In today's episode we are continuing our food explorations in the scenic hill station of Darjeeling. And to guide us on this tour we have with us our host Ujjawal Chettri who is a proud local, entrepreneur, painter and musician.
Before jumping into the food we check out the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, popularly known as toy train. It is a narrow gauge train that was established during the British era and has now become the lifeline of the city as well as the chief tourist attraction. These cute looking trains and the beautiful path assure you a memorable joyride.
From there we went to the Mahakal Temple, perched atop the Observatory Hill. It has an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and white Chorten side by side. The place also offers a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga.
Finally we kicked off the tour with a classic chicken platter from Keventers which is a 100 plus years old landmark establishment in the city. We thoroughly enjoyed this English breakfast platter along with the stories from the third generation owner Rahul Jha.
Next stop was Rimbick Fresh, a departmental store dedicated to local produce and products. Here you can find your favourite food and lifestyle items procured from different parts of this region.
Then we took a walk down the gorgeous Mall road and tried some puchka from the local vendors who are all from Bihar. From there we landed up at Chaurasta, an open community space with great views.
The next stop was Nerdvana Books & Coffee which is a cosy contemporary cafe serving an innovative menu of beverages and snacks. Our pick was a locally made kombucha which is a tea based probiotic drink.
From there we went to Teen Do Bato, a cherished eatery by three friends which was in its nascent stage. The interiors were getting ready but we got to taste a couple of things from their menu that was whipped up in the makeshift kitchen. There was multigrain bread with hummus and shitake mushroom. All the ingredients are locally sourced.
Next we savoured some fried snacks from Noor hussain who sells it moving across Chaupati. From there we went to Gang Jong Restaurant in search of taipho. Luckily, we got our hands on the chicken one. It was like a big bready momo.
The penultimate stop was Kalden cafe, an old family run Tibetan eatery. At the recommendation of the genial owner with the best smile we tried the kauri which was tiny hand made pasta tossed in stir fried veggies. These tasted like noodles but had a fluffier mouth feel because of its shape.
The final destination of this tour was Glenary's which is another legendary institution established during the British era. This bakery cum restaurant is a must visit place for the food, ambience and legacy.