There is a traditional Nepalese fried bread called sel roti that I have been keen to try since reading about it. After scouring some of the local Nepalese restaurant menus, I found that Om Restaurant had it listed as a starter for a mere £1 a piece.
I periodically search online for “new restaurants [town name]”. This is rarely successful, but allows me to be filled with annoyance and exclaim “these are NOT NEW!” at the search results, so there is some benefit.
A while ago though, I struck gold, as a random link came up to a review of a not-that-new restaurant in Aldershot called Vintuna. They offer Newari and Nepalese dining, and as I’d never even heard of the former, I was very excited. Their website explains that Newari cuisine originates “from the Newar community of Nepal”, and listed some dishes I had not come across before.
I was slightly stumped how to title this post as it isn’t a restaurant review, but merely feedback on a single menu item from Popeyes – the original biscuit.
I have known Chariya for a number of years, and her MasterChef UK 2023 win was richly deserved. Her drive, enthusiasm and expertise has always been amazing, plus she is annoyingly likeable for someone so gifted.
When I learned Chariya was opening her own restaurant in Alton (also home to her coffee shop Coffee Cherry), I was extremely excited and booked a slot as soon as I could.
As my inability to post reliably continues, this piece is being completed AFTER I have finished working in London. I’d pretend now I’ll have more time to write things, but I’m going away for a while, so this poor site will once again be neglected (pats site gently on head).
But enough of my failings, onto the violet treats!
I imagine most UK peeps have had a parma violet sweet at one time or another. Opinion is divided between “euch, perfume” and “mmm, floral nectar”.
Naturally I am of the latter camp. However while rose crops up in quite a few cuisines, violet is scarce indeed. France is the violet powerhouse, and there is even a violet festival in Tourrettes-sur-Loup I half-heartedly keep meaning to go to. Over here, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to enjoy this delicate flavour in a format other than the aforementioned sweets or chocolate violet creams.
Ah well, my advice is to consume violet while you can, and lobby parliament in the meantime…