Lunch at Serai Cafe at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, NYC

Have you been to the Rubin Museum? We visit often. It provides a calm respite from the busy city life and a deep insight into the ancient and modern culture of Himalayan and surrounding cultures.

It is also home of what might be one of NY's best kept secrets the heavenly Serai Cafe.

Here an exceptional seasonal menu of dishes inspired by the Himalayas is served in a plush setting. Inspired is the operative word as the dishes are far more delicious than I think you would actually find in Gyangze or Lhasa, not to say that the food there is not very good.

At Serai Himalayan cuisine is brought to haute standards, although discretely so, like this Kashmiri pickled beet salad infused with a saffron shirkhand. We've never tasted such perfect beats. Shrikhand is a strained yogurt pudding that literally translates to ‘ambrosia of the gods’. Appropriately named. And here, a place of sacred art, gods, plural, is so applicable..

I have always loved the idea Mulligatawny Soup, or wanted too. The name has such an intriguing sound, bring up images of grand colonial India, East India Company and the like. This soup which translated literally from Tamil, "Mulligatawny" or "Milagu thanni" means "pepper water to often tastes like not much more.

This preparation however was deliciously creamy and flavorful, perfect on a cold winter day. Sorry I started eating before shooting.

With this we had a sampling of traditional breads with three of the most sensuous chutneys. Beautifully served.

This is a tiny sampling of the menu that includes things like Thali plates and traditional momo dumplings. Serai also offers a wide range of soups, salads, and assorted vegetarian and regional specials. As well as a ample selection of specialty chai, teas, and coffee drinks and desserts.

Serai, from Persian saraay, palace, mansion, inn.

Serai Cafe

Rubin Museum of Art

150 W. 17 St., NYC 10011 ·

212.620.5000

Dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions the Rubin is a must visit place.

When there we always spend some time in silence embracing the wonderful essence of The Tibetan Shrine Room from the Alice S. Kandell Collection, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.