mompling house – nepalese food at folkestone harbour

Mompling House is a family run business bringing Nepalese food to Folkestone Harbour.  There is a huge community of Nepalese in Folkestone as the Ghurkas had been based at Shorncliff Barracks and many families have settled here.  Nepalese cuisine is full of fresh flavours, and national favourites such as momos are incredibly popular.  Srijana and Bikash Gurung are sister and brother bringing momos and more to The Goods Yard.  Folkelife met to find out their family history.

Srijana:“We are from a large family of seven children and our parents.  At home we’d all be cooking together, rolling dough to make the momos and everything else.  So we wanted to bring our national cuisine to Folkestone Harbour for everyone to taste.”

Bikash: “We started our first street food stall 18 years ago.  But due to family commitments, I moved to Macau in China and spent 11 years there.  Now, we are reunited to bring you the best of Nepalese street food.”

halal chicken

Srijana: “Our momos are made from Halal chicken and herbs and spices.  The dough for the momo is a very special one which we use.  We then have a machine that can make many momos because once you have had one, it’s hard not to eat many more. The chutneys that go with the momos are also important.  We have a yellow and a red one.  The yellow is quite spicy, and the red is sweeter.  These, again, are our authentic recipes from home.  Our vegetarian momo is made from cabbage, onions and our spice combination.”

Bikash: “In Nepal we make a very special chow mein which we will be bringing to the Harbour.  And also fried rice too.  So that you can choose which toppings you have, there will be an Halal chicken or vegetarian/vegan topping for both of those dishes.  Another speciality is Aloo Chop which is a mashed potato with added flavours and fried.  We’re going to add cheese to ours so that when you pull it open it will be a cheese aloo party.”

army life

Srijana: “My husband and I have had two stays in Folkestone.  When you’re in the Army you move around a lot.  We were first here in 2013 and there was nothing to do.  I liked going to Sandgate beach as a I love being so close to the sea.  Nepal is a land-locked country, so to be able to be so close and live by the sea is very exciting to me.  In 2013, we didn’t come over to the Harbour area though as there was nothing here, nothing to do. Now, everything has changed.  My husband and I are settled here now, and we wanted to be part of what was happening here at the Harbour.”

Nepalese at folkestone harbour

Srijana: “I ask a lot of my friends in Cheriton if they have been to the Harbour and there is nothing of our culture here so it is hard.  Now we will be here we will bring our community too which is important to share and be part of the bigger community here in Folkestone.”

Bikash: “We are really looking forward to being here.  We have worked a lot internationally and eaten a lot of street food.  Food is important to us and our skills and recipes have been taught us by our parents and grandparents.  Our food here at the Harbour will be as authentic Nepalese as possible and we can’t wait to share it and our culture with you.”