Seattle Press on Line

U District

A.C. Sherpa

By Yayoi Lena Winfrey

Dec 06, 2001 -- More than a photo op for Banana Republic catalogues, Nepal is home to 24 million people--3,000 called Sherpa. Besides signifying extraordinary mountaineering skills, their shared last name intimates they're ethnically related.

"The word sher means east while pa means people," explains Ang Chhira Sherpa, cousin to Jamling Tenzing Norgay Sherpa--son of Sir Edmund Hillary's guide up Everest in 1951.

Thus, sherpa hail from eastern Nepal.

Nestled between India and China, the kingdom nation known for yak, yeti (abominable snowmen) and mountainside monasteries where Buddhism and Hinduism overlap, is the birthplace of Buddha. It's also where A.C., as he's called, was born as one of five children fathered by a Ghurkah soldier famous for fighting in India.

At 14, A.C. moved to Mercer Island where an older brother lived. After studying at the UW, he attended Honolulu's Hawai'i Pacific College and, following several hospitality gigs, returned to Seattle to open the Himalayan Sherpa Restaurant.

"I grew up always watching my mother cook," says the 29 year-old restaurant owner. "From tasting food, I learned to cook."

Located on The Ave, the eatery features scrumptious dishes like naan, dal and samosas from Bhutan, India, Nepal and Tibet.

"Tibetan foods have the least amount of fat," notes A.C. "Bhutanese eat the spiciest food in the world like coriander and chili soup."

A.C. also serves homemade chang, a milky alcoholic beverage "brewed with rice, yeast and fresh herbs from the jungle" that he jokes is compulsory back home because "it gets you warm for...five hours continuously, to go play in the snow."

Doffing his apron for hiking boots, A.C. leads tours through the snow-capped Himalayans he climbed as a child.

"Growing up with mountain people, there is no such thing as hobbies," he laughs. "Either you throw rocks at a tree or else you become a sherpa."

Yet the powerfully built jock stresses that athleticism is not a prerequisite for trekking. Even computer nerd Bill Gates once joined him in a hike.

Currently fundraising for electricity so village kids can do homework at night, A.C. is active with the Seattle Himalayan Children's Foundation, a non-profit organization providing scholarships, student exchange programs and sister city partnerships.

Last June, the grisly murders of the Nepalese Royal Family sent shockwaves around the world. Initial reports stated that Crown Prince Dipendra shot and killed his parents and six relatives before attempting suicide because his mother disapproved of his girlfriend. After lingering a few days, Dipendra died, and the state's Privy Council's official story changed to one about an automatic weapon accidentally discharging at a dinner party. The murdered king's brother, Gyanendra, was then named as successor to the throne. Following the announcement, a riot broke out among Nepalese citizens demanding to know the truth. Unrest continues in the country.

Asked for his opinion, Sherpa stated, "There is corruption everywhere."

A.C. is also penning a book and producing a film about sherpa life, planning a wedding with fiancee Tsering Lame next year and preparing a "climb for peace" with seven countries in 2003.

Whether climbing or cooking, A.C. deserves his Sherpa name.

The Himalayan Sherpa Restaurant, 4214 University Way NE, 206-633-2100.
For more info, visit www.himalayansherpa.com.

Reader Comments

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Uttam Rai	May 24, 2003	San francisco Ca	Cab Driver
I am really happy to hear from AC Sherpa.He is the best friend of mine.He is a smart,hard worker and inteligent.


Susila	Jun 17, 2004	Nepal
"AC Sherpa" what can I say, person with good heart, great knowledge, high ambition, give and ideas with others, love of peoples, business mind, community role-model and great personality. I hope AC Sherpa will be the person who can do great for his life well as other for the community. Comment: Who ever wrote the bed things for AC Sherpa above? This person is not a good person for him self or others. I am very sorry for his childes attitude and low self-steam. Only thing you can change to get long with people is ìgrow upî AC Sherpa whatever people say, I believe on you and great job. Thank you for introducing Nepali people and representing Nepal by opening all this businesses in USA. Wish you well