Beginning with a brief history of Tibetans in exile, this episode explores how food can create imaginary homelands, even if it means that authenticity itself needs to be invented and reinvented. Three Tibetans in the diaspora, Jamyang Phuntsok, Tencho Gyatso, and Nima Dorjee, are the guests on this episode. Through conversations that range from personal histories to current food interests, we will talk about gastronomy and memory, tsampa as a potential political tool, and what role food can play for a community in exile.

Topics covered in this episode:


Min 0:00: The idea of home as connected to food

Min 1:42: Meet Jamyang Phuntsok

Min 1:58: Meet Tencho Gyatso

Min 2:40: Meet Nima Dorjee

Min 4:34: An overview of Tibetan food in India

Min 6:30: The popularization and adaptation of momos

Min 10:09: Politics of tsampa

Min 16:32: On authenticity in the context of exile

Min 21:05: Chinese influence in Tibetan food

Min 23:01: Food and solidarity



Learn more about this episode of Bad Table Manners at www.whetstoneradio.com, on IG and Twitter at @whetstoneradio, and YouTube at WhetstoneRadio.

Guests: Jamyang Phuntsok (@jongtrukh), Tencho Gyatso (@simplytibetan), Nima Dorjee

Ethereal Relaxation by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/8719-ethereal-relaxation (https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/8719-ethereal-relaxation )

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license (https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)