Nepali Times

Known for its delectable doughnuts and cupcakes, the café is bringing in Christmas with festive themed cupcakes. For some, the sweet treats may just be too pretty to bite into.

Jhamsikhel, 9803608601

Hermann’s has probably the best assortment of Christmas specials. With the heavenly smell of freshly baked goodies wafting through the kitchen, it is a treat just to be inside the bakery during the holiday season.

Jhamsikhel, 5524900

Linked to the Higher Ground Café in Jawalakhel, this bakery employs women at risk. On its shelves are Christmas cookies and cakes.

Bhanimandal, 5528505

Pumpernickel Bakery

A favourite among locals, backpackers, and expats, Pumpernickel will be baking batches of Christmas cookies this holiday season.

Thamel. 4259185

Julie’s Cakes and Pastries

A sinful assortment of Swiss chocolates on display will make any human cry out in delight.

Kupondole, 5539862

JUST BAKED

Although this neighbourhood hotspot will not roll out any Christmas specials this week, patrons can still enjoy the ever dependable pastries, cakes, and buttery cookies.

Old Baneswor, 9808663505

Fuji Bakery

The increased loadshedding hours has deterred the owners from taking a risk with Christmas orders, which only gives us one more reason to binge on Fuji’s supremely delicious sour creams.

Chakupat, 5260678

German Bakery

Ditch their universally loved rich chocolate cake and pick up a Christmas stollen cake for all to share. Jawalakhel, 5523789

European Bakery

The busiest bakery in this residential neighbourhood will be serving some traditional Christmas delights. Anyone up for rich fruit cake

Baluwatar, 4422047

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Warming the cockles

As Kathmandu prepares for yet another nippy winter without electricity, let alone central heating, Nepali Times recommends ways to stay warm inside your home

Firewood stove

Remember the old days when everyone sat around the fire and grandmother gave out ladlefuls of soup Well, you can replicate this open hearth procedure by installing a firewood stove in your living room. The stoves are cheaper in the long run than burning electric and gas heaters, but take heed to reduce emissions and increase efficiency by burning, always at a low flame, only dead wood.

Price: Rs 100,000

Biomass briquettes

Fuel prices rose drastically in the last five years and, encouragingly, so did the use of biomass briquettes. As a heating alternative to traditional energy sources, briquettes are an almost win-win acquisition. Not only are they made from waste, but also emit less smoke than wood and cost (in both financial and environmental terms) far less than petrol fuel. Warm your feet, boil your soup, heat your rooms.

Price: Rs 30 a piece

Burn time: 40 minutes per piece

China heat

From Taplejung to Kanchanpur, Chinese-made goods are making a name for themselves as thermal solutions. Here’s our pick for cold Kathmandu nights:

** Lay out an electric mattress (Rs 1,500) beneath your bed sheet and plug it in half an hour before you go to bed. Comes with regulator.

** Coming in single and double sizes, these velvet-covered fibre-filled quilts (which could mean either polyester or eiderdown) start from Rs 2,000 and above.

** Fill hot water bags (Rs 500 and onwards) with boiling water and tuck them into bed for turbo heat. Be careful to leave out one fourths unfilled and eliminate air while screwing the plug.

** On days when you need to take a bath, but the sun refuses to shine to work your solar panels, immersion heaters (Rs 500) are essential.

** Some days will be so cold that you will feel your woollen pants need extra help. Enter tights (Rs 1,000 and above). After all, why should girls have all the fun

Chinatown Supermarket, Sundhara

Gas heaters

With half of Kathmandu’s offices burning generators during loadshedding hours, electric heaters seem redundant during the dry season. But as long as cooking gas is available, at whatever price, gas heaters are rupee for rupee a better investment. Equally handy in offices and living rooms.

Price: Rs 6,000 upwards

Burn time: 100 hours on a 15kg cylinder

Made in Nepal

Two home produced chocolates maybe the best Christmas gifts this season

Sristi Joshi Malla started Moni’s Creations in 2005 to produce handmade stained glass, beads, candles, and chocolates. “It all started as a hobby, but with time it grew into a business,” explains Malla, who sells her world-class chocolate and other handicrafts as corporate gifts during festivals, as wedding and birthday presents, and during Christmas.

Moni’s Creations has something of a cult following among discerning Kathmandu locals and expats for its uniquely flavoured chocolates in custom-made boxes. A favourite is the silky smooth truffle and other specialties that Malla created with inspiration from trips abroad, are chocolates with almond, mint, butterscotch, cappuccino, crunchy cracker, and other tempting fillings.

A relatively new player in the market, Columbus Chocolates makes delicious dark chocolates which are produced at a factory in Gwarko. The reasonably priced chocolates are currently sold at three outlets in Patan: Namaste Department Store, Home Grocer, and Shrestha Food

Besides chocolate bars, Columbus also produces special gift boxes on order. If you want a taste of these home produced delights, head to St Xavier’s school this weekend, where the makers are running a stall.

Moni’s Creations

(01)443 21 22

Boxes start from Rs 400 onwards

Columbus Chocolates

9851143300