On Thursday, February 2, 2012, I hosted an Ambassador Program at Woodside Cafe with 6 food enthusiasts. I looked forward to the event after confirming with Jeff Orlick who runs the website (www.iwantmorefood.com). It took me back to my college days when I worked as a tour guide for my school's admissions office. I had really enjoyed giving tours to people and I looked ahead to this food tour.

For me, it's a no brainer to go to a Nepali restaurant and order dishes right off the menu. But some of the dishes at Woodside Cafe, I had to ask around and research online to learn more about them. I learned about the significance of dishes like kachila, chatamari and Newari thali. Equipped with this knowledge, I arrived at Woodside Cafe for the food adventure.

Woodside Cafe serves authentic Newari food. The culinary tour at Woodside Cafe was enjoyable and a great learning experience for me. Over conversations on Dashain and Tihar, kites, swings, Nepali culture, we enjoyed some tasty dishes such as kothe momo, banana lassi, kachila, chatamari, Newari thali and finishing the evening with chai.

It was a fun way to experience food. I thought to myself that typically one would enjoy a cuisine from another culture in two ways: either one has to be adventurous and not be afraid to try out food from another culture or know someone who is from that culture and enjoy that cuisine at their homes or in a restaurant.

New York City is a foodie's paradise. From the classy restaurants in Manhattan, street food vendors to the ethnic spots in the different boroughs, you will find just about any cuisine you are looking for. So I urge you to go out and explore the thousands of food spots. Who knows maybe you'll sign yourself up to participate in an Ambassador Program in the future.

image source: http://malanddisexcellentadventure.tumblr.com


http://www.parakhi.com/blogs/2012/02/12/being-a-nepali-ambassador-in-jackson-heights