Plus
|
|
|||
|
A veg tour of pure delight
By
Esther Williams and Amalie Kvame Holm India has the most varied vegetarian cuisine in the world, evolved over thousands of years. Indian Hindus, Buddhists and Jains all aspire to an ideal of ahimsa (non-violence) that prohibits the killing of anything living or with the potential for life. Hence most Indian vegetarians eat dairy products but not eggs. The restaurants we visited offered a variety of sumptuous dishes such as Idli, Vada, Dosa, Chappati, Poori, Bajji and Pongal. Served with mixed vegetable sambar, coconut chutney, potato masala or a specific vegetable curry, they make a tasty afternoon meal, a snack or a light dinner. Shanmugas in Wellawatta is a popular eating place for vegetarians. Entering it, you can't miss the fragrance of incense that is burned to purify the air. Doorways are decorated with kolam designs (normally done on floors) and a string of mango leaves. In keeping with its name 'Shanmuga' another name for the Hindu God Krishna, the walls are adorned with his pictures. They serve delicious thalis (set menus) for around Rs. 150 at lunchtime that consist of rice, chappati, 3-4 vegetable dishes, sambar (a lentil stew with vegetables), rasam (pepper water with tamarind) and curd together with papadam and pickle. Rice lovers can also choose from a variety of pulaos or biriyanis - mixed vegetables, peas etc. Their packed lunches, which are delivered at the door, are considered healthy and popular. The restaurant also makes their own Indian sweets (Jangri and Ladoos) and savoury snacks like mixture and Ribbon Pakoda. Mathura in Havelock Town is a charming restaurant with both indoor and outdoor dining areas. Decorated with statues of gods and goddesses it gives you the feeling of stepping into a restaurant in Madras. Waiters are quick to rattle up their list of items and have them delivered to you immediately. Among their North Indian spread is a selection of breads such as Naan, Roti, Kulcha, stuffed Parathas, which you can eat with crispy vegetables, or Paneer Masala (cottage cheese). House specialities are Mathura Special Aloo Palak (Potato with greens), Vegetable pepper fry and crispy chillie vegetable fry. Try a rasa gulla for dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth. If you are not sure what to order you could always try the buffet (from Rs. 265- 400) at Mathura (on Sundays) and Shanmugas (lunch on Sundays and Poya, dinner on Fridays and Saturdays). It certainly is good value for money. True to its name the multi-cuisine vegetarian family restaurant on High Level Road, Nugegoda has been creating waves. Lunch and dinner times see Food Waves packed with diners. It certainly feels like a cool haven when you step into it after the scorching heat at noon. Run by Managing Director Nalaka de Silva the restaurant was started in collaboration with the famous Vasantha Bhavan in Madras. “You can have a complete meal for as little as Rs. 150,” says Mr. de Silva. Foodwaves offers both Chinese or Indian with Schezuan fried rice, Singapore Chopsuey, spring rolls or the various biriyanis. Many Lankans frequent the place, which is famous for paper dosas, chillie parotta and paneer manchurian. Try the Punjabi Thali, Chinese Thali or the business lunch (for just Rs. 60) for a satisfying meal. The many variations in rice are remarkable - tomato rice, garlic rice, curd rice, lemon rice, tamarind rice, etc. Newly renovated Shanti Vihar at Thumulla junction now offers you the convenience of having lunch and dinner delivered to your doorstep. Quick service is also assured at the well-known Greenlands in Shrubbery Gardens, Colombo 4. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
