Spice, Smoke, and Storytelling: Gormei’s Mountain Feast Hits New Heights

Image Source: Telegraph India

Kolkata's Glenburn Penthouse was recently transformed into a high-altitude retreat as Gormei's Mountain Table pop-up brought the bold, layered flavors of the Eastern Himalayas to the city's foodies. Curated by chefs Ishita Rai Dewan and Katherine Lim, the two-day pop-up was a culinary travelogue through Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Yunnan, and beyond—presented with heirloom recipes, fermented flavors, and storytelling on a plate.

Experience Highlights

The eight-course meal was comprised of dishes based in tradition but refreshed with modern panache

They were welcomed with a Huangjiu Spritzer, a rice wine made in the Hakka tradition with Shillong glutinous rice and Darjeeling and Chinese yeasts.

The Mountain Platter included a combination of chive pakoras, Kalimpong cheese, fermented dalle chutney, and pickled bamboo shoots

The highlight was the Pahadi Taco—smoked mutton buckwheat pancakes, gundruk dalle salsa, and house-made chilli oil

Roast pork belly by Chef Katherine, glazed to a resounding crackle, had a spicy, savory kick

Among the other dishes were Fing Salad of monsoon greens, Mountain Streams soup with jimbu and mud crab, and a soothing Barley Risotto with fried oyster mushrooms

Cultural Layers

The menu paid tribute to indigenous spices like timur pepper, gundruk (fermented mustard green), and sisnu (stinging nettle)

Fermenting techniques and heritage grains were at the center of the food narrative

The chefs were motivated by their own heritage—Chef Ishita of Kalimpong and Chef Katherine of Kolkata of Chinese-Himalayan descent

The festival highlighted how migration, memory, and geography make their mark on the area's unique food identity

Atmosphere & Aesthetics

The rooftop function space in Glenburn Penthouse offered a colonial-meets-modern setting

Every lesson included a specially designed cocktail, e.g., Hapusa gin infusions

The night unfolded like a tale—narrated with textures, scents, and elders' wisdom

Sources: The Telegraph India, Gormei Events, The Kolkata Mail