Everyone is happy that the doors to Taste Tibet are open again. The momos have been flying out. Yeshi is definitely home from Tibet, and you’ll have seen him and said hello and passed the time of day, but despite being physically present, he’s not really back yet.
On his off days, and between shifts, you will mostly find him scrolling through the hundreds of pictures and videos that he took when he was home in his village in Tibet. Peep around the door of our sitting room and he’s webcasting them to friends and family across the world. Like him, these people left the village many years ago, but most of them don’t have passports yet so they’re unable to get back. Any media that makes its way out of Tibet helps them to keep connected to the friends and way of life that they left behind.
When I first met Yeshi, he was the same. Once a year a DVD would find its way to India with footage of relatives celebrating Tibetan New Year in the village square. He would scour the material for his own people, pausing the video every time his mum or auntie popped up somewhere in the background, until eventually these parts of the disc became worn and fuzzy.
By the time our son was little, videos from home had made it onto the iPad, and Yeshi used to prop the device up in front of him while he ate. Our son watched with rapt attention. Who knows what he made of all the singing and dancing and fabulous Tibetan dress, but these images certainly helped to ensure a clean plate.
So you’ll understand that it’s more than a little surreal to find Yeshi himself now in the frame. Usually the village assembles in this way only during Tibetan New Year, but this April they convened a special meet to mark Yeshi and Nyima’s return. And here he is! Can you spot him among the other village folk? Miraculously he hasn’t (quite) forgotten his moves, despite an absence of over 25 years.
It isn’t easy for overseas Tibetans to return to their homeland, especially when – like Yeshi – they hail from inside the Tibetan Autonomous Region. For many years he assumed he would never see his village again. Now, armed with his own camera set-up, he has a starring role in his own home video. Life is beautiful and complete.
Thanks to everyone who has visited us at the restaurant since we reopened last month. An early warning that festival season around the corner and our nomadic chefs are moving to new pastures once again at the end of May. The takeaway will close on Sunday 18th May. If you haven’t come by yet, make sure to visit before our team hits the road.
Our opening hours this week are as follows:
Weds – Fri: 5-9.30pm (dinner only)
Saturday: 12-3 / 5-9.30pm
Sunday: 12-3 / 5-9pm
This week’s menu is up on the website – check it.
Freezer food: we’re doing our best to keep up with demand and have good stocks of most key dishes. Just a few more jars of sepen chilli oil though, and we’re not planning to make a new batch before the restaurant closes for the season. You heard it here first!
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We look forward to seeing you!
Julie and Yeshi
Opening hours this week:
Weds – Fri: 5-9.30pm
Saturday: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9.30pm
Sunday: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9pm
☏ 01865 499318
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