Mail by Runner 2: A Travelling Mortar

Tashi Delek!

A Travelling Mortar

Potatoes in a wooden carved Sherpa bowl with a homemade grater for making potato pancakes (Riggi Koor).

The wooden traveling mortar was given to me by Thami Kirkien who was one of the cooks on the 1953 Everest Expedition.

Ed described him as the worst cook he had ever encountered... He must have been pretty bad! Charming man though....

As part of Tenzing and Daku’s New Zealand tour, the McKinnon's hosted a dinner party for them. At the last minute Diane - harking back to Khumbu cuisine - put on a pot of boiled potatoes which she served with two Sherpa dips;

1. Rock salt pounded with Sichuan pepper and,
2. Rock salt pounded with chili and chives

The potatoes (Riggies in the Sherpa Language) were a culinary triumph. Tenzing completely ignored the biriyani which was also on offer and said it was the tastiest and most satisfying food he had had since he left home.

Diane McKinnon

Himalayan Trust member, and previous board member.