Join Natasha Monteiro on an unforgettable episode of State on a Plate as she explores the bold, smoky and deeply flavourful world of authentic Naga cuisine at Naga Belly one of Mumbai’s most loved destinations for traditional food from Nagaland. From fermented soybean delicacies to fiery king chilli pork, this episode dives into the rich food culture, indigenous ingredients and culinary traditions that make Naga cuisine one of the most unique regional cuisines in India. Alongside owners Julliet Assumi and Aren Longkumer, Natasha uncovers the stories, memories and heritage behind the dishes that define the flavours of Nagaland. What began as a humble home kitchen for homesick Northeasterners has today evolved into a vibrant dining space filled with traditional Naga artefacts, warm hospitality and authentic regional cooking. Expect a feast of signature dishes including the famous axone chicken wings, crispy pork belly, Naga pork bhujia, anishi black curry with pork, perilla seeds chicken curry and refreshing house-made fruit ferments. Learn about iconic Naga ingredients like axone (fermented soybean) and anishi (fermented yam leaves), discover the cultural significance behind smoked meats and fermentation, and experience how food connects identity, community and tradition in Nagaland. If you enjoy regional Indian cuisine, North East Indian food, spicy food, food documentaries, hidden gems in Mumbai and culture-driven culinary storytelling, this episode is for you. Featured Restaurant: Naga Belly, Mumbai Show: State on a Plate Featuring: Julliet Assumi & Aren Longkumer Host: Natasha Monteiro Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more food journeys across India. #StateOnAPlate #NagaCuisine #NagalandFood #NagaBelly #NorthEastIndianFood #RegionalIndianCuisine #IndianFood #MumbaiFood #Axone #Anishi #FoodDocumentary #IndianFoodBloggers #AuthenticIndianFood #SpicyFood #HiddenGems #PorkLovers #FoodCulture #Nagaland #FoodVlog #northeastindia ______________________________________________ Chapters : 00:00 – Craziest Reactions to Naga Food 00:38 – Welcome to Nagaland 01:02 – Tribal Attire & Identity 02:18 – What Makes Naga Food Unique? 03:36 – Traditional Rice Beer 05:14 – Pork Innards & Slow Cooking 07:40 – Amuru Soup & Naga Cutlery 09:28 – Naga Thali & Different Rice Varieties 11:07 – Akhuni Explained 12:35 – Perilla Seeds & Healing Food 14:19 – Best Dishes for First-Time Eaters 15:36 – Building a Naga Restaurant in Mumbai 17:40 – What They Miss About Home 18:12 – Funny Customer Reactions 18:40 – Daily Life & Food Habits in Nagaland 21:24 – Starting Naga Belly in Mumbai 22:29 – Is Naga Cuisine Meat Heavy? 24:01 – Smoked Pork & Fusion Dishes 26:17 – Tribal Differences & Culture 27:02 – Christianity & Changing Traditions 27:56 – Festivals of Nagaland 29:13 – Traditional Naga Singing 30:25 – Nagamese & Tribal Languages 31:35 – Naga Fashion & Thrift Culture 33:18 – Everyday Food in Nagaland 33:44 – Bamboo Shoot Traditions 34:35 – Why Naga Cuisine Has No Desserts 36:00 – Fruit Ferments & Drinks 37:00 – Final Thoughts & Goodbye ______________________________________________ Watch Best Food Series: State On A Plate Ep 1- https://youtu.be/du-XKz4T-Z4 State On A Plate Ep 2- https://youtu.be/bRdglJOkoog State On A Plate Ep 3- https://youtu.be/VMIPFPaUGYM Podcast Mumbai’s Top Restaurateurs Reveal the Truth About the Food Industry- https://youtu.be/N0cwL8RTblE _______________________________________________ Business Enquiry- [email protected] ________________________________________________ Welcome to unstumbled - We bring you travel vlogs, honest food reviews, and destination guides with a focus on hidden gems and local experiences. Whether you’re planning your next holiday or love armchair travel, unstumbled offers a mix of affordable stays, offbeat places, and cultural insights to help you travel better and taste more. ________________________________________________ For more catch us on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/unstumbled Snapchat- https://www.snapchat.com/@unstumbled Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Unstumbled Keywords used- Naga cuisine, Nagaland food, Naga food, authentic Naga food, Naga Belly Mumbai, North East Indian food, regional Indian cuisine, axone, anishi, smoked pork, king chilli pork, pork belly, Indian food documentary, food vlog India, spicy Indian food, hidden food gems Mumbai, traditional Naga cuisine, northeast India food, fermented food India, Indian regional food, authentic Indian food, food culture India, Mumbai food vlog, State on a Plate, Indian food bloggers, pork lovers, foodie India, local Indian cuisine, Nagaland culture, northeast cuisine India
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Indian food is more than Paratha, Idli, dosa, dhokla, daal bati, chole bhature, butter chicken, chicken biryani...... After Watching real Maharashtra food on your channel now this Nagaland food looks speacial, they need to start it in Pune too not just in Mumbai.. In Pune we have South Korean food then why not from Nagaland or Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh we..our own Indian states
Nagaland cuisine is my favourite in Northeast India ive eaten pork with fermented soyabean, pork with dried yam leaves and boneless fish with fermented bamboo shoot, its hard to decide which one taste best, they are all Amazing. Lovely video 😍 Fr Aizawl, Mizoram.
