Taste of the Himalayas

It's been rather quiet in my kitchen this week, the sink filling with empty coffee cups and not much else cause I've been busy, busy, busy.

Last night Miss NoNo and I happened upon a sweet little spot called Taste of the Himalayas, at 2420 Lombard Street in SF. I'd never had Nepalese food, and it was wonderful. Very much like Indian, in fact, many of the dishes are the same - like Chana Masala, Naan bread, and the very delicious Sag Paneer, which was unlike any other version I've tried. It seemed to be scented with cinnamon, and it was so delicate and comforting.

The owners and staff here are so genuinely kind and welcoming, adding to that very comforting vibe. You can tell they are passionate not only in bringing lovingly prepared foods to your table, but in the sharing of their gifts with people in need around the world.

A message from the owners:

"Our mission is to share hearty soul food and music from Nepal and bring friends from the East and the West together while sharing part of our income with local and international charities. We serve authentic Himalayan dishes, tasty momos (steamed dumplings), rich curries and succulent tandoori, in a casual atmosphere. We use freshly grown organic vegetables and spices to bring the most authentic taste in town. We believe in bringing the best service to our valued customers. Your valuable comments will make us grow. We listen to you."

At the end of our meal, the owner came out and sang to us - and what a lovely voice. He clearly has a sense of humor too, cause he didn't even balk when Miss NoNo made a reference to "Nepal" sounding like "nipples". I'm sure it wasn't the first time he heard that one...

Anyway, this place is definitely a shining example of Soup and Song at its finest. Food and music really do soothe the soul. And we could all use more of that!