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When you think of ‘taas’, you think of Chitwan. It’s a much-loved mutton dish that is basically marinated mutton pieces cooked in a generous amount of mustard oil on a griddle. The meat cooked thus becomes tender, succulent, and rich in flavors. This iconic dish is perhaps an identity of Chitwan. However, taas didn’t originate in Chitwan. Its roots can be traced back to Raxaul, a small border town near Birgunj. During the Panchayat era in Nepal, people from Kathmandu traveled all the way to Raxaul for shopping and to watch the latest Bollywood movies. Rangoli Meat Hotel, located just opposite Krishna Talkies in Raxaul, was a popular spot to enjoy taas. It wasn’t the only place selling this dish though. There were a few stalls near Pankaj Talkies that also served the delicacy. In April 1987, Gobinda Tiwari started Bhetghat restaurant in Bharatpur. The restaurant served taas. Apparently, he brought taas to Chitwan, and the rest is history. It became popular and today Chitwan is incomplete without taas. I’m a huge fan of ‘Chitwan ko taas’ as well. Every time I visit Nepal, I make some excuse to go to Chitwan just to visit Bhetghat Taas Ghar, one of my favorite eateries. During one such visit to Bhetghat, I told the waiter to get me one standard plate of taas. This normally includes the taas meat along with tomato achar, salad, and bhuja (puffed rice). I eventually ended up ordering three plates. My mum and brother who had tagged along were surprised to see my insatiable appetite for taas. I had ordered eight plates when my mother stopped me from ordering more and said, “Ma banai dinchu ghar mai.” (I shall prepare it at home.) What makes taas stand apart from any other meat dish prepared in Nepal? These boneless lamb cubes are marinated in coarse Nepali spices and herbs and are grilled in as little oil as possible. To prepare taas, people use a large, near-flat concave thick-bottomed pan called tawa. Cooking this meat in the tawa, in medium heat, results in an assertively spiced crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside succulent meat. But what makes taas special is not just the grilled marinated meat. It’s the right combination of the whole set, including puffed rice, tomato chutney, cucumber and radish salad, green chilies, red onion, and lemon salad. My personal preference is eating taas with fermented pickled radish. There was a time when I tried having the taas khaja set meal at Bhetghat’s outlet in Anamnagar, Kathmandu. But it didn’t match the original taste of their Chitwan outlet.  The recipe might be the same but the dish didn’t have the same taste or texture. The taste of food is not only about recipes and technique, it’s about the vibe that the surrounding gives. Food tastes different depending on where the products are coming from. So, the taste of taas in Chitwan beats all other copycat places that offer taas dishes. You wouldn’t think of having fried fish, aloo chop with tomato achar, and beer inside cities like Kathmandu or Pokhara. But the same dishes with a little bit of dust, vehicles’ noise from the surrounding taste heavenly on road trips. Everyone is in a holiday mood, and the rush and sounds of the road give a different experience which you will not find in either Kathmandu or Pokhara. As much as I wish I could, I can’t go to Chitwan every time I crave taas. So I have tried the original recipe several times. I’ve also introduced it to my restaurant’s menu. Here, I’m sharing my version of the taas recipe.

Four persons died and 10 others were injured when a jeep they were travelling in met with an accident at Dulima in Banphikot-8, Rukum West on Thursday. According to Dhan Bahadur Khatri, Chairman of Banphikot-8, the deceased have been identified as Karna Batha and Deuchan Khatri of Sanibheri Rural Municipality-5 and Rekha Khatri and her son of Banphikot-8. Among the injured, four are in critical condition, Chairman Khatri said. Nawaraj Bhattarai, Chief at the District Police Office said that the jeep (Ju 1 Cha 1747) was heading towards Musikot from Gheudhunga of Sanibheri-3 when the tragedy occurred. Police said that they are looking into the incident.  

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 16. 49 points to close at 1,959.12 points on Wednesday. Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 3. 58 points to close at 371. 31 points. A total of 4,865,475-unit shares of 270 companies were traded for Rs 1. 87 billion. Meanwhile, Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Sanima Equity Fund was the top loser with its price dropping by 3. 77 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 85 trillion.

The government has announced a public holiday in Kathmandu Valley on Thursday  on the occasion of Bhoto Jatra of Rato Machhindranath. Issuing a notice on Wednesday, the Home Ministry said that the government has declared a public holiday in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur to celebrate the festival tomorrow. Bhoto Jatra is a part of the Rato Machhendranath chariot festival that concludes after the chariot of the deity is pulled up to Jawalakhel in Lalitpur. It is an annual cultural cum religious ritual of displaying the black jewel-studded bhoto (vest) believed to be of the then Nagraj, the serpent king.