Visit Alchi Kitchen for traditional Ladakhi food
The moment you step in to Alchi, a quaint place in Ladakh you will be welcomed with the warmth of the local people. Besides the natural beauty and an ancient Alchi Monastery, this beautiful town has a women entrepreneur, who runs a restaurant famously known as Alchi Kitchen. You will feel at home by their hospitality and sumptuous food prepared by Nilza and her team of women.
Alchi Kitchen is headed by Nilza Wangmo, her Ladakhi cuisines are now reaching the corners of India. Under a project recently, she was invited to introduce Ladakhi taste to the people of the South. Her skills, her love for her place and the yummy food she presented was well-received by the audience at the many 5-Star Hotels she got to present in.
This woman entrepreneur surely is setting an example to many Ladakhi girls and women. She is inspiring many to excel in what you are best at; and surely is giving them the confidence to take the world in their stride. To empower, you need to power up; this is what exactly Nilza sitting at 10,000 feet high in the cold valley of Leh is doing!
The summery 6 months of the year is the time when they put their best endeavour as the harsh cold winter months hardly see any tourist. So this is business time for them, and Nilza is very serious about the business of introducing authentic Ladakhi cuisines to other corners of the country. She feels this will also help in more footfalls.
We got a chance to have a tete-a-tete. Enjoy the excerpt from our conversation,
Q. Since how many years have you been running Alchi Kitchen?
A. This is my homeland, this is my place but Alchi Kitchen I have been running it since 2016.
Q. Which is the most popular dish in your Alchi Kitchen?
2. Chutagi, Khambir and skyu – Traditional cuisines of Ladakh. But yes Mok Mok are favourite too. Mok Mok is the Ladakh traditional name for momos.
Q. Recently, in December you showcased Ladakhi cuisine in 5 star hotels in South India. How was the experience?
3. It was awesome, we had a great response from the people as it was totally a different taste for their palate. We are gearing up to be a part of many such more events especially during Ladakh’s off season.
Q. You feel there is a need to do more such tours, will it be beneficial for Ladakh business?
4. Yes, Ladakhi cuisine being new. It does have certain scope for expansion as some of the dishes are really exquisite.
Q. As a woman entrepreneur, how has your journey been? Anything you would like to say to woman entrepreneurs?
5. It was tough initially, but by being patient, which for any field one has to be. Also, work very hard and yes family support does matter. Pamper your passion and go for it with strong will. I have been lucky to have an encouraging family.
Q. How many momos are cooked in your kitchen everyday during tourist season?
6. Maybe around 400 to 500 in day. Mok Mok it is called; not momos!
