Kathmandu, Jan. 21
With a dream of
operating a five-star hotel or a high-end resort in Nepal, Chef Ghanashyam
Kandel is now in Kathmandu to intensify his search for partnerships and
collaborations with like-minded entrepreneurs, businesses and associations.
His dream has sprouted
from his extensive experience in culinary skills in Nepal, India, Japan and
elsewhere and an urge to work on developing new tastes in Nepali food through a
fusion with various foreign and multinational cuisines.
Kandel is now working on
two fronts: operating a high-quality hospitality business in Nepal and
promoting Nepali indigenous cuisine in international markets. "The
hospitality business is fully reliant on the quality of service and care as
well as catering to the gastronomic needs of the tourists," he told The
Rising Nepal.
For him, the growing
demand for foreign dishes within Nepal and less attraction to Nepali cuisine in
diasporas abroad are the two major challenges that demand greater attention from
the government as well as the hospitality sector and cultural campaigners. He
has found that the Nepali diaspora generally does not prefer Nepali food. If
the attraction of diaspora and tourists who returned from Nepal visit could be
increased towards Nepali food, a huge business would be created in foreign
land.
"The government
and stakeholder organisations should initiate a campaign to create demand for
Nepali food items in international markets. We can begin by tapping on the
global expansion of Momo," he said indicating the potential successful
expansion of Nepali cuisine. The success of such a campaign can also support in
increasing the number of tourists coming to Nepal as well.
However, his
impression of Nepal's investment environment is yet to be fully favourable to
investors, especially foreign ones. He had tried to rent government land to run
the resort but faced multiple obstructions from the bureaucracy. According to
him, the government should offer more tax discounts and other facilities to
attract Foreign Direct Investment in the hospitality sector.
Born in Bihun in
Kanthekhola Rural Municipality of Baglung district and worked in hotels and
cafes in Nepal, India and Japan, Kandel has amassed a vast experience including
the advisor to 30 restaurants globally in the past two and a half decades. He is supporting the restaurants in creating innovative menus and
blending traditional Nepali, Japanese, Indian, and Thai flavours into unique
fusion dishes.
Kandel has emerged as a global advocate for traditional Nepali cuisine. Over
the past two decades, he has promoted Nepali and other culinary traditions,
operating from Japan and expanding his influence to the USA, Canada and beyond.
Kadel has been running his restaurant in
Tokyo since 2010 and serves as the CEO and head chef. His business operations,
including the iconic Mela Restaurant in Tokyo, are run and managed under GK
Corporation. He started his career in the hospitality sector as a kitchen
helper in India in 1995 and climbed the culinary ladder through perseverance
and passion.
He was trained under his elder brother,
Jayalal, and worked at renowned establishments like Moti Mahal Deluxe and The
Mezbaan, gaining foundational skills that later propelled his success in Japan.
To promote Nepali
cuisine internationally he recently published a book 'Timur – Prepare with Passion:
Asian flavors from Bihun Nepal to Haneda Japan'. The book blends tradition with innovation, offering unique recipes that
connect food lovers worldwide. It could be the potential to be a valuable
resource for enthusiasts of Nepali, Japanese, Thai and Indian cuisine.
“Food is not just a dish; it is a cultural
bridge that connects people," says Kandel.
He had said during
the launch of Timur that Cooking is about connecting people, honouring
tradition, and sharing stories that transcend borders. “With Timur, I hope to
inspire others to explore new flavours while respecting cultural heritage.”
Chef Kadel and his colleague Chef Durga
Bahadur Khadka are at the final stage to publish a new culinary book Bhojanlipi
which is also anticipated to play a significant role in introducing Nepali
cuisine to the global market.
Kandel has also been involved in
philanthropic works through Bihunkot Society Japan which works in the education,
health and disaster relief sectors. He is a former president of the society and
advisor to the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Japan.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 January 2025.
No comments:
Post a Comment