Delighting Palates at Saffron and Vanilla! 

Saleema Amza has been travelling the world for the past 20 years. With her husband in the diplomatic service, she, along with her two children have been exposed to a variety of cuisines, each one differing in multitudes from the other. It only seemed natural that she shared her vast knowledge and expertise when she returned to Sri Lanka, so this was when Saffron and Vanilla was born. Excellent cooking skills are a common trait in her family, and she herself loves to bake and cook, and have cookery lessons as well.

“I learned to appreciate the different types of cuisine during my travels, and found myself joining various cookery classes whenever we were posted in a country, in addition to exchanging Sri Lankan recipes with the other wives of diplomats,” she revealed. Out of all the countries she’s lived in and visited (Egypt, France, Singapore, Germany, Belgium, Italy, India and the UK), her absolute favourites are Mediterranean and French cuisine, the flavours of which she really appreciates, and has grown to love.

Currently, she undertakes orders for assorted cakes and desserts but what she really prides herself in are her cookery classes. The classes usually vary from cakes and desserts to different cuisines. Saleema usually posts updates and information about the classes on the Saffron and Vanilla page on Facebook.

The pre-order menu is small but comprises of select favourites, such as the banoffee pie (a pie comprising of banana with hints of ginger and cinnamon layered on top of crushed biscuits), cold cheesecake with a mango and passion fruit coulis, tiramisu, a mocha chocolate chip torte, coconut mousse (a melt-in-your-mouth affair comprising of fresh coconut with jaggery and nut brittle), kheer (a creamy rice dessert spiced with cardamom and rose water), and a woodapple parfait (woodapple, eggs and cream combined with coconut).

Saffron and Vanilla’s Belgian liege waffles are just pure comfort food, and the freshly baked pastries are soft, buttery and just perfect for afternoon tea. Danishes, croissants, cinnamon rolls, and stuffed chocolate pastries. Stuffed date and pineapple cookies are also on the pre-order menu, in addition to Indian desserts.

For information on how to join a class, please do stay posted on Facebook (www.facebook.com/saffronvanilla) for regular updates. For orders, contact Saleema on 0775772679. She requires a minimum of three days’ notice. Do check out the page on Instagram too (www.instagram.com/saffronandvanilla).

Text and photographs by Sarah Kellapatha