Poonam Malla Thapa,
Founder, Your 2nd Kitchen
Poonam Malla Thapa has been in the food and hospitality business since 1997. In 2003, Poonam went to the US and had the opportunity to work with various restaurants as a Manager. In 2012, she returned to Nepal and started working with Hotel Annapurna in the Banquet & Event Sales Department. Later in 2017, she joined Hotel Royal Singhi as the Event and Conference Manager. When the hospitality business came to a sudden halt due to the pandemic, Poonam decided to venture out on her own and started ‘Your 2nd Kitchen’ in May 2020. The business model is of a cloud kitchen catering to Nepali taste buds wanting home cooked authentic recipes. What started as individual orders has today also converted to bulk orders and business is good for the new entrepreneur who is driven by her passion for delicious food.
Poonam selects her ingredients very carefully and ensures that most of what she uses is local products. The recipes in her kitchen are mostly what she learnt from her mother or what has been in the family, passed down over the generations. Dhakani, Phurandana, Chicken Sandeko, Khutti ko Ras and even the humble Jawlo are hot favourites among her clients. Poonam cooks herself and while she wouldn’t trade pink salt for anything in all her food, that extra ingredient, she says, comes from her tender, loving care that goes into the preparation and cooking process.
She is supported by her husband and son in the business. Poonam is open to customising orders and variations in the menu, and her food can be directly ordered by contacting her on 9851121846 or through Opasa food delivery app.
RECIPE
Chicken Sandeko
Shredded chicken salad Nepali style
Ingredients for 4 servings:
• 500gms boneless chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1-2 onions chopped
• 1 tomato chopped
• 1 green chilli chopped
• 5-6 fresh green cilantro leaves chopped
• 1-2 teaspoons oil (olive or mustard oil)
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon crushed chilli flakes
• 50 gms peeled green peas
• 5-10 gms ginger pieces
• 5-10 gms garlic pieces or green fresh garlic
• 3-4 teaspoons lemon juice
• pinch of salt (as per taste)
• half teaspoon timur powder (Sichuan pepper)
Method
In a bowl combine everything, mix well and its ready to serve.
