The first thing guests notice about the food at Vaadi is that it does not taste like hotel food. There are no buffet stations. There is a kitchen, a chef, and whatever the season has brought to the valley.
Vaadi is a homestay at 8,000 feet in the pine forests near Auli, Uttarakhand. Every meal here is cooked from scratch using Garhwali recipes that have been passed down through generations. This is what that actually means.
Where the Ingredients Come From
Nearby farms
Seasonal vegetables grown in the terraced fields of villages close to us: potatoes, greens, and root vegetables that vary with the altitude and the month. In summer, the variety expands. In winter, it narrows to what stores well and what grows despite the cold.
Village dairy
Milk and curd from cows kept by families in the valley. Thick, fresh, and carrying the taste of the Himalayan grass they graze on. This milk becomes the curd for your breakfast paratha, the cream in your chai, and the base for Kumaoni raita at dinner.
Local markets
Spices and dry goods sourced from the weekly markets in the region. Familiar names, but noticeably different from what you find in cities. The turmeric is darker, the cumin more fragrant, the red chilli has a particular heat that sits differently.
Forest foraging
Wild herbs gathered from the pine and rhododendron forests around the property. Buransh (rhododendron) flowers for juice. Wild greens for the dal. Forest honey collected by villagers who know which trees the bees prefer.
What You Will Eat ( always rotated )
Breakfast (served 8:00 to 9:00 AM)
- Mandua ki roti with pahadi dal — finger millet flatbread, a Garhwali staple
- Aloo paratha with fresh curd from the village dairy
- Poha with chai — flattened rice cooked light, with masala chai
- Seasonal fruit with local honey
The menu rotates daily. Chai is available from the moment you wake up.
Lunch (served 12:30 to 1:30 PM)
- Kafuli with steamed rice — a spinach-like dish made with local greens, thickened with rice paste
- Rajma chawal — kidney beans slow-cooked with mountain spices
- Pahadi dal with local greens and chapati
- Seasonal sabzi with fresh roti
Dinner (served 7:30 to 8:30 PM)
- Aloo ke gutke with jhangora kheer — spiced potatoes with barnyard millet pudding
- Kumaoni raita with dal bhaat — yogurt preparation with rice and lentils
- Pahadi chicken curry with rice (non-veg option)
- Mixed dal with roti and house pickle
Anytime
- Rhododendron juice (buransh) — sweet, pink, made from the flowers that bloom in the forests around us
- Masala chai — available all day, every day
- Fresh milk from the village
- Local honey with warm water
What Makes It Different
The food at Vaadi is not fusion. It is not fine dining. It is not trying to be anything other than what it is: the food that people in these mountains have cooked for themselves for centuries, made with care, in a home kitchen.
The difference is in the ingredients. Curd that was milk this morning. Greens that were in the ground yesterday. Honey that came from the forest last week. Spices that were ground by hand. You taste the difference immediately, even if you cannot name what is different.
Meals are not included in the room rate. Breakfast is ₹600 per person. Lunch and dinner are ₹700 per person. Most guests take all three meals because, after a day or two, the food becomes one of the main reasons they do not want to leave.
Dietary Notes
The default menu is largely vegetarian. Non-vegetarian options (usually pahadi chicken) are available at dinner with advance notice. Jain meals and vegan meals can be accommodated if you let us know when you book. Egg-free and gluten-free options are possible but limited by what the mountain provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order food outside meal times?
Chai and light snacks are available anytime. Full meals are served at fixed times because the kitchen works with fresh ingredients that are prepared each morning.
Is the food spicy?
Garhwali food is moderately spiced, not fiery. If you prefer less spice or more, let us know. The cook adjusts.
Do you cater for large groups?
Vaadi has two cabins and serves a maximum of 8-10 guests at a time. The kitchen is designed for this scale. For larger groups, we can arrange meals with advance planning.
