Being invited to the Opening of the Nepalese Food and Cultural Festival is an exciting thing indeed, especially where are people with Ambassador titles also in attendance. This evening, Mr NQN and I are excited to be in attendance of the launch of the Nepalese Food and Cultural festival at the Grove restaurant in the Sydney Stamford Airport.
Nepalese dancers
Why at this hotel? Well apparently there are quite a few Nepalese staff members including a chef working here – in fact there are about 40,000-50,000 Nepalese in Australia. Flawed or unflawed, I usually measure how big a community is based on the number of restaurants there are and I only know of two in Sydney. This rule is promptly thrown out as I realise that it doesn’t apply here. The Nepalese community has their own newspaper and this day is the start of 2066 according to their calender.
After the speeches from the H.E Ambassador of Nepal, Mr Yogendra Dhakal and the Hon. Minster Verginia Judge MP and other dignitaries we’re led downstairs to the Grove restaurant. The Nepalese chef Sher shows us the dishes along with the spices used in traditional Nepalese cuisine. Typical spices used are cumin seed, coriander seed, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, mustard seeds and tamarind paste.
Steamed Momos with spicy sauce
He shows us the Steamed Momo’s which are Nepalese dumplings made with chicken and traditional Nepalese spices with a black sesame sauce. These are said to be the first things that visitors are served. The sauce is deceptively fiery and tingly with the tongue and lips quivering for some time afterward which I have to admit is a new sensation for me as I’ve never experienced it when eating.
Kashiko Masu or Male goat meat curry braised with onions, cumin, coriander, chillies and flavoured with Himalayan spices
We try dishes such as Kashiko Masu or Male goat meat curry braised with onions, cumin, coriander, chillies and flavoured with Himalayan spices. Male goats are said to be used as they are more expendable than female goats (although this elicits some protests from the males at the table) who are more important as they bear the kids. Ok yes I made a goat pun but how often can you say that you have?
Timuri Bandel Stir fry of pork belly diced with Nepalese pepper (timur)
The Timuri Bandel Stir fry consists of pork belly diced with Nepalese pepper (Timur). It’s interesting with the Timur being a black pepper that is only found in the Himalayas.
The rest of the dishes are made with both thin and thick sauces and are similar to Indian cuisine but different enough to be distinctly Nepalese. As you’d expect there isn’t a great deal of seafood available in Nepal but we are treated to some fish and prawn dishes. Dishes are served buffet style so you help yourselves.
There are three desserts served as part of the banquet: a Kheer which is a rice pudding flavoured with pistachio, rose and cardamom and Semia which is a wonderful vermicelli noodle milk pudding with raisins and saffron.
Gajar Halwa Carrots simmered in milk flavoured with cardamom and nuts
The Gajar Halwa or Carrots simmered in milk flavoured with cardamom and nuts are delicious and indeed the aroma of them as pointed out by my dining companion Franz, is like that of a baked cake although the taste is like a sweet, nutty carrot dish with an evaporated milk aroma. A sweet end to a fascinating meal paired with a culinary lesson and great company!
Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel
Cnr O’Riordan & Robey Streets, Mascot, NSW
Telephone: +61-2 9317 2200
The Nepalese Food Festival will be held from Tuesday April 14th – Sunday 26th April in The Grove restaurant at Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport. The Nepalese buffet banquet is available from 6.30pm – 10.30pm and costs $55 per adult, $20 per child Sunday – Thursday and $65 per adult, $20 per child Friday – Saturday.
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24 Comments | Add your own
That Kheer looks really interesting. Looks like you enjoyed this a lot. It’s nice to have a little adventure every once in awhile
I love Nepalese food, I have spent some time traveling in Nepal and it is a great country. My favourite dish was dried yak meat that was fried in butter. Sounds a bit odd but it tasted great!
that is some really interesting food there.. i’ve tried nepalese once, in surry hills and wasn’t a big fan… but those desserts and dumplings look good
The goat meat’s dish sounds so good right now. But so do those carrots. The cardamom is great.
That sounds like a great night, and I love the way the chef explained it all. It’s amazing that the puddings smelt like cake -yum!
That looks like a really neat expierence!
