When Republica correspondent reached Paradise Restaurant at Lakeside, Pokhara, on Monday, its proprietor Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai was teaching his kitchen staff on ways to manage kitchen in open space.The eatery has closed its regular kitchen and has installed traditional firewood stove to prepare food.
Tama at Gairidhara, Kathmandu, has also been cooking limited food items by using firewood. It has devised a temporary menu with limited food and snacks items. Issuing a notice, the restaurant has said the temporary menu is for a limited period due to shortage of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas."
"Though we are facing difficulty in preparing food using firewood, our customers have loved the taste of the food that we serve," a kitchen staff at Tama told Republica, requesting anonymity.
As it is impossible to use firewood and briquette in a closed kitchen, restaurants have been preparing food in open spaces.
Bhattarai, who is also the president of Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN), Pokhara Chapter, said they no option but to use firewood to prepare food as they have not been able to get LP gas since long.
"As this is the peak season, most of the restaurants associated with us have been preparing good by using firewood, briquettes or Chinese charcoal whichever is available," Pramod Kumar Jaiswal, president of REBAN, said, adding that REBAN has requested its member restaurants to provide whatever service they can to clients.
Jaiswal, who is also the proprietor of Mela Restaurant and Bar, said most of the restaurants are serving only the most sought-after dishes.
Mount Kailash Resort in Pokhara has made a temporary hut on its premises where it prepares food using firewood. "I have made this temporary arrangement as use of firewood will damage the interiors of our kitchen," Naresh Bhattarai owner of the resort told Republica.
Shangri-La Village Resort and Boomerang Restaurant of Pokhara have also been using firewood to prepare food.
Most of the restaurants in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan have stopped serving breakfast and snacks.
Bhattarai of Paradise Restaurant said most of the restaurants in Pokhara have stopped serving breakfast and lunch and are only serving dinner.
Similarly, Suman Ghimire, vice president of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Sauraha Chapter, said 90 percent of the resorts and restaurants in Sauraha have been using firewood to prepare food while remaining are using briquettes. "But we have not been able to serve food as demanded by our guests. Also our service has been delayed," Ghimire, who is also the executive director of Jungle Safari Lodge, said.
Related story
Eating junk food is bad for health!
