Tea Hut Menus

We've had some fun trying to interpret some of the menu items at the tea houses along our route.

As for choice, meat items really don't exist.  I tried for yak curry once, but it wasn't available.  I almost had chicken chillie  for supper today, but it wasn't available either.

I had expected to have my choices limited to dal (lentel) concoctions, but I actually haven't even had it yet.  I am, however, getting tired of fried rice dishes of any kind (ie: veg) and macaroni.  Potatoes can be had in fried or mashed fried, known as potato roastie.  We generally get a few orders of French fried potatoes, often listed as "chips".  Usually they are good, except for the odd time when they are served cold. 

Condiments include the ubiquitous ketchup and a green curry sauce.  Salt and pepper are, well, we're not sure.

One menu item was fried egg, followed by "same as fried egg".  Someone needed to try that but there were no takers.

We've seen "corn flacks", and some still curious delicacy called "hot paris". 

Their soups are pretty good, especially after a day of hiking.  Our favs are veg noodle and chicken noodle.  The noodles are much like ramen noodles but the flavours are better, the broth is thicker and they are hot, probably with lots of salt.

Three of us tried pizza today in the mushroom and veg (separately) versions.  They were pretty good.  At least they didn't use ketchup as the tomato base as we had feared or a chappati as the crust.

Yesterday, we discovered lemon tea.  Actually it's more like hot lemonade, but a welcome change from black tea, which is served at all meals.  Some of us have taken to asking for hot water to which we add our own herbal teas, in an attempt to reduce our caffeine intake, especially after lunch.

We are always served a hot lunch, usually a tomato pasta, fried potatoes or fried rice.  Today, for the first time, we has a small helping of cole slaw.

Meals are high in carbohydrates but little protein, other than eggs, which we can get scrambled (only fair), or fried.  When they list veg egg soup, they mean veg soup with a fried egg cut into pieces and added to the mix.  Apparently the concept of egg swirl soup is a foreign concept.  Most dishes that include egg come with a fried egg plopped on top.

We've seen things like "mixed spaghetti" and " mixed pasta" and wondered.  I discovered yesterday that the "mixed" means "all dressed" so my mixed spaghetti was a combo of veg, mushroom, tomato and cheese.  Cheese is rare and quite boring.

Their oat porridge has been excellent, but even when grated apple is listed as a topping, they usually come as plain.  Thick and creamy.  Milk isn't available unless specially ordered and it's always hot.

The culinary adventure continues.