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!”.
Created by the three Sahill siblings, Shimraz, Amaan and Shamara, Pot Colombo is a relatively new hotspot that began this year where they serve impeccable homemade gelato in a pot.
Sensing a niche in the market for Sri Lankan toffee suppliers and curated gift boxes, Jazmiya Jhan started Boxed Gesture. “We kept receiving the same butter cookie tins from visitors and that prompted me to think of alternative gift ideas as it’s a Sri Lankan tradition to take something along when you visit relatives and friends. I started Boxed Gesture to introduce Toffee Boxes with a simple tagline ‘Gift Boxed Gesture.
Café Kai, the premium gourmet baked delights division of Hilton Colombo, announced the launch of its Swiss Rolls in seven flavours; Strawberry, chocolate, banana and caramel, pineapple and coconut, red velvet, coffee and liqueurs. The month-long promotion kicks off on the 15th of September.
Located along the sandy beach right in front of De Alwis Place, Dehiwala, Pink Salt is one of the hottest new restaurants in Colombo. It is the dream venture of young entrepreneur Diarra Wickremasinghe, who is also the owner of the Home Bakery “Brown Sugar”.
This flavour and the authenticity of traditionally cooked meals was the inspiration behind ‘The Dara Lipa’, founded by Lahiru Karalliyadde and Gigen Suresh. Having attended Colombo International School, Kandy together since 2003 the two friends went their separate ways for higher education in the US.
The ugly duckling among swans, the Burnt Basque Cheesecake is a far cry from its delicate and visually appealing counterpart. A beautiful mess with no aesthetic appeal, this cheesecake is characterised by its iconic charred and irregular edges with a soft, creamy core devoid of the bottom layer crust.
We all love our side of fries. They go with everything. Most fast food restaurants serve them as sides but honestly, what if they weren’t just a side? What if we just put a big spotlight on why we order from all these takeout spots in the first place? Loaded Fries CMB - a new take out spot in Colombo is doing just that: Baked Potato Fries. Insane toppings.
Priya Theverapperuma – Perera’s love affair with food began at a very early age, influenced by her grandparents. While professionally following a career in hotel management abroad, she realized her real passion was in cooking and moving back to Sri Lanka she opted to start her own business in food.
Dumplings & Parathas is the newest food spot in Colombo focusing on introducing Chinese street food. A sister brand of the famous David’s Dangerously Delicious Char Siu, Dumplings & Parathas (D&P) is bringing yet another opportunity to indulge in delicious Chinese delicacy. Auntie Lily is the face behind D&P. Growing up in Mainland China, Auntie Lily’s fondest memories are of making dumplings from scratch on every special occasion.
A passionate food enthusiast, Tharanga Udawatte is always up for a challenge, constantly experimenting with ingredients and trying out new stuff. “I already started a Granola and healthy food page called Summer by T back in 2019 and when I wanted to start Donuts, I didn’t want to confuse my already existing clientele with sugar-based desserts so I started a deviated brand called Sweet Summer!”.
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