“To me, food can always be creative and flavourful,” opined Pathum Weerasinghe, the face behind The Purfect Baker. Having experimented with ingredients and standard recipes, the first lockdown period gave her enough time to try out new recipes and a menu of her own. Eventually, her hobby was transformed into a business, and today, the delicacies experimented by her, ranging from Keto to Vegan and Decadent options, are in demand.
For home baker Shazra Zacky, the passion for baking started back in 2016 when she decided to try her hand at baking a cake for her son’s first birthday. “From there, it really encouraged me to try something different and out of the box and I loved the concept of cakes in a jar!”.
Homebased food venture, Yeheli’s which began operations back in May 2020 during Sri Lanka’s lockdown due to the pandemic, has successfully grown bigger over the course of a year and has become popular for its food that is ‘home-cooked, like mum would’! Run by husband-and-wife duo, Nisha and Mooneil, Yeheli’s is inspired and named after their daughter Yeheli and is a venture that finds its roots in a family of foodies.
Starting her business in 2020, Nafla Nazad has found a niche spot in the dessert market, Kulfi. Kulfi is an Indian dessert that is made out of fresh milk and sugars. Kulfi is still a new concept to many Sri Lankans here and it is mostly served at Indian restaurants. However, Nafla’s initiative to make it conveniently available for everyone has been successful as Kulfi Corner continues to gather new followers every day.
How do our food experts cook and eat? This week, the baker behind the famous Nandi’s Milk Toffees, Nanditha, takes our Q&A!
Rice and Curry. Sri Lanka’s staple food. No matter who you are or even where you live, if you are born Sri Lankan you have to be a fan of this traditional cuisine. B
When it comes to selecting a good restaurant to go and eat, the options are limitless. Whether it’s burgers, sushi, pasta or pizza there are so many options available. But have you ever got a craving for fried chicken? Where would you usually go? I have no doubt that your answer would be a multinational food chain.
Uncommon in Sri Lankan cuisine, gluten-free snacks are often overlooked by the majority. Yet, with its health benefits and an introduction to a new lifestyle Onella Claire De Silva and Sachi Gamage have made a successful attempt in popularising gluten-free snacks with their brand ‘SO Snacks’.
Experimenting and whipping up baked goodies during the lockdown, Fathima Wahid was thrilled by the positive feedback from her friends and family and was encouraged to start her own home venture.
It’s universally agreed that one of the most important survival hacks for any parent with growing babies is having snacks on hand. Not only is it the easiest way to pacify your hangry (hungry + angry) little one in between mealtimes, healthy snacking is a big part of your child’s growth as a nutritious diet plays a huge role in their brain development.
How do our food experts cook and eat? This week, London based plant-based doctor and food reviewer @srilankanfooddoc, Sajini, takes our Q&A!
The Cake Company, the creation of Chef Mario Fernando is my go-to place to get a customised cake. Mario’s motto is “Your wish is my command” and true to his word, all you have to do is tell him what kind of cake you want and what the design is, and lo and behold, you will have the most amazing version of what you ordered in a matter of days.
Lucuma Vegan Cafe, founded by Ksenia Belogurova, began as a health-centric eatery which eventually evolved into the vegan cafe it is known to be today. Having started this venture sometime in July 2021, Ksenia used her knowledge of a vegan diet and her sweet tooth to create completely alternative dishes to the ones we find in our local cafes today. I had the opportunity to sit down and taste a few of these dishes and it’s safe to say I w
Located right opposite the Marino Mall in Colpetty, the Mandarina Hotel is easily accessible for those searching for a luxurious hotel experience! But it’s not the hotel itself that we are focusing on today. It’s the exotic flavours of the International Dinner Buffet at Mandarina Hotel’s enchanting rooftop restaurant ’’On the Eleventh ’’.
