Cinnamon is a fun spice. While most people typically use it for sweet applications, I like to use a whole stick in curries and even to subtly flavor rice. The cinnamon we get in Sri Lanka, home of the cinnamon tree, is a dusty light brown that crumbles easily and grinds to a peppery sweet powder. Also try some ...
The well-established Emerge Art Fair takes over the Capitol Skyline Hotel in Southeast DC this weekend, and I’ll be there with my own installation–The Sri Lankan pop up–featuring some good ole, home style rice and curry, Friday through Sunday. As Emerge explores the cutting edge of American art (http://www.emergeartfair.com/), I’ll be showcasing the spices and amazing flavors of the food ...
Jordan is smack in the middle of all the action. Bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel to the west, this rugged land of desert, rock, and mountain largely slept through the Arab spring because it manages to be an oasis of stability amidst the shifting geopolitical sands of ...
An Al Jbara special Who doesn’t like a falafel sandwich? Probably those unlucky few who have never tried one. After all, what’s not to like about crispy deep-fried nuggets of chickpea, mashed up with parsley, cilantro, and spices, and then rolled up in a pita with some hummus, tahini, chopped vegetables, pickles, and a dollop of chili sauce. The falalfel ...
Skiz outside the ancient city of Petra in jordan I recently returned from a visit with the in-laws in Amman, Jordan, and although I had been there once before, you can never compare visiting a place as a tourist to experiencing it from the point of view of the natives. Ironically, my wife and, by default her parents, happen to ...
http://youtu.be/mTEReTOA7yo It’s been a great experience being a member of the Hippocrene Books stable of authors. Boasting the most comprehensive catalog of ethnic cookbooks, Hippocrene is truly a powerhouse when it comes to food publishing, and I’ve learned so much about other cuisines as a result. That said, I admit to being slightly disappointed upon initially learning that I was ...
Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC The Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington DC invites all to Sri Lanka Food Festival 2013 at WashingtonBuddhist Vihara on Sunday, July 14 in the Vihara Premises from 9.00 AM to 3.00 PM For more details contact: Washington Buddhist Vihara 5017, 16th Street NW, Washington DC, 20011 Tel: 202 723 0773 This is charity event organized by the ...
While my appreciation of the cuisines of Asia is no secret, Jamaican food also ranks high up on my list. The rich curries and stews remind me of my own rice & curry, and the Jamaicans even make a mean patty, those meat-filled pastries that are also popular “short-eats” in Sri Lanka. Even though they are worlds apart, there’s, ...
Have you ever tried Korean fried chicken–crispy-crunchy on the outside and oh so moist and tender inside? Well, if you haven’t it’s about time you did. And you don’t have to wait till you go to a Korean restaurant, because it’s so easy to make at home. With a few special ingredients (like baking powder, corn starch, and vodka), ...
A reprint from The Nation (LK) by Hassina Leelarathna Alarming levels of banned toxic found in substitutes makes local Cinnamon safer and desirable A scientific research study four years in the making and just released in the US spells a major windfall for Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry. Appearing in the April issue of the prestigious Journal of Agricultural and Food ...
With spring upon us and summer right around the corner, I’m inspired to get outside more, and start hitting the farmers market for fresh produce. It’s also time to start shedding that winter weight and get healthy again, and vegetables are the perfect tonic. Since the south of India is known for its primarily vegetarian diet, and also some ...
I originally made my raw and roasted Sri Lankan curry powder at home and gave it out to friends and family, who were the first to encourage me to actually market my brand. When my book came out, this seemed like a no brainer as most of my recipes called for either a raw or roasted curry powder. Since ...
DC/MD/VA! I’m back at the Hill Center in the nation’s capital, once again, promoting something I truly love, which is Asian food. You thought I was all about rice & curry, but I’m venturing out of my comfort zone a little, and exploring some dishes from China, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand, which I cook on a daily basis. Ever ...
one of the giants at Ministry of Crab Since ending a brutal 27-year conflict in 2009, Sri Lanka is writing a new chapter in her history, which is seeing the country growing and changing in leaps and bounds. One of the first things I noticed on my latest trip there, after the absence of about a year, was how clean ...
Lunch is served at my Uncle Wilson’s place in Kandy Despite Sri Lanka’s compact size (roughly about the area of West Virginia), there are definite regional variations in its cuisine. The food from the south is said to be spicier and more fish-based, as is exemplified by one of my favorite dishes from that region, fish ambul thiyal; whereas Tamil ...
For all the fuss about restaurants, everyone knows the best meal you can ever eat is at someone’s home—especially if that someone is Leela. If you’ve ever checked out my blog before, or saw the Sri Lanka episode of No Reservations, you’ll be familiar with this diminutive lady, who was my Aunty Dora’s cook for 40-some years. Practically every ...
Whenever I’m in Colombo, a city I’ve eaten my way around quite often, I’m always eager to go off the eaten path and discover a place that I’ve never dined at before. A special favorite of mine is Jaffna food, the spicy Tamil cuisine of the northern part of the island, and when in search of a new spot, ...
On Thursday, April 11th at 6:30pm at Bazaar Spices in Union Market, we welcome author and gastronaut Skiz Fernando as he discusses the practical and health benefits of using spices in your cooking as well as demystifying some of these “exotic” ingredients often found in Sri Lankan cuisine. For your sampling pleasure, he will also offer a demonstration and tasting of ...
on Sunday, March 24 , 2013 from 9 am to 3 pm in the Vihara premises at 5017, 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20011 Proceeds will go to rebuild one of the Buddhist Temples destroyed recently in Bangladesh. For more details, please contact Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Nayaka Thero at 202 723 0773
As one of the more popular dishes on any Thai restaurant menu, basil chicken is simple, quick, delicious and healthy–thus a perfect match for Pan Asian. You can make it at home with very little effort and only a few ingredients. The star of the show is, of course, Thai basil, which is a type of sweet basil with narrow ...
