All posts filed under: RESTAURANTS

Explore local cafes and restaurants

Rootsandleisure_Timber Cafe imphal

A Chat with Rashingam Ngoruh, Wedding Photographer And Owner of “Cafe Timber” Imphal

With Northeast India fast becoming a traveler’s hotspot, leisure and business activities in the region are picking up visibly. Especially with the young enterprising folks leading from the front, there is certainly much more excitement, creativity and noise – which is definitely a good thing! Amongst these new age activities, eating out is fast becoming a favorite past time, which is a drastic change from earlier days, where meeting with friends was usually limited to the house or the neighborhood. Imphal, the capital city of Manipur has seen a host of interesting food ventures with an aim to introduce global cuisines to the local folks, and authentic traditional fare to travelers from outside. Add to that, the creative minds of the young local entrepreneurs – and the ever demanding consumers, the cafe and restaurant ecosystem is fast becoming as interesting as is competitive. Today we chat with a young food entrepreneur cum photographer, who runs a cafe called “Timber Cafe” in Imphal, which is known for their simple and tasteful interiors and food.  Today we chat …

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The One Cake Shop That Promises To Never Let You Down | A Chat With Yarmichon Mashangva, Owner of ‘The Rolling Pin Bakery’ in Ukhrul, Manipur.

“Baking may be regarded as a science, but it’s the chemistry between the ingredients and the cook that gives desserts life. Baking is done out of love, to share with family and friends, to see them smile.” – Anna Olson. Coming from a family of food lovers, Yarmichon from Ukhrul, Manipur has always been fond of cooking and experimenting with new recipes for her family. She found her true passion for baking the moment she laid her hands on batter and dough. She has since then almost single handedly followed her dreams of opening her own bakery called “The Rolling Pin Bakery.” Today, we are happy to chat with the creative baker and owner of “The Rolling Pin Bakery” from Manipur – Yarmichon Mashangva. She is all about making her family and customers happy with handmade goodies baked with care, hard work and an extra bit of love. Read on to know more this talented soul. Hello Yarmichon! Tell us a little about yourself and your background. Hi, my name is Yarmichon Mashangva and I’m from …

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Head Over to Mikado Lounge, Shillong To Experience a Fun Night Out in The Hills of Meghalaya

Shillong is one of the places in North East India that has plenty to offer in terms of entertainment and nightlife throughout the year. So for all travelers planning to visit Shillong, make sure you explore the various cafes, restaurants, restobars to unwind your day after exploring the natural landscape in the area. Today in the spotlight, we have Mikado Lounge – a restobar located in Police Bazar Shillong. With an aim to change the restaurant and nightlife scene in Shillong, Mikado Lounge offers a lively ambiance – complete with food, drinks and live entertainment. We chat with Pooja from Mikado Lounge to get a glimpse into what they have to offer. We chat with Pooja from Mikado Lounge, Shillong to introduce us to the host of offerings for folks about town looking for some evening entertainment. Hello. Happy to have you with us today! Tell us a bit about the founders of Mikado Lounge. The journey of Hotel Pine Borough started way back in 1991 with its two wings namely, The Sunset Bar, and Mikado Restaurant. After …

RootsandLeisure_TheGRub

Hop Over To “The Grub Cafe & Bakery” in Laitumkhrah Shillong to Taste One of the Most Delicious Burgers in North East India

  Ah Shillong. One of our favorite places in the North East of India; a place where folks from across the region have shared memories of. Being a boarding school hub, students from across North East and even beyond come here for school and college education. You will thus see plenty of young folks adding color to the town. It is also a place for music and fashion lovers. So naturally, with such a vibrant crowd, Shillong has a host of cafes and restaurants – from cozy to fancy, serving a choice of cuisines.  Today we visit  “The Grub Cafe and Bakery” located in Laitumkhrah Shillong. Started by a husband and wife duo, the place is known for their delicious and gigantic burgers, and their cute bakery section – with a spread of the loveliest desserts to suit any mood and weather. Let’s go meet the founders and find out why this place is a local favorite. We had a chat with Banrisha  – one of the partners of “The Grub Cafe and Bakery” to know …

RootsandLeisure_the Hammock Resort

Explore Nagaland Beyond the Main Towns by Checking into “The Hammock Resort” in Wokha – a Local Traveler’s Hub

  Travelers to Nagaland and even local folks would be delighted to know that there’s another great way to explore Nagaland – beyond the main towns of Kohima and Dimapur. By checking into a resort in Wokha district – a local traveler’s hub. Our contributor is walks us through “The Hammock Resort” in Wokha district, giving us a good glimpse of the place and the surrounding areas.  Also worthy to note that Hornbill may be celebrated every year in Kohima, but for the locals, Wokha is a place for daily recreation 🙂 Hordes of travelers between Kohima and Mokochung often stop over at Wokha for their meals or afternoon tea – with a plate of freshly made crispy Naga sticky rice roti. So with the place already a hub for local travel and meetups, and located conveniently between Kohima and Dimapur, travelers can enjoy one more pitstop in the lap of nature and comfort to explore Nagaland in a pace that is recommended – unrushed and relaxed. We chat with Ronjamo Murry – one of the founders …

