Lankan cuisine with a twist at the Sri Lankan Supper Society London
Cooking was always a part of Jay and Dilly’s lives. Since moving to London and making it their second home, they wanted to create a dining experience that combined the best of both worlds, while also showcasing their love for cooking and hosting. This passion led to the establishment of the Sri Lankan Supper Society London in December 2018.
The venture is a cross between a dinner party and a restaurant, often hosted in private homes or small cafes back in London. The dining experience would typically include the intimacy of being at someone’s dinner party while the menu and service has the finesse of a restaurant.
Jay and Dilly both have the knack for cooking instinctively. “We look at recipes for inspiration and to get an idea of ingredients etc, but after that it’s just trial and error,” they share,via an email interview adding that this process has helped them develop as cooks. They tell us they picked up the art by watching their mothers (and in Jay’s case also her father, who was a chef).
Once in London and living alone, having to cook for themselves when they craved a Sri Lankan meal, became an avenue for them to better their skills.
The Supper Society builds on this skillset to serve what Jay and Dilly call “Sri Lankan with a twist.” This encapsulates the reinterpretation of different Sri Lankan recipes, flavours and spices which the pair grew up with in Sri Lanka.
Their typical menu would feature a starter like coconut roti topped with seeni sambol and blue cheese. The mains would comprise rice and curry which would include seasonal veggie dishes like brussel sprouts in a thoran-style preparation and pumpkin curry. Dessert would include cinnamon and cardamom spiced payasam with pomegranate and pistachio as well as white wine poached pears with coconut yoghurt and jaggery.
But, each supper club is different to each other and the menu for each occasion would often depend on the season, the venue and life in London. Jay and Dilly love cooking with what’s in season and explain that since the UK is blessed with the variety that the four seasons bring, they enjoy incorporating this seasonality to the Sri Lankan dishes they make.
However from the classic Sri Lankan ingredients that are used, coconut in all its forms would always be on top of the list. Jay and Dilly also enjoy using various herbs, sometimes where the typical Sri Lankan recipe would not include them.
While the food they serve is a focal point, the supper club isn’t just limited to that. It’s also about the total experience. Jay and Dilly try to keep things small and intimate in order to create that cosy and relaxed atmosphere.
“We pay a lot of attention to creating the right ambience, and when it comes to the food, how we serve is as important as what we serve,” they explain.
They strongly believe the details matter and they let the theme of the supper club and the venue dictate these details. On this note some of their supper clubs have been sit down meals while others have been more relaxed affairs with food served canape style.
As hosts, Jay and Dilly also like to give their customers the feeling that they’ve come to their home and make it a point to share the story behind each menu. They also believe that details are key and pay careful attention to the serveware, the plating and the timings between each course. “We want guests to leave feeling like they have had their money’s worth so making sure they are more than satisfied is really important to us.”
Alongside running the Supper Society, both Jay and Dilly also juggle their full time jobs. So the pair would often have to work around their individual calendars. “In an ideal world we would love to host more events but finding dates that work for both of us can be a challenge,” they share. Nevertheless they push on, letting their passion guide the way and deliver a taste of Sri Lanka to all Londoners.
Jay and Dilly are also always open for opportunities to collaborate and are available to cater for small private events. Learn more via their Instagram account at @srilankan.supper.society or email srilankansuppersociety@gmail.com
- Picture courtesy Framed Fantasies