Category: Food

History is sketchy for those who never left family behind.

Stories get juicier in the telling so this may be fact or fiction – you be the judge of that. What we do know is this: A love story is best concocted like a beautifully imaginative culinary delight, because not always does it pan out to be what we want it to be unless spiced up with fiery spices, the bitterness of a tropical sun kissed lime and pan fried with the milk drawn from the loins of healthy coconuts!

Welcome to the fable of Sir Alfred Clarke of the Fernham Estate, Buckinghamshire, England. Knighted by the monarch for his contribution towards horticulture, Sir Clarke was a close friend of John Nash who was commissioned to build the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and remodel Buckingham Palace. Nash used Sir Clarke to bring in the many beautiful and exotic tropical foliage including the birds of paradise that still roam free amongst the castles of England. Sir Clarke was recognized by the government of His Majesty George IV and was awarded a senior position amongst the recruits being sent to the colonies.

In 1822, he landed on the golden shores of Sri Lanka and thus sealed the fate of his life and heart. Settled in the cool hillside of Ceylon, he studied and mastered the tea trade. During his weekly strolls along the cool hillside, he met Satyavati, the daughter of a local tradesman Murghan, who supplied the estate with its weekly fruit, vegetables and spices.  It was at this point that Sir Clarke’s desires were roused and passion seeped into every crevice of his heart.

One dreary monsoon morning, Satyavati arrived on the estate devastated and drenched. She had walked all night to get there. Sir Clarke hurriedly invited her into the warmth of an empty tea factory. Upon inquiry, he found out that Murghan’s body had been found washed up on the banks of a river near their home. No one knew how.
In the years which followed Satyavati carried out her father’s trade which proved to be immensely difficult. She was not only an unmarried young woman in a man’s world, but also an only child with no other relatives for support. Clarke, unable to hide his affection for her any longer, declares his love to Satyavati. For fear of any repercussions and shunning from her local community she refuses to entertain any such thoughts. She is however unable to deny his continued kindness towards her and eventually, her heart’s craving for him.
During a secret liaison to his beachside cottage, Satyavati tells Clarke of a recurring dream she is having about her father on the banks of a river and a dark shadow that follows him. Yet the moment the shadow gets too close, a flock of pink flamingos would fly in and carry him away to safety.

Realizing that a secret life was the only way he could love Satyavati, Clarke buys a property in the hills of Lindulla overlooking a river. An an only child himself, all his belongings and family heirlooms are brought to Lindulla from the Fernham Estate in Buckinghamshire to replicate his life style in England. He then proceeds to recreate the lake in Satyavati’s dream on this property. A flock of flamingos are brought from India along with twenty workers who do not speak the local language.

This would become their hideaway for the next 22 years. In 1843, during a trip to England with Satyavati, she becomes violently ill and passes away in his Buckinghamshire home. Sir Clarke returns to Ceylon with a broken heart and spends the next seventeen years in his Lindulla home, in complete isolation.

On the fourth of April 1844, Sir Clarke had a dream. He dreams of Satyavati at the lake with her father surrounded by thousands of Flamingos. He runs to her and when he gets close to her she turns and stretches her arms out to him. He holds her tight and says he will never let her go again. Ever. She looks into his eyes, kisses his head and says “we will meet again. Never forget what I told you”.

The very next day, Clarke orders for the name on the gates of the Lindulla estate to change from Fernham Estate to ‘Flamingo House’. Sir Clarke passed away in 1861, on that very same night, the flock of flamingos left the lake never to return again.

This is the myth that gave birth to the concept of Flamingo House. Esteem magazine has visited Flamingo House several times and we would like to share our experience. They opened in September this year and are located at No. 58A Horton Place, Colombo 07.

From the moment you walk in till you leave you will be enchanted by the décor and the ambiance. The other thing that will strike you, is the attention to detail and the service at this restaurant. Their service is truly exceptional. Friendly managers and wait staff that know their menu thoroughly and are able to make recommendations to first time diners. We must make special mention of their mixologist as well, he is a treat to watch and the cocktails he makes are very good.