Love you guys from USA ( Upper Sangtam Area)🙃🙃
Ao and Sumi, great duo. Interesting video.❤
Show some love and support my dear naga people. #chakhesang
Lovely episode. Juliet and Aren, two jolly people. Always Home whenever I get to visit Bombay.
I love it when girls who are stranger to each other but still behaves like sisters. And enjoy having good conversation. Bec we women's don't do this often and it doesn't comes naturally.
That Naga beans (Kholar) is actually from Yimchung tribe from Samator , etc etc and not from Sangtam tribe .
Hello brothers and sisters, Mumbai’s population is almost 10 times bigger than Nagaland, and probably less than 1% of people here know about Naga cuisine. We are trying our best to introduce and promote our food and culture in Mumbai and beyond. Instead of only criticizing, let’s support and uplift one another. This is watched not only by Nagas, but by people from all over the world. If something is not perfect, let’s correct it with kindness. We are working hard so people from different cultures can understand and accept our cuisine. Let’s grow together with love and support ❤️
Wow..... Sumi lady is looking so beautiful ❤❤❤ love from Manipur Naga
Been to Nagabelly multiple times. Fantastic food and love the axone, and pork bhujia.
The host’s energy is infectious and genuinely lovely. She’s been such a sport — adventurous enough to try Axone too 😛 Thoroughly enjoyed watching this interview.
Regarding Kohlar controversy, Google says: Kholar is deeply associated with both the Sangtam and the Yimkhiung tribes. While the Yimkhiung tribe is famous for cultivating it in huge quantities across the Shamator and Pungro belts, the Sangtam tribe is equally renowned for growing and featuring Kholar as a defining staple of their identity and daily diet.
Afo Sumi is looking so good in her attire. New subscriber from Nagaland. These two Naga ladies are truly inspiring. Keep up the great work!
We drink black tea for Dessert😂
The host is abit drunk😂😂😂 Nice interview
A heartfelt appreciation to Aren Longkumer and Julliet Assumi for making Nagaland proud through their remarkable culinary journey. Through Naga Belly, they are doing far more than serving food they are preserving and presenting the rich culture, heritage, warmth, and authentic flavours of Nagaland to the world. Every dish, crafted with traditional recipes and indigenous ingredients, beautifully reflects the spirit and identity of the North East. What began as a sincere initiative to comfort those longing for a taste of home has today evolved into a celebrated culinary destination where people can truly experience authentic Naga cuisine and hospitality. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to honouring their roots through food is deeply inspiring. Naga Belly has played a significant role in bringing North East Indian cuisine into the spotlight, proudly showcasing the beauty of Nagaland not only in Mumbai but far beyond. Wishing Aren and Julliet continued success, greater achievements, and many more milestones ahead. May Naga Belly continue to flourish and inspire people through the authentic taste, culture, and spirit of Nagaland.
Love Naga Belly! But love Julliet & Aren more!! They are absolute sweethearts!
Nagaland ka khana toh bhaut acha lag raha hai😊❤ dress toh aur sunder hai
Axone with smoked pork is the tastiest food in the world for me .But you need to develop a taste for it.once you develop a taste,you are hooked for life . Actually pork tastes better in when they are fed corn ,so where you source the pork also matter