Realising Dreams
For one living away from home town, it's a real desire to contend with a traditional dish, and that’s when some people find a special place in the Nagaland food stall, located in the heart of Dilli Haat. A great deal of affordable Naga cuisine and a must stop over for any food lovers for a quick bite.
- Joe Hmachhuana
To say that the consumption of food is a vital part of the chemical process of life is to state the obvious, but sometimes we fail to realize that food is more than just vital. In order to approach the study of food would be to identify the food variables and to arrange these variables systematically; we may use the word 'Culture'. Culture in a classificatory sense implies pattern or style of food habits.
Determining criterion in this connection, I am proud to publish ‘Realising Dreams’ story of my friend Amenla Longkumer, who along with her siblings Ayinla Longkumer and Chubamanen Longkumer run a scholar of Naga food menu in Dilli Haat. It was the year 1996, when the restaurant came to commencement. And like every other profession in the business field, Amenla too found herself stumbling over few difficult aspects in the beginning. There were many challenges when she started the business, owing to the fact that different people from different background eat differently. And for a restaurant specializing ethnic Naga cuisine, customers were hard to find.
But with passing years and a growth in the proficiency of handling its desired market, the Nagaland food stall today caters to almost every customers from different states and more importantly it kinder foreign clients who make a special effort to grab a grub of Naga special at the restaurant.
Nagaland is known for its wonderfully exotic cuisine, offers the best pork with bamboo shoots. A regular visitor of this place would advice one to experience the authentic cuisine of the State. The famous and delicious Naga Thali has already crossed the universal dividers owing to its magical taste. Akhuni (fermented soya bean) for instance makes a memorable treat. Dishes like Raja Mircha, Ak Ponung, Ak Tsung, Awo Kutsu (special pork head preparation) and Mersu Aaon (Naga’s special fish preparation) swings the rhythm of success at the joint.
Since ingredients do not taste the same everywhere, a special virtue of effort is made to get ingredients transported from Nagaland itself. Special duty is adjudged to summon hygienic food from the management. The restaurant also organize Christmas special, and it makes the visit around this time even more worth while with choir singing carols over the terrific buffet of Naga specials.
The paragon of Amenla’s success is deeply modeled by her hard work and determination. An incredible standard of motive that has helped her pull through the odds without any formal training or education in the related field. Along side many of her achievements; Amenla is acquainted by her sister Ayinla and brother Chubamanen who has added perfect duties in maintaining the service and ambience of the restaurant. In recognition of the restaurant’s remark ability, Delhi Tourism had awarded the Nagaland food stall for its cleanliness and great service among the stalls in Dilli Haat over the years.
The stall represents the essence of Naga tradition and culture through its diamond affair of Naga delicacies. The main target is to focus on the local Naga food items and reach out to new customers. It is a great deal of pleasure to mention that Nagaland food stall represents the food culture of Nagaland and its counterparts, playing a vital role in shaping the realm of North-East states’ tradition and culture to a large number of people in the city today.
Different cultural sects have different eating codes. Men and women, in various stages of their lives, eat differently. Different individuals have different tastes. Some of these differences are overcome through an initiation of reasoning with the differences and providing an innovation to break these boundaries. Amenla and her siblings have achieved those tasks as prescribed, identifying the differences, explaining them, and introducing a new outlet to the other facets of culture, tradition and a monumental like surface to its customers called Nagaland's kitchen which is recently opened and located in Green Park, New Delhi. And I am gonna be heading there straight after work for a major Ak Tsung indulgence.
Bon Appetit!
