Discover the diversity of Sri Lankan cuisine

With the hectic social season with all its lunches, brunches, weddings and dinners just about behind us, the thought of a good old fashioned Sri Lankan meal is possibly the most welcome thought on everyone’s minds.

The chefs at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo are masters at preparing authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and their skills are showcased at the hotel’s monthly Hopper Night. In addition to some traditional recipes, the chefs put some of their own creativity to play.

The simple crispy hopper, the focal item of the night takes on many forms. Diners may try cheese and chili hoppers, seeni sambol hoppers, kiri appa, pani pol hoppers or masala hoppers, and of course the popular egg hopper.

In addition to this, a spread of pittu complemented by tripe curry locally referred to as babath, string hoppers, kottu rotti, chicken curry, crispy cuttlefish, beef curry, fish ambulthiyal - a sour smoked preparation of fish, potatoes curried in a thick coconut gravy and many other items make up the splendid Sri Lankan buffet.

After an invigoratingly spicy meal, the hotel offers guests an array of local sweetmeats to recover. They come in all shapes, sizes, colours and textures from Lavariya, dodol, milk toffee, kokis, kavum, asmi, halapa, mung kavum to coconut rock and banana fritters amongst others. In true Sri Lankan style, guests are served a cup of ginger tea to top the meal off.

A calypso band and a troupe of Kandyan dancers will keep guests entertained throughout the night and the band will go round playing songs on request.

This month’s Hopper Night will be held at the hotel’s latest venue, the Waterside, tonight (January 28) from 7 pm to 11 pm.