Ethnic Table — New Naga restaurant opens in Dimapur

DIMAPUR — A Naga restaurant called “Ethnic Table,” which will cater to people who want to try authentic and indigenous Naga food, was inaugurated on Thursday at Notun Bosti, opposite Sumi Baptist Church in Dimapur.

The proprietor of the restaurant, Aketoli H. Zhimomi, who is also the winner of Naga Chef (Season 1) in 2013, shared that she first opened a restaurant in 2014 near Faith Hospital in Dimapur. This year, she has relocated her restaurant under the same name, but this time she has a partner, chef Soni Rana.

She recalled that she was unemployed but, after winning Naga Chef, she wanted to start something rather than just be a titleholder staying at home.

The main concept of the restaurant, she said, is to preserve local food while also developing new ways to present Naga cuisine, which is becoming increasingly popular among chefs.

She stated that they will serve indigenous and authentic Naga foods in their interpretation, with dishes prepared using millets, jobstears, perilla seeds, sesame seeds, and other Naga ingredients. The place will cater to people who want to try authentic Naga food as well as progressive Naga cuisine, she added.

She believes that there is great potential in Naga cuisine with local produce and ingredients.

She also shared that they will serve beverages made with in-house ferments of fruits and vegetables, which they are currently experimenting with.

She informed that they are a team of eight at the restaurant and that she has employed Naga youth who are eager to work. In her own small way, she hopes to provide employment to young people.

It may be noted that she also received an award in 2023 as one of the “Top 30 Chefs in India,” organised by Culinary Culture Co.