Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012

Discovering little hole-in-the-wall places can be exciting.  Where I now live is comprised of just that—an intricately interwoven menagerie of little hole-in-the-wall places—both establishments and areas in nature.  This evening, I stopped in at a newer restaurant.  Unassuming from the exterior, a common denominator in finding great little places up here, once I entered the door, I knew I’d chosen well.

The restaurant served traditional Himalayan cuisine.  In the far upper corner, an authentic movie played, the volume silenced, subtitles playing across the bottom of the screen. The movie was about the Himalayan mountain folks.   What they go through on a daily basis to deliver goods.  How they survive.  The risks they take, crossing treacherous mountain trails, along with their furry yaks, those trails barely wide enough for a man to traverse and sporting a thousand-foot fall into the awaiting churning ocean should one lose their footing.

As I continued to take in the interior ambiance, I had to force myself to focus over the delicious fragrances of cooking foods that wafted their way from the kitchen and rose from the delicious-looking plates set on other diners’ tables. 

Each table was unique, with either a window view, a cozy corner nitch or several that were set low to the floor.  The diners of those tables were asked to remove their shoes before settling themselves on the decorative pillows that served as seats.

I opted to sit at one of the floor tables and was grateful I did because of the opportunity it provided to slow down life’s pace and enjoy my surroundings.  The dishes I chose complimented one another quite well, the traditional seasonings of each spotlighting each of the ingredients.  It was fun to watch other diners who, like me, were enjoying the slower pace within the restaurant—a tranquil respite from life.  I also enjoyed glancing up at the still playing Himalayan movie on the screen above me. 

What a great find, that hole-in-the-wall Himalayan restaurant!  You can be sure I’ll return.