The Pride of Nagaland

An exclusive interview with Alemjungla Jamir, the owner of award winning restaurant, Naga Bowl Express

- Meeta Borah

When you think of Nagaland, you automatically picture colourful tribes and mesmerizing landscapes. But that is not all; the State is also home to some amazing food that will leave you hankering for more. Food entrepreneur, Alemjungla Jamir, recognized the potential of the local cuisine. She opened Naga Bowl Express in 2018 to preserve and promote Naga cuisine. The restaurant is not only meant for travellers who want to taste the local delicacies, but it also caters to locals who want a taste of ‘home’. And so, the restaurant is loved by tourists and locals alike. In fact, it won the title of ‘Most Admired Traditional Naga Cuisine Restaurant in Nagaland’ awarded by Merit Awards and Market Research Private Limited, which recognises excellence and showcase the outstanding work by food and hospitality professionals in India. We speak to Alemjungla to find out more about her and the restaurant.

Please tell us a little about yourself

The youngest of seven siblings, I have a background in hotel management. I’ve worked with the Oberoi, ITC and Hilton hotels in India as well as in Italy before returning to Nagaland. I worked here for eleven years as a faculty of hotel management at the Global Open University, Nagaland. I have also chaired the Naga Chef Competition held annually since 2013 during the Hornbill Festival. In fact, I have judged several food competitions in Northeast India. I started the Naga Bowl Express Restaurant in 2018 with an aim to preserve and promote Naga cuisine.

What challenges did you face when you just started out?