Few cuisines in the world could be as poles apart as French and Nepali. While the French place great emphasis on complex techniques, Nepali food is characterised by familial cooking and a diverse range of spices. But Rajeev Shrestha, executive chef at Aloft Hotel in Thamel, is all set to bridge this gap and introduce Kathmandu to fine dining, while incorporating the techniques and flavours of both cuisines. “Traditional Nepali ingredients are brought to a new plane via French culinary technology,” says Chef Shrestha, who has had a lifelong infatuation with French food. “But I also want to blend French culinary elements into Nepali cuisine by incorporating wine pairings and creating ornate tasting menus.”  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20231126091120_e3442f4655434a60113409391d76b6ef89fbb35a388eb19ee479ae340a7fdb56.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20231126091120_e3442f4655434a60113409391d76b6ef89fbb35a388eb19ee479ae340a7fdb56" data-rendition-name="original" width="1750" height="1167" loading="lazy" alt="Aloft NT"> </figure>   <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20231126101120_f813b81839d3392d849f2279eb807a7ff59b7cbe039dce8696c9367129a7fe80.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20231126101120_f813b81839d3392d849f2279eb807a7ff59b7cbe039dce8696c9367129a7fe80" data-rendition-name="original" width="1500" height="1000" loading="lazy" alt="Aloft NT"> </figure>  Born in Kathmandu, Shrestha began his career in hotels in Bangalore and Goa as a management trainee, gaining exposure to fine dining. Inspired by the epicurean delights, Chef Shrestha made the switch from management to gastronomy, seeking experiences and education that would enable him to realise his culinary dreams. Starting out as a Chef de Partie, he gradually rose up through the ranks, gaining the experience and confidence to become a chef in his own right before returning home to Nepal. Today, Shrestha is one of the leading figures in Neo-Nepali cuisine. And to mark the 75th year of the Nepal-France friendship in October, he was invited to the prestigious Toques en Chablais International Gastronomy Festival in France to demonstrate Nepali cuisine, making him the first Nepali chef to have done so.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20231126101116_51ea28824a7ec41ff7d428785579ad643b8a70bf64c7a295327da1577a9471d0.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20231126101116_51ea28824a7ec41ff7d428785579ad643b8a70bf64c7a295327da1577a9471d0" data-rendition-name="original" width="1750" height="1167" loading="lazy" alt="Aloft NT"> </figure>  The visit was a collaboration between Aloft Kathmandu, the Charles Baudelaire Institute, and the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management. Shrestha not only presented the wonders of Nepali cuisine but also showed the extraordinary power of food to allow people to connect and bridge cultural differences.&nbsp; The trip’s highlight was an interactive workshop led by Shrestha and attended by distinguished diplomats, French culinary students, and Michelin-starred chefs who were introduced to the intricacies of Nepali cooking techniques. “A stand-out dish for both the European audience and myself was Yomari,” recalls Shrestha about the Newari delicacy filled with sweet molasses often shaped like a fish or a conch shell. He adds: “There in France, Yomari became more than a dish but a gateway into not only Nepali cuisine but culture. The French were enthralled.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Business

Nepali chef’s French connection

Turkish Airlines has launched flights to Detroit, its 13th destination in the US starting 15 November. The carrier will fly three times a week between Istanbul Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, increasing to four times a week after 25 December. Turkish Airlines now serves 345 destinations worldwide, including 13 in the US. &nbsp;

Turkish now to Detroit

Sipradi provided aid worth Rs5.5 million to earthquake-affected families in Jajarkot and Rukum West. In partnership with Sipradian Aid Society, Tata Trust India, and Sipradi Trading it collaborated with the districts to distribute tarp, mattresses, food, soap, warm clothes, pillows, and caps to families in need benefiting 4,800 survivors from 1,200 families. Meanwhile, Unilever Nepal contributed Rs10 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for rebuilding and rehabilitation and handed a cheque to Prime Minister Dahal. &nbsp;

Quake aid

The Kathmandu Marriott Hotel is hosting the Dominican Republic Food Festival from 21-27 November. Attendees can savor vibrant flavours while celebrating cultural ties between the Dominican Republic and Nepal. The festival includes an exclusive Dominican Master Class led by Chef Addys Jacquez on 26 November at Fairfield by Marriott Kathmandu.

Dominican at Marriott

Worldlink Communications, Nepal’s largest internet service provider, received the Digital Transformation Award from the Asian-Ocean Computing Industry Organization in Seoul. Laxman Yadav of Worldlink accepted the award which was recognition for Worldlink’s contribution to Nepal’s digital transformation, particularly in extending high-speed internet infrastructure to remote areas such as the Karnali.

Worldlink awarded

The government of Nepal and Switzerland have signed an MOU for Udaya project which seeks to empower Nepali small and medium-sized enterprises and elevate business development.

Udaya project

Samsung Nepal has unveiled the Galaxy S23 FE in Nepal available for pre-order from 20 November. The device offers features including a camera system with 3X optical zoom and Nightography, a 6.4-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate for an immersive viewing experience. Available in a single variant offering 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, the phone will retail at Rs85, 999. &nbsp;

Galaxy S23 FE

Twenty-five Canadian universities and colleges will showcase educational opportunities during the EduCanada delegation in Kathmandu on 27-28 November. Participants can learn about student experiences, affordability, and career paths. The program includes seminars, roundtables, and meetings, aiming to connect Nepali students with globally recognized Canadian institutions.

Study in Canada

Daraz, Nepal’s prominent e-commerce brand, sponsored the Bhintuna rally in Kathmandu. Amul Vaidya of Daraz highlighted the company›s enthusiasm for participating in cultural events like the rally. The company launched the ‹Spot the Flag’ contest on social media, offering discount vouchers up to Rs. 500 to winners spotting the Daraz flag in the rally.

Daraz Bhintuna

Laxmi Sunrise Bank launched the ‘Laxmi Sunrise Utsav’ campaign during Tihar and Chhath to celebrate daughters as the embodiment of the goddess Laxmi, aiming to challenge traditional gender bias in Nepali society. The bank will be creating three videos where daughters are celebrated as Laxmi and is also inviting stories honoring the female family members as the goddess. The campaign includes cash prizes of Rs50,000, Rs30,000, and Rs15,000 for the top three submissions tagged with #Laxmisunriseutsav.