Local breakfast meals -- string hoppers, coconut roti, dhal curry, boiled sweet potato with freshly grated young coconut and Ceylon tea.
Special local bread with dhal curry and coconut sambol -- freshly grated coconut (from coconut tree in owner's backyard) with fresh green chopped chilli.
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| Yoghurt -- All natural buffalo curd set in clay bowl |
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| Flat bread -- making coconut roti |
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| Wood-fired coconut roti |
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| Flat bread -- coconut roti |
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| Homemade brown rice string hoppers with dhal curry and runny egg yolk |
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| Homemade string hoppers with freshly grated young coconut and runny egg yolk |
Main meals consist of rice and curry and, accompany with dhal curry, fresh salad, sambol and fried fish. Rice is always put on the plate first and selected curry dishes are mix with it. You can have a mix selection of curries and fried fish or meat curry to go with the rice or with string hoppers though string hoppers are enjoyed at breakfast time.
I have enjoyed the local food from popular street food to local eateries to homecooked meals during my private journey in Sri Lanka.
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| Homemade meal -- fresh salad, pumpkin curry, mixed vegetable curry |
Chef preparing yummy meal. Some of the spices were picked from their own backyard.
Rare treat -- wild boar meat from the highlands
Sous-chef preparing the wild boar meat
Coconut roti, hopper with egg and top with freshly grated young coconut and dhal curry
Homemade brown rice string hoppers, angled-loofah curry, okra curry, fried eggplant and fresh salad.
Homemade fish and calamari with fresh salad and french fries
Wood-fired stove -- preparing calamaris
Fresh seafood meal -- fried sardines, prawns, crab, calamari curry, coconut sambol and fresh salad.
Seafood meal with pumpkin curry and fried eggplant
Seafood meal with potato salad
At a local eatery -- fried fish, variety of curry and salad
Fried fish with potato salad and fresh salad
Sri Lanka crab seafood feast
Refreshing Produce
Besides enjoying the king coconut daily, the yoghurt -- the buffalo curd became part a must-have in my daily treat when most may find it
perhaps a little too rich. That said, one cannot beat the joy of indulging in
durian; probably as good as enjoying the local arrack.
Going bananas! The island produces some fifteen variety of bananas. A favourite fruit among the locals, it comes in various colours, sizes, shapes and tastes.
I could not resist this particular unique variety -- the Nethrapalam, the largest sized of them all and the most expensive, at 100Rs each. It is not only about the size, but because the Nethrapalam is a superfood that is good for the eyes!
Tasted absolutely divine when blended with local yoghurt, wild honey from Kandy and crushed ice -- the Sri Lankan banana smoothie!
The other must-try fantastic fruits are the woodapple, jackfruit -- the firm texture variety, the soursop fruit (graviola) and particularly, the bael fruit -- the ripe fruit is aromatic, has a soft texture. I enjoy taking it neat!
This magical fruit tree has medicinal value .Almost all parts of the tree -- fruit, leaves, bark and root are used in ayurvedic treatment.
Going bananas! The island produces some fifteen variety of bananas. A favourite fruit among the locals, it comes in various colours, sizes, shapes and tastes.
I could not resist this particular unique variety -- the Nethrapalam, the largest sized of them all and the most expensive, at 100Rs each. It is not only about the size, but because the Nethrapalam is a superfood that is good for the eyes!
Tasted absolutely divine when blended with local yoghurt, wild honey from Kandy and crushed ice -- the Sri Lankan banana smoothie!
The other must-try fantastic fruits are the woodapple, jackfruit -- the firm texture variety, the soursop fruit (graviola) and particularly, the bael fruit -- the ripe fruit is aromatic, has a soft texture. I enjoy taking it neat!
This magical fruit tree has medicinal value .Almost all parts of the tree -- fruit, leaves, bark and root are used in ayurvedic treatment.
The bael fruit is packed with natural goodness. It is generally consumed as a fruit juice.
In South East Asia and Central Asia, this is The king of Fruits -- that one would completely fall in love with and could never have enough of it or totally avoid it, keeping it at arm's length. This seasonal fruit is known to be a yang fruit and, has some health benefits for those who know how to appreciate it.
My personal best are from Indonesia and Malaysia -- a specific variety of the fruit, from the old trees that are grown on hill slopes are a real treat. It varies in the colour, flavour, texture and it must have the 'vintage' full body strong bitter taste.
Overview
The well blended aromatic spices of the simple yet delectable food prepared by passionate cooks have been one exhilarating experience; having had the pleasure of enjoying them on this journey.
(January/February 2014)