There’s a Nepalese restaurant here in New Farm in Brisbane which is fantastic. The food is delicious and now my stomach is grumbling, thanks Lorraine!
Congrats on the invitation – it is indeed an honour. Great looking food.
oh that looks great! have been wanting to try neaplese food ever since i saw it on the food safari!
i love momos – surprisingly we don’t get much Nepalese food in southern India, despite the proximity. Looks like you guys had quite a treat!
Those dumplings look great, with the black sesame sauce. It seems like there’s maybe a bit of an Asian as well as Indian influence there? The only time I’ve tried Nepalese food, funnily enough, was in Vienna! The guy who owned the place was so friendly, and the servings were huge, and when we couldn’t finish them, he thought we hadn’t enjoyed the food, so despite our protests brought out some sweet dumplings in the most amazing yoghurt sauce, on the house! The yoghurt had an almost fizzing effect in our mouths, it was so tangy and delicious.
The momos look yummy! I’ve tried Nepalese Kitchen in Surry Hills and though it to be very similar to Indian…
Oohh lucky you!! I want to try Nepalese food now especially the Momos and spicy sauce! A sensation you’ve never had before is something that is worth checking out hee hee
Wow, Lorraine! What a great festival!! The food looks divine!! Your pictures are fab as allways! Lovely food!
The Gajar Halwa and Semia look very interesting, will have to try some Nepalese food.
Ooh, I haven’t seen Nepalese cuisine before. It looks really good, and I love the idea of the carrot dessert. Carrots are one of my favorite things!
What a fun event. I always learn so much from your posts!
Hi Libby-We did!
I agree, I always enjoy exploring a new cuisine!
Hi Jenny-Lucky you! I’ve never been I’m afraid. That sounds great! How did it taste?
Hi Betty -Oh yes the Nelapese kitchen? I tried there but quite a while ago (like over 10 years ago). A little
fairy got me the recipe for the vermicelli dessert which I am so happy about!
Hi The Duo Dishes-It was great and not too goat-ey if you know what I mean
Hi Arwen-We did indeed
It was geat having the extra background to things!
Hi Blond Duck-It was a lot of fun
Hi red neon hearts-Oh cool! I bet they have quie similar things there!
Hi Cakelaw-Thankyou! I felt very honoured to be invited
Hi Sporbo-Yes Food Safari always makes everything look so enticingly good!
Hi Arundathi-Oh really? I would’ve thought there’s be more crossover
We had a ball!
Hi Linda-It was such an intriguing sauce. Yep I think you’re right about the Asian influence. In Vienna, wow!
Haha yes I think they always think that plate clearing is a sign and it is, unless there are copious amounts
of food
I wonder if the yogurt had that same fizzing/tingly spice in it!
Hi foodie-central-They were great
Yes he names of the dishes even sound the same!
Hi FFichiban-Yes indeed!
That numbing sensation was new for me!
Hi Sophie-Thanks, it was!
Thankyou so much, you are too kind Sophie! 
Hi Anita-Those two desserts were so good and so unusual! I’ve had a carrot dessert at an Indian restaurant
before (Maya) but I preferred this!
Hi anna-Do you have a Nepalese restaurant near you at all? We’ve only got 2 restaurants in Sydney so I think
they’re not that common. Ah well you might like this then
Hi Barbara-Thanks, it was! Aww that’s so nice of you to say!
Wow that really is amazing! The food looks so heavenly.
I saw pork belly and a warm feeling came over me. I love the belly! Looks like an awesome event.
Hi ArtemisIII-It was fantastic
Hi Jeff-Pork belly is definitely food of the gods!
My hometown back in India is about a few hundred miles south of the Nepal Border. It is almost the same kinda food we do:-) those momos are so mouthwatering & brings back memories of my college days where we used up our money frequenting the restaurants serving these authentic. MMMNmmmmm……
It is nice to see Nepali food and culture being promoted so nicely.
Is that dancing Ramita Gurung?
Well done and good luck to you all for promoting Nepali culture abroad.
Hi Soma-Oh that is wonderful!
I’d love to visit there some day!
Hi sagarmatha-Great to hear that you like it
I’m not sure about the dancing-sorry! Thanks and you’re welcome!
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