Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 9:57 am Post subject: Dining in Colombo, Sri Lanka Guide
Dining in Colombo, Sri Lanka Guide
Good food is found in abundance in Sri Lanka, with a wide choice of cuisine to choose from. The Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders as well as the Indian, Arab, Malay and Moor traders have all contributed to the variety of Sri Lankan cuisine.
However, rice is the staple meal, and this is generally consumed with a range of vegetable curries, fish, beef, chicken or egg and a mallum (finely shredded leaves which are slightly stir fried). Vegetarian curries are made from practically every available fruit or vegetable such as brinjals, beans, beetroot, carrot, banana flower, ash plantains, pumpkin etc.
Curries in Sri Lanka are much hotter than those in India. More chilli and spices are added to flavour the dish. However, adjustments are made to this in order to suit the foreign palate. Should you eat something too hot, never reach for water as it does not help. Instead eat a mouth full of plain boiled rice, pasta or noodles, or better still, some cool yoghurt or curd (buffalo yoghurt) or even cucumber.
Curries are usually made with chilli powder, fresh chillies, cinnamon, tumeric, curry powder, curry leaves, onions, garlic, ginger and coconut milk.
Excellent fresh fish is found in coastal towns with prawns, crab and lobsters too. Fish is prepared according to various recipes including fried fish which can be ordered with a plate of chips and salad. 'Ambul Thiyal' (sour fish curry) is a popular fish curry found mainly in the south of Sri Lanka. It really is a pickle made from tuna.
Other specialities unique to Sri Lanka are hoppers which are usually consumed either for breakfast or lunch. A regular hopper is similar to a bowl shaped pancake which is crisp at the other edges. There are several varieties of hoppers such as egg hoppers which are made of the usual hopper where an egg is poached into its centre. Milk hoppers and honey hoppers too are delicacies enjoyed by both locals and foreigners.
String hoppers are similar to noodles but all tangled up into a flat circular shape.
This is generally eaten with a coconut sambol, dhal curry and either fish, beef or chicken curry. Pittu, a mixture of flour and grated coconut steamed in a bamboo tube is also a much sought after meal. Lamprais, a popular Dutch dish is rice boiled in beef stock, then added to vegetables and meat and baked in a low oven after it is wrapped in a banana leaf. Baking the rice in a banana leaf gives a special flavour to the rice. Kottu rotti is a filling snack found at street side eating houses. This elasticated doughy pancake is chopped into shreads and stir fried with vegetables, onions, egg and beef or chicken.
Short eats such as chinese rolls (a pancake with a beef, fish, chicken or vegetable filling and fried), cutlets, patties, pastries, hot dogs, ham burgers etc. too are also freely available.
The best way to enjoy Sri Lankan food is eating with your fingers instead of using cutlery. This is the best method of enjoying the flavour combinations from the different curries.
Traditional desserts too are commonly found in Sri Lanka, such as kiri pani (buffalo milk curd and treacle), wattalappam (a Malay origin egg pudding with jaggary or hardened treacle), sweet meats such as kevum (made with flour and treacle) and kalu dodol (jaggery, cashew nuts and coconut milk).
Fruit too is found in abundance. Mangoes, pineapple, water melon, papaya, woodapple (a hard wooden shelled fruit used to make a drink, dessert or jam), bananas (popularly referred to as plantains), rambuttan (a mouth watering fruit similar to lychees, wallnut sized and covered with red or yellow haired skin), and mangosteen (a hard dark purple skin, with sweet sour white segments).
Sri Lanka is famous for its tea, and this is a non alcoholic drink. It is usually prepared with sugar and milk, but could also be consumed only with sugar and this is generally referred to as 'plain tea'. A piece of crushed ginger too can be added to plain tea to give it a special flavour. Instant coffee and a local version of ground coffee is also available. But a really good espresso can be found only in Colombo.
Cool drinks are either made out of fresh fruit and cordials or the bottled carbonated drinks such as Coca-Cola, Sprite, Pepsi etc. are also available. The most widely found Sri Lankan carbonated soft drink is the Elephant House brnd and ginger-beer is one of the most popular soft drinks in Sri Lanka. A refreshing safe natural drink is the water of a young coconut (kurumba) or the King Coconut or Thambili, an orange coloured drinking coconut. These are cut fresh and given to consumers, therefore the content is uncontaminated.
A variety of locally manufactured and imported beers are available. In addition Sri Lanka has two extremely popular local varieties of intoxicating beverages - toddy, which is derived from palm trees, and arrack, which is the fermented and refined toddy. Arrack is produced in different grades and qualities, and some of it could taste like fire-water!
Tea
Sri Lanka produce the world's best teas. Tea therefore is very cheap and comes in good presentable packages and great many flavours now. Should you be going to the hill country towards Nuwara Eliya there are many tea estates and their affiliated sales outlets where you could also taste fresh tea of the estates.
Curry
Sri Lankan curry is slightly different from Thai and Indian Curries. Usually they are hot and spicier. Coconut milk in the curry is common but some may not be using it to allow different palates. Rise is eaten with different curries mixed together. Old colonial Rest Houses serve curries of good standard and quality.
