Foods

For The Love Of Faluda

About a month back, it was that time of the year where faluda was offered to you in abundance. I for one never get tired of it. It is one of the simplest drinks to make, but over the years I have tasted many different versions. So I started experimenting on my own till I found what I loved best. And I like to serve them in individual glasses as it is the mixing that I enjoy the most!

What’s New On The Crossroads Menu?

Although I’ve dropped by Crossroads many a time while passing by to buy the odd éclair or the famous prawn roll that only Tasty Caterers makes so well, this was the first time I checked out their dining options and I was pleasantly surprised as the options were plenty, and it was real value for money and the service was excellent.

It’s All About The Beans!

It is easily one of the most consumed veggies in Sri Lanka but I don’t think we realise the nutritional value of green beans. So the next time you prepare it, give it some thought because the way we cook this vegetable into a curry extracts most of its nutrients.

The Hot Dog Run

We all crave a good hot dog every now and then. We went around Colombo in search of the best hot dogs in terms of flavour and value for money. Here’s our roundup of hot dogs in Colombo.

Top Picks At Tea Avenue!

Tea Avenue on Barnes Place is a go-to mandatory for anyone on the lookout to indulge. The pastas are cheesy, the desserts are rich and the place in itself makes for a great time. The café is open till late and does great for late dinners and sweet cravings. The service is great and the atmosphere is friendly, and the place makes great for friends, food and work.

Shawarzza by Sunday Grills

Sunday Grills is a recently opened BBQ restaurant in Maradana. Sunday Grills is one of the many food stalls at The Food Company which hosts other food stalls such as the Snow Monkey, Kottu and Co and The Waffle Ink to name a few.

Jetwing Colombo Seven’s Sunday Degustation Lunch

It is rarely that one gets to call a meal an ’experience’, but there are no better words to describe the new degustation lunch at Jetwing Colombo Seven’s restaurant, Fifty7. A twist to the usual Sunday lunch buffet, this degustation lunch is a seven course delight curated by Chef Indika Bandara.

SugarBliss by Chamanka

SugarBliss by Chamanka is owned and operated by Chamanka Gamage who says that baking and cooking are very much a part of her DNA. Her great grandfather was one of the founders of the Maliban empire while her maternal grandmother had her own pastry shop at Liberty Plaza.

Can you be pregnant on a vegan or vegetarian diet?

Yes! You totally can. Many vegetarians and vegans will understand the frustration when telling the good news to family and friends that they are asked ’’Are you going to start eating meat now?’’. While well-meaning I’m sure, it’s only due to a limited understanding about being vegetarian/vegan that people have misplaced concerns.

For The Love Of Chicken Wings

Who doesn’t love a big plate of chicken wings? Sometimes, what’s being served at famous restaurants can be overrated. And even if you have a favourite, it grows old on you. So you are forced to a point that you have to find a new favourite all over again which can lead to several visits to many restaurants and an empty wallet. Here is my favourite and recipe for delicious chicken wings.

Top 5 Animal Documentaries

As more people start to become aware of the ethical issues that surround the use of animals in society, more documentaries are being produced on these topics. There’s a varied range out there but the most central themes focus on animal welfare, the environment or health. Below are my top 5 picks for the best documentaries about animals.

Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara

Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara is a property owned and managed under the Heritance brand of the Aitken Spence Group in Beruwala. The property is a modern day rendition of a traditional ayurvedic medicine retreat and focuses its energies on rejuvenating the weary spirits of its patrons.

Veg Heroes: Eggplants

If there was ever a vegetable that was forced on me it is the brinjal. I never liked the mushy content inside, but over the years my mother found a way to make me fall in love with her curry. Well, to be fair, I will eat moju anytime, but that is one unhealthy dish! Here is a list of health benefits that you get from a brinjal! And if you are anything like me and has a strong dislike for brinjals, this list will change your mind.

Ceylon Café

Located in the heart of Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens, The Ceylon Café specialises in a refined assortment of Sri Lankan cuisine. Along with the traditional ’Ceylonese’ recipes, Ceylon Café’s Executive Chef and his team have been experimenting with various cuisines and its origins to offer guests a choice of different options. The dishes are infused with ingredients and flavours that make Sri Lankan cuisine what it is - simply delicious!

