By the eighth day of my extraordinary Sri Lanka adventure, I’d already marvelled at countless elephants at Minneriya National Park, climbed the iconic Lion Rock (accompanied by a selection of inquisitive monkeys) and enjoyed an expertly led tour of the fascinating Matale Spice Gardens.
Then, following a relaxing morning wandering through the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kandy, it was time to visit the inspiring Sthree Café for lunch - a highlight I’d been eagerly anticipating. Before the trip, I’d read about this incredible Planeterra initiative and its impact on the local community, so the chance to see it in action felt truly special to the whole group. Our coach pulled up directly outside the café, and our Holiday Director took us inside.
We were warmly welcomed by two of the women who worked there and ushered into a bright and beautifully set dining area. Long wooden tables were topped with colourful mats made from recycled newspapers – a perfect touch of creativity and sustainability! Once seated, we learned about what the institution did, and how it helped empower everyone involved with it.
The vegetarian menu, written in coloured chalk on blackboard, promised an authentic Sri Lankan feast and we even had the opportunity to go into the kitchen and see our delicious food being prepared. The head chef was extremely approachable and good natured, and didn’t flinch at seeing a group of hungry travellers enter her domain!
When we returned to our seats, there was a young, differently-abled gentleman kindly doing the rounds with a jug of water, which was the perfect indication that lunch was indeed on its way.
All of the Sri Lankan delicacies were served on a leaf, and on reflection the flavours and tastes were honestly some of the best of the entire holiday!
We enjoyed a relaxing lunch, chatting amongst ourselves and with the café team. Our group truly loved the experience, taking the time to finish every morsel of food and admire the creative artwork that could be seen on a variety of shelves. After some customary cups of tea, we were given time to peruse around the craft shop. The gorgeous handicrafts proved immensely popular, and there was a long line of well-fed and happy travellers queueing up to purchase them which, in turn, financially supports this enterprise further.
Overall, this 90 minutes was one of the most beautiful experiences of the tour – and really showed off the very best of authentic Sri Lanka hospitality. It was truly a lunch that fed both body and soul
