Foods

Venice by Ocean

Can you really say no to ice cream? I won’t lie, I can’t - especially if it is the homemade kind! So when I got a message from Oceanie De Silva about her range of homemade ice creams, I was thrilled. Handmade using ingredients from the USA as well as local produce, these ice creams are stunning.

Bubbluscious

For the love of all things bubble, Bubbluscious opened its doors on December 18! Introducing a range of Bubble Teas, Bubble Coffees and Bubble Desserts for the first time in Sri Lanka, Bubbluscious is a cozy black themed cafe with brightly coloured beanbags and booths where bubbles are truly celebrated. It is conveniently located inside the Kandana K-Zone where there is ample parking.

Frosties

Located away from the hustle of the city and even the main road, Frosties is a delightful little café found down Attidiya Road in Ratmalana. They are making their mark in the industry and gaining fame for their famous ice cream rolls, a first in Sri Lanka.

LET’S BRUNCH

Let’s Brunch is probably Sri Lanka’s first restaurant specializing in brunch. Having opened its doors last year, the restaurant is run by Thisakya who thought that Sri Lanka should also have a place specializing in brunch as well.

Maharaja Palace

Indian cuisine has always been a favourite among us Sri Lankans. Situated in the heart of Colombo is Maharaja Palace, an elegantly built restaurant serving traditional North Indian cuisine. Over the years, this restaurant has been known for its exclusive specialties making it a potential competitor for others in the business.

Lipton Tea Room at The Galle Literary Festival 2017

The biggest tea brand in the world, Lipton Tea set up a one of a kind tea room at one of the biggest events of the Sri Lankan calendar. Lipton Tea in partnership with Tea Talk took over the Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2017 from the 12th to the 14th of January.

Waffely by Lava

In August 2016, husband and wife duo, Indunil Piyadigama and Lavanya Devasurendra felt they wanted to venture into something food related. Being medical doctors they felt that food would be an interesting field to get into. Fresh food was the main factor on their agenda thus the decision to have waffles and crepes as the main feature on their menu.

Smooth It Up

This popular venue in Colombo for healthy snacks and on the go smoothies and juices is located at #3 Jawatte Avenue, Colombo 5, in the premises of Body Bar Gym. Fairly new to the healthy food trend in town, this little place really surprised me. Their range of juices and smoothies are pretty awesome considering the fact that there is no water, sugar or salt added. It’s a place you really need to check out if you haven’t been there already.

Ayu by Mövenpick Hotel

Ayu, the international all-day dining restaurant at Mövenpick Hotel offers a casual and fun dining atmosphere. From local specialties to international cuisine served at the buffet or the à la carte menu, Ayu includes an exciting gastronomic experience.

Spicy Pumpkin Soup on The Startup Cook

If there was a vegetable that I held in great disdain, it would be pumpkin. To this date, I avoid it like a plague whenever I can. For the life of me, I cannot even understand why anyone would like its sweet and mushy texture. This great revulsion towards pumpkin ended with this recipe. It might not be the best dish for your rice and curry, but make it in to a soup….? Now that is deliciously tantalising story.

Francesco’s

Whenever Dimuthu Gamage does something he does it right. Take Giovanni’s for instance, they serve the best pizzas in Colombo. And the same goes for his new venture, Francesco’s, named after his adorable 11yearold son, this little cafe down Jawatte Road (opposite Embark) dishes out some groovy fare.

Baker’s Choice Reviewed

You need to meet Laki Ratnayake and only then would understand the concept behind some of the finest European sourdough breads you can get your hands on here in Sri Lanka. His mild nature and his passion for baking artisanal breads shines through as you take that first bite of the stunning range of breads by Baker’s Choice.

Black Pepper Colombo

Located in the heart of Colombo, the Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct now offers a new fine dining experience at the all new Black Pepper restaurant. Having launched earlier this month, the restaurant is under the ownership and management of the Earl’s Court Group and stands to be the first restaurant opened by the group.

