‘The nourishment of body is food while the nourishment of the soul
is feeding others’
Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu-Talib (A.S)
Our kitchen offers three nourishing and nutritious plant-based meals a day, generally inspired by Asian cuisine. We try to cater as much as possible using local and seasonal ingredients, and fresh produce from our garden and village. We get daily fresh milk from our grass-fed buffalo, Kali, to make our rich masala chai. We serve homemade freshly milled, black millet rotis (kodo ko), buckwheat and wholewheat flatbreads, and steamed paos. Mountain rice, millet and corn are grown in abundance around Astam.
We love our soil. Each leaf, each sprout, each bite, holds the work of hands, of sun-warmed days and long shadows. It is a simple act that ties us to our roots, to where we come from, and to what keeps us alive. It is something that endures long after the hands are gone and when the sun sets for the last time.
During retreats, all meals are provided and eaten communally in the dining room to support your practice and wellbeing. Please let us know of any allergies or dietary restrictions. We will try our best to cater for it.