. KK

McLeod food has improved over the years, and new restaurants continue to spring up just about everywhere. For I'm staying now in McLeod my current favourite is Nepali-run Carpe Diem opposite post office with delicious non-veg fry-up breakfasts and McLlo in the thick of things for courtous service, good thali, drinking beer and watching frenzyness of main square. In Bhagsu there are many joints, Ashoka International is holding lead. Possibly some top-notch hotels have good cooks too.