Hotel MaRadha announced the much awaited return of its Jaffna Food Festival in collaboration with My Sister’s Kitchen for its second consecutive year. From May 9th to May 12th 2024, immerse yourself in the vibrant and rich heritage of Northern Sri Lanka’s culinary traditions right in the heart of Colombo. Jaffna cuisine is renowned for its bold flavours and distinct cooking style and no one does it quite like Thushara Innasitthamby, the founder of My Sister’s Kitchen (MSK).  

Wanting to preserve and promote traditional Jaffna cuisine, the home cook has been running MSK for over a decade and has since carved a name for herself as the go-to for anyone in search of authentic Jaffna-style dishes. After the success of last year’s festival, Hotel MaRadha and MSK have upped the ante this year, with more dishes, exciting new flavours and all-new experiences. The Jaffna Food Festival promises more than just a meal – it’s a cultural exploration and a sensory journey of Jaffna’s rich culinary traditions. 

“We had such a demand for the festival last year and the turnout was amazing, so I’m thrilled that we are doing it again” shared Thushara. “The menu is 100% Jaffna food and we have between 60-70 dishes at the buffet and live cooking stations. A spread like this is a fantastic opportunity for people to understand the flavour profile of Jaffna cuisine and it’s the perfect way to try and figure out winning combinations. For example, pittu, Jaffna crab curry and a gingerly oil omelette – you can’t go wrong!”.

Guests stepping into the festival can feast on a variety of authentic Jaffna dishes, prepared the MSK way – with homemade Jaffna curry powders and fresh ingredients brought in all the way from the North. The buffet will feature staples like Keerai Pittu, Thosai, and Uppuma alongside a tantalising selection of veg and non-veg curries. Guests can savour specialities like Jaffna mutton curry, crab curry, mulagathanni chicken, fish head white curry, vendaya kulambu and the iconic Jaffna Seafood Kool – a spicy seafood soup brimming with crab, shrimp, cuttlefish and fish.  

After a hearty meal, dive into Jaffna’s delectable desserts – creamy  Payasam, Odiyal flour Laddu, Irasavalli Kizhangu Kanji and fragrant Pongal. Guests can also experience the magic of Jaffna-style cooking first-hand at the action stations where skilled chefs will prepare traditional dishes right before their eyes and engage with the chefs to learn all about the culinary history and techniques that have shaped this cuisine over the centuries – and perhaps, grab a tip or two to try at home!

The Jaffna Food Festival begins at 7pm from 9-12 May at Hotel MaRadha (Marine Drive). Tickets are priced at Rs. 4,800  nett per person.