The ‘Master Chef Finalists Tour to Nepal’, organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, concludes by promoting Nepal’s authentic food, culture and various tourist destinations. PATA Nepal Chapter had invited the four finalists of the BBC MasterChef UK: The Professionals 2020, including Chef Santosh Shah, Chef Alex Webb, Chef Bart Van Der Lee and Chef Phillipa Armitage to support the post-pandemic tourism recovery initiatives of Nepal.
The trip was supported by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) as the Main National Promoter, SriLankan Airlines as the Official Airlines partner, NABIL Bank as the Banking Partner and CIWEC Hospital as the HealthCare Partner. Similarly, the domestic airlines - Buddha Air and Summit Air, NATHM (Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hospitality Management), KGH (Kathmandu Guest House) Group of Hotels, Community Homestay Network, Siddhartha Business Group of Hospitality, Jungle Safari Lodge, GATE (Global Academy of Tourism Education), Galaxy Television, RamDev Oil and High Ground Adventures have also collaborated and supported the initiative brought forth by PATA Nepal Chapter.
The celebrity Master Chefs wore chefs' Coats embroidered with Nepal's national flag and visited various destinations in Nepal for the observation, exploration and promotion of authentic Nepali cuisine and culture, was an alluring and timely initiative by PATA Nepal Chapter to support the post-pandemic tourism recovery campaign for the Himalayan Nation – Nepal!!
Master Chefs' visits and activities in Nepal have showcased and positioned Nepal's authentic food and nation’s cultures as an integral and captivating aspect of the destination, contributing to Nepal's tourism promotion and development. Similarly, MasterChefs have also inspired young Nepali chefs and hospitality students to engage in innovative practices, continuous exploration and effective promotion of Nepali foods to the global market.
Chef Santosh Shah has been persistent in promoting Nepali terminologies to bring Nepali foods to the world stage. During this trip, Chef Santosh Shah, with his MasterChef colleagues, has released a promotional video on 'Ayla' as the Nepali term for 'Cheers' that people mostly use before commencing drinks at any social gathering or functions. Ayla is a homemade traditional alcoholic beverage of Nepal that is offered as a good omen in the Newari Culture. Chef Shah believes that using the local terminologies would be more interesting for tourists and create a positive promotional value for Nepal.
PATA Nepal Chapter, in collaboration and coordination with PATA HQ, PATA Int'l Chapters, Nepal Airlines and Int'l Airlines, Tourism Board and other public-private partner organizations, will be organizing the "Nepal World Food Tour" with Master Chef Santosh Sah along with destination promotion in various international resource markets.
The MasterChefs team arrived on 7th April 2022 and received a grand welcome at the Tribuwan International Airport (TIA) in the presence of officials from PATA Nepal Chapter, Nepal Tourism Board, Chef Association representatives, media, the auspicious Panchebaja Cultural Troupe and hospitality students.
Upon arrival at the hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu Guest House welcomed the team with traditional Newari Culture and Feast. Later in the evening, a Welcome Dinner Reception was organized by PATA Nepal chapter in honor of the MasterChefs' team at Avata Wellness Center, Gairidhara, Kathmandu. Before the dinner, the guests were offered the experience of 'Sound Bath", a new product of Wellness Tourism.
The Chefs team participated in the graduation ceremony held on 8th April at GATE College, Mandikhatar, Kathmandu and shared their experience and insights into the culinary world amongst hospitality students. In the afternoon, they flew to Pokhara by Buddha Air and visited Arba Village in Pokhara for a Picnic Eve hosted by Everest Inn Group UK. The Masterchefs observed the local products at Arba Agro farm, the traditional lifestyle and practices of the village, cooked foods and made some promotional videos under the theme “Farm to Fork” to promote Authentic Nepali Cuisine.
The next day (9th April), High-Ground Adventure hosted the adventure and sightseeing activities for the MasterChefs in Pokhara. Later, in the evening, Mr. Suman Ghimire, the hotelier and former president of the Regional Hotel Association Chitwan, hosted the accommodation and necessary support welcoming the team at Jungle Safari Lodge in Chitwan.
On 10th April, Chef Santosh reached his home at Karjanha in the Siraha district, where he cooked Mithila cuisine with his mother. The Chefs team then visited the Janaki Temple and judged the PATA YTP Chefs Competition themed at 'Mithila Cuisines and Recipes' at Janakpurdham, Nepal. 21 Young Tourism Professionals, the Tourism and Hospitality Management Students studying at PATA Nepal Chapter member colleges from east Nepal (province 1), showcased their passion, preparedness and innovative thoughts on the theme, appreciated by the master chefs.
In a program organized at NATHM on April 11th, the Chief Guest, Honorable Tourism Minister
Mr. Prem Ale, extended his heartfelt thanks and honor to the organizer and MasterChefs' team for their significant contribution to Nepal’s tourism through the promotion of diverse food and culture of the nation.
On 12th April, PATA Nepal Chapter organized a 'Fine Dining Program with MasterChefs” at GATE college where the four chefs offered a variety of authentic Nepali delicacies in an appealing, artistic, delicious and balanced combination to all the invitees and dignitaries present at the event. The filming of these events will also be included in a special documentary that would further help in promoting Nepal's cuisine and destination at large.
A pre-scheduled cooking and promotional event at Kalapatthar (Everest Base Camp) on the 13th of April 2022 got cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions in Lukla.
On 14th April, the Right Honorable President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari presented the "Suprabal Jansewa Shree" Medal to Chef Santosh Shah, in appreciation of his contribution in promoting Nepali cuisine to the global platform. Then, the MasterChefs’ team joined Nepal Food Blogger in observing, exploring and promoting local delicacies around various touristic sites of Kathmandu. In the evening, the Village Cafe, run by rural women in Jamsikhel (Lalitpur), hosted a special Newari feast for the MasterChef’s team.
During the visit to Bardiya on 15th of April, the local students and professionals involved in the tourism and hospitality industry of Nepalgunj welcomed the Chefs' team at Nepalgunj Airport, and the Tharu community greeted the master chefs upon arrival at Dalla Community Homestay in Bardiya. The team went for 'wild spices hunting' and collected the Tharu's traditional foods such as Ghungi, Fiddlehead ferns (Niuro), Asare, Spinach, and other foods from the nearby community forest. Then, they cooked local Chicken, Dhikri, Ghungi, Khariya, Andi Rice and other foods together with local Tharu cooks and exchanged their basic cooking tips with the locals as well. The evening was delightful with the Tharu feasts and cultural program.
The following day, on 16th of April, Community Homestay Network organized a visit to Chisapani and wildlife safari inside Bardiya National Park, where the chefs explored the wild spices and tested wild fruits, assessing their prospective use for cooking. In the evening, Siddhartha Group of Hotels welcomed and hosted the Chefs team in Nepalgunj.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) honoured the MasterChefs' team on 17th April at a function in Kathmandu in appreciation of their visit to promote Nepali cuisine and tourism. later, the MasterChefs participated as the Jury Members for the Youth Chef Competition organized by the Chef Association of Nepal. The 'MasterChef's Trip to Nepal' has been concluded with a ‘Krishnarpan Dinner Reception’ at the Dwarika's Hotel in Kathmandu.
