Chefs Kandel, Khadka launch Nepali Cuisine Promotion Campaign

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 25: The Nepali Cuisine Promotion Campaign in coordination with farmers and the hospitality industry organised a food-tasting event Bhojanlipi-Swad in Kathmandu on Monday. 

The campaign aims to establish direct contact with farmers and transform their produce into delicious dishes served in major cities across the country. The initiative also ensures that people can enjoy these meals either at hotels and restaurants or in the comfort of their own homes, said chefs Ghanshyam Kandel and Durga Bahadur Khadka. 

The event held at the Hotel Himalayan Suite in Kathmandu, marked the official launching of the Campaign. 

Talking to journalists after tasting the indigenous food prepared with multiple fusions, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, expressed the government's commitment to fully supporting the marketing of Nepali produce and cuisine.

At the event, a variety of dishes were prepared using fresh agricultural produce sourced from districts such as Ilam, Dhanusha, Sarlahi, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rolpa, Baglung and Jumla.

The Campaign promises to bring fresh agricultural produce from almost all regions of Nepal to Kathmandu and take it to the international markets. 

The campaign coordinator, Amrit Sapkota, said that the initiative would facilitate the marketing of farmers’ produce, including grains, fruits, dairy, and fish and meat products. Initially, the focus will be on the market distribution of seasonal crops, with a gradual expansion towards promoting local handicrafts, tourism-related products, and small-scale enterprises.

Journalist and agro-tourism activist Devi Prasad Sapkota explained that he had joined the campaign to support farmers and cultivate a deeper appreciation for agriculture and soil. He also mentioned that he had been preparing for several years to assist in promoting government initiatives that encourage the production and consumption of domestic goods.

Kandel and Khadka are international chefs who have experience in preparing multiple cuisines in multiple countries including India, Japan and the USA. They are also making preparations to publish a recipe book of Nepali indigenous foods called 'Bhojanlipi'.