Rangzen - Almost a Year later

Last year my wife and I received the New Year (or close to it) at Rangtzen, a Tibetan restaurant located off of Mass Avenue in Cambridge MA. The delectable experience I narrated in my now very quiet OpenSalon blog and would love to import (just a few of the food articles, not that rants and raves). The question I asked myself today was, why wait so long to enjoy what moves you? Again and again I deny myself basic pleasures. There is no good in that. False modesty? lack of time? I certainly am not proposing a sybaritic lifestyle,,,, just enjoying what the earth offers and during these Arctic spells I imagine that tibetan food is as warm as it gets. The potato and meat delicacies, the fresh fruit combos and why not the breads, lentil soups and the to die for chicken... I thanked G-d for allowing me once again enjoy a meal knowing that it is a privilege to enjoy such food, that not all can and that wish for this coming new year is that not only hunger be banished - but that we all learn to enjoy the small pleasures life can gives us from chewing on a cinnamon stick to drinking a glass of sparkling water... Baruch Ata HaShem!
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Here is my original post on Salon:1/1/2009

Blistery Weather - Behold Rangzen the Snow Dragon


With Boston being pounded by a snow storm that while not accumulating much had a very cold tail sending temperatures plummeting to those teeth chattering depths that I no longer enjoy. That said I had promised my wife a nice dinner for the pre-Ball Drop and we set out to Central Square in Cambridge to investigate some fare we had both never partaken of.

I am not aware of when the Boston area became a hub for Tibetan nationals, but after having a wonderful dinner at Rangtzen (24 Pearl Street, Cambridge MA - just drive or walk up to the 500 block of Massacusetts Avenue and turn on Pearl right where the MetroPCS store is).

I ordered a Poecha (pe'-cha) Tea which is loosely comparable to Masala Chai made by Indians yet brings a salty taste to it. I loved the cup it was served in with a porcelain cover to keep the heat in. We decided on starting with a potpourri of appetizers to get started - Thunlam Tosoe is the catchall dish that will bring: Shogo Numtale - a mashed potato with cilantro and ginger, Duluma Numtale - Sliced and breaded eggplant, Tsel Numtale - Shredded veggies that is fried in a batter and arranged in a way that it looks like a veggie net - what it reminded me of coming freshly off Chanukah was Latkes Gone Wild! Really! It was delectable and the Shogo Numtale reminded me of a knish... it got the noggin' thinkin' that perhaps the Tibetans (also forced to Diaspora) were one of the 12 tribes we sometimes wonder where they ended.... We continued with a Spinach Soup and then received the Tsel Phaley - I had expected a bread that looked more like nan or pita but got what resembled a crepe/blintz that enveloped brocolli, scallion, carrot and rice noodles... the result was that we ordered more of this to go! It was the ultimate improvement on cream stuffed blintzes and further proof that there Tibetans are MOT(*)!

For the main course my wife went with the Chhasha Momo - Dumplings that came with a variety of sauces and a lentil soup; My Colombian blood went for a rice dish (Deyngo) - mine was rice with beef, and a ton of vegetables. The cold of the night had long dissipated with these wonderful treats. I wholeheartedly recommend making this restaurant part of your tour if you are visiting the Boston area.

Location being what it is, Pearl Street is a side street off Mass Avenue and we never would have discovered it had a co-worker not advised me of Rangtzen's existence - so here I am paying it forward, enjoy!

Rangtzen 24 Pearl Street Cambridge MA 02139 617-354-8881

(*) - MOT = Member Of the Tribe

Comments

[John Lattke]

Dude, Glad you and Galina discovered that little gem of a restaurant. Not far away directly on Mass Ave is a great Ethiopian place. The name escapes me but besides awesome food the coffee is serious!