02/07/2026
Some evenings don’t just happen… they linger!
In lieu of celebrating Canada Day, I thought of sharing my recent visit to Canada house Colombo Sri Lanka. I had the absolute honour of being invited by Her Excellency Isabelle Martine, High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, High Commission of Canada to Sri Lanka and Maldives and the wonderful team at Canada House, to an intimate gathering of a very small group from Sri Lanka’s food and business scene.
And what unfolded at that table was nothing short of magic.
Not just a dinner.
A conversation between cultures.
A quiet, beautiful reminder that food is still the most powerful form of diplomacy.
Chef Philippe created a menu that felt like a bridge Canadian soul, French technique, and Sri Lankan ingredients speaking to each other in perfect harmony.
I was so deep in conversation that I completely forgot to photograph the canapés (a true crime, I know 😭):
liver mousse with jambu jelly, grilled vegetable tartare with labneh, chicken satay with peanut sauce, mushroom ragout in delicate filo.
By the time I remembered, we were already at the table.
Then came the journey:
King mackerel gravlax with beet, lime & coconut: bright, clean, unforgettable
Sweet corn chowder with charred corn : simple at first glance, but layered, soulful, deeply comforting
Grilled chicken with squash purée & urid dal “risotto” : bold interpretation, elevated by a green pepper sauce that tied everything together beautifully
And then… the finale.
🍁 Maple syrup vatalappam with cashew crisp.
Silky. Elegant. Familiar yet reimagined.
A dessert that didn’t try to replace tradition it translated it.
That maple note and cashew crisp was everything.
No drama. No excess. Just precision, respect, and imagination on a plate.
Food like this reminds me why I do what I do.
Because in the end, we don’t just share meals.
We share stories.
We build understanding.
We soften borders.
Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦
And thank you for a table and conversations I won’t forget anytime soon.
