It’s Thursday afternoon, and algorithmically, the worst time to send a newsletter. But here I am, as per usual, ignoring advice about (from?) the algorithm gods 🙂 This edition of my newsletter is long; TL;DR
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Here is what’s in this newsletter:
- What devastates the Nepal-Tibet area affects us too
- The Big Why, The Big How to build a sustainable world
- My love for Tibetan Momos, and why they are what they are
- A short list of my (current) favourite Toronto restaurants
- It’s not over until it’s over
You may have read recently there was a flash flood in the Nepal-Tibet area. Many people died. Here’s what you may not know.
On August 26, a glacier collapsed in the Himalayan mountains, causing a catastrophic flood in the Nepal-Tibet area. This was not just a flash flood. Imagine a giant wall of mud, rock and water moving at 55 kmph that slides down a mountain, overtakes crowds, violently and instantly swallows up schools, houses, entire villages, a large border and immigration building centre and 19 bridges, burying all beneath many feet of mud…cakey mud. Mud that has, in the last week, slowly solidified, making rescue nearly impossible. People are still trying to rescue their friends and families, though, and strangers too, all under many, many feet of cakey mud.
At last count, 1250 people have been killed, 6500 are still counted as missing. Streets are still lined with missing posters, and rescue efforts continue, though hopes of finding people alive are fading as time passes.
The Nepal-Tibet Disaster was not a freak weather event
This was not a freak weather event or an unpredictable, natural disaster. The mid-mountain ranges in the north-eastern Himalayas where this happened are mostly stone, rock, mud and snow. They are held together by ice and glaciers; they are like glue. For years, this ice has been melting, so much that the structural integrity of the mountain ranges is now in question. What happened last month in the Nepal-Tibet area was a result of this melting, and part of the glacier slid down the valley. People on the ground said, “It feels as if the mountain collapsed.”
For those of us who read what’s going on in the environmental space or who work in this field, this is not surprising. Heartbreaking, shocking, but not a surprise. This exact scenario has been on the books for decades. I learned about it in the UN IPCC report that came out in October 2018, a report I cite heavily in my book, Good Food, Healthy Planet. To my knowledge, hundreds of reports and roadmaps have been shared, most recently this report from a few days ago.
The Big Why
Our planet is warming, and the heating of the land and waters is changing our world, permanently. We will see catastrophic results everywhere. Whether in Toronto or Cape Breton, New Delhi or Gyirong Town on the Nepal-Tibet border, we are now living through these changes. Regions with limited funds and resources may recover, but they will not be able to bounce back. Areas with no community support and no nature to help regenerate the land and people will not be resilient. Wildfires, poor air quality, flooding, warming, and drying are now a part of our everyday experiences. In some areas, more quickly and heavily than in others. This is not new news, though.
For 30+ years, scientists have been meeting to discuss the need to lower greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the dangers of climate breakdown. Reports of where, when, how and roadmaps of adaptation have been shared. Our political leaders know. In addition, community leaders, Indigenous people, and even regular people who are seeing the effects of the changes on the ground have been talking about what’s coming. The warnings are loud, and they have been clear. It is time to listen.
Our political leaders know, but they are not acting. We have to. What we spend on, the steps we take, how we act, and the changes we make can help preserve the quality of our lives.
The Big How
More than land was destroyed
I have a deep attachment to the Nepal-Tibet area. I grew up in India, and you may know that my dad was in the Indian Army, and we moved and relocated often. My family and I spent a big chunk of my childhood and youth living in the Himalayan region of north-eastern India, adjacent to the Nepal-Tibet area. If you know me irl, you have also seen the influence of this region and of Buddhism, the religion of this area, in my home and my everyday practices. I am sharing this with you because I want to share with you my love for the culture, life and the land of this area.
Watching climate breakdown affect the people and mountains of this area has affected me deeply. The day after the glacier collapse, on the 27th, after reading about the anguish the people and land in the area were going through, my body could feel it – I was craving momos.
Have you heard of Momos?
For those who don’t know, momos are Tibetan-style dumplings. Without spending any time actually counting, I can say with full confidence I have probably eaten 1000’s of momos in my life. They are quite different from the Chinese/ Korean-style wontons that you may have tried. The skin is more robust and chewy; the liquid-to-flour proportion is different, I’m told. The filling is distinctly different too; coriander is used instead of chives, and cumin brings in the umami flavour instead of soy sauce. Momos are a lovely example of how, when people migrate, they change what they cook depending on what’s available. Techniques change too. Soy sauce was harder to make and source for families who moved from China and Tibet to north-eastern India, so umami and salty flavours were built using what was more readily available; onion, garlic, cumin and even black cardamom are used more in Nepali-Tibetan foods. Different techniques are used to ferment soybeans too – into Akhuni instead of Miso or Soy Sauce.
Drop me a note if you know how to make momos or have grown up watching someone make them. Let’s talk!
Favourite Toronto Restaurants
Please note: I am not sponsored by these restaurants in any way. Their information may also change quickly.
Authentic Iranian food in Toronto, a casual restaurant with interesting decor and delicious food – City Kebabs
Incredible Palestinian food in Toronto, an upscale restaurant with thoughtful presentation and pairings – Louf, Toronto
Amazing Nepali and Tibetan Food in Toronto, casual cafe vibes with decor that reminds me of the cafe culture of Dehradun, a north-Indian city that is a cultural hub for immigrants from Nepal and Tibet – Himalayan Momo House. The momo house is run/ owned by the same team who own Himalayan Cafe House across the street. Great vibes and very detailed handmade latte art.
Come back next month. I have been working on a new project for a while, and I am very excited about it. Much like my “category-expanding” cookbook, this new work is also brand new, as in, it has never been done before. I can’t wait to share it with you. Meanwhile, I hope you have me in your feeds.
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With love,
From a human