All posts filed under: NAGALAND

Explore Nagaland

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#RECIPE | 5 Recipes from Famous Naga Chef and Owner of ‘Saucy Joes’, Joel Basumatari

With Saturday, comes the time for exclusive R&L recipes but today, we’ve made it a little more special by sharing 5 recipes with you , straight from the kitchen of the famous Naga chef, Joel Basumatari. Joel is a master of Naga cuisine and has his own line of organic sauces, ‘Saucy Joes’, which are largely made using indigenous items and use no artificial preservatives. These sauces were launched and became a hit at Hornbill Festival ’17.  Chef Joel hopes that through them, he can represent the Naga cuisine around the world. He believes that with local cuisines taking on the world, we will be able to create opportunities and jobs for farmers and youths. R&L got a chance to learn the recipes of his signature dishes, which use the unique sauces from Saucy Joes. We’ve got everything from salads to desserts on our blog. Keep scrolling! 1.Squash and Mango Salad Ingredients— 1 medium sized squash cut into julienne 1 small carrot cut into julienne 1 tablespoon of roasted perilla seeds (powdered) 1 tablespoon of …

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Meet the Chef Who is Taking Naga Cuisine to the International Scene—Salangyanger from Mokokchung, Nagaland

Salangyanger is a Naga Chef who is putting the Naga cuisine on the world map! His cooking style incorporates different contemporary methods with traditional cooking and herbs. After winning the title of ‘Naga Chef’ at the 2015 Hornbill Naga Chef Contest, he released a cookbook which showcases traditional Naga recipes. Lately, he has been using his platform and skills to put Naga food in the limelight at the international scene. Join us as we unravel Salangyanger’s journey from humble beginnings to international chef status! Hello Yanger, tell us a little bit about yourself. I’m Salangyanger Jamir, a 29-year-old chef hailing from Mopungchuket village, Mokokchung; currently based in Kohima. I am a professional chef and I specialise in Japanese cuisine & Vegetable Carving. I have a cookbook called ‘Naga Appetite: A Collection of Essential Recipes’. Salangyanger displaying his menu at V-Rox Expo, Vladivostok, Russia Currently, I’m a freelance chef and have partnered up with a catering group called Aromatic Fusion, which is a catering service that aims to create recipes that make you ‘experiment with your …

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#RECIPE | Traditional Naga Delicacy, Pork Innards, by Lilia Jimomi

Pork innards hold a cherished place in Naga cuisine, enjoyed for their rich flavors and unique cooking methods worldwide. Today, we’re excited to bring you an authentic Naga-style preparation of this local favorite. Join us as Lilia Jimomi, hailing from Dimapur, generously shares her family’s treasured recipe for pork innards. It’s a delectable choice for those special weekend dinners! Lilia reminisces, “In our childhood, the anticipation of special occasions meant one thing: the arrival of freshly reared pork for our family. It became a cherished ritual to prepare the pork innards or pork blood as a prelude to the main feast. This moment was truly exceptional as we relished our favorite part of the pig—the innards, never sourced from the market.” Now we have all grown up, are married, and have our own families. So many things have changed except our love for pork innards— the special family meal before the main feast at home. There are many ways to cook the innards. And I’m glad to be sharing one of my favorite recipes with …

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A Summer Getaway in the Hills — Sungratsu Village, Mokokchung, Nagaland

Hello folks! We found an interesting getaway for folks looking for some rustic adventure – in some faraway village in the mountains! Today we are at Sungratsu village in Mokokchung district, Nagaland. Nestled in the hills of Mokokchung, this place is known for its beautiful landscapes, warm people, and traditional handicrafts.  Blue sky and the distant mountains of Sungratsu Village Nagaland. Sungratsu village is located in the Asetkong Range of Mokokchung* district, Nagaland. It is famous for making anishi/moyasu (dried yam leaf cakes) — a stable spice used in Ao Naga cuisines {*Mokochung is the home district of the Ao Naga tribe}. It is about 20 to 30-minute drive from Mokokchung town. Make sure you don’t doze off on the way as the ride to the village offers some breathtaking views adorned by scenic landscapes and lovely seasonal flowers. Flowers in full bloom in Sungratsu Village, Nagaland More flowers from Sungratsu, Nagaland Red beans fresh from Sungratsu’s farms What makes the place even more special are the warm and welcoming locals. Once you take the …

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Crafting Her Own Future — A Jewellery Maker and Owner of LS Jewellery, Lusano Sophie from Kohima

