MOMO MANIA
the himalayan café
VASUDEV SINGH, 31, reveals the secret to his melt-in-themouth momos, along with his inhouse specialty. “The ultra thin coating of the dumpling is critical,” says the former Google employee who gave up a successful corporate career to start a momos takeaway joint, The Himalayan Café, three months ago. “While north India and even Bengaluru have a popular momo culture, Hyderabad has not yet caught on. I decided to introduce the city to delectable momos served in upmarket restaurants, but as everyday food,” he says. True to his word, the casing of the momos that he serves is thin and translucent, which ensures that the flavours of the filling come through in the first bite. Besides the classic vegetable and chicken fillings, Singh has also dabbled in experimental fare like mushroom and cheese momos. Also on the menu is thupka, a soup dish from Tibet that is popular in Himachal and beyond.
With his Nepali roots and recipes gathered from his mother, an interest in cooking, especially momos, was natural. Today, he uses recipes handed down by her in his takeaway cafe. Given that he is very particular, both about the quality of ingredients used and kitchen hygeine, it comes as no surprise that his food is fast growing in popularity. "I am looking forward to starting a full-fledged cafe soon," says Singh, and it might just be the first and only exclusive momo cafe in the city.