From the kitchen
Nepali food, explained
What momos actually are, where they came from, and the rest of the Nepali menu worth knowing about.
What Are Momos? Nepal's Dumplings, Explained
If you've seen momos on a menu and weren't sure what you'd be getting: here's what they are, what's inside them, and how they're meant to be eaten.
5 min read
Momo vs Dumpling: What's Actually the Difference?
Every momo is a dumpling, but the reverse isn't true. Here's what separates a Nepali momo from a Chinese jiaozi or a Japanese gyoza.
4 min read
The History of Momos: Who Invented Them and Where
Momos are Nepal's most recognisable dish, but they probably weren't invented there. The likeliest story runs through Tibet, Newar traders and the Kathmandu Valley.
6 min read
Best Momos in Auckland: How to Tell a Good One
Everyone claims the best momos in Auckland. Here are the four things that actually separate a good one from a bad one, so you can judge for yourself.
6 min read
Nepali vs Indian Food: What's Actually Different?
Almost every Nepali restaurant in New Zealand markets itself as Nepalese and Indian, which blurs two genuinely different cuisines. Here's where they part ways.
7 min read
How Nepal Actually Eats: Food Culture, Meals and Manners
Nepali food makes a lot more sense once you know the rhythm it's eaten in. Two big meals, snacks in between, and a set of rules about hands and shared plates.
8 min read
What Is a Thakali Khana Set?
Ask a Nepali where to eat properly and you'll get pointed at a Thakali kitchen. Here's what's actually on the tray, and why it's held above ordinary dal bhat.
6 min read
Nepali Spices Explained: Timmur, Jimbu and the Rest
Two ingredients do most of the work in making Nepali food taste distinctly Nepali, and neither is chilli. Meet timmur and jimbu.
7 min read
What Is Asian Fusion Food? A Straight Answer
Asian fusion has become a menu label that means almost nothing. Here's the useful definition, and how to tell the real thing from a kitchen hedging its bets.
6 min read
Nepali Food: 10 Dishes Worth Knowing (and Where to Try Them in Auckland)
Nepali cooking sits between India, Tibet and China, and it's far more than momos. Ten dishes to know, what they taste like, and which ones we cook in Auckland.
8 min read