Hello fellow Steemians, if there is an all-you-can eat buffet in town then you know I will find it! I happen to love Tibetan food so this is an all around win. This delicious food can be found in Boulder or Nederland, Colorado. I prefer the Boulder location since it is cleaner and there are free refills on the traditionally concocted Chai Tea. So, please allow me take you on a small tour of one of my favorite places to have a healthy meal at a great price.
Fu Dogs
Maybe you have seen Fu Dogs, or Guardian Lions in your lifetime, but have never questioned their meaning. A quick definition is that in Feng Shui these protective dogs are placed at the entryway of an establishment as a form of protection, and a symbol of family wealth and social status.
Typically, there is a male that is placed on the left and he usually has a globe under his paw. There is also a female and she has a small cub under her paw. If you ever see these protective Fu Dogs, now you have a basic idea of what they mean. I find them very comforting as I enter the restaurant.
Prayer Mani Wheel
As we walk further into the restaurant on the right hand side there are Mani Wheels or Prayer Wheels, and these are wheels that spin in either a clockwise or counter clockwise motion with the hands. The meaning behind the Mani Wheels are to spread spiritual blessings and well being. I always find my way to spin the wheels either before or after I eat. It is always a nice thing to do to spread blessings everywhere.
Lord Ganesh
One of my favorite gods is Lord Ganesh, so seeing him placed above the Mani Wheels brings peace and joy to the atmosphere. His names means Lord of the People, and the placement within the restaurant is for good luck. That is good for anyone coming to eat, since this will deflect bad luck, happiness, prosperity, health and good people will enter the establishment.
Tibetan Food
Tibetan food is similar to Indian Cuisine with the added foods of yak, goat, mutton, various noodles, dumplings, and cheese made from yak or goat. When I enter the buffet area, I will take a quick look around to see what is being served. The menu will typically include the following:
Foods Options That Are Always Available
- Fresh Salad
- Rice Salad
- Various Fruit
- White Rice
- Fried Rice
- Saag
- Dal Johl
- Kheer - Rice Pudding
- Fresh Made Sauces and Dressings
- Fresh Made Ice Cream
- Fresh Made Lassi
- Traditional Chai Tea
Food Options That Change Daily
- Chicken Curry
- Tandoori Chicken Curry
- Tandoori Chicken
- Cabbage and Jalapeno
- Chana Masala - Garbanzo Bean Salad
- Chow Chow - Noodles with Vegetables
- Vegetable Curry
- Mixed Vegetables
- Peas and Potato
- Pakora
- Soup of the Day
Thangka
Throughout the restaurant there are various works of Tibetan art called Thangka's. These various art pieces are made with silk and the intention behind the works are for contemplation. Many Thangka's are depictions of gods and goddesses or the eyes of Buddha, as seen in these photos.
My Choices
Finding traditional Chai Tea is not easy to find, so I thank my lucky stars that this comforting drink is served at this restaurant. This is the very first thing I order and did I mention that this is Unlimited?
Chai Tea
I then make my way to the salad bar, and this has become a habit. I start with a fresh salad and homemade dressing. I particularly love the freshly made yoghurt that is most likely made with yak or goat milk. The texture and taste is very light and creamy.
Salad
I then push my way, Asian style to the food and usually pick something that has been recently placed in the metal bins. This time I chose spicy chicken, curry shrimp, curry lamb, and Saag.
Main Dish
Of course we cannot forget dessert and the freshly made ice cream is simply Divine.
Ice Cream
Swayambhunath Mural
I could not help but take a photo of a painting depicting the oldest Stupa in the world. The Swayambhunath Stupa can be found in Kathmandu City, Nepal and has the eyes of Buddha painted on the tower. The painting within the restaurantis located in the main dining room.
Mukhwas
If you did not know the name of the after meal spices after an Indian or Tibetan meal, the name is Mukhwas. These herbs aid in digestion and mouth freshener. The ingredients are anise and fennel seeds, coconut, sugar, and essential oils. The sugar is coated onto some of the seeds, creating different colored seeds in the mixture. I tend to stay away from this, but sometimes I have a little bit to aid in the digestive process.
I hope you enjoyed the little tour around one of my favorite Tibetan restaurants. Happy Saturday!
All photos are the property of 