Our own spicy specials

The most striking aspect of Sri Lankan cuisine is the many spices used to give it that very unique Lankan touch. From the mouth-watering cadju curry, the hot and spicy miris maalu to the legendary kottu roti, Sri Lanka has some unique flavours to offer… And come to think of it, no two curries taste the same.

An expert in this area is Sikhamani Felicia Wakwella Sorensen, also known as the “Queen of Curries”. This month, from February 15 to 24, Lankan fans of curry can savour some of her mouth-watering dishes, prepared by the expert chefs at the ‘Curry Leaf’ headed by Chef Raja, the Head Chef at the restaurant.

What is different this time around is that there will be a seafood market, where you will be able to select your choice of seafood, and have it prepared just the way you like it, along with the Curry Leaf Buffet and a selection of godamba roti, kottu roti, hoppers, pittu and so on, as well as a dessert buffet, all at the rate of Rs. 2000+++ per person. These aside (not included for Rs. 2000 though) you can try out the signature Grade 1 Curry Leaf Chilli Crab, Rock Lobster or Jumbo Prawns.

As Chef Rohan Fernandopulle, the Executive Chef at the Hilton Colombo explained, how it all works is that diners are given a list of seafood along with a list of various preparations. The seafood ranges from seer fish, tuna, cuttlefish, crab, prawns that can be grilled, fried, stir-fried or curried. And then comes the further choice of whether you want it grilled in either the Sri Lankan or Balinese style or fried with Satay or Hot Butter Sauce or stir-fried in the spicy Indonesian Sambal Sauce or the well known Singaporean Black Pepper Sauce or curried in Macau Yellow Curry or Thai Red Curry, just to name a few options.

The cuttlefish stir-fried in the Indonesian Sambal Sauce or fried with Hot Butter Sauce is a must try! Crab prepared the Sri Lankan way or in the Macau yellow curry is a good option. The seafood can be enjoyed with godamba roti, kottu roti or even with designer hoppers!

Designer hoppers? Basically hoppers where anything can be added into the middle. It is all about making it your very own hopper! Apart from the traditional egg hopper or kiri hopper, the ‘Curry Leaf’ gives you a choice of cheese and green chillies, omelettes or ham and cheese in the middle of the hopper.

This concept is somewhat similar to the roti you get when you travel to Hikkaduwa, where they are stuffed with various ingredients. A must try is the cheese and green chilli hopper, with the fresh seafood, which is brought on a daily basis to the hotel.

All this can be enjoyed with a soft breeze blowing through the open air setting, in true Sri Lankan style, with traditional Sri Lankan music.

And once you have sufficiently stuffed yourself with everything on offer a warm glass of ginger plain tea with hakuru (jaggery) is the ideal ending to a Lankan feast. The offer is only during dinner time, between 7 and 11.30 p.m.