Arts
Homemade with love
With the work-from-home lifestyle gaining ground, home-based kitchens are growing in popularity due to their efficient ordering process. While cooking is a hobby pursued by many, some find it an enjoyable and profitable culinary adventure to conjure up meals, chopped with caution, seasoned to perfection, and cooked under premium conditions in their home kitchens to deliver a dish close to their hearts.
This week we feature five talented entrepreneurs who are passionate about doing what they love.
Oishii.lk – Japanese Sushi
Oishii is the go-to place for all types of sushi, made by Amara Basheer who having lived in Japan, had grown up with Japanese cuisine. Back home in Sri Lanka, Amara began recreating sushi for family and friends. Recognizing her skill and talent for sushi making, it was her father who suggested launching her own sushi business.
With continuous practice and much experimenting, she started out and continued to expand Oishii whilst balancing it with her studies. Oishii offers a wide range of menus and vegetarian sushi options with Tamagoyaki and cucumber, sesame carrot, seasoned beet, and dark cucumber also options with tuna, seasoned and blanketed with flavoured rice and finally covered with Nori (Japanese edible seafood) to capture the perfect sushi wrapped with the subtle flavours of Japan.
Amara’s sushi is available for orders via the Instagram page @oishii.lk
Baja Loco – Mexican Tacos
Inspired by Baja California, the bordering state between Mexico and California where authentic Mexican recipes are born, Pulastha and Sachith initiated Baja Loco, where locals can enjoy their own taste of Mexican tacos. Disappointed with the poor quality, quantity, and taste of local Mexican cuisine they decided to create their own company for Mexican fusion. Starting from a small kitchen, with continuous trial and error they managed to create a commercial kitchen.
Their wide range of juicy tacos varies from Shanghai Pork Taco, Rio Beef Taco, Tijuana Chicken Taco, Galle Hot Butter Cuttlefish Taco, Cancun Shrimp Taco to vegetarian options including Colombo Paneer Tacos. All their tacos are fused with sauces like Swiss cheese, BBQ, hot garlic, Chapo Chipotle, Jungle Habanero, Mojo Rojo, Pico de Gallo, and Corn Salsa that will drive your tastebuds insane as their name, ‘Loco’ suggests in Spanish.
To place orders head to their Instagram page @baja_loco_sl
The Fudge – Bakery goods
Dilrukshi Perera started The Fudge that provides a wide range of cakes, desserts, cookies, and other bakery goods after discovering her talent with which she used to treat her family and friends.
Her cakes are made with attention to detail and elegantly layered – she caters also for weddings, birthday parties, office parties, seasonal goodies, and much more.
Head to her Facebook page “The Fudge” to place orders.
Jah’s – Middle Eastern Hummus
Hummus is a classic Middle Eastern dish that can be used as a dip, sauce or spread. Jah’s is Lahari Jayetileke’s hummus brand. Lahari fell in love with hummus on a trip to Jordan and Israel, and kept experimenting to recreate this memorable dish.
Careful to create hummus that preserves the authentic flavour and maintain the nutritional benefits unique to the dish, her range covers the fusion of classic hummus to roasted garlic, burnt onion, cilantro pesto, kochchi, pestommuss, sundried tomato, roasted pumpkin and smokey red pepper flavours. The creamy hummus can convert any bland meal into an explosion of mouthwatering tastes.
Her hummus jars are available on UberEats and PickMe Food and she also takes orders via her Instagram page @jahs-hummus
Kakuluwo – Crab cuisine
The idea of a culinary business inspired by crabs dawned on Natalie Fernando during the lockdown when she was searching for another stream of revenue during the early days of the pandemic. Being blessed with her mother’s cooking skills, she, together with her family initiated Kakuluwo. Their product is a family effort, where she and her mother create crab dishes relished by all seafood lovers. She takes complete joy in running a home-based food company.
The crabs are available in sizes of medium, large, extra-large, and monster. The menu comprises Garlic Butter crabs, Jaffna crab curry, Black pepper crab, Negombo crab, and Sweet Kochi crab, all accompanied by dhal, a special sambol or coconut sambol along with roasted bread or rice.
You can place orders for these crab dishes through their Instagram page @kakuluwo
Homemade Pet Treats – Dog food
Just like you, your pet deserves some homemade love as well. Homemade Pet Treats is an organic food supplier of pet treats, cakes, and cupcakes launched by Sevanjie Dedigama after she couldn’t find healthy natural treats for her own dog during the lockdown.
While the treats are available in several flavours such as beef and milk, chicken liver with milk, chicken and egg, pumpkin, and carrots, the dog cupcakes and cakes are made using liver, milk, yogurt, and potatoes.
There’s the option of customizing decorations to the name of the dog. Special themed treats for Valentines and Christmas too can be ordered. She hopes to expand the product line for cats as well, but meanwhile, is happy delighting her doggy fans.
She undertakes orders via
PickMe and you can contact her
via her Instagram page
@homemade.pet.treats_