There is a particular kind of hunger that only arrives in the hills. It shows up after a cold morning walk, when the mist is still hanging in the valley and your hands want something warm to hold. In winter, food in Kasauli stops being a side note to the trip and becomes one of its main pleasures. At Brook N Pines, the restaurant at Kasauli Hills Resort, we cook for exactly that appetite: generous, warming meals that taste better when the temperature drops.

Why winter changes how you eat

In the plains, you eat to stay cool. In the hills, you eat to stay warm, and the whole mood of a meal shifts. Portions feel more welcome, spice feels friendlier, and a long dinner at a table with a view of the dark pine forest becomes the evening’s main event. Kasauli’s December temperatures commonly fall between about 4°C and 16°C, so by dinnertime a hot plate is not a luxury. It is part of the plan.

What Brook N Pines serves

Brook N Pines is our in-house restaurant, serving Indian, continental and oriental cuisine, so a group with very different tastes can still sit down together happily. Guests visiting from abroad have singled out the buffet and the pizza in particular, and our kitchen is led by a corporate chef who looks after the menu across the resort. Menus move with the season and with what is freshest, so the best habit on any visit is simple: ask your server what the kitchen is proudest of that evening.

How to build a winter meal here

A few ideas to guide your ordering:

• Start warm. Begin with something hot and light, a soup or a steaming starter, to settle in from the cold.
• Go slow-cooked. From the Indian menu, lean towards the rich, slowly cooked dishes that suit cold evenings, with fresh bread on the side.
• Share the oriental dishes. Noodles, rice and wok-cooked plates are made for passing around the table.
• Bring in the continental comfort. Hearty baked and grilled plates and pizza work well for children and anyone who wants familiar flavours after a long drive.
• Finish sweet. A warm dessert and a cup of tea or coffee is the right way to end a cold night.

Taste the hills beyond the resort

Kasauli has its own food traditions, and a winter stay is the right moment to try them. Look out for sidu, the steamed Himachali bread usually served hot with ghee or chutney, and Himachali pulao, a fragrant rice dish. Band samosa is a local favourite, and winter sweets such as ghund ke ladoo are popular for the season. On Mall Road, you will find Tibetan food, momos and hot tea at small stalls, all worth a stop after a walk. Pair a morning on the Gilbert Trail with a snack stop in town, then come back to Brook N Pines for a proper dinner.

A day of eating well in Kasauli

1. Breakfast at the restaurant with a view of the valley, taken slowly while the mist clears.
2. Mid-morning walk on the Gilbert Trail, about 1.5 km through the forest, then tea and momos on Mall Road.
3. Lunch back at Brook N Pines, with a table near the window if you reserve in advance.
4. Evening at Sunset Point, then a long, unhurried dinner as the temperature drops.

Dining with the family

Families tend to love the restaurant because everyone finds something. Children can have pizza and familiar favourites, grandparents can have gentle, home-style Indian food, and the adults can try something more adventurous from the oriental or continental side. If anyone in your group has dietary needs, tell the team when you book so the kitchen can plan ahead. Having a chef on site means requests are taken seriously, and special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries are easier to arrange with notice.

Pair dinner with an evening out

If you are staying on a day when we have live music, dinner becomes an even better night. Our restaurant hosts live music on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and our in-house brewery means you can finish a good meal with a glass of red ale. If you plan to drink, please do so responsibly and leave the driving for the morning.

Reserve your table

Winter weekends fill up fast, especially close to the year-end holidays. For table reservations at Brook N Pines, call +91 80915 31076 or +91 80915 31077. For resort stays, call +91 80915 31071 or +91 80915 31072. Mention the number of guests, any dietary needs and whether it is a special occasion, and we will take care of the rest.

Good food in the hills is not complicated. It is warm, generous and shared with people you like, ideally with a valley in the background. This winter, come hungry.