Community cafe & restaurant
Promoting innovative forums for community building, learning and exhange, online and on the ground. Join us at:
www.commongroundsproject.org
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Common Grounds Project
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Common Grounds Project is a grassroots nonprofit organization promoting innovative forums for community building, learning and exhange. Common Ground Cafe is a venture of Common Grounds Project, a registered charitable society in Himachal Pradash. We serve not only great food, but also as a gathering point and events venue for the local community. Please note that profits from our cafe go directly towards the running of our nonprofit. Read more about us in the back of this menu!
Join us at: www.commongroundsproject.org
“The act of bringing food is one of the most basic roots of all relationships.” ~His Holiness the Dalai Lama 1. 四川花生凉面 Szechuan Cold Peanut Noodles 65 Spicy cold egg noodles tossed in sesame oil and chilies and sprinkled with roasted peanuts. 2. 北京麻酱面 Beijing Sesame Sauce Noodles 65 Egg noodles and shredded carrots in a light sesame soup. A Beijing favorie! 3. 轻炒菠菜豆腐 Spinach Tofu Stir Fry (seasonal) 70 A healthy spinach and tofu stir fry sauteed with a pinch of garlic and salt. 4. 四川麻辣宽粉 Szechuan Mala Peanut Rice Noodles 70 Rice noodles in a spicy Szechuan vinegar soup sprinkled with roasted peanuts. Not recommended for light palates! 5. 四川炒土豆丝 Szechuan Potato Slice Veg 65 / Chicken 80 / Pork 90 / Mutton 120 Thin potato slices wok tossed with whole red chili peppers and zesty Szechuan peppercorns. 6. 四川炒莲花白菜 Szechuan Cabbage Fry 65 Wok seared cabbage stir fried in a light soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil. 7. 嘉義炉肉饭 Jiayi Pork Stew Rice 70 Minced pork with a stewed egg and a small side of Szechuan Cucumber Salad served over steamed rice. One of Taiwan’s most popular curbside cuisines, this dish has been the commoner’s staple energy food since the 1960’s.
8. 台南滷肉面 Tainan Pork Stew Noodles 70 Minced pork with a stewed egg over noodles and a small side of Szechuan Cucumber Salad. 9. 起点炒饭 Common Ground Fried Rice Veg or egg 65 / Chicken 70 / Pork 80 / Mutton 100 House (veg, egg, chicken & pork) 100 Cantonese style fried rice cooked over high flame with a small side of Szechuan Cucumber Salad. 10. 清炒素菜 Bok Choy Stir Fry (not available in monsoon) Veg 80 / Chicken 90 / Pork 100 / Mutton 140 Bok choy stir fried over high flame with garlic, whole red chilies and Szechan peppercorns. 11. 四川绿豆炒肉 Szechuan Sesame Green Beans Chicken 90 / Pork 100 / Mutton 140 String beans & sliced carrots stir fried in Szechuan bean paste & sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. 12. 台北羊肉面 Taipei Noodle Soup Tofu or Chicken - Reg 60 / Large 80 Pork - Reg 70 / Large 90 Mutton - Reg 80 / Large 100 A bowl of spicy noodles in a hearty soup with your choice of tofu and veg or sliced meat. 13. 浙江鱼香茄子 Zhejiang Eggplant Garlic Sauce Tofu or Chicken 90 / Pork 100 / Mutton 140 Tender eggplants stir-fried with ginger, garlic and our special 12-ingredient House Sauce. 14. 四川麻婆豆腐 Szechuan Mapo Tofu Veg or Chicken 90 / Pork 100 / Mutton 140 A fiery traditional Szechuanese dish with plenty of diced tofu in a rich and piquant Szechuan sauce. 15. 四川青椒炒肉丝 Szechuan Capsicum Slice Chicken 90 / Pork 100 / Mutton 140 Sliced capsicum stir fried with tenderized meat slices in a spicy Szechuan bean paste sauce.