We commenced our meal with an appetizer platter consisting of Soft Shell Crab, Duck Crepes and Isso Wade. The soft shell crab was divine and we really enjoyed the duck crepes, the isso wade was good but we would have preferred if the wade was a bit softer.

On a previous visit we tried their Seafood Laksa and it was phenomenally good. Generous amounts of cuttlefish, prawn and fish balls in a spicy and creamy coconut broth. Decadent and delicious, wish they would consider offering a larger portion to be ordered as a main as we would definitely order it on our next visit.

The assorted dim sum platter is another one of our firm favourites. An assortment of meat and vegetarian dim sum, is great as a snack for when you’re having drinks before your meal or waiting for those notoriously late friends to arrive.

For mains we tried the Norwegian Salmon, Pork Tenderloin, Calamari Stuffed with Minced Lamb and the Modha with Miso. The Norwegian Salmon was definitely the best, served on a bed of garlicky spinach and served with oyster sauce. The salmon was absolutely fresh and it almost melted in our mouths. The oyster sauce and spinach made an excellent combination and this has become our favourite dish at Flaming House. The Calamari Stuffed with Minced Lamb is served with a cup of jasmine rice and a Thai style papaya salad – we loved this one too, but the portion is a bit on the small side therefore we would encourage you to order an appetizer if you want to have the calamari as your main. The Pork Tenderloin was good and the portion was quite generous, served with your choice of baked or mashed potato, we quite liked it.

The Modha with Miso was a very clever dish and this too was served with jasmine rice and a miso sauce which really did justice to the Modha. Fresh white fish steamed and grilled to perfection. If you’re looking for something tasty and healthy this is the dish we’d recommend.

Something we really enjoyed at Flamingo House was their cocktails. They’ve taken classic cocktails and given it their own spin. For example the Gimlet has been renamed Kalinga’s Gimlet and it is served in a teacup and garnished with mint leaves. Another cocktail that caught our eye while perusing the menu was the Flamingo Rosa which is their house special. A classic raspberry mojito and instead of rum they’ve used vodka. Almost all their cocktails are priced between Rs. 700 and 950 excluding taxes.

When we usually dine at Flamingo House we are quite full after appetizers, mains and cocktails and on the rare occasion that we have more space in our tummies we always order the Chocolate Biscuit Pudding with Kahlua which is a Gerard Mendis special. This is served with a generous dollop of whipped cream and garnished with strawberries, we prefer to have the cream on the side as this dessert is rather indulgent by itself and doesn’t really need the whipped cream but if you love whipped cream why not indulge every now and then!

We love Flamingo House and it is a lovely place to celebrate a special occasion, a promotion or to have some after work drinks. The ambiance is great, it almost makes you feel like you are not in Colombo. The mood is quirky and it has a great vibe.

On average a meal for two people with appetizers, a main each, two cocktails and a dessert to share would cost Rs. 4,000 per person.

Our overall rating of the place is as follows:

Food: 7/10

Ambiance: 9/10

Service: 9/10

Portion Size: 6.5/10

Value for Money: 7/10

The next time you’re looking for a new place to try out in the city, call them and make a reservation before you decide to swing by. They can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flamingohouselk/

Words by: Surovi Salgado and Aaron Seth

Primarily a family concern, Love Bites, has been gaining popularity via social media since the commencement of their operations early this year. Due to the multitude of requests from their patrons they have taken a leap of faith to open their first outlet at Urban Kitchen.

The brand itself captures the highs and lows of love and caters to the varying emotions that come with it. The petite store sits nestled in a cozy corner of Urban Kitchen, which is one of Colombo’s largest F&B hubs. In today’s fast paced world of instant gratification, Love Bites holds steadfastly to old-fashioned concepts with values that are just as important. Their overarching rational is that if you use wonderful ingredients you get wonderful food. For that they go the extra mile.

