Welcome to Episode 1 of The Migration Menu! This week, James and Luke travel to Namaste Gurkha in Feltham to examine how Nepalese food has been reimagined in West London. In doing so, they speak with Indra Hang Linden, one of the proprietors of Namaste Gurkha.

**Introduction** (0:00 - 3:41)

(Starter)

-James discusses how globalization has affected what South Asians now eat for breakfast.

-Luke delves into how restaurant décor factors into authenticity and showcases homeland.

**Interview** (3:42 -17:18)

(Main)

-Indra discusses representations of Nepalese food, as well as how authenticity can be achieved.

-Indra discusses how his Nepalese restaurant is marketed as Indian due to similar dishes.

**Post interview discussion**

(Dessert)

-James and Luke review the role of Nepalese food in creating feelings of nostalgia and nationhood for migrants.

**Closing Remarks and acknowledgments** (24:50 - 25:27)

The Migration Menu has been brought to you by James Staples and Luke Heslop, with help from Tina Boulton, Esther Opoku Debra and Vimal Dalal. If you have any questions or comments for us, send them in and we will address them in a future show, you can get in touch at info@themigrationmenu.com. Or on ‘X’ - formerly Twitter: @migration_menu.

Restaurant location: Namaste Ghurka, 1 Parkfield Parade, Feltham, Hounslow TW13 4HJ England

Menu dishes eaten:

Nepali Vegetarian Thali,

Vegetable Momo and tomato chutney

Chana Chatpate

Bhatmas/Badam Sandeko

Fermented Bamboo shoots

Menu: https://www.namastegurkharestaurants.co.uk

To see images for this episode, click here.

Literature mentioned:

Ray, K. 2004. The Migrants Table: Meals and Memories In Bengali- American Households, Temple University Press

Buettner, E. 2009. Chicken Tikka Masala, flock wallpaper and “real” home cooking: assessing Britain’s “Indian” restaurant traditions, Food and History, 7(2), 203-229

Pilcher, J. 2016. The Embodied Imagination in Recent Writings on Food History, The American Historical Review, 121(3), 861-887

For a list of academic literature on these topics and more, please see the list of extended bibliography on the references page or click here.

Guest Speakers:

Indra Hang Linden

For more information, please visit our website: https://themigrationmenu.com/

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