It’s December! You know what that means, it’s a month full of big meals and festivities. I found the perfect spot too! This time around I decided to try something a little different and stay at home and order in. Who or what says you can’t throw a little bit of fancy in there too?  I recently got wind of Cafe Maitland, a delivery service by Mount Lavinia Hotel, offering a wide variety of what the hotel has to offer in the comfort of your own home.

Packaging 
It might seem a little mundane to talk about this right off the bat but it’s a big positive in my book and worth talking about. The folks at Cafe Maitland have really put some heart into wrapping up these meals, coming packaged in disposable cardboard (instead of plastic); taking a more eco-friendly route. Each dish even comes wrapped with twine and their own little labels. (One dish had a special kinda packaging but more of 
that later …)

Food
The menu at Cafe Maitland may not boast an extensive menu like other restaurants but with the few options they have, they really hit the nail on the head. Frankly, I had quite the feast before me and had no idea where to start. The “Raging Chicken (Rs. 1800)” dish is a part of their “bites” menu with a pound of chicken served up in a beautifully spiced sauce. Perfect to get a party going. It was a great way to dig in and I could feel the food coma coming. Adding to that, I also ordered their “Garlic Baguette(Rs. 500)”, and being a big fan of garlic bread I was blown away. While the sprinkles of garlic and parsley might not be everybody’s cup of tea, I certainly loved it. Another great starter. 

The “Nasi Goreng (Rs. 900)” is more than enough to feed two people with a healthy serving of perfectly seasoned rice, two chunky pieces of chicken satay and a good ol’ fried egg. If you’re not feeling their rice and curry options, you can always go for this dish. 

I can’t remember the last time I heard the word “toasties” being uttered and I don’t think I’ve ever seen it on any menu. Trying out their “Toasties from the Seventies” I was instantly transported to my grandmother’s kitchen with the handheld toast maker, waiting for those well-rounded sandwich pockets to hit my plate. Their “Minced Chicken Toasties(Rs. 1500)”  are chock full of meat and don’t disappoint. More than the filling, it was the toasted bread that was the real deal.

They also offer a variety of sandwiches, and I really think they should define a proper size for the word “Sandwich” because this one was huge. The “Big Pork Schnitzel(Rs. 1600)” was a whopper of a sandwich, willed with a kochchi mayo coleslaw resting on top of a generous cut of crumbed pork. The sandwich is large enough for two people and easily counts as a meal in itself. 

In the spirit of Mount Lavinia Hotel and putting their own Lankan twist on British Dishes, Cafe Maitland’s very own “Shepherds Pie in a Clay Pot (Rs. 1300)” does not look to disappoint. The dish comes in (you guessed it) a clay pot with a cloth covering wrapped in twine. A truly traditional feel. The dish itself was perfectly balanced with a nice amount of mashed potato topping the more-than-healthy serving of ground meat. All in all, these dishes are definitely worth trying out so don’t hesitate to order in! 

You can find Cafe Maitland on PickMe Foods or reach them on WhatsApp. You can message them between 9 AM and 11 AM for lunch orders and between 4 PM and 6 PM for dinner with free delivery within Colombo City Limits*. 
*Government regulations and guidelines are strictly adhered to.

text Vihan Wickramasurendra 

PHOTOS  COURTESY  MOUNT LAVINIA HOTEL