16. 扎西家常糖醋菜 Tashi’s Sweet & Sour Veg 100 Breaded and tenderized cauliflowers stir fried with vegetables in a tangy sweet and sour sauce. 17. 南瓜炒菜 Dawa’s Zucchini Stir Fry Veg 65 / Chicken 80 / Pork 90 / Mutton 140 Sliced zucchini sautéed with garlic in our special Common Ground soy sauce. 18. 台湾高丽菜卷 Taiwanese Cabbage Pillows 90 Glass noodles & tofu stir-fry wrapped in cabbage and cooked in a bamboo steamer. Served with a bowl of Fuzhou Tofu Vegetable Soup. A light and healthy choice. 19. 上海小龙包 Shanghai Buns (Xiao Long Bao) Tofu / pork 90 Bamboo steamed buns with a side of ginger soy sauce, chili paste & Fuzhou Tofu Vegetable Soup. 20. 绿豆炒香酥黑豆 Green Beans with Black Beans 120 Chicken / Chinese Shiitake Mushrooms Wok tossed green beans, carrots and Cantonese style fermented black beans. 21. 香港串烧 Hong Kong Skewers Tofu 130 / Pork 150 Marinated and pan fried Hong Kong style kabob skewers with vegetables, pineapples and a sweet soy dipping sauce & chili paste. 22. 广东双煎炒面 Cantonese Wok Fried Noodles Tofu 120 / Chicken 130 / Pork 140 / Mutton 180 Egg noodles wok-fried to a crispy golden brown on both sides with saucy stir-fried vegetables on top. 23. 扎西鸡块炒土豆 Tashi’s Chicken Potato Fry 150 Big chunks of chicken stir fried with tender potato rounds in a rich and spicy Szechuan bean sauce.
24. 北京铁板豆腐 Peking Treasure Box Sizzler Tofu 140 / Minced pork 150 A Ming Dynasty dish of stuffed tofu boxes on a sizzling plate with saucy stir-fried vegetables. 25. 甜辣铁板 Dawa’s Sweet & Spicy Sizzler Tofu 140 / Chicken 150 / Pork 160 / Mutton 200 Sizzling vegetables and your choice of meat or tofu sweetened with honey and spiked with our special chili sauce. 26. 京酱肉丝 Dawa’s Meat Fry in Beijing Sauce Pork 160 / Mutton 200 Slices of crispy pan fried pork or mutton in a tangy and sweet Beijing soya sauce. Served on a bed of sliced cabbage. 27. 台湾三杯鸡/豆腐 Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken / Tofu Tofu 160 / Chicken 170 Carrots, potatos and chicken or tofu cooked on a low flame, this dish gets its name from its three main ingredients: a cup of soy sauce, a cup of rice wine and a cup of secret sauce. 28. 凉拌猪肉 Chinese Spicy Pork 160 Twice cooked and chilled tender pork slices in chili oil and spices. Served on a bed of sliced cucumbers and tomatos. 29. 鸡肉花生凉拌 Spicy Chicken Peanut Salad 160 Cold chicken tossed in soy sauce, sesame oil, chilies and roasted peanuts. Served with sliced cucumber and tomatos. 30. 客家黄酒鸡香菇 Hakka Drunken Chicken with Mushrooms Chicken & Shiitake mushrooms 260 A meaty dish of chicken and Chinese shiitake black mushrooms braised in rice wine and ginger. Served in a flaming pot that simmers as you eat.
Tibetan Staff Specials ŸôG-DôG-D-±-
Potato Garlic Fry 65 A plate of tender potato rounds wok tossed with garlic, turmeric, and crushed red chili peppers.
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Troma Drasel Regular 70 / Large 100 Sweet and buttery rice mixed with raisins and soft ‘troma’, a Tibetan root.
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Lhasa Style Bokchoy & Phing (seasonal) 85 A healthy Lhasa style dish of stir fried greens and glass noodles.
Soups Fuzhou Tofu Vegetable Soup Regular 50 / Large 70 A light soup with tofu, cabbage and carrots Tomato Egg Drop Soup
Regular 50 / Large 70 The classic Chinese tomato and egg soup Mutton Soup Regular 50 / Large 70 A rich mutton broth with greens and potatos Chicken Soup Regular 50 / Large 70 A delicious chicken broth with greens and potatos
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Sha Tag Chicken 150 / Pork 160 / Mutton 190 A rich and saucey meat stir fry with with capiscum, tomatos and onions. A Tibetan favorite! Spicy Potato Pork Fry 100 Slices of potatos stir fried with succulent pork strips in a rich Szechuan gravy. A favorite staff meal!