Cakes and Patties
Prepare yourself for great tasting cakes and various other baked foods. They are excellent and have many varieties to choose from. Patties and pastries are certainly spicier but less hot at upmarket outlets. While there are many chain shops selling cakes around Colombo individual shops are located throughout the island.
Seafood Being an island there are many varieties of fish and other sea food. South Indian vegetarian food is widely available through out Sri Lanka. Bottled water and carbonated drinks are available all over the country.
Some Local Specialities
Toddy - A cider like drink from palm and coconut trees is a popular alcoholic drink. Toddy cocktail is served at many hotels.
Arrack - A more aged and refined version of Toddy.
Kewum - Oil fried rice floor and palm honey cakes.
Hoppers- A thin and crispy (buy not sweet) pancake done in round pan usually eaten with a onion and chilly paste. But also great with a sweet or a curry.
Curd - Yoghurts from buffalo milk eaten with palm honey.
Places to go
This island paradise offers a feast of choices! Restaurants burgeoning across Colombo feature cuisine typical of Sri Lankas character: surprising and delightful. The citys restaurants, cafes, and gourmet fare will fill you and at the same time make you hungry for more.
Like the coconut palms swaying in the breeze, eateries abound in Colombo, although they are not divided neatly into enclaves of ethnic cuisine. From hotels to privately owned establishments, each promises its guest a memorable meal.
Elegant Dining
For an elegant European-style dinner, the Gables, the California Grill and Don Stanleys are the top choices. These fine dining establishments pay close attention not only to the menu but also to the service and ambience as well.
Western Cuisine
Quite a number of restaurants serve up western types of cuisine. Among these you will certainly wish to try the German Restaurant (good value for money), Gallery Café (great ambience and a menu with a tempting variety of east and west) or La Palace (superb western dishes).
Dining with a Theme
Two popular theme restaurants frequented for their ambience as well as their food are the Cricket Club Cafe (the name says it all, with a menu offering information on notable cricketers) and the Paparazzi (famous faces and places documented in newspapers from around the world tastefully adorn the walls).
Traditional Sri Lankan
For a typical Sri Lankan meal, try the Green Cabin terrace or the Hilton's Curry Leaf. Both provide an extensive choice of traditional dishes from the most popular--string hoppers, kottu, hoppers, and rice and curry--to the not so common, such as pittu and godamba. You can dine indoors or outdoors at these fine establishments.
Indian
Indian restaurants are popular and widespread in Colombo. Mathura, Shanthi Vihar and the Moghul Ghar, to name but a few, feature both north and south Indian menus.
Chinese
Numerous Chinese restaurants dot the city--testament to the popularity of this cuisine among locals. The Jade Garden, Emperors Wok (serving a scrumptious dim sum) and Flower Drum are among the more frequented. Most offer both take-away and delivery services.
More Asian Delights
For Japanese food, Nihonbashi and Ginza Hohsen come highly recommended as examples of the Colomboss many reputed restaurants. For a taste of southeast Asia, try out the citys Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and Indonesian cuisine. Although not as popular as Chinese, Thai and Korean food have quite an avid following here, with Siam House, Seafood 88 and the Korean Restaurant being among the best choices available.
Cafes and Lounges
When you need respite from a busy day, a place to grab a coffee or hang out with friends, or a venue for informal business meetings, Colombo has plenty of locations to choose from.
For an outdoor hideaway set among huge trees and courtyards, the Gallery 706 fits the bill perfectly. This beautifully appointed gallery café is used for openings, ceremonies and a host of other functions. The Commons, a hip and trendy hangout, offers both outdoor and indoor spaces, with a delightful choice of snacks or full meals depending on your appetite. It also has a pool table, a small gallery, huge sofas inside, and garden tables and chairs outside. Elsewhere, the Gallery Café has a wonderful sitting area overlooking its inner courtyard--ideal for a quiet chat with a friend or for a moments peace with a cup of iced tea. For those who prefer a less solitude, Deli France and the Deli Market present a more lively atmosphere.
A special treat is the Thorana Lounge at the Hilton Colombo. It overlooks the Hiltons ponds and well-manicured gardens, offering a wonderful place to take a breather after a heavy meal or to prepare for a night filled with dancing and music. Once a week, a delicious afternoon high tea is served, while a fashion show of local and visiting designers collections provides the entertainment.
Ice-cream Parlours
If a delicious, cold sweet is what you seek to beat the heat, then you are in luck. Ginos, The Hub (serving Sri Lankas famous Elephant House ice creams--chocolate, vanilla or strawberry sundaes--these traditional flavours will never taste the same to you again!) and Carnival are by far the most frequented ice-cream parlours in the city. All offer a variety of creative flavours and mouth-watering combinations.
Local Hangouts
Life in Colombo can be both hectic and laid-back. There are many local hangouts across the city, the most popular of which is Millennium Park. This fascinating amusement park features a huge food court, bowling, fun rides, a pool, shopping arcade and pub, virtual reality games, and much more. Also popular among youngsters are Colombos various shopping centres, such as Crescat Boulevard, Majestic Shopping Centre and Liberty Plaza, with their extensive food courts, shops and boutiques serving as big attractions.
Finally, for those interested in clubbing into the wee hours of the morning and hungry for a delicious kottu or godamba, stop at Pillaous and have a local snack. But be careful--you may want to share your meal as the portions are quite generous.
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