Having been a journalist in Kent for more than 10 years, I’ve become familiar with the Nepalese communities here. It’s ranged from speaking to prominent members or councillors representing issues or covering matters relating to the Gurkhas. The one thing I’ve never really got to know properly is the nation’s cuisine.
Food plays a hugely important part in the community’s identity and I’ve only really scratched the surface so far. So when Annapurna in Folkestone was featured on celebrity chef Andi Oliver’s latest show on the BBC highlighting the multi-cultural mix of the town, inspiration struck and I was eager to dive in. Tucked away in Cheriton Place, a side street just off Sandgate Road, in all honesty, its kerb appeal doesn’t necessarily grab you.
But as I would soon learn, this restaurant is a classic example of not judging a book by its cover. Stepping inside, visitors are welcomed by a manakin dressed in Gurkha uniform referring to the proud roots Nepal still holds with Britain in serving the country through the various regiments in the Army. We were greeted by two young lads working the bar and the tables who politely show us to our seats.
Like the outside, the decor is nothing fancy but is festooned with pictures and artwork depicting the Nepalese countryside including one vista of a village in the shadows of the Annapurna mountain range. It was a Friday night and the tables in the restaurant were soon filled with friends and families, ready to catch up.
