Buddhiram Mahato and Nar Bahadur Tamang deciding on the menu of the day in the kitchen of the Tiger Mountain Lodge in Pokhara
When guests of the **Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge** wake up at dawn to watch the first rays of the sun illuminate the peaks of the Annapurna, Nar Bahadur Tamang is already usually messing around in the kitchen, kneading the bread, the buns and cakes that cause so much joy during breakfast and continuous snacks.
“I just took some cheese and onion buns out of the oven and they turned out delicious” , he comments proudly before leaving to continue with the daily tasks of the garden. While, Buddhiram Mahato, deputy chef, takes pains to grind turmeric that a good plate of alu dum should never lack.“
Although we only have 18 rooms, since everything we serve is homemade, there is always a lot to do”, he comments without being distracted. Traditional curries for lunch and hearty hot soups and Phewa Lake meat or fish recipes for dinner.
“I love making desserts and, above all, quiche . My favorite is the one with smoked trout and asparagus”, confesses the chef.
Buddhiram and Nar have been working at the lodge since it opened 21 years ago. They are not the only ones. "Almost all of the staff members arrived then, practically at the same time, so we feel like this is an extension of our family," they agree in unison.
The lodge, pioneer of responsible tourism in the country and promoter of numerous conservation initiatives, is the perfect place to give yourself a few days of rest, Ayurvedic massages and good food before (or after) a great trek, connecting with the sleepy rural rhythm of the Pokhara valley and with the omnipresent mountain range.
“Machapuchare, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu... The mountains are our identity, they are the symbol of Nepal. From up there the gods protect us”.
*This report was published in the number 136 of the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine (January) . Subscribe to the printed edition (11 printed issues and a digital version for €24.75, by calling 902 53 55 57 or from our website). The Condé Nast Traveler January issue is available in ** its digital version to enjoy it on your preferred device. **