Sides Cabbage Carrot Lemon Salad 50 Thin slices of cabbage, carrots and tomatos in a sweet light lemon dressing Szechuan Cucumber Salad 55 Spicy crispy cucumbers marinated in sweetened vinegar, sesame oil and chilies
Healthy Veggies Steamed Mixed Vegetables 80 Take it easy on your stomach with fresh steamed mixed vegetables with a side of our soy house sauce.
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MENU GUIDE
Mixed Veg Stir Fry 90 A simple stir fry of season mixed vegetables flavored with a pinch of salt and a dash of soy sauce.
We can make most dishes spicy, extra spicy or not spicy at all.
*Text in green are vegetarian friendly
Rice & Buns Steamed Rice Small 20 / Medium 40 / Large 70 Steamed Bun / Tingmo (each) 10
Non-vegetarian favorites
Vegeterian friendly favorites
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四川火锅
Tea
Szechuan Hot Pot 火锅调料按各人口味调制 Szechuan Soup Base & Dipping Sauce Serves 4 to 6 people Rs 400 Mild / medium spicy / fiery A Szechuan hot pot soup with sautéed red chili peppers, Szechuan peppercorns and spices. Served in a boiling pot on a hot plate for you to cook your own meat, noodles and vegetables. Served with a garlic sesame oil dipping sauce with chili paste, salt and spices on the side for you to mix.
Black Tea Your good ol’ Taj Mahal tea
10
Milk Tea Boiled with a bit of ginger for an extra kick
15
Assam Tea A full bodied tea from the Brahmaputra Valley
15
Earl Grey Tea A light and aromatic blend of Bergamot
20
Organic Tulsi Green Tea 20 A stress relieving blend of tulsi (basil) & green tea
蔬菜类 Sliced Vegetables Small 60 / Big 100 Carrots / Spinach / Bok choy / Cabbage / Potato / Capsicum / Zucchini / Cauliflower
Organic Tulsi Ginger Tea A soothing blend of tulsi (basil) and ginger
20
Lemon Tea With fresh lemon zest
20
Noodles Small 60 / Big 110 Thin glass noodles (phing) / Wide rice noodles
Hot Ginger Lemon Honey With fresh lemon juice, sliced ginger and honey
25
豆腐
Chinese Oolong Tea (pot) A high mountain tea from China
50
Chinese Jasmine Tea (pot) Sweet jamine tea from Fujian
50
粉条类
Tofu
Small 70 / Large 110
蘑菇类 Shiiake Mushrooms
Small 100 / Large 170
切肉片
Specality drinks
Sliced Hot Pot Meat Chicken - Small 120 / Large 180 Pork - Small 130 / Large 190 Mutton - Small 170 / Large 230
Cardamon White Hot Chocolate 70 White chocolate melted in cardamon infused milk and sprinkled with a dash of cinnanmon
Extra seame oil - Small 40 / Large - 80
Spiked Hot Chocolate 70 A frothy glass of old fashioned hot chocolate spiked with a spash of whiskey Special GLH 70 Cozy up with a hot glass of the classic ginger lemon honey spiked with a hit of rum to warm you up!
Tibetan Herbal Teas
Snacks & Desserts
Sorig herbal teas formulated from fresh natural herbs in accordance with Tibetan medical texts.
Chocolate Almond Toffee Bar 40 Crunchy homemade toffee with a layer of dark chocolate and sprinkled with roasted almond bits.
Garden Tea 20 Helps relieve stress, improve digestion and clear the five sensory organs Raab-Ga-Yangzin Tea 20 Helps balance the body’s energy (red current), promotes relaxation (wild rose) & promotes skin health (wild saffron) Tripa Tea 20 Helps in the digestion of fatty, oily and salty foods
French Press Coffee
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Juice 50 60
Lassi Sweet Banana / Mango / Papaya
Mixed Fruit Salad With curd & honey, yum.
