Chitrangada Gupta
Distraught at losing her job during the first Covid lockdown in 2020, Chitrangada Gupta started a home kitchen with her mother Arati Thapa and grandmother Maiyya Thapa. This was a family renowned for its momos and so the kitchen became a hive of activity, a place where these steamed dumplings were prepared and sent out. In fact, during Diwali that year, orders peaked at around 25 per day.
It’s a great leap, and a brave step too, for anyone without an F&B background to open a restaurant. But that’s exactly what Chitrangada did and today, she and her mother run the unassuming and cosy Boju’s Kitchen in 32nd Avenue. The home kitchen that brought them and many others solace, is now a labour of love embraced by a growing number of admirers.
The menu and seating is limited at this quiet spot with a café-like vibe, but that’s a large part of its appeal. The food here, which has elements of Himalayan, Nepalese and Northeastern cuisine, has a ‘home away from home’ feel. ‘Boju’, in fact, is Nepalese for grandma, which could not be more apt, for the recipes have been sourced and inspired by the matriarch, Maiyya Thapa.
When Boju’s began its journey in early 2022, Arati it was who ran the kitchen but now a chef from Nepal ensures that every order is reaching every table exactly as per the patron’s request. While Chitrangada diligently oversees operations here, Boju’s would not have become what it has without the grandmotherly and motherly touch. And as we all know, grandma’s cooking is all about heart and soul. So, you’re guaranteed fare that’s delicious, hearty and above all, as authentically Nepalese as one can find in Gurgaon, or anywhere else in Delhi-NCR.
Let’s whet your appetite! Boju’s momos are available in three fillings—pork, chicken, mushroom and cheese. But the most popular item on the menu is another variant, the pan-fried Sadeko momos, cooked with Nepalese spices. Besides, there’s the healthy and soul-satisfying Chicken Thukpa—in which the noodles are made from rice flour—the scrumptious Chilli Pork, and the delectable and filling Steamed Rice with Pork Curry and Aloo Dum, served with potato pickle and fermented greens by the side. And whether you’re starting your meal or ending it, nothing beats a first-flush Darjeeling tea.
This Darjeeling family can be rightly proud of the buzz that Boju’s has created, all on the back of a space that offers comfort for the stomach and the soul.
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