Healthy Eats

Healthy Eats is a delivery-only food option for those looking for healthy controlled meals. The brainchild of Dano’s owner, Roshani Raju, Healthy Eats grew from popular demand by Dano’s customers looking for a healthy meal.

Vietnamese Fare at Graze Kitchen

What’s the first Vietnamese item of food that pops into your mind? Pho? Banh mi? Spring rolls? All of these quintessential dishes and more will be served at the Graze Kitchen at Hilton Colombo from the 29th of June till the 15th of July. Two guest chefs from their sister hotel, Hilton Hanoi Opera are here especially for this.

New Menu By Big Bird’s Delights

We reviewed Big Bird’s Delights a few months ago. At the time, Jovanka Jayaweera the lady behind Big Bird’s Delights only offered a handful of delicious items but since we last met, she has quit her full time job and balances this and an event organising company. The best part is that her menu has expanded. Here’s what we thought.

Business Dining Etiquette

Meeting with clients or business partners can be daunting. You have to set the right tone so that the experience is without any hitches or embarrassing situations for the parties involved. Since important decisions are made over meals, impressions made, it’s best you know your do’s and don’ts. While many of these are obvious, not many pay heed to them, which could harm your business prospects. Here are a few pointers to help you get started.

The Startup Cook - Eggs in Purgatory

There is something magical about good tasty food. When you’re feeling blue, a plate piled up with your favourite food can instantly switch your mood to good. This is in no way to encourage you to binge eat, but a sincere appreciation for homemade soul food. One of my preferred kinds of food is breakfast food and I can eat it any time of the day. These Eggs in Purgatory courtesy Nigella Lawson is no exception to this rule.

For The Love Of Jam

I love jam! Well who doesn’t? And my all-time favourite flavour is strawberry. I eat it with everything from biscuits, bread, roti and I even mix it in with my plain yoghurt or use it as an ice cream topping! But I always struggled with the level of sweetness found in our locally produced jams and more importantly how artificial the texture is. Imagine my joy the day I found out that jam is one of the easiest things to make!

Home Baker Of The Week: Dush Ratnayake

What started as an attempt to recreate the chillie paste he was once denied eventually led Dush Ratnayake on a journey which resulted in him starting up Bellissima Desserts with his friend and partner in crime in the kitchen, Andrew Obeysekere.

Chef Eric Berrigaud at The Grill

The Kingsbury’s visiting French chef, Eric Berrigaud, is set to present Colombo with an exquisite French experience at The Grill restaurant from the 29th of June to the 19th of July.

Green Magic

Vegan pizza has come to town! Green Magic is a home-run vegan food venture that started its vegan journey earlier this month with pizzas. Ru Ish, the founder of Green Magic, felt that there was a need to fill in the vegan food gaps in Colombo and after much persuasion and good feedback from her friends, she got started on her vegan venture.

Seven New Flavours At Mabroc Bubble Tea

Mabroc Bubble Tea has come up with seven new exciting flavours of bubbly bubble tea, of which there’s also a Ramadan special. We headed to their recently opened third branch situated at the food court of Crescat Boulevard to try these new concoctions.

Endless High Tea at Hilton Colombo

GRAZE KITCHEN’s most recent offering is a lavish and scrumptious high tea which is held in two sittings on Saturdays, Poya days and any public holiday. So instead of their lunch buffet, what you find is a high tea which is offered from 12 noon to 2:30PM (last reservation is at 1:30PM), and the second sitting is from 3:00PM to 5:00PM (last reservation is at 4:00PM).

The Yuppie Review: Cantaloupe Levels

Cantaloupe Levels is a luxury boutique property owned and managed by the Cantaloupe Group in Rumassala, off the Southern coast of the island. True to its namesake, the property is landscaped in multiple levels with the higher tiers offering a gorgeous view of the fabled Rumassala hill whose mythical origins are traced to the Ramayana.

Ethical Eats: Spicy Vegetable Chilli

This recipe is one of my own that I’ve adapted over the years depending on what ingredients I have in the cupboard. It can be eaten anytime of the day - wrapped in a tortilla as a breakfast burrito, on top of some toast for a quick lunch or as a topping for nachos for dinner.

Havelock Place Bungalow

Havelock Place Bungalow is a little boutique hotel tucked in the corners of Havelock City. Established in 2000, this boutique hotel’s restaurant is open to both in-house and out-house guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their a la carte menu features a range of international dishes fused with Sri Lankan flavours.