Our Sri Lankan Honeymoon: A Journey Through Food & Flavour
I’m a huge foodie, especially when it comes to Asian cuisine and I was completely blown away by the food in Sri Lanka. I also couldn’t recommend it more as a holiday destination!
KATIE FREESTONE
It’s hard to choose just one story from this trip, however a particular highlight was a private cooking lesson in the magical hill country of Ella, with a Sri Lankan chef.
Our lesson began just before sunset, overlooking the lush, rolling tea plantations and misty mountains. It was an outdoor lesson, accompanied by the sounds of monkeys, birds and geckos (which you get completely used to travelling throughout the country!).
As we walked into the magical garden of our hotel, we were greeted by an array of fresh, local produce. The Head Chef Roshan talked us through each ingredient and its importance, explaining the different flavour profiles and the foundations of each dish we would be preparing.
We cooked using traditional Sri Lankan equipment – clay pots, wooden spoons and homemade grinders – learning authentic techniques along the way. We also heard about the country’s rich food heritage, which is deeply rooted in family, celebration and love. The warmth, kindness and humour of Rashan made the experience even more memorable and listening to him talk about his life, food memories and family made our time with him even more special.
The ingredients were incredible: fresh fruits and vegetables, fragrant spices, chillies and jaggery, all beautifully presented. Together, we prepared a feast of nine dishes, including flavoursome dhal and lentil curry, aromatic pumpkin curry, polos curry, wambatu mojo curry, prawn curry, beetroot curry, fresh pol sambol and coconut roti.
Sharing the meal at the end, served in traditional pots and on leafy pandas plates was a perfect reminder that food is more than just something we make – it carries culture, memory and soul. And of course, it was all rounded off with a well deserved beer and cocktail!
It was a truly fantastic experience, and Jonny and I will cherish it forever!
