A new address in town for 'authentic' momos (Foodie Trail - Guwahati)

There is a new address in town for momo lovers -- the Arunachal Kitchen -- and its claim to fame is that it serves the most "authentic" of dumplings.

Momos, the ubiquitous stuffed dumpling believed to have originated in Tibet, are available in almost every nook and corner of this city, but Arunachal Kitchen offers varieties that are not found elsewhere.

Opened only last month, the eatery has four types of momos on its menu, as also the Arunachali thali which includes rice, vegetables cooked with bamboo shoot, vegetables cooked with shurpi, cheese made from Yak milk, a pungent chilli chutney and a pork or chicken curry cooked in traditional style.

Hailing from Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang region, owner Urgen Dorjee has grown up on momos. Which is why he realised that Guwahati lacks a good restaurant that serves the ivory white dumplings in its purest, most authentic form.

"Momos offered by most of the restaurants or street vendors here are of inferior quality. So I decided to bring in the real taste from Arunachal Pradesh," Dorjee told IANS, adding a surprising tidbit: That momos were originally vegetarian.

"Momos were originally only vegetarian, made with 'man patta', a kind of herb grown in abundance in low temperature regions like Arunachal Pradesh. It was only later that minced chicken and pork were added as stuffing. The herb grows in the hills from May to August and that is when every household makes momos in my state," he said.

Dorjee had also organised a momo festival in the city last year which saw hundreds coming to eat the much-loved snack.

The four variations of momos served are: the regular small momos with vegetarian, chicken or pork options; Tai Fo, or the big momo, with pork or chicken; Hruh Chow Chow -- chicken or pork -- that is served with soup; and the Kong Kong with pork, chicken or mushroom.

Besides momos, the eatery serves Shabaley, both in chicken and pork. Shabaley is a fried and flat version of the momo which was used to be served only to the royals, according to Dorjee.

"We are committed to retain the good, authentic culinary practices followed by the people in Arunachal Pradesh and that's our USP. I tell people to come and taste the momo here. It's different," he said.

For dessert, Dorjee has introduced chocolate momos in his menu. "Chocolate momos are not traditional. However, we created the recipe for all the chocolate lovers," he said.

To complete this Arunachali dining affair, the eatery serves butter tea that, according to Dorjee, "is a unique recipe enjoyed by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. We serve it in the most original form".

Though streetside food stalls and restaurants have served momos in Guwahati for a very long time, the variety on offer at Arunachal Kitchen is worth tasting.

(Aditya Baruah can be contacted @aditya.assam@rediffmail.com)

--IANS

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