Those of you who’ve been following us for some time will know how much it means to us to be able to visit Yeshi’s home in Tibet. We’ve been musing on Yeshi’s childhood and nomadic life on the Plateau for many years now, and we even wrote a book documenting his memories and recipes from this formative time.
But neither of us ever truly believed that we’d be able to return to his family home. Yeshi left Tibet in 1999 by foot over the Himalayas. This journey took him 24 days and separated him from his family for 17 years.
His brother Nyima left the village ten years earlier. It took him 33 years to get a passport, and a further two before he was able to see family again.
They are the first people in their village ever to have left then returned.
Given this context, you’ll understand that we’re not yet ready to put our whirlwind two-week trip into words. We’ve done the physical unpacking, but the mental calibrations are still all over the place.
We have almost two thousand photos and videos to share at some point (anyone out there want to make the Taste Tibet homecoming documentary?!), but while we reflect on what’s happened to us these last few weeks we leave you with this joyous shot of three generations of momo-makers living their best life in the shade of the family’s walnut tree. In fact, while we’re at it, here are some of them in action on the last day of our holiday.
In Tibet, momo-making is usually reserved for special occasions. The whole family will muck in, making light work of what is otherwise a laborious process. Oh, go on then – just to prove that he pulled his weight, here is Chef rolling out some of those wrappers.
We arrived back in Oxford on Thursday evening and we haven’t stopped since. On Saturday we catered at the Keble College Ball and on Sunday we were in Dorchester-on-Thames for a food demo at the festival. Last night we attended the Oxinabox Awards, where – thanks to you guys 🙏🏽 – we were Best Global Restaurant in Oxfordshire finalists for the third year in a row.
Next week our summer of fun kicks off with the Hay Literary Festival, an 11-day event that is sure clear the dust off our Tibetan tent.
People, we probably shouldn’t have promised to open the restaurant this week, but the idea was for one last hurrah as after this Sunday we’ll be closed in East Oxford until September 6th.
Please come and help us empty our freezers and quaff all the momos. Our wonderful young staff are largely busy with exams, so you’ll find me and Yeshi behind the counter most of the shifts. We’ll be glad for the opportunity to say our summer bye-byes, and of course to fill you in on all the details of our trip.
We’re open all the usual hours this week, as follows:
Wednesday – Friday: 5-9.30pm (dinner only)
Saturday and Sunday: 12-3 (lunch) / 5-9.30pm (dinner)
Our menu is on the website now. You can dine with us, take away, or order home delivery through Deliveroo.
We’ve missed you and can’t wait to see you!
Julie and Yeshi
Opening hours this week:
Weds – Fri: 5-9.30pm
Sat / Sun: 12-3pm 🥢 5-9.30pm
☏ 01865 499318
If you love our cookbook, please don’t forget to leave us a quick review! 🙏🏽