60 80
Healthy Triund Trail Mix 50 Fresh oven roasted almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts and raisins. Old Monk Rum Ball & Ice Cream 60 Only rum ball for Rs 20 Rum infused chocolate ball served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup.
Freshly ground South Indian Arabica coffee Regular 40 / Large 70
Pineapple / Papaya / Carrot Mixed Fruit
Vanilla Ice Cream Slice 40 Add dark chocolate and / or homemade caramel sauce for Rs 10.
40 60
Cold Drinks Coke / Sprite / Fanta / Limca / Maza
20
Coke / Soda with Fresh Lemon
25
Fresh Lemon Soda (regular or sweet)
25
Homemade Lemon Iced Tea
40
Mineral Water
20
Filtered Water (1 liter)
5
Chocolate Truffle & Ice Cream Caramel 70 Only truffle for Rs 30 Chilled dark chocolate truffle with a hint of rum rolled in roasted almond bits. Served with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce. Chocolate Almond Toffee Bar & Ice Cream Caramel 80 Only Chocolate Almond Toffee Bar for Rs 40 Crunchy toffee bar with a slice of vanilla ice cream and topped with our homemade caramel sauce. McLeod Mudslide 100 Our ultimate dessert of vanilla ice cream topped with bananas, homemade caramel and chocolate sauce, crunchy toffee crumbs and roasted nuts. Mocha Affogato 110 A scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with dark chocolate floating in a shot of espresso and a splash of whiskey.
COMMON GROUND CAFE
COMMON GROUNDS ONLINE
CAFE & RESTAURANT By providing a comfortable gathering point in an amicable cafe atmosphere, Common Ground Cafe is a gathering point for the local community and visitors to share Taiwanese, Tibetan and Chinese cuisine in Dharamsala’s first authentic fusion cafe and restaurant.
Common Grounds Online is a netizen powered initiative promoting the use of innovative forums, social media and emerging technologies to achieve greater understanding on the issue of Tibet. By sustaining respectful platforms for exchange, we aim to bridge the communication gap, particularly between Chinese and Tibetans, both online and on the ground.
EVENTS VENUE Since our inception in June 2009, we have organized and hosted various events and programs including technical trainings and media workshops, screenings, talks and discussions, international group programs, arts and cultural nights, language and music courses and much more! We also organize events in conjunction with Talk Tibet and provide facilities free of charge for Dharamsala based organizations to host community programs and events in Common Ground Cafe. COMMUNITY-BUILDING Common Ground organizes & hosts communitybuilding initiatives including photography and technical training workshops. We also house over 300 films, featuring a large number of educational films and documentaries in our Community Film Library. The running of the cafe also provides opportunities in training and employment for a small group of Tibetans in Dharamsala where unemployment runs high. FAIR TRADE & SUSTAINABILITY We support local artisans through our range of hand crafted fair trade merchandise. Our Fair Trade Partners include Andretta Pottery & Craft Society, Sonam Village Arts, Tamding Arts, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and other Tibetan artisans whose livelihoods depend on making handicrafts at home. TRANSLATION SERVICE Common Grounds Translation Service provides professional English, Tibetan and Chinese translations and transcriptions for journalists, filmmakers and researchers. We offer simultaneous in-person translations in Dharamsala & surrounding areas as well as online document, audio and video transcriptions.
We use the latest web-based technologies to build a global network of informed netizens and empower individuals to be able to connect, share and interact with an ease that was impossible to imagine in the past. We are leveraging the unique potential within the internet to forge relationships between Tibetans and Chinese that foster greater understanding of the actual situation on the ground, whether in Tibet, China, abroad or exile. MULTIMEDIA AGGREGATE To help spark lively conversations on current issues and contemporary ideas, we feature a daily updated multimedia aggregate of the latest news, opinions and videos. We focus on creative, human interest content from an array of sources across the web, including diverse perspectives of various Chinese and Tibetan bloggers, artists, analysts and ordinary individuals. By welcoming different voices in constructive, moderated forum, we aim to be the starting point for connecting Chinese and Tibetans in a growing and interactive online community. SOCIAL NETWORKING (BETA*) Our site encourages individuals to connect, share and interact in a vibrant online community. Up until now, the kind of exchange that occurs between Chinese and Tibetans tend to be defensive and intransigent. We offer an opportunity for a new kind of dialogue that helps develop mutual respect, trust and understanding between the two communities. * Please note that our social networking component is currently under beta release undergoing usability testing.
