Host offerings
Malki was a preschool teacher and is now a homemaker and proud mother. She is very passionate about cooking and it gives her immense joy to cook for friends and family. Even as a child Malki was always fascinated by watching her mother cook which is how her love for food started. Her family relish their mother's cooking and Malki truly enjoys cooking traditional Sri Lankan dishes for them everyday. She is excited to share her love for cooking with travelers who would like to learn more about Sri Lankan food.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal (1 - 5 guests) Malki lives with her husband and lovely daughter in the suburbs of Colombo. It is about 20 km from Colombo city, very close to the beautiful Piliyandala lake. This is a leafy, residential suburb and is much quieter and cooler than the city - you will notice the drop in temperature as soon as you leave the city and are close to the lake area. Join them at their dining table to enjoy some family recipes that Malki learned from her mother growing up. A few dishes that you may try are prawn curry cooked in coconut milk, pineapple or beetroot curry, beans, okra or eggplant accompanied with Sri Lankan rice. You will end your meal with yoghurt and fresh fruit.
Cooking experience (1 - 5 guests) Join Malki in her clean and well organized kitchen for a 1-hour cooking class. Before you start she will introduce you to the spices used in Sri Lankan cooking. You will then cook a seasonal vegetable and a prawn or fish curry from scratch along with her. First learn to clean and marinate the prawn or fish, then prepare the gravy and cook it. Later help chop, stir and cook okra or eggplant or another seasonal vegetable, before you sit down at the dining table to enjoy the meal you helped prepare with Malki. You will help prepare two dishes during your cooking class and Malki will pre-cook the remaining 2-3 dishes that you will be eating.
Market visit (1 - 5 guests) Meet Malki and Mahesh at their home and drive together for about 15 minutes to the Piliyandala market. Piliyandala is a suburb of Colombo (18 km from Colombo city) and has a thriving market in the town center. This is a huge open market where locals like to shop for their vegetables, fruits and spices. Walk around the market and learn more about the regional and local produce. You may even buy a seasonal vegetable for your cooking class. On the way back from the vegetable market you will stop at the lake to buy some fresh fish or prawns! The fishermen go fishing early morning and sell their produce during the day. The seafood is very fresh here and if you feel adventurous you can hop on a boat and go fishing as well!
Notes: Malki can offer a vegetarian meal on request. Please let her know when booking your experience.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffae9a17098>
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | $20 | $16 | $12 |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | $30 | $26 | $22 |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | $40 | $36 | $32 |
| Alcohol | $4 per person | ||
| Transportation | $12 per car | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:00pm - 02:00pm | 7:00pm - 09:00pm |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:00am - 01:00pm | 5:00pm - 08:00pm |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 9:00am - 01:00pm | 4:00pm - 08:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
