Flavours that bring back that old familiar feeling
Team effort: Ranga with some members of Rodrigo’s
Down Pepiliyana Mawatha in Nugegoda, a familiar name known across generations and synonymous with quality food stands out to passers-by with its eye-catching electric pink and blue logo – Rodrigo’s. With 25 years of experience in the food industry, proprietor Chanaka Rodrigo continues family tradition by striving to deliver delicious sweets and savouries to patrons for any occasion and Avurudu is no exception.
Step in any day during the week from 7a.m to 7 p.m. and you will be met with the heady aromas of creamy frosted cakes topped generously with additions like sweet pineapple, trays lined with warm buttery savoury pies and hearty helpings of piping hot lamprais wrapped carefully in traditional banana leaf to name a few from the extensive menu.
Just prior to the emergence of what we now refer to as ‘the new normal’, Rodrigo’s opened its doors to patrons in August of 2019 and enjoyed seven steady months of activity before the initial islandwide lockdown was imposed earlier last year. As businesses everywhere grappled with how to respond to the lockdown, Chanaka and his wife Ranga shared that during those trying times Rodrigo’s was fortunate enough to be able to remain busy by accepting orders for food deliveries. Since receiving permission to do so, phones frequently rang at the Rodrigo household with callers looking for a change from their home cooked meals, eagerly placing orders for short eats like rolls and pastries. With the assistance of a few of their dedicated staff members living nearby, the kitchen was once again bustling.
The calls only kept coming as flyers were passed out with each delivery and as Ranga carefully coordinated digital marketing efforts through social media, allowing customers to place orders through avenues like WhatsApp.
Re-inventing the business: Chanaka Rodrigo and wife Ranga
Having stepped away from her previous position in the textile industry, Ranga now dedicates her time to supporting her husband and Rodrigo’s. Talking about how she and the team responded to the developing situation and organized their efforts accordingly she quotes the late American entrepreneur, Steve Jobs saying, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
As logistics were strengthened, Rodrigo’s were soon equipped to deliver one of their most popular items, their lamprais. With only one vehicle available, a typical day of making deliveries would begin around 10 a.m. and continue till 4 p.m., says Chanaka. One especially busy weekend saw the team delivering a staggering 250 lamprais packets to customers. Deliveries were made to locations close by such as Shangri-La Residencies, Ward Place, Dharmapala Mawatha and eventually extended to places like Malabe, Thalawathugoda, Kotte and Ratmalana.
Old favourites to savour
Since lockdown restrictions were lifted Rodrigo’s has been open for dining once more and a new food container cafe operates on Malalasekera Mawatha near the CR&FC grounds. Chanaka and Ranga are supported by a team of just over 20, all of whom they describe as loyal exceptional talents who never fail to display pride in the work that they do. “Without them it would not have been possible to provide or serve food that is acceptable and liked by everyone,” says Chanaka.
Despite manoeuvering a still uncertain landscape with rising prices of ingredients and the addition of emerging trends like home baking to compete with, Rodrigo’s endeavours to uphold tradition by preserving and showcasing classic flavours that prompt a sense of loving nostalgia having been enjoyed over many a function, tea time and on special occasions. Chanaka and Ranga say that their biggest satisfaction is derived from receiving feedback from their customers. Simply enjoying the meal they have provided is always a great compliment to them however, they share that it’s truly special when a customer can’t help but associate the flavours with previous fond memories.
Visit their website: www.rodrigos.lk Or follow them on Facebook and Instagram:@rodrigos_legendary