My third and final “Hidden Gem” in Cochrane I want to share with Eagle readers is Aama Nepalese Cuisine. This restaurant has recently opened and is located at the intersection of Horse Creek Road and Highway 1A. Sue and I celebrated our most recent wedding anniversary on Sept. 11 and we decided to reserve a table for that evening.
It was great that we could stroll up to the restaurant from where we live in West Terrace Rise. Entering the establishment, we were struck by the beautiful décor and art on the walls. Sitting down, we met the owners Tara and Gyanendra and learned a little bit about them. They told us that it all started when Chef Gyanendra, popularly known as Chef G, found himself pacing the walls of his home in northeast Calgary during the COVID-19 lockdown. Suddenly, he found lots of time to talk to his family back in Nepal thanks to the social media and video chat technology of today’s digital era.
Food was a central theme for many during the lockdown, as we all know. He started re-creating his mom’s recipes with the help of his elder sister, who brought him up after his mom’s passing at a very young age. Knowing Calgary is not an avid server of Nepalese cuisine, he started to curate a menu that not only serves the most authentic flavours, but also carries symbolism of Nepalese culture.
Tara Poudel, wife to Chef G and an expert in banking and finance, laid out the blueprint to bring “Aama Nepalese Cuisine” to life. She worked on the ideation, while Chef G took care of all things flavour. For the name, they wanted to honour Chef G’s beloved late mother, thereby calling the place Aama Nepalese Cuisine where “Aama” means mother. Through their food, they hope to share their story, culture, and values. The three key values they are building at Aama Nepalese Cuisine are reverence, service, and gratitude.
Tara and Chef G express their gratitude for the tremendous love and support they have received from Cochranites. To them, Cochrane feels home.
Sue and I had a wonderful meal and look forward to visiting again. Tara told us that they will be introducing a brunch menu in October, so check out their Instagram @aamanepalesecuisine for more details on that.
It’s recommended to make reservations ahead of time, so make sure to call 403-376-6165 before you enjoy your “Taste of Nepal.”
