Author: Kumti

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#RECIPE | Spicy Naga Fried Pork by Lilia Jimomi

Introducing a special recipe for today, brought to you by Lilia Jimomi, an esteemed food enthusiast who manages an exclusive Instagram food account. For the first time ever, she is sharing her favorite recipe: Spicy Naga Fried Pork! This dish incorporates traditional Naga ingredients, resulting in an explosion of flavors. The best part is that it requires minimal ingredients and can be prepared quickly, allowing you to enjoy a delightful Naga meal in just a matter of minutes. Ingredients 1 kg sliced pork 1 tablespoon paprika 3 tablespoons coarse-ground local chili powder 2 cups water 1 tablespoon ground Zanthoxylum powder (roasted in a pan for a few minutes before grinding) Salt to taste Roasted Zanthoxylum powder and local chili powder Instructions Fill a cooking pot with water and place the pork inside. Turn on the stove; add salt and paprika for color. Bring the water to a boil, then cover the pot and simmer gently until the pork becomes tender. If needed, add small amounts of water as required. Once the pork is tender, remove …

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Bendang Walling – A Performing Artist, Director and Producer from Nagaland

For some, hobbies remain just hobbies, but Bendang Walling, from Nagaland, had a different calling! He took a leap of faith and decided to give life to his art and hobbies. Hardships and struggles didn’t stop him and today he is one of the refined performer, director and producers in Nagaland. He has directed a lot of plays, short films, conducted Theatre Workshops in other states as well. One of his short films, Blissful was also selected for International Film Festival 2016 at Dharamshala. We caught up with him to chat about his life and work!    Hi, glad to have you on board, please tell us a bit about yourself! Hello, my name is Bendang Walling, I live in Dimapur and I am 32-years-old. I started my career as a stage actor and now, I direct, produce and act as well. I would like to consider myself an artist, a dreamer and a visionary who breathes life to stories and folktales. After my graduation, I went to Delhi to pursue my Master in Dramatic …

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#FACES | A Trip to Heunanbe Village In Peren With Vilivi Zhimomi and Her Sister

“My sister and I  have currently opened a store called Beautology located in Dimapur, where we provide facial therapy, Korean skin care products, clothing and accessories. We were invited to Heunanbe by a welcoming family for lunch. After lunch, we wanted to look around and explore. So we took a short trek to the family’s farm, which had a variety of organic vegetables, fruits and spices and not to mention the view! Our khangs (baskets) were almost too heavy to carry by the end of it. The rain thankfully stopped us from emptying the farm and we took shelter in a hut. It was quite an experience as we sat around the bonfire and munched on fruits, along with ‘garam chai’, dried ourselves while waiting for the rain to stop. I managed to bring a little piece of the farm to my backyard. Hopefully soon I will be able to boast to my friends about my little ‘pluck and cook all organic’ corner.” – Vilvi Zhimomi from Dimapur

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Meet Satish Elangbam, the Owner of Fika Kitchen & Studio in Imphal

Fika in Swedish means the act of drinking coffee and having a cheerful time with friends. Satish Elangbam chose to name his new cafe after Fika situated in Imphal. A cosy little corner away from the hustle-bustle of the city, Fika is inspired by Satish’s vision of creating a space that offered live music, amazing views and great food.  We met him to talk about his journey of opening the cafe, what inspired him and his future goals.   Hey Satish, tell us a bit about yourself! Hello, thanks for having me. I am Satish Elangbam from Imphal. I have completed my Bachelor’s degree and Sound Engineering diploma course from Bangalore. I also worked as a sound engineer in Bangalore for few months. However, I decided to leave the city and came back to Imphal in 2017 and started my own venture. Now  I am running  a cafe in Imphal known as Fika Kitchen & Studio. Tell us about the cafe and what inspired you to open it? Fika is a Swedish word which means drinking …

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Meet Chichan Tongtimen – A Student and A Singer from Dimapur

“Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” ― Keith Richards For some, singing just comes naturally and flawlessly. Today, we have with us one such soulful singer, Chichan Tongtimen. Currently pursuing Physiotherapy from Delhi NCR, she also performs at various events and occasions. Born and brought up in Dimapur, Chichan’s passion for music grew with age and she hopes to continue pursuing her studies and music, simultaneously. We sat down with her to know her and her music a little better. Visit the link in bio or below to read!   Hey Chichan, tell us a bit about yourself! Hello, I’m Chichan Tongtimen and I’m from Dimapur. Currently, I’m 23 and pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from Faridabad and I love to sing. Singing has always been my passion, so whenever I get the time, I sing. It always makes me feel myself. I also used to play the piano before and I play Ukulele sometimes. For how …

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#RECIPE | Korean Kimchi Recipe by Imkong from Dimapur, Nagaland