“We are very much a family run operation and were initially nervous to set up a store. However we find that our customers are patient with us and never demand the niceties of a large commercial enterprise. Because at the end of the day what matters is the quality of the treats we offer on which we strive never to falter”. These were the sentiments of Tanya Goonewardene, one of the co-founders of Love Bites who spends time and effort coming up with different types of no frill desserts that allow the taste buds to issue their verdict. Echoing similar sentiments Buddhike Payoe, who along with Tanya formed Love Bites said, “While we do have ambitious plans of expanding our reach and product range we are not in a real hurry. We want to keep our identity as a home baking outfit concentrating more on delivering high quality products to our clients.”

Love Bites offer an assortment of comfort flavors that are neutral in their sweetness, from the Dark Chocolate Suicide to the delectable After Eight Cupcakes. The coffee lover will be delighted at the thought of the Snow Tip Love Boat and the Tiramisu Cupcake which turns the traditional Italian dessert on its head. The star among others in the troupe is the Strawberry Milky Way which is their twist on the American favourite- TresLeches.

Director of Urban Kitchen, Nihal Hoole, expressed his sentiments adding that Love Bites is a great fit at UK which is the favorite F&B hub in the heart of the city.

Their modus operandi remains primarily on social media and customers are urged to contact them online and pre-order their treats to avoid disappointment. For more information you can call 0776909815/0712737956 or visit them at https://www.facebook.com/LoveBitesTreats

(Photo Credits – Valentine Gnanakan)

Reef’s Edge Resort in Uswetakeiyawa recently presented “Around the Edge of the World” International Food Festival that was held on the 10th of July from 1pm – 11pm at Hamilton Deck. The international food festival combined the best fusion cuisines of ten carefully selected countries with many activities for the young and young at heart!

The day also featured some of Hamilton Deck’s famous attractions like the 200 foot Zip Line, Mega Water Slide, Slip n Slide and a Zorb Ball for those seeking a little adrenaline as well as a unique selection of Colombo’s up and coming live bands and DJs.

The stalls of the ten countries were laid out across the beautifully manicured lawn of the Hamilton Deck, where guests could purchase food and beverage tokens to eat at as many stalls as they choose. Countries featured included Scotland, USA, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Japan, Italy, UK and our very own Sri Lanka.

Food lovers were issued a “passport” at the entrance to use at the stalls. Guests who were able to conquer all ten countries received prizes courtesy of Reefs Edge Resort.

The carnival atmosphere was set with performances by Magic Box Mix-Up, The Rebels, Manic, The Fix and Natalya & Friends. DJ Hitch was also on board to spin groovy, tunes throughout the day and night to ensure that guests lost some of the pounds put on simply by looking at the extensive array of mouthwatering delicacies from around the world.

I’ve never been to Europe let alone a café there but being too much of a movie buff has given me a pretty good idea of what it would look like. Although many establishments that have sprung up in Colombo have made considerable attempts to recreate the ambiance, atmosphere and adventure of the continent, few come close to my imagination. That is until I discovered Bubblelement, which was quite by accident.

First spotting the opening on a friend’s Facebook timeline, the whole “Bubble Tea” thing got me curious. Again in my head (where quite a bit goes on every second), I imagined regular tea mixed up and shaken vigorously so that a snowy foam would appear when poured out and that was what everyone referred to as the “bubbles”. So wrong!

Having also heard quite a bit about the new place in town we decided to make a visit to Bubblelement down Queen’s Road (opposite the Cricket Club Café).

From the moment you enter the chic little café there is so much to take in. The pastel and white furniture, the little trinkets that adorn the tables and hang from the ceiling, and the tongue-in-cheek sayings and quotations strategically placed to catch one’s eye all reminds you of something out of the classic storybook. The only thing that makes the place so-Sri Lankan is probably the constant chatter of families and groups of friends that have thronged the place since its opening.

