Ingredient appreciation — what makes Thukpa special

What sets Thukpa apart is the handling of black lentils. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the hearty and filling result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Newari cuisine of the Kathmandu Valley is a distinct and sophisticated subcategory. The a Kathmandu teahouse atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had tongba millet beer as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Thukpa is the place to start.