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“My Mom’s Galho Restaurant Inspired Me to Open This Cafe” Pelevotuo Solo, Owner of “Mom and I” Cafe in Kohima

Growing up in Nagaland, dining out meant visiting the local “Chow & Momo” restaurants or being invited to a friend’s or relative’s house for dinner or tea. However, the food scene has significantly evolved over time, with new cafes, restaurants, lounges, and bakeries popping up every month. Today, one can be spoiled for choice with the abundance of options available. What’s interesting to note is that most of these places have been founded and managed by passionate youngsters in Nagaland. It’s pretty fascinating and cool, isn’t it? The best part is that these founders often have interesting personal stories behind their food ventures. Today, we meet with Pelevotuo Solo, who runs a Galho restaurant in Kohima called ‘Mom and I’ Cafe.  We chat with Pelevotuo Solo, owner of “Mom & I” cafe in Kohima Nagaland, to find out why all love this humble cafe. R&L: Hi Pelevotuo, tell us the story behind your cafe “Mom and I” in Kohima. Pelevotuo: I was born and brought up in Kohima, Nagaland and I have a Master’s Degree in …

RootsandLeisure_CafeKalimpong

Creating a Space to Promote Kalimpong’s Culture – Meet the Founders of Cafe Kalimpong

“Welcome to the home you never knew you had,” says a writing on a wall of Cafe Kalimpong, the newest addition to a growing number of hipster hangout spots in the tiny tourist town of Kalimpong. Earlier known for its temperate climate, Buddhist temples and traditional handicrafts, Kalimpong is undergoing a silent cafe revolution. A revolution that has set afoot thanks to local entrepreneurs like Praveen Chettri, Navin Chettri and Yawan Rai, young and ambitious owners of Cafe Kalimpong. Tell us a bit about Cafe Kalimpong and its founders. When was it launched? Cafe Kalimpong was launched by the three of us – Praveen Chettri, Navin Chettri and Yawan Rai (me) – on 19th March 2017. “Café Kalimpong” was an obvious choice to name the cafe as our main motive is to promote Kalimpong. Our core idea behind launching this cafe was not just to serve good food but also to create a space to promote Kalimpong by telling stories about our rich history, unique culture and sharing life stories about our beautiful people. What inspired you to launch a cafe?  As …

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“The Tea Story”Guwahati Combines the Essence of a Tea Bistro and Patisserie in an Easy Style

With its menu brimming with fresh and creative varieties of tea, “The Tea Story” is a space that might tempt you if you are looking for a breather from the everyday stresses of life. In a cozily-designed space nestled in Guwahati, it promises to provide a quiet time of relaxation amidst their selection of the finest teas, and a spread of pastries and sweets. We speak with the bistro’s young and enthusiastic 27-year-old owner, Deba Pratim Das on how to open a viable tea business in the land of tea estates, and more about the offerings of his tea haven and patisserie.    Why did you decide to launch a tea bistro?  I’m Deba Pratim Das and owner of a tea bistro called The Tea Story in Guwahati. I completed my graduation in Hospitality Management from Edinburgh Napier University. I then joined the Marriott Groups of Hotels and Resorts in USA as a F&B Supervisor and worked with them for two years. Coming from the land of tea estates, I have always wanted to learn more and explore …

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Sipping Hot Coffee with a View at the Art Cafe | Kalimpong

Dropping into traditional restaurants for a restorative slice of the only aged cheese made in India is indeed a culinary must-do when in Kalimpong. Well, why not? It’s delicious: the texture of a hard European cheese with an almost parmesan-ish flavor. But it would behoove young coffee aficionados to head to more modern cafés like the Art Cafe at Thana Dara, for their coffee breaks instead. Especially as the old city of Kalimpong witnesses a rise in new cafes ushering in a “third-wave” that is contemporary and delightfully pretty. Who are the founders of Kalimpong’s Art Cafe? Art Cafe was started by Pravesh Chhetri and me (Yachna Rizal). We’re both currently based in Kalimpong. I graduated as an engineer and worked in Bangalore for some time but I realized my flair for fashion and so took a degree in it. I now own a clothing line and also feature some of my work in a small boutique section at our café. I’m a foodie by nature and I love experimenting and re-jigging our menu frequently to offer …

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Dili Khekho of D’Cafe, Nagaland | Coffee Lover and Biker turned Cafe Owner

Biker and adventure seeker, Dili Khekho is now busy running his own cafe -D’Cafe in Kohima. The coffeephile was trained under the Americans at Bodh Gaya. Having acquired the knowledge about the popular umber beverage, he decided to start a cafe that served the drink while making the customers lounge on bean bags with the crisp aftertaste (finish) of the crema lingering on their tongue. Hi Dili, tell us how a biker who’s travelled around comes to open a cafe – in a place like Kohima? Whenever anyone uses the word, biker, it’s evident that he/she is someone who enjoys moving from one place to another but also finding pit stops for food and drinks. These pit stops are essential to refuel, regenerate and refresh. What better beverage to refuel your mind and body than a dose of caffeine? D’Cafe is more than your refueling point, it is your temporary home. Most customers who visit the cafe, always tell me that the cafe is “A place like home.” And how did it all fall into …