I am by no means a vegetarian but I do love a good wholesome vegetarian meal.  However, a healthy and wholesome option is rare to find in Colombo as most vegetarian options are coated in oil and flavour enhancing products.

However, Milk & Honey Café down Barnes Place offers a wide range of healthy and wholesome vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, wraps and salads and even cakes, muffins, cookies, breakfast bars, juices and smoothies.

Over the past two and a half years since they opened their doors they have always had these options on their menu but according to Pri Ratnayake, Director, Milk & Honey Café, with the introduction of their new menu, they have “upped” the health aspect be it their juices, salads or wraps by incorporating more spices and herbs (lemongrass, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, parsley, mint), and raw cacao nibs, sesame seeds and extra virgin coconut oil.

If a quick snack is in order they have a range of healthy snacks with fruit and oat filled muesli bars and home made muesli. They also have a range of raw and healthy chocolate, fruit and nut truffles.

Milk & Honey Café does some fantastic salads – Try out their Gado Gado Salad , which consists of Egg, Tofu, Long Bean, Potato and topped with a sweet and almost tart flavoured peanut dressing and toasted Whole Wheat Foccaccia with Hummus.

The quantity is perfect and it tastes great. It leaves you feeling full but not uncomfortably stuffed. It is possibly a great option for a quick and healthy lunch.  

All their spreads, dressings and even their hummus is made in house therefore maintaining absolute freshness while their baked goods are baked daily. They make the most delicious muffins like their Lemon Yoghurt Muffin and I really like their brownies i.e. their Choco Fudge Brownie – it is so gooey and chocolaty, and will leave you wanting more!  

Pri explains that their cakes and cookies are made healthier as they mix flours, like red rice and kurakkan flour. While they also reduce refined sugar and instead incorporate fruit and treacle.

“We have also introduced a gluten-free range of cakes using coconut flour and rice flours,” she says, these include their Gluten-Free Brownie, Chocolate Cake and Carrot, Pineapple and Apple Cake.

Among the newbie’s on their menu are the stuffings for their Whole Wheat Wraps. They do a delicious Spicy Pumpkin, Paneer Cheese and Coriander Raita Wrap. I also enjoyed the Beetroot Pate, Cucumber Salad and Eyrie Cheddar wrap.

They also do great things with Gotukola Sambol. This tart, sweet and crunchy Sri Lankan staple is given a twist with Cream Cheese and Sun Dried Tomato and stuffed in Foccaccia – Delicious!  Their wraps and sandwiches are crunchy while also maintaining various textures in your mouth. They are ideal for a snack or even lunch.

Milk & Honey Café has introduced a range of savoury bakes and tarts as weekly specials in addition to their main menu. These include Aubergine and Tomato Bake which is stuffed with herbs and feta, Courgette, Tomato and Barley Bake, Gluten-Free Broccoli and Mushroom Cannelloni as well as a range of vegetarian whole meal base tarts like Cherry Tomato and Feta, Mixed Bell-Pepper and Cheese and Mushroom and Thyme.

Possibly the best part about indulging at Milk & Honey is that feeling of not being too stuffed and knowing that you’ve put something healthy into your tummy!

Ratings:

Ambiance - * * * * *

Food selection - * * * * *

Friendliness of staff - * * * * *

Cleanliness - * * * *

By Natasha Fernandopulle

Pics by Kanishke Ganewatte