Back in June we quietly celebrated ten years of Taste Tibet. It was just before Glastonbury and we were in the middle of an intense momo-making period at the time, so the exact date passed without us even realising it. At some point we felt the flurry of pride and vowed that we’d throw a party when we reopened the restaurant in September, but time runs away, Yeshi has been ill, and now it looks as if summer is totally behind us.
When it rains like it did yesterday we remember all the washouts we experienced as a new travelling food stall. In the picture above Taste Tibet was on its second ever weekend outing, and it turned out to be a baptism of fire.
On the first day we lost our son in Newbury town Centre. He was two and a half at the time and deep in his Thomas The Tank Engine phase. Our stall was positioned just in front of the shopping centre in a town we’d never visited before, and when the momos were just about ready to go we realised with horror that he’d vanished. It was the longest five minutes of our lives before we found him in one of those pound-a-pop Thomas The Tank Engine machines in the arcade. He’d spied it on a quick tour of the shops we’d made earlier and just really wanted a ride.
On the second day there was a torrential downpour and the general public stayed away. I remember that our friends back in Oxford made space in their chest freezer for our leftover momos. It was our first major fail and the beginning – for me – of a very unhealthy relationship with three different weather apps on my phone.
We’ve come a long way since 2014. For one thing, Yeshi has a lot more hair. For another, life on the road has made our kids quite streetwise and they no longer abscond. Best of all we have the restaurant, a place where we can host everyone whatever the seasons have in store.
We’re gearing up for a birthday party but I’m back on my weather apps right now looking for the right time to make this happen. The idea is to pitch the Taste Tibet tent outside the restaurant and to fry the momos on the pan: we’re aiming for festival feels even if there’s a nip in the air. Watch this space if this is your vibe as we need to throw a bash before the year is out!
Our opening hours this week are very slightly different to previously (note the earlier close time on Sunday), as follows:
Wednesday – Friday: 5-9.30pm (dinner only)
Saturday: 12-3 (lunch) / 5-9.30pm (dinner)
Sunday: 12-3 (lunch) / 5-9pm (dinner)
This week’s menu is up on the website – check it! Come by for take away, dine in or you can order home delivery through Deliveroo. Our freezers are stocked again after a busy weekend, and best of all sepen chilli oil makes its return after a long summer break. Pop in for yours or click here for online orders.
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Julie and Yeshi
Opening hours this week:
Wednesday – Friday: 5-9.30pm
Saturday: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9.30pm
Sunday: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9pm
☏ 01865 499318
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