Stepping away from conventional careers, Lusano from Kohima took up an independent step and started her own venture. She launched her line of accessories, LS Jewellery. Inspired by handmade jewellery making, Lusano began experimenting with pieces, which led her to start her brand.  LS Jewellery features “elegant, feminine and minimalist designs that caters to people of varying tastes,” as she puts it. It’s versatile, chic and everything your wardrobe needs right now! Find out more about the story of this young and inspiring entrepreneur as we chat with her.  LS Jewellery is handmade and crafted by Lusano herself. Hello Lusano, tell us about yourself and what you’ve been up to recently! My name is Lusano Sophie. I just graduated with Economics Honors from Shillong. Besides my jewellery collection, I love reading and want to start a venture related to books. I’m working on it, so be on the lookout. Tell us about your venture LS Jewellery. What is the story behind this start up? I always loved collecting jewellery although I didn’t really wear them …

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“Live a Little and Maybe Feel a Little More” – Indie Musicians Atuzo and Kuotsho from Nagaland Talk About Their Original Single ‘Patterns’

Finding some amazing locally produced music isn’t always easy, but lucky for you, we have discovered the duo Atuzo and Kuotsho! These young promising Indie artists from Kohima are creating music that is rustic, contextual, and hauntingly beautiful— the Folk and Indie Genre has spoken to them clearly and transcendentally. Staying true to the Indie genre, the duo has self-written, produced, and released their first single ‘Patterns’ on YouTube. Join us as we discuss with them life, their work, and how it all came to be.  Hi Atuzo and Kuotsho! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hello there, my name is Atuzo Theluo. I am  21 years old. I was born and brought up in Kohima. I am a passionate musician and presently I am pursuing my Bachelors Degree in Music in Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts (NCMFA), Kohima. I am Kuotsho Koza and I am 21 years old as well. I was also born and brought up in Kohima and have recently completed my BA degree course from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. …

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“I Dream to Travel The Whole of Northeast India” — Apen Tanujang From Mokokchung, Nagaland

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” – Jennifer Lee Apen Tanujang might be one of the few people who’ve explored almost every part of Nagaland. An adventure and nature lover at heart, Apen belongs to Mokokchung in Nagaland. After a trip he took in 2015, he was inspired to travel and explore his homeland and all of Northeast. So far, he has covered Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram and Manipur, and dreams to travel to more places here.   Born and brought up Nagaland, he was always curious and adventurous about exploring every part of his homeland. This led him to explore most of Nagaland and Northeast. His Instagram feed is a visual treat that is sure to inspire you to grab your backpacks and go on an expedition. Read on to find out more about him!  Hey Apen, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, my name is Apen Tanujang, and I’m from Mokokchung Nagaland. I like to think of myself as a …

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#FACES | Onen Nenty From Nagaland Embarks On a Solo Bike Tour Across the State

“I’m Onen Nenty, a solo biker from Nagaland. I’m currently on my way to Peren from Khonoma and Dzuleka area. It’s a part of my mission to cover 11 districts of Nagaland on my bike. Due to the monsoon season, the roads are muddy and quite difficult to ride on. In majority of the areas, construction is going on as well. Sometimes the unmetalled road stretch for about 2-3 hours. But I’ve made my decision! Come rain or shine, I’m going to ride to reach my goal.” ~ Onen Nenty from Nagaland Onen Nenty is one of the few female bikers in Nagaland

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A Chat With Akho, the Owner of Lerina’s Cafe – An All-New Cafe in Dimapur

  We, at Roots and Leisure, love finding cozy cafes for our readers. Sometimes it’s the food that catches our attention, sometimes the ambiance. Today, we have a cafe that’s got both – a cosy aesthetic and some amazing food!  We headed out to the newly launched cafe and met with its owner, Akho Lerina. The 27-year-old man had always dreamt of starting his own business and a restaurant, which became a reality with Lerina’s cafe. Welcoming everyone with a smile into his cafe, Akho is as charming and humble as his cafe! Head to the link in bio to know what he had to say about his cafe. Lerina’s Cafe was Akho’s lifelong dream! Hello Akho, please introduce yourself to our readers! Hello, thank you so much for having me here. My name is Akho and I’m 27 years old. I belong to the Mao Naga community in Dimapur, Nagaland. I own a cafe called Lerina’s Cafe, which launched recently on the 8th of July, 2019. I had always wanted to be a self-made …

Sweet Rush, A Cafe In Dimapur, Nagaland – The Perfect Place To Unwind And Have A Hearty Meal

The streets of Duncan Basti in Dimapur are sprawling with a variety of food joints – each of them bringing something new to the table. While exploring the place, we stumbled upon a quirky and cosy cafe, Sweet Rush, which instantly took our hearts away! The best time to head out to Duncan Basti is in the evenings when the streets are incredibly lively. There are two main streets that connect to Duncan, both of which are filled with a variety of intriguing restaurants, street food joints and comfy cafes. We were greeted with a wonderful weather, which is slowly getting cooler and all the more refreshing. Sweet Rush is located right opposite Fun Bowling. We got to try some delectable dishes and ice creams — they even sell homemade cookies! We truly recommend this eat-out to savour a good plate of shingju, relish a bowl of hot soup chow or simply sip on a cup of coffee. The options are endless. The cherry on the top is that all of this is quite reasonably priced, …