PEAKLIFE

By PEAKLIFE

Dining has evolved beyond the simple act of sitting down to eat; it has become a quest for engagement. Today’s diners seek authentic, interactive, and sensory experiences. They yearn for an experience that not only satisfies their taste buds but also leaves them with newfound knowledge when they return home. Prateek Sadhu’s latest endeavour, Naar, embodies precisely these ethos. Nestled amidst the serene hills, embraced by the purity of nature and caressed by the fresh Himalayan breeze, Naar epitomises the spirit of the Himalayas.

Naar is situated deep within the pine forests of Darwa (45 minutes from Kasauli) within the premises of a sustainable hotel called Amaya. Amidst the encompassing pine trees, Prateek shares his affinity for a unique creation: pine-infused dessert. “We craft a delightful pine ice cream and syrup which is also presented in the form of a pine.” It’s the second sweet treat featured on the menu, whimsically titled “Pine, Pine & Pine.”

It was a lifelong dream of Prateek Sadhu to come back to the mountains. Born in Kashmir, his heart always belonged to the serendipity of nature. This reflects in his restaurant and his hospitality. Translating to fire in Kashmiri, ‘Naar’ is a nod to his passion, hopes and burning desires to champion Himalayan cuisine while telling the stories of this inspiring land and its people. “We’ve been doing our research by scouting for ingredients, understanding why people of the Himalayan belt eat what they eat, and distilling our discoveries onto a plate. It’s been a journey of learning, but more importantly, one of unlearning and we’ve only scratched the surface” explains Prateek.

NAAR’s kitchen mirrors the changing seasons, and the menus distill nature’s bounty. Winter, spring, summer, monsoon, fall, early winter-in the mountains, one can distinctly see these six seasons shift. Citrussy fruits in the winter, bright juicy plums in the monsoon, and maybe a persimmon in the fall, NAAR finds inspiration in nature’s rule book. Not only the menu, the logo of the restaurant also changes with the seasons. The changing fonts of each letter represent the versatility of the Himalayan region, where each unique element comes together to tell a larger story.

A preview dinner was served exclusively for Audi x Club Rewards Drive in association with GlobalSpa. Naar doors open on 24th November 2023.