Books
The Rana Cookbook : Recipes From The Palaces Of Nepal By Rohini Rana
This lavishly illustrated cookbook showcases the magnificent food from the palaces of Nepal.
‘Rohini Rana has done the world of gastronomy a great service by reminding us of the power of Rana food; a micro cuisine that rarely gets the attention it deserves. A marvelous book’ –VIR SANGHVI
The Rana name has been synonymous with the history and culture of Nepal for centuries. The beautiful palaces of Nepal were known not only for their glamour and architecture but also for their royal feasts. The recipes of the food served were exclusively with the cooks of the palaces and a lucky few who inherited them from earlier generations. In this exquisite book, for the first time ever, the doors to the palace kitchens are opened and we get a glimpse into the mouthwatering cuisine of the royals.
Nepali food is famous for its fresh and light flavours in the staple rice, daals, meat and vegetables. The food of the Ranas, however, is vastly influenced by Indian flavours. While Indian food is renowned for its rich, thick gravies, Nepali cuisine tends to prefer lighter jhols and dry bhutans and kawafs. Though raw materials such as meat and vegetables can easily be found in the Indian kitchen, the style of preparation and spices such as jimbu and timur are unique in their Nepali flavour.
With help and inputs from numerous family members, Rohini Rana has collected and documented the recipes precious to each Rana prime minister’s family. Showcasing magnificent food from the palaces, this luxurious and beautifully illustrated cookbook attempts to preserve these recipes for future generations, and posterity.
Rohini Rana, better known as Dolly, was born in India and got married in Nepal in 1977 to General Gaurav S.J.B. Rana (former chief of army staff, Nepalese Army). During her meandering life as an army wife, she has played the part of a homemaker, social worker, entrepreneur and restaurateur. Cooking is her life’s passion. Years of joyous cooking experiences and extensive research of old Rana recipes have resulted in this book.
Praise For The Book-
‘Having been married to a Rana for sixty years, I am fully au fait with Nepali food. It is delicious and I am sure this well-researched and beautifully illustrated book will be widely welcomed by gourmets around the world’ –DR KARAN SINGH
‘Dolly is just the right person to write a book on Rana cuisine . . . she presents an excellent sample of what we used to eat at my grandfather’s neoclassical palace or at her grandfather-in-law’s Baber Mahal. She takes great pride in the heritage of the family she married into. She has the flair and intelligence to recount it’ – HONORARY PASHUPATI SHUMSHER JUNG BAHADUR RANA
‘In this lavishly illustrated book, Dolly Rana invites us ordinary mortals through the galleried porticos of her family’s white stuccoed palaces to discover the secrets of the century-old Rana cuisine. It is a wonderful and worthy addition to the compendium of South Asian cookbooks’- LISA CHOEGYAL
HB | 296 pgs. | Rs. 1999/-
Releasing On March 1st, 2021
