Milap Dhaba

If you are near the old bus stand in Shimla, you’ll probably see our place. Milap Dhaba has been around for quite some time. It’s cold here for a lot of the year, so we always have something hot on the stove. The steam from the pots makes the windows foggy, which I think looks quite nice from the street. We don't have a lot of space, just a few long tables where strangers sit next to each other to eat. It’s a busy spot because of the buses coming and going all day and night. The floor is made of stone and it’s seen a lot of boots walking over it. We don't use fancy ingredients, just what we get from the local vendors. I’m usually the one shouting orders to the kitchen or making sure the tea is strong enough. It’s a loud place, full of talk and the sound of clinking spoons. We don't have a menu that changes every week. We do the same dishes because that’s what people expect when they come here. Sometimes we run out of water and have to wait for the tank, but that’s just life in the hills. It’s a honest place to get a meal and warm up before you catch your next bus. We just keep the fire going and the food ready for anyone who is hungry and cold.