Bubblelement initially set up shop in a converted garage in Galle and were an instant success with the tourists visiting the Fort and other attractions in the area. They decided to move to Colombo based on recommendations from locals who has visited (and loved) their very different offerings. The establishment has been open for only about 2 months now and they are already running out of space and happen to be looking out for larger spaces in the city.

The staff at the café is just something else as well and come with an attitude that most other establishments lack; friendliness. These guys come across as people who truly love what they do having been trained by the owner himself in preparing signature Bubble Tea.

So what really is Bubble Tea? Look to the wall on the right side of the main entrance and it will tell you the whole story. In short Bubble Tea is a tea-based drink first concocted in Taiwan in the 1980s. The tea is mixed/shaken (at least I was right about that part) with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca (manioc to us) balls or fruit jellies are added.

Bubblelement serves both varieties and we tried the Faluda, Oreo, and Honey Dew from the milk-based varieties and the Peach and Pear as well. All drinks are served with fat straws to ensure that every bubble makes its way to your mouth. The Peach and Pear has the fruit jelly clear bubbles which kinda pop in your mouth and has a strong flavour but the Honey Dew was certainly our favourite with the brown tapioca bubbles adding a unique flavour. It is also lots of fun!

The café also serves lots of comfort food. We tried the Chicken Alfredo Panini’s which come packed with lots of shredded chicken salad. Although the pol sambol and Sri Lankan beef curry with cheese we hear is the clear winner we were unfortunate not to try it as they had run out of the filling. There are also profiteroles, cream buns and cakes of the day to complete a meal that is not just affordable but satisfying. And when we say satisfying we don’t just mean the taste buds, we mean the soul.

So here’s our rating…

Location          **        (Can do with a lot more parking and seating space)

Ambiance        ****    (We love the cosy, chic atmosphere and décor but it is a bit loud inside)

Service            ***** (One of the friendliest staff in Colombo. Hope they keep it that way)

Food                ***** (Feels good to be a kid again)

Overall            ****

Ratings

*****              We Love It!

****                Got It Right!

***                  Getting There!

**                    Not So Great!

*                      Needs Serious Re-Thinking!

Written by #FoodiesColumn

Cocooned in Sulaiman Terrace, ISSO, a restaurant dedicated to serving just prawns lays dormant on a rain-filled day. The bright orange facade stands out like a welcome beacon for not just the whole inner road but for my empty stomach that desires some spice.

Sadly, I’m not a huge seafood fan. The only seafood I devour would be hot batter-fried prawns or hot butter cuttlefish. Frankly, the only two places that serve the best iterations of the latter two dishes (for me, at least) happen to be The Lagoon located at Cinnamon Grand.

But ISSO didn’t disappoint. I opted for the Rich & Red (prawns in Thai Red Curry), and it was certainly delicious. I requested it extra spicy, and it certainly was made quite spicy indeed. The place doesn’t skimp on the quantity of prawns either: I counted ten prawns! Try getting this type of value for money from other restaurants. There were other styles that you can choose from: The Salsa, The Homemade Secret, The Local Favourite, and Northern Twist.

The whole experience was flavor some for sure. However, I had my reservations about the place. There’s a saying amongst the foodies I associate that in Lanka, it’s always best to check out a restaurant before it become 6 months old. The truth is that consistent quality does become an issue, and it is something that is worrisome for customers.

Although ISSO is geared more towards a takeaway concept, it is an idea that works well. The microwave box that your meal comes in is quite large, and after you’re done with your meal, you know you’re brimming with satiation. The ambience is warm and cost with the seating arrangement being adequate. The interior is brightly lit, and appears cheerful. As mentioned, the place is geared for takeaways, while there usually are many people who do sit and enjoy themselves.

The menu itself is quite simple and easy to decipher. You can choose the size of the prawn you desire while choosing a carb. A salad is added on for good measure. But these are just additions since the main star of whatever you do choose is the prawn. ISSO is by no means cheap, but given the fact that you’re digging into a meal full of prawns makes the price seem very reasonable.