Sometimes the best dishes are the easiest to make! Today we have one such recipe called Korean Kimchi. Contributed by Mr Imkong, the dish requires a few simple ingredients and sauces. Healthy and easy-to-cook, we use napa cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables along with rice flour to make it. This is definitely going to win hearts!  Ingredients  2. 5 kg of Napa cabbage, cut into 2 or 3 inches  2 carrots, cut into matchstick strips  2 radish, cut into matchstick strips Spring onions White onions Chives Garlic Ginger Chilli powder  Salt  Sticky rice flour(can either use plain flour) Sugar  Fish sauce Instructions 1. Cut the cabbage and wash it thoroughly with clean water, add one and a half cup of salt and mix it thoroughly and marinate it for at least 3 hours or more. Don’t forget to toss it every 20 or 30 minutes and drain the excess water it gives out as it gets marinated in the salt. After it has been marinated, again wash it thoroughly with water and squish out all …

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Chat with Vika Yepthomi, the Owner of Asukhu Dhaba – The All-New Authentic Sumi Restaurant in Dimapur

We all love a cozy corner where we can relish delectable food, but how often do we see an authentic restaurant inspired that serves local Sumi food? Today, we have Vika Yepthomi with us, who started a family restaurant called Asukhu Dhaba. The place serves local traditional food cooked with organic ingredients brought straight from Zunheboto. He started the restaurant along with his wife. One of the specialties of the place is that each recipe that Asukhu Dhaba uses is a special recipe that only their family has mastered. We chatted with Vika to know more about the place.  Hi there! Please introduce yourself to our readers.  My name is Vika Yepthomi. I started Asukhu Dhaba with my wife. She is a doctor by profession and works in Eden hospital. It was our collective love for food which led us venture into this! We launched it in August this year. What was the idea behind launching this restaurant? My wife and I used to go for dinners whenever we’d get time, especially when we were …

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Chiam Shiu – A Naga YouTuber Based in Mumbai Tells Us About Her Journey

The life of a YouTuber is not all glitz and glam as we see it on our screens. There’s a lot that goes behind and Chiam Shiu tells us how. A budding YouTuber, Chiam is based in Mumbai currently but belongs to Dimapur. Her channel focuses on fashion and lifestyle, where she also gives a glimpse of Naga lifestyle to her viewers. Her aim is to ‘keep it real’ and she does that by being honest with who she is on camera. She also works as a freelance model and actor and has acted in Dreamz Unlimited. Let’s get to hear more from her.  Hey Chiam, please introduce yourself to our readers! My name is Chiam Shiu. I am 23-years-old and I’m from Khiamniungan and Phom tribe from Dimapur. Currently based in Mumbai, I’m a full-time YouTuber, a freelance fashion model and an actor. As far as my education is concerned, I am a B.Tech graduate in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Nagaland. What made you start your YouTube channel? Ever …

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Nagaland’s First Food Bike, ‘Fusion Bytez’, is Capturing Our Taste Buds and Our Hearts

There’s something about street food that never fails to impress us! Whether it’s the mix of local taste in worldly dishes or a spicy treat on a budget, there’s nothing quite like a good street food stall! While hunting for our next food-joint in Dimapur, we stumbled upon a quirky little food stall called ‘Fusion Bytez’. We say ‘quirky’ because this stall isn’t like any other — it’s Nagaland’s very first food bike! Run by three brothers, the small place serves some amazing food. If you want to take a break from visiting fancy restaurants and enjoy some zingy street food, head to the stretch of City Tower area. Don’t forget to try out their Chicken Drumsticks and Twisted Potatoes!  We were thrilled to see three brothers busy catering to the customers. Despite the frenzy rush, we managed to have a quick conversation with one of them. He told us that some of the food stall workers and owners have completed their studies while others are still studying and doing this as a part time …

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Unwind With Nature in the Hills of Sohra, Meghalaya

Summer is almost ending and most of the monsoon rain has ceased. This means that the perfect season for travel has begun and our readers are certainly giving us vacation feels with their social media posts! The great weather makes for the perfect time to get away from the hustle and bustle for a trip!  Khliehshnong Village located on the way to Nohkalikai Falls, Meghalaya. One of our readers, Angule Mero from Nagaland, recently went on a small trip to Sohra, a small town in Meghalaya, only a few kilometres away from Shillong. Also known as Cherrapunji, this is one of the wettest places on earth. It is truly a paradise with its scenic natural landscapes, clean and pristine surroundings, and warm people. From adventurous activities to quiet spots to relax, this place has got everything. The place is dotted with waterfalls and offers opportunities for trekking, zip-lining, and exploring caves. It has also got some beautiful resorts and homestays that will make your time there even better. Pack and hit the road!  Happy adventures!