Ranna 212 - a delicious culinary experience

Texts and pictures by Dilanka Mannakkara

Imagine a homemade, traditional southern style, delicious rice and curry served at a luxurious four star resort with the courteous staff treating you not just as a guest, but as family?

Seafood symphony

Traditional rice and curry with Hungama Crab curry

That’s the kind of hospitality and culinary delights which Ranna 212 offers to its guests. Ranna is situated near Tangalle and has two signature restaurants and two tropical, innovative bars which offer food ranging from a perfectly grilled tenderloin steak to a mouthwatering sea food pancake to fresh canapés. I was invited by the charming and charismatic PR Manager of Auro Holdings Niranga Gunarathne to Ranna212.

The staff led by the enigmatic General Manager Reyhan Morris and the amiable Operations Manager Pushpitha Udawatte did welcome me with open arms.

The setting of Ranna212 is fascinating with the sun kissed beach on one side and a well landscaped garden on the other side.

Senses – Serves the best rice and curry in downsouth

The resort’s all day dining restaurant “Senses” offers a scrumptious buffet and a simple but flavoursome a-la-carte menu which the guests can choose from.

The “Ranna sea food symphony” is probably the king of the a-la-carte menus that includes fresh batter fried jumbo prawns, poached sail fish, grilled squid and a darn of seer which makes up this generous dish.

The fresh succulent prawns were my pick from the sea food symphony as they were batter fried to perfection with the crispiness outside and the juicy softness of prawns inside perfectly harmonizing each other.

“We are famous for our traditional rice and curry and lot of guests love the fact that they can savour fresh local vegetables like Nelum ala, Kehel Muwa and Kohila”, Pushpitha said commenting on their prized rice and curry.

I tried out the rice and curry and it was probably the best rice and curry I have tasted at a hotel.

The rice and curry had a home made touch – the “Hungama Crab curry’ with murunga leaves and “Ranna Isso curry” with kathurumurunga leaves were real standouts. I suggest all seafood lovers to devour the crab curry and the prawn curry with some basmathi rice, dhal and a delicious pol sambol created by the able kitchen staff of Ranna212.

Chef Ranjith Gamlath with over 20 years of experience in the culinary fame at hotels like the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and Saman Villas is versatile and truly creative with his wonderful creations and his signature dish “the seafood pancake with savoury cous cous and vegetables,” was a true delight.

The pancakes were filled with luscious chunks of fresh seafood and cream and topped with cheese and grilled. This is a tantalizing delicacy which you should definitely try out.

I am a huge dessert fan and the sinful delights at Ranna were outstanding. My picks were the French Chocolate loaf and the classic Monte Cristo.

The French Chocolate Loaf consisting of a chocolaty sponge wasn’t too sweet and the bitterness and the sweetness enhanced by a shot of brandy just gives you that extra kick.

The Monte Cristo with its Mocha flavours is just beautiful. So guys forget your dieting plans when you set off to Ranna212 and do not forget to sample these temping desserts.

Flame – the ultimate BBQ experience

Flame, the hotel’s BBQ restaurant is a totally different BBQ dining experience. The setting is at the beach, dining under the stars and the day’s fresh catch grilled to perfection is served to your table.

“Flame is our most famous restaurant among guests and they love the fact concept of sipping an icy cold drink with a juicy piece of steak”, commented Reyhan.

The BBQ buffet consisting of grilled chicken, sausages (which was brilliant), lamb chops, beef and a whole range of seafood is a true feast.

The chefs keep the flavours simple yet subtle. There is a wide range of cold cuts and salads available for the heath conscious ones as well.

So you should definitely make a trip to Ranna212, relax, enjoy the hospitality and the luxury and take pleasure in savouring their mouthwatering delicacies as much as I did.