Second visit to Sakura after 6 months.. Chopsticks again!!

Last time i tried using chopsticks but was too hungry and started using forks for the main meal. (See a little basic knowledge on Japanese cuisine on my 1st visit to Sakura restaurant here)This time I thought i am gonna learn the chopsticks way no matter how hard its going to be. And at the end it was not hard as i thought and infact the whole rice bowl finished with the 2 little cute sticks. :)

Last time i forgot taking photoes of the food we tried out and this time took just 2 photoes of what we had.

The sushi were  reasonably priced than most of the other Japanese restaurants in Colombo and the portions are quite big. The wasabi at Hilton had better taste than Sakura though.I am not a big fan of seaweed and i have never seen the fusion Japanese in Sri Lanka where the seaweed is replaced with other wraps.

I had a Tomago Don where as Tomago means Eggs in Japanese. Luckily the egg didn't come in watery way but cooked with leeks and some herbs. The meal was good but not hot as i expected. Japanese food is tasty when its eaten hot. And the Tomago Don is not a dish that looks so attractive due to the nature of the ingrediennts and looks brown becuae of the soya sauce used on the eggs. However i have seen some restaurants sprinkle a little cilantro to make it look nice. That presentation element is lacking in almost all the dishes at Sakura.

The Tomago Don was Rs 560/=  +Taxes. The prices were ok. The place still has that run down look and do n't think they will ever bother to make it look nice.

Probably i might try another Japanese joint next time.

Semondu - fusion from the sky...

Semondu @ Dutch shopping complex Colombo, Sri Lankan Airlines' signature dining has been brought down from 30,000 feet in the sky, to the heart of Colombo city, offering diners an exclusive restaurant ‘Semondu'... A must try!!!

<Image Source:Semondu.com>

I remember once a daily-mirror author said "They are a level above others at the Dutch Hospital- literally, for the restaurant stands on a raised floor. With a classy glassy elevation as a point of departure, embark on delicious discoveries"

 We went for a dinner at Dutch shopping complex last week and this time wanted to have a better dinner as I was not so happy with the dinner served at Colombo Fort Cafe which was just usual stull with small portions and not so cheerful staff and late arrival of meals.

So this time carefully checked on the menu at few other options and finally selected Semondu which I am delighted we did so. The ambience was so good and attentive. The floor was unique where the colour of the glass floor changes for your feet motions into different colors such as blue red and green.

Ok forget about the colours.. lets talk about the food. The drinks were reasonably priced and big in size, the Semondu splendid i ordered was pretty cool and nice. The complimentary bread, herb butter and aromatic flavored hot olive oil went well with the bread. The appetizers were large than we expected and it had the right texture of everything and the staff was knowledgeable on the content. The main meal presentation and the aroma was too good that we knew the food was brilliant even before eating. The skewers, and my vegetarian Dhingri mattar which is a combination of green peas, paneer, fresh mushroom and cashew nut smothered in creamy curry sauce, steam cashew rice and accompaniments super super yummy and even though i am full i didn't want to leave out anything left.
 I wish i had enough patience to take a photo of my nicely presented dish. Surely next time.. Because I am sure i am gonna go there again!!

Avoid "Family Dental" at Colombo 3 for any reason

To say loud and open about my opinion about "Family Dental" at Colombo 3 (In front of Holcim Building) I have no hesitation as it was the worst ever experience i had in my life at a dental. So as my parents..

- Their consultation fee was 5000 SLR.. The highest i have paid is 2000 and that was also for a specialist who are like very important to meet and very rare in Sri Lanka..But paying 5000 SLR for a dental doctor at a stingy place and actually for nothing is ridiculous.. absurd.. what else.. :(

- They filled 2 teeth and charged for 4 teeth.. it was very clear but they didn't put a break down in the bill.. when I inquired they were not sure to give the details of the break down and i was asked to come after some time to provide the break down details..  The cost for those services was 19,000 SLR. :(

- My little one had a cavity and they have filled a wrong teeth instead the one that they should fill..


Pathetic that doctors are at this level of behavior and has no dignity at all!! Disgusting!

