Gas shortage in Kathmandu forces restaurants to cut menus — Kathmandu Post
In Kathmandu, Nepal, restaurants are removing tandoori roti, fried dishes, steamed momos, sizzlers and other items requiring lengthy preparation from their menus because of a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas. Establishments are switching to infrared cookers and rice cookers, while some business owners are considering cooking with firewood, Kathmandu Post reports.
Fewer dishes and lower sales
Krishna Pandey, the owner of Palpali Bhojanalaya in the Thapathali area, has removed nearly half of the menu items because they require a lot of gas for boiling or frying. The establishment's tandoor is not operating, and it is also not preparing French fries or fried chicken. According to Pandey, he and other restaurateurs travelled to Hetauda and Birgunj for gas, but making such trips regularly is impossible.
At Gahraukalika Tandoori Bhojanalaya in Buddhanagar, the tandoor has not been operating for several weeks. Its owner, Raj Luitel, said that tandoori roti brought the establishment about 7,000 Nepalese rupees daily. The restaurant, which usually used two gas cylinders — for the kitchen and the tandoor — now cooks rice in a rice cooker.
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Service delays
The shortage has also affected cafes. At Irani Chiya in the Tinkune area, they have been unable to fully meet demand for their signature Iranian tea for more than 15 days; it needs to be boiled for at least 15 minutes. Sales of this drink have fallen from 50–60 to about 40 cups a day. According to manager Subas Bhandari, the problem has affected all 22 outlets of the chain in Kathmandu, some of which have begun offering other varieties of tea.
Chiyaverse cafe in Buddhanagar warns visitors of possible delays due to the gas shortage. Owner Bhaskar Kulung has reduced the number of gas stoves and uses infrared equipment for part of the cooking. Previously, two cylinders supplied six stoves; now only three operate on gas.
Supply has begun to improve
Restaurants are also reducing their menus to conserve fuel, but are at the same time losing customers looking for specific dishes. Establishment operators say that switching to electric equipment is complicated by power outages and additional costs. Hotel Association Nepal President Binayak Shah said the supply situation had improved somewhat after the Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway reopened, although he described the impact of the gas shortage on hospitality establishments as noticeable.