COMMON GROUND CAFE REVIEWS! “Sitting just above the town square in McLeod Ganj, Common Ground is exactly what its name implies: a common space for people of different cultures to come together to share ideas on positive change, face to face, one on one. The beautifully-appointed main room is a restaurant, serving both Tibetan and Chinese food. On any given day or night, young tourists and activists can be seen eating together, working away on the Internet, watching movies, or attending discussions.” ~ Care2, by Heidi Minx, 17 March 2011 “The first Chinese restaurant in Dharamsala, Common Grounds serves good, traditional Taiwanese, Chinese and Tibetan food in a cheerful and homely environment. There’s an interesting library filled with books related to Tibet and China, and the Tibetan issue. The restaurant’s Taiwanese-American owner’s aim is to create a space where Chinese and Tibetans can share common ground in a relaxed, friendly and informal atmosphere, enjoying conversations over Chinese and Tibetan food. Popular dishes include Cantonese wok-fried noodles and Hakka drunken chicken with shitake mushrooms. An all-day favourite with regulars is the pork stew rice – a popular Taiwanese street food. The place also has excellent coffee. Common Grounds also has a centre where Tibet-related programmes, talks and film screenings are held every Saturday at 5.30pm.” ~ Time Out India, June 2010 Perfect Places Edition “It’s called Common Ground Cafe and true to its name it aims to serve as a bridge between the Tibetans and the Chinese - spicing things up with Taiwanese, Tibetan and Chinese cuisine and cups of coffee and tea! Just like the 100-metre uphill walk from Mcleodganj’s congested main square on a completely broken road, this initiative to provide a common platform to the Chinese and Tibetans in exile is not going to be easy either. The Common Ground project is not about the cafe alone. Getting into the virtual world, the project plans to set up a social networking site specifically for Chinese and Tibetans to share, connect and interact in a user-friendly, security enhanced and privacy-insured online forum.” ~ Times of India, Trends, 14 May 2010 “Common Ground Cafe situated on Tushita Rd up the hill about 100m from the bus stop. Great Taiwanese food and a great place to sit and relax with your shoes off on the raised seating area. Cafe setup as a meeting place between Chinese and Tibetans and holds many discussions, shows etc. in promoting harmony and understanding between the two cultures.” ~ Dharamsala Wikitravel 2010 “Using music as a medium to develop understanding between the Tibetan and Chinese community, the Common Grounds Project, a new Chinese outreach initiative in Dharamsala organized a musical performance on Sunday. JJI Exile Brothers, a three member Tibetan rock band collaborated and with Xiao Bin, a Chinese musician and photographer from Beijing and performed to a packed audience at the Common Grounds Café as a creative bridge to understanding between the Chinese and Tibetan people. The event “Music Beyond Boundaries” for the first time brought together contemporary musicians from the two communities jamming to a small international audience in Dharamsala.” ~ Music Beyond Boundaries by Abhiskek Madhukar, Contact Magazine, 27 October 2009
“Common Ground Cafe was created to establish and promote innovative forums to achieve common grounds of shared understanding between Chinese and Tibetan people, a step towards a conducive atmosphere for a peaceful resolution to the Tibet issue. Common Ground invites Chinese students in the United States to participate in music and photography projects in Dharamsala, as she expands Common Ground’s Web outreach.” ~ Tibetan Rock, Politics Mix by Maura Moynihan, Radio Free Asia, 5 November 2009
Common Ground House, Sewarg Ashram Road (Tushita Road) McLeod Ganj, Upper Dharamsala, District Kangra H.P. 176219 India info@commongroundsproject.org Registered under Societies Registration Act of 1994 in H.P, India,registration number 4325 We are open daily from: 11am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to9.30 pm Friday & Saturday We have special rates for groups and private parties! We can also organize talks and film screenings for your group (student and tour groups, wedding buffets, birthday parties, etc.) For reservations, please call: 91-9816155523
Join us online at: www.commongroundsproject.org