A restaurant with out of doors seating and no air-con isn’t the primary alternative on a sweltering summer time afternoon. But, there I used to be, at Nowana’s verdant out of doors house in Auroville. Brushing up on my chopstick expertise, and sipping on an ice-cold kombucha retains me distracted from Puducherry’s rising warmth and humidity.
Following an unmarked flip by the Auroville bakery and navigating unpaved roads, a beacon seems: a bowl of ramen on a signboard. Nestled amidst the greenery stands a captivating restaurant with a lush cover, run by Koreans who now name the experimental township of Auroville, residence.
A board close to the out of doors seating itemizing particular drinks and desserts
| Picture Credit score:
Sangita Rajan
Established in 2021, Nowana specialises in Korean delicacies, providing dishes straight out of your favorite Ok-dramas. “This house belongs to Auroville and commenced as a group kitchen earlier than evolving right into a restaurant,” explains Gumsoon An, who manages the kitchen at Nowana.
Pushed by the need for cultural trade, the core crew at Nowana briefly supplied fundamental Korean conversational courses. “We aren’t actually an institute and are usually not licensed lecturers, however it is a good house for individuals to satisfy, and so we began educating easy conversational Korean which included the right way to order in a restaurant,” she says, including that they needed to cease as a result of seasonal influx of vacationers.
Gimbap with greens and cheese, served with a soy dipping sauce
| Picture Credit score:
Sangita Rajan
“Each time we’re prepared, I would like to begin taking cooking courses and different such issues,” says Gumsoon, putting acolourful plate of gimbap in entrance of us. The Korean seaweed roll crammed with greens, sticky rice and meat or cheese in accordance with alternative, is served with a salty and spicy dipping sauce of soy sauce and wasabi. The crunchy greens, properly seasoned rice makes the bite-sized gimbap, soaked within the dipping sauce, the proper begin to the meal.
Subsequent, a steaming bowl of japchae arrives. The candy potato glass noodles are stir-fried in a vibrant sesame-chili oil with greens, providing a pleasant stability of candy and spicy flavours. “We prioritise natural produce. The greens, eggs, and poultry largely come from farms in Auroville farms,” she says, including that some elements, like Napa cabbage for his or her do-it-yourself kimchi, come from Ooty.
Spicy Japchae with greens from Auroville farms
| Picture Credit score:
Sangita Rajan
Different dishes on the menu vary from the well-known ramen (served in a rooster broth and topped with greens, egg and spicy Korean chilli paste), to nem, which is a deep-fried rice paper roll full of vermicelli noodles, completely different sorts of meat and greens and served with a soy dipping sauce. The bibimbap is the star of the menu on account of its countless chance for customisation. Additionally accessible is bossam — tender boiled slices of pork stomach served with a wide range of greens and kimchi, which will be made into wraps with lettuce.
“We get some elements comparable to glass noodles, gochujang, soy sauce and gim seaweed from South Korea, and from shops in Chennai comparable to Seoul Retailer,” she says.
Outside seating at Nowana
| Picture Credit score:
Sangita Rajan
The cooks at Nowana have saved the authenticity of the Korean delicacies intact, whereas additionally adapting the meals for the Indian palate. “Persons are in search of spicy meals, so I’ve tailored and launched a spicy japchae together with the common one. Korean delicacies is kind of versatile,” she says. Nearly each dish on the menu will be customised and made vegetarian and even vegan on request.
“After I meet individuals who say that they’re right here to strive Korean meals for the primary time, I actually respect it as a result of they’re open-minded. I’m Korean, dwelling in India for 20 years. If I didn’t open myself up, I can not stay right here,” she says, including that meals is an effective way to begin opening your self as much as the world round you.
Nowana is at Auroville. A meal for 2 prices ₹1,100.
