Kaema Sutra, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Kaema Sutra, Colombo, Sri Lanka

What was formerly an asylum brandishing distinctive Colonial architecture in the heart of Colombo has recently been bestowed a renewed lease of life: this round with a much swankier theme. Now housing some of the cityโ€™s finest shops and galleries, Arcade Independence Square, is also home to Kaema Sutra, chef Dharshan Munidisaโ€™s latest culinary brainchild. Already strapping two of Asiaโ€™s 50 Best Restaurants under his belt, weโ€™re more than just a little curious to discover what his third concept encompasses.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Kaema Sutra, Colombo

Kaema Sutra, not to be confused with karma sutra, means the art of food. And this truly is a place where culinary craftsmanship shines. The kitchen, oft hidden out of view in many restaurants, has been brought to the forefront in a multi-tiered assemblage resembling a grand stage. A giant pestle and mortar bridges the kitchen to the dining area, resting between tables and providing live eatertainment as sambols are made from scratch with each order.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Making Sambol from Scratch

Everything has been custom-designed in accordance with Chef Dharshanโ€™s meticulous standards, and this includes the insistence that no freezer be found in any of his kitchens. He explains, โ€œNo freezer means you have to have really good ingredients on your doorstep. Thereโ€™s no cutting corners and sourcing everything fresh and local also reduces food miles.โ€ He even challenges other chefs to prove the freshness of their produce with the hashtag #nofreezerrestaurant.

These perfectionist inclinations donโ€™t halt in the kitchen either. Chef Dharshanโ€™s eye for design and avowal to provide a complete dining experience carries over to the elegant composure of the dining hall too. Exposed wooden beams in the ceiling are mirrored in colour in the intricately carved window shades that frame tall arches along both sides of the restaurant. Table runners are embroidered in gold with the handwritten script of the man himself naming the restaurant in curvaceous Singhalese, and smooth contemporary jazz tunes hum from a quality sound system.

Growing up a child of the globe with one parent from Sri Lanka and another from Japan, Dharshin proudly concedes that while he benefited from worldly experiences with food, he never went to culinary school. He discloses that his passion for cooking began from, โ€œthe eating side of things.โ€ Finding himself in the USA as a young gentleman, he found the food experience unfavourable, which served as the capitalist for becoming a chef himself. He asserts that he has a hands-on learning style and that much of his learning about food is โ€œdone through eating.โ€ His inspiration for continuing is โ€œhunger, and thinking I can make something better than someone else. Not just hunger, but hunger to eat good stuff.โ€

To be honest our experiences with Sri Lankan cuisine are limited. With the luck of knowing a few Sri Lankan chefs back in our home base, weโ€™ve dined on what are claimed as authentic dishes, and are well tasted in the delicacies of the larger region, but a broad depth of knowledge we have not. Weโ€™re a tad excited to expand our palates and are pleased that Chef Dharshan does the ordering for us.

Mini carafes of iced tea soda begin the experience. Theyโ€™re a replacement for Coke as chef refuses to sell the stuff. Weโ€™re not complaining and find it the perfect pair for the dishes to come. The sparkles clear the palate and the sweetness tames the spice.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Kaema Sutra Iced Tea Soda

Clearly the first dish is a source of pride. When I say I havenโ€™t seen much like this before, chef replies, โ€œSri Lankanโ€™s havenโ€™t seen this food before,โ€ giving strength to the concept of contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine โ€“ traditional ingredients brought to life in new ways. Chicken Curry Salad with Egg (700) features crispy iceberg lettuce, curry chicken cold cuts and a soft yolk egg just waiting to be forked on top. Papadam and a sprinkling of manioc floss add some crunch and savoury interest.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Chicken Curry Salad
Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Runny Egg

The Banana Leaf Barrumundi is described as being cooked in its own natural โ€œTeflon coatingโ€ (the banana leaf that is), and itโ€™s chefโ€™s own recipe. Fish is harvested to order and finished on the teppanyaki grill. The moist flaky flesh is barely seen under a soft flavourful coat of vegetables and seasoning.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Banana Leaf Barramundi

The same fish is used as bonito flakes atop the cleverly presented sambol in avocado. The smooth creamy fruit flesh disperses the hot spicy and sweet filling. Plain hopper arrives as a perfect half moon bowl, mirroring a satellite dome, and forming a consummate mate to dabbing up every last dab of sauce.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Sweet Sambol in Avocado