The Vanilla Bean Bakery

These past few months have seen me visiting a number of home bakers and cooks. The experience has been refreshing thanks to the fresh flavours and attention to detail that these home based cooks present. My last review for 2016 features Sabrina and Iman Mohamed, the motherdaughter duo behind The Vanilla Bean Bakery.

6 Places for Cookies This Christmas

Here’s a roundup of cookies we’ve found quite intriguing in Colombo, from its looks to its texture and flavour. After all, we were bound to prove Cookie Monster’s chocolate chip cookies are no match to the local favourites.

Date Bar

This week I’d like to introduce you to a mother and daughter duo, Roshan Ibrahim and Nishreen Savanghan who churn out delicious date based chutneys and cakes.

Checking out La Langousterie

Beach restaurants in Sri Lanka have always got a special place in Sri Lanka mainly due to popular coastal belts and their settings. However, Mount Lavinia is one such destination that has a mushrooming number of beach restaurants which are either new settlements or have been there for a while. Situated in the vicinity of the magnificent Mount Lavinia Hotel is La Langousterie, which has a history of over 50 years in the industry.

Grocery Box

With Christmas just round the corner, Grocery Box brings to you all that you require to make your Christmas goodies. For busy working mums and also dads who like to cook but have absolutely no time to spend finding a parking spots and staying in queues at checkout counters, here’s a great new option.

Christmas cake in and around Colombo

Tired of spending endless hours trying to whip up the perfect Christmas cake? Perhaps it’s finally time to relax this season and be jolly, as Life Online tried and tested several places in and around Colombo to help you serve your Christmas best at the table. Here’s a list of 9 places we visited to pick the top 3 cakes of the season.

Chicken, Carrot and Spinach Pasta on The Startup Cook

Besides its nutritional benefits, this pasta recipe makes for an ideal dinner. Tis the season of festivities, and visitors are bound to make an appearance themselves. A bowl of this delicious pasta that is quite convenient to eat is exactly what you need to serve your ravenous guests.

7 spots for delectable treats this Christmas

It is that time of year again when indulgence, especially when it comes to food and drink is on the cards. So we thought we’d make it a little easier for you by picking out some of the best options in town to indulge in some delicious holiday treats.

Lebanese Restaurant

Authentic Arab cuisine is difficult to find in Sri Lanka, especially when what you want is originality, not altered by any means. The Lebanese Restaurant signs off this worry of finding authentic Middle Eastern cuisine!

Journeys at California Grill

California Grill at the Galadari Hotel brings to you Journeys, which is a Friday evening treat for anyone looking for an exclusive fine dining experience. This long and winding magical journey is something you need to indulge in and experience.

The Hungry Monkey

It was the love for food that resulted in Chadini Fernando trying her hand at cooking. She has always loved food, but never really cooked as much. Once she started cooking, she realised how much she enjoyed it, and this was when The Hungry Monkey was born.

7 Places To Grab A Shawarma

Shawarmas are an incredible part of Arab cuisine that’s been born and bred within the Middle East and some going as far as Spain. The shawarma in far simpler terms would be a meaty grilled sandwich, but it’s all about the meat and the intriguing flavours. Being an undeniably delicious street food around the Middle East and few parts of Europe, we’ve got this delicious goodness in and around Colombo’s top Middle Eastern restaurants.

Thai Cuisine at La Rambla

La Rambla by Tasty Caterers has been completely revamped and now serves authentic Thai cuisine by Chef Papat Pachid. Located at 69, Hotel Road, Mount Lavinia, this cosy little restaurant offers an exciting gastronomic journey and boasts of being Mount Lavinia’s only authentic Thai restaurant.

Little Miss Shortcake

Little Miss Shortcake is a home baker who is relatively new in the ever growing home baking scene in the city. The young lady behind this little bakery is Ashmita Wijesinghe (20) an aspiring chef.