Sugar and Spice (And Everything Nice!) by Co-Founder Nimnaz Ansar puts all her love for baking into one place. Catering to both the sweet toothed and the savoury fans, in addition to taking individual orders and being available on Pickme Foods and Uber Eats, Sugar and Spice is also a supplier to Keells, Arpico and Glomark and is looking forward to expanding her business into her own café one day.
Tea is a very familiar beverage in a Sri Lankan household. In fact, tea is an integral part of the Sri Lankan identity, as our tea is exported to many countries in the world. When we think of tea, our minds gravitate towards the typical style of beverage; ‘milk tea’ or ‘plain tea’.
When Salma Nazar, mum of two, financial research analyst by profession and the owner of home-based venture Prepp’d, told me about her range of ready-to-make dessert mixes – I was thrilled!
Round The Block truly lives up to their slogan ‘The new kid Round The Block’. Offering goodies ranging from creamy cheesecakes to tiramisu, Shahlaa Imran has what it takes to become a dominating force in the baking world. Having personally tried their mini cheesecakes, there is no doubt that their cheesecakes are one of the best in the market!
How do our food experts cook and eat? This week, Roshini, food blogger of @roshini.karunatilleke, takes our Q&A!
After leaving her last place of work a few years back, Kamathi Wijerathne wanted to start something of her own. Following a basic course in baking, she fell in love with the craft and began her own home business – Butter Bakes by Kay.
Home baker, Dushmanthi Edirisinghe’s idea for Bread and Butter was conceptualised during the latest lockdown this year and was operational by the beginning of October. “Bread and Butter is an ode to our most crucial ingredients in our dishes! Most of what we bake is bread-based and butter is a crucial element in the baking process”.
Desserts have always been at the apex of gifting due to their wide appeal, and small businesses are now upping the ante, creating desserts that are visually stunning. Cocobox.lk is one such venture, with a wide array of strawberries, cakes and dessert enveloped in chocolate.
The Brown Girl Bakes began their operations in 2019, with Leann Eleena Jayawardena taking the reins of the home-based baking business. The 19-year-old home-baker is known for her DIY cookie kit collections inspired by a variety of themes, from the hit-game ‘Among Us’ to astronomy to ocean life.
A baker for many years, Shynaz Thajudeen has been in the baking business since 2015, having started her craft at the young age of 18. “It all started with a few leftover cuppies at home. The moment I had a bite, I wanted to try baking them myself and the business just grew from there!”.
Wedding photographers by profession, husband and wife duo Dinesh Wanigarathna and Ruwanthi Perera love their food as much as they love a good photo! While exploring different cuisines and foods is a passion they both share, desserts, in particular, has a special place in their hearts – reflected by their newly launched dessert venture ‘Artisan Diletto’.
t-Lounge by Dilmah has brought back their famous mochis – but this time, in the form of an eye-catching andcolourful assortment of six ice cream mochi flavours.
Contentious origins aside - Mexicans, Nicaraguans, and many others all claim it - Tres Leches is a beloved dessert with a wide appeal. Unlike your typical cake, it is perforated and soaked in three milks - evaporated, condensed, and whole - and topped with whipped cream, resulting in a decadent delight that is light, airy, and utterly delicious.
Mama Rana is on a mission – she wants you to eat well and she’s not shy about commanding you to! Her ‘Thank You’ note with every order has a gentle but stern maternal reminder on the side to ‘eat more greens’ and ‘wash your hands!’ in a tone not too far from what our own mamas would say. “I can’t wait to cook for you again” the card signs off, “Love, Mama Rana.”
Adding their own twist to the traditional roast paan meal, Ayana Sea started Roast Paan LK where they serve roast paan in various renditions, ranging from a typical Sri Lankan meal consisting of roast paan and curries to roast paan sandwiches.
Shahana Fazal’s journey to starting her own home business is a rather fascinating story. She was motivated by a social influencer who was impressed by her chocolate biscuit pudding and red velvet jars and her words of encouragement that Shahana can be both a homemaker and a businesswoman. “So I started Not Just JARS because I was empowered to create my own identity while doing something I love!”.
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