Chefโ€™s dual heritages are married into one box in the Kaema Pettiya: Sri Lankan food in a bento box. A colourful mosaic of vegetables, prawns, dhal and what surprisingly turns out to be jackfruit (the meaty texture reminded us of tenderly cooked lamb or beef โ€“ could be the new tofu ;-), makes one square of powerful savour that Iโ€™m pretty sure most Japanese have never seen the likes of. If I lived nearby, I could see this as a weekly lunch order.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Sri Lankan Bento Box

Kottu Sutra at Kaema Sutra is a heart-warming rendition of the traditional street food. Made with prawns and a roti base, we think itโ€™s the beeโ€™s knees until the next plate lands on our table. Dharshanโ€™s No Carb Kottu is the delicious gluten-freee sister of the original. Itโ€™s been a huge hit amongst diners, and we note the use of egg white, instead of the whole egg, which gets an extra thumbs-up from the health conscious.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Sri Lankan Street Food
Kaema Sutra, Colombo
No Carb Sri Lankan Street Food

Pol Sambol, and Lunu Miris served in a coconut, add relish to Chefโ€™s take on a Sri Lankan Omelette. And really, all there is left to say on this tasty version is, order it. Yum.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Sambol

Aiding with a digestive we conclude our experience with Centellaย  – The Ultimate Gotukola Elixier โ€“ a Dharshan Munidasa Creation. Composed of coconut water and a carefully selected blend of greens, itโ€™s refreshingly light, a great palate cleanser, and a wonderful pick-me-up before heading back out onto the sultry streets of Colombo.

Kaema Sutra, Colombo
Chef Dharsin and His Centella Creation

Reasons to visit: contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine; perhaps a chance to try the next restaurant in Asiaโ€™s 50 Best before itโ€™s discovered; elegant setting.

Kaema Sutra
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
+94 112 670 722
[email protected]
www.kaemasutra.com
Lunch: 12 noon to 3:00pm daily
Dinner: 6pm to 11pm daily

12 Comments

  1. Ok, so that is what it means! Love how they make the sambal – they call it sambol, eh? Easier to use that when making in large quantities, easier than pounding with a mortar and pestle…and anytime nicer than blending with a food processor. Now…that egg sure is a beauty!

    • The live sambal (sambol in Sri Lanka) making station is certainly a nice touch. Chef Dharshan was rather proud of that egg, I’m glad you noticed it. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  2. Colin Huggins

    Fascinating what you can do with an unused “lunatic” (??) asylum.
    I would never have thought of an upmarket restaurant being the result!
    There would have been no “ambiance” there in the looney bin years – ha ha!

    Funny – is it Kaema or Karma sutra – see you should always read CAREFULLY.
    I am bloody sure I wouldn’t have noticed this spelling unless pointed out.

    This “sambol” is intriguing – I don’t know if it is common here in Australia, but it
    does look appetising in that avocado half. I must note if this “sambol” is on menus
    when in the Hunter where good food and wines reign supreme.
    Cheers
    El Colin Cordobes who is praising the “above ” for the cool weather change
    overnight – Friday/Saturday were full blown “sauna” days here.

    • Yep, good idea to pay attention to detail – Kaema, Karma…
      Sambol might be a little too spicy for you Colin as it does have a good does of chilli in it. Although, balanced out with the creamy avocado, it’s not too hot.

  3. I am very UNknowledgeable in relation to Sri Lankan food. The runny eggs don’t look appealing to me; however, if only the yolks were liquidy and the whites were firm, they would be extremely appealing, as this is the way I make and like my eggs. I love your photos, Monica. Due to my lack of knowledge in this particular cuisine I can’t say much else here.

    • It’s interesting to think about perceptions of eggs in the different places I’ve lived. In western countries it seems people tend to like their eggs firmer and in Asia, runny seems to rule!

  4. Oh that’s the proper way to make sambal!
    As fresh as you can get it.
    Don’t they also use belacan in their sambal?
    I like their bento set.

  5. be still my beating heart … the food here looks delightful. i’ve had classic sri lankan cooking, but i love the look of this modern take, with the use of poached eggs, avocado and even the bento box … no wonder this is on the asia 50 list! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Hello, the dishes all look scrumptious. Wonderful photos and review. Thanks for sharing. Have a happy new week!

  7. The inside of the building is amazing really for what it once was. Like a church formed into a home which can be done with any building, changing what it once was used for.

    The food does look delicious and i could eat that..

  8. Nice work. Thanks for sharing.

  9. Thanks for the look inside the menu. Planning a visit.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.