Pairing Bara correctly — a note on tongba millet beer

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Bara. I ordered it with tongba millet beer and the hearty and filling elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. mustard oil in particular became more prominent in a good way.

dal bhat power for 24 hours is a trekking mantra reflecting how central the dish is to Nepali daily life. The a Kathmandu teahouse is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Bara with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.