A place that everyone should protest definitely.

How to complain regarding contaminated or unhygienic food in Sri Lanka

Simple!
Call on the hotline, 2676161

Please do take the effort and time to make the complain if you experience this as it helps to establish the standards of the food we pay in long term.

Savoy 3D experience with just released movie Ice Age 4- Continental drift

Ice Age - 4, in other words continental drift was released in USA on 13th July. Years back we had to wait months until we get that in Sri Lanka. But those days are gone and sometimes you get to view the movie on the same day it is released.

Ice Age is a 2002 American computer-animated adventure comedy film created by Blue Sky Studios . The film got lot of positive reviews and was a box office success, starting a series with three sequels, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and Ice Age: Continental Drift.

Savoy at Colombo 6 has been upgraded into a 3D theater and re-opened on 26th July and the 1st 3D movie that they show is Ice Age 4. When EAP opened Savoy after a huge renovation in early 2003 or somewhere me and my hubby(BF at that time)used to watch all the movies that they showed until we got our little one delivered which was a life changing thing. 

Back to the film..  In just 3 words. Good, over the expectations!!
The graphics, sounds and the story was good and my 6 year old little one enjoyed it full though the 3 D glasses were bit too large and she thought it as a hassle to wear. For me it was real 3D experience. The last time I watched a 3D documentary in Hartford, CT at the aquarium in year 2004 and by then 3D technology has come a long way. I heard some comments saying the 3D at Savoy has an issue and not good. But for me i did n't observe anything as such and it was a really good movie and an experience.

Electric trains in Sri Lanka... Not in dreams?

The Railway Department has decided to commence electric train services in the country within the next two years.

It was a shocking good news if so. Of course as in the other projects this will also make some politioans and their families and there generations a billionares and we will end up paying the cost. But I am happy atleast the infrastructure is getting better. Sri Lanka been a small island still it takes so many hours to go from one place to the other due to lack of good train service. So i welcome this move.

Exporail is also a one good move though it is run by a private company within the government trains.
www.exporail.lk and good that they have online booking.

Yummolishes food and royal treat at CASA, A must try in Colombo

CASA Colombo has won many travelers awards consecutively for 2011, TripAdviser awards, 2012, World luxury hotel awards 2012 and many other and i never thought to try it out as it sounded as if very very expensive.
CASA Colombo is famous as a retro style luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of the busy Colombo yet in a very serene location. It is some hundreds of years old mansion which has nicely redesigned and excellent interior. (Source of all interior photos: www.casacolombo.com)

It has  a pink pool and it looks gorgeous at night with the elegant lighting. It could be the one and only pink pool in the whole world, At least I have never heard of any so far.

Imagine the sun bathing in the noon and reading your favorite book while sipping a tropical chilled orange juice on those glassy and chicy tops. Of course i am blessed with sun the 365 days and I would rather like to relax in the evening here with lights and listen to a soothing music while drinking a chilled EGB. (EGB is a original recipe since 1896 and its taste is unique and one of the best soft drinks i ever had.)

And the best part is the food. I have been here for 5 times and I have tried different dishes as I was sure that everything will be good. The appetizers they give are unique Sri Lankan style roast bread with lunu miris and Mint dip and they are so heavenly.
And the dishes come with a little presentation and at a glance when the food arrives you feel like oh my god it looks delicious, but looks small portion quantity. ( Honestly i felt so) But dig in and see,, its just that they pack the stuff nicely and it has a big quantity. So never worry from your first sight. (See what I had, Lucky that I take my camera in my bag, but forgot to adjust the date)

 The Sri Lankan style roasted bread with lunu miris and Mint sauce with scraped Coconut

 The zipped meal that preserves the hot.

 After unzipping the above, The quantity looks good right?

 Grilled meat on top of creamy mashed potatoes

Mouth watering dessert, White chocolate and divine creamy ice cream dessert with chocolate sauce. This is a must try!

I said I thought the place is expensive right. But I am been a just average person i say the place is not expensive and value for money. You can have a decent meal for 10$.