Food · Samanden
Supper by a Samanden kitchen fire
Share the evening meal in a family kitchen: rice, dal, potato or squash curry, field greens and pickle, cooked on a wood stove and served with refills. The simplest and most local food of the trek.
In Samanden the kitchen is the heart of the house, a smoky, warm room with a wood stove, blackened pots and a shelf of steel plates. You will probably eat there or in the next room, and the family will keep refilling your plate.
The meal is dal-bhat in its home form: rice, a thin lentil soup, a dry curry of potato or seasonal vegetables, cooked greens and a sharp pickle. In autumn there may be fresh maize or local beans; in spring, young greens. Meat is rare and must be ordered in advance if at all.
Eat with your right hand if you like, as the family may, or ask for a spoon. Finish what you take; food comes a long way up here. After dinner, tea is often offered. Lights go out early in roadless villages.
Cost: Included in homestay rate or ₹200–350
Questions people ask
Good to know
Is food at Samanden vegetarian?
Almost always. Dal-bhat with vegetables is the standard meal; eggs are usually available. Meat is rare and needs advance notice. Tell your guide about any dietary needs a day ahead.
Is it rude to refuse refills in a homestay?
No. Say 'pugyo' (enough) or cover your plate with your hand. Families offer refills out of hospitality, and saying you are full is perfectly polite.
Can I drink the water in Samanden?
Drink boiled water or use a filter or purification tablets. Families will usually give you boiled water if you ask. Avoid untreated stream water.
Also in Samanden