Welcome to Episode 1 of The Migration Menu! This week, James and Luke travel to Namaste Gurkha in Feltham to examine how Nepalese food has been reimagined in West London. In doing so, they speak with Indra Hang Linden, one of the proprietors of Namaste Gurkha.

Podcast Title: The Migration Menu

Episode Title: ‘There will Always be Momos’ (Namaste Gurkha)

Episode Number: 1

Release Date: 26/06/2024

Hosts: Luke Heslop and James Staples

**Episode details**

**Introduction** (0:00 – 8:02)

(Starter)

-James discusses how globalization has affected what South Asians now eat for breakfast

-Luke delves into how restaurant décor factors into authenticity and showcases homeland

**Interview** (8:03-21:47)

(Main)

-Indra discusses representations of Nepalese food, as well as how authenticity may be difficult to achieve due to certain cooking techniques that are difficult to replicate.

-Indra discusses how his Nepalese restaurant is marketed as Indian due to similar dishes. He states how the label of “Indian” increases outreach and market value due to the familiarity of Indian cuisine amongst a British audience.

**Post interview discussion** (21:48-26:11)

(Dessert)

-James and Luke review the role of Nepalese food in creating feelings of nostalgia and nationhood for migrants.

Restaurant location: Namaste Ghurka, 1 Parkfield Parade, Feltham, Hounslow TW13 4HJ England

Menu dishes eaten:

-Nepali Vegetarian Thali,

-Vegetable Momos and tomato chutney

-Chana Chatpate

-Bhatmas/Badam Sandeko

-Fermented Bamboo shoots

Menu: https://www.namastegurkharestaurants.co.uk

To see images for this episode, click here.

Literature mentioned:

-Ray, K. 2004. The Migrants Table: Meals and Memories In Bengali- American Households, Temple University Press

-Buettner, E. 2009. Chicken Tikka Masala, flock wallpaper and “real” home cooking: assessing Britain’s “Indian” restaurant traditions, Food and History, 7(2), 203-229

-Pilcher, J. 2016. The Embodied Imagination in Recent Writings on Food History, The American Historical Review, 121(3), 861-887

For a list of academic literature on these topics and more, please see the list of extended bibliography on the references page or click here.

**Closing Remarks and acknowledgments** (26:12- 27:00)

The Migration Menu has been brought to you by James Staples and Luke Heslop, with help from Tina Boulton, Esther Opoku Debra and Vimal Dalal. If you have any questions or comments for us, send them in and we will address them in a future show, you can get in touch at info@themigrationmenu.com Or on ‘X’ - formerly Twitter: @migration_menu

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.