Sri Lankan Cooking Archives

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Reviews from our guests, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate we can accommodate seven guests.

We have two double bedrooms and one triple bedroom.

It’s a great opportunity to have the five acre estate exclusively for use for your family and friends.

Three bedrooms

We have one triple bedroom and two doubles.

In the lounge we also have sofa bed, so we can squeeze in another couple or some children if required.

The Mango and Mahogany bedrooms are on one floor connected by a communal lounge.

Our Cinnamon bedroom is on the lower floor and has some outside space.

All our bedrooms have their own private bathrooms.

The Mango bedroom is very popular with honeymooners or couples celebrating their anniversary.

The bathroom has a fabulous view of the hills towards the south of the country.

It comes with a spacious shower and a bath.

Some guests enjoy a bath looking out of the window at the stars.

The Mahogany bedroom is a triple with a king-size bed and a separate single bed.

They have fabulous views and the bathroom also has a bath similar to the Mango bedroom.

It’s a great space for a family with a child or if you just want the largest bedroom we have in the property.

The Cinnamon bedroom is on the lower floor of the house.

The bathroom has a shower, but no bath. However, this bedroom has a nice outside sitting space where you can enjoy your morning tea of coffee taking in the view.

There is a pathway from the room that takes you to a small lawn and then onto the swimming pool.

All our bedrooms have comfortable Sri Lankan made mattresses, overhead fan and seating.

There is no need for air-conditioning in the Sri Lankan hills. We provide duvets on the beds as it can be a little cooler at night.

Lounges to relax in

We believe in comfortable chairs!

It’s important to us that you can relax and enjoy the fabulous views of the Sri Lankan countryside. We have chairs and sofas on both floors which are comfortable and allow you to enjoy the landscape.

Swim surrounded by nature

Our swimming pool is one of our favourite places on the estate. Filled with spring water and no chlorine, it is an experience swimming surrounded by nature.

We have sun loungers so that you can spend more time in this amazing space.

Oh, and the food!

Food is another important part of the experience at GlenMyu Estate.

We source the best local ingredients that we can find. Our menu is mainly plant based with some fish and chicken options.

Read our food reviews and see what our other guests say about what they eat at GlenMyu Estate.

Contact us by WhatsApp for our best direct rates

We offer great rates for guests that book directly.

WhatsApp + 94 752999272

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more.

Hotels for seven people in Sri Lanka Read More »

Finding a hidden gem in Sri Lanka.

Ella, Holiday, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Reviews from our guests, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Travel, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

Finding a Hidden Gem

Finding a hidden gem in Sri Lanka.

Discovering a place to stay that you fall in love with before others do is a great feeling.

However, once it’s on the tourist radar, you may find it difficult to get a room!

As more tourists visit Sri Lanka there are less chances that you will find a hidden gem.

Of course, as more people discover the hidden gem, the cat will be out of the bag and everyone will know about it.

The trick is to get there early before others do.

Sri Lanka is becoming a more popular tourist destination

Sri Lanka has seen its’ tourist numbers increase substantially over the last year.

In December 2023, January 2024 and February 2024, tourist numbers when compared against the previous period.

It still has a long way to go before it competes with Bali, Cambodia or Thailand.

The tourist board have ambitious targets for the coming year, so get there before it becomes too busy.

A hidden gem in the Sri Lankan hill country

GlenMyu Estate has only been operating since the start of 2022.

Guests love it and there are already we have had several returning guests.

What's so special?

A comfortable place to stay, space and amazing food are there things that our guests comment upon.

As we only have three guest bedrooms at the five acre estate, you are not fighting with other guests for space.

There are no need for time slots to enjoy the natural spring fed infinity swimming pool.

We don’t have staff bothering you too often looking to upsell.

What my wife and I have found is that we can assess the level of interaction our guests want shortly after your arrival.

There is so much more, but you really have to stay to find out what you like best.

Feedback from our guests is important

We have been humbled by what our guests say about their stay with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Neither my wife or I are extroverts and we are really overwhelmed and amazed by our guests taking the time to write the words about their time with us.

It won't last for long!

Some of our guests tell us that they want to keep GlenMyu Estate undiscovered so that there will always be a room for them when they come back!

We have no plans to expand from the three bedrooms that we have and therefore we do believe that in time it will be more difficult to get a room at the estate.

Although we have not been trading very long, we already have had several returning guests and recommendations to their friends and family.

Find us and experience what we have to offer

We love having new guests experience what we do at GlenMyu Estate.

Hopefully we will meet you soon on your next holiday in Sri Lanka.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Finding a hidden gem in Sri Lanka. Read More »

Inspiration to write at the swimming pool.

The Best Homestay in Sri Lanka?

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

The Best Homestay in Sri Lanka?

Is this the Best Homestay in Sri Lanka?

GlenMyu Estate is a bed and breakfast that offers a lot more.

Guests have regularly commented that they can’t believe that GlenMyu Estate is a homestay.

We try to make our guests feel that they are friends and are able to properly relax without the formality of a five star hotel.

What is a Homestay?

In Sri Lanka a homestay is defined by the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority as follows;

“a house occupied by a family with guest rooms that are ready to accommodate and provide services to paying guests, where the guests and the host family interact with each other, immersing themselves in Sri Lankan culture and experiencing authentic Sri Lankan hospitality”.

There should be a minimum of one and a maximum of four rooms.

Although GlenMyu Estate is a B & B, it does also fit into the definition of a homestay.

A homestay in Sri Lanka with a difference.

Designed with a balance of luxury and comfort.

The house at GlenMyu Estate was only completed in 2021.

It is set in five acres and there are only three guest bedrooms. There is a feeling of luxury knowing that you don’t have to share the space with many other guests when you holiday in Sri Lanka.

The property has been designed so that there is a contemporary but natural feel.

Locally sourced wood is blended with cool titanium concrete floors.
Large windows look out over the stunning Sri Lankan landscape and appear to let nature in.

More than just a stay

We had Polish guests last year, and Greg, said in his review that GlenMyu Estate was more than just a stay, it was an experience.

You can read Greg’s Google review by clicking on the following link.

Please read our other reviews in Booking.com, Airbnb, and Tripadvisor.

The food - not a typical homestay in Sri Lanka

Normally in a homestay in Sri Lanka you would have typically rice and curry for most meals. They will be delicious as the dishes will be made from locally sourced ingredients and cooked by experienced cooks.

At GlenMyu Estate, we offer both traditional Sri Lankan cuisine, and also fusion dishes made with the best local ingredients that we can source.

Ruwanthi did a short Le Cordon Bleu course whilst she lived in London and is growing a reputation for her food in Sri Lanka.

Please click on our food menus to see what types of dishes we offer to our guests.

A Sri Lankan Cookery Demonstration

One of the things that we do which you would often have the opportunity to see is a Sri Lankan cooking demonstration at a homestay in Sri Lanka.

We have found that with the successes of contestants Brin Paripathan and Sav Perera in UK Masterchef and Australian Masterchef, there has been a heightened interest in Sri Lankan food.

Our own ‘Masterchef’ is Ruwanthi’s mother, who has over fifty years of experience cooking delicious Sri Lankan dishes.

Getting an authentic taste of Sri Lankan food is a real benefit when staying at a homestay.

As Ruwanthi lived in the UK for many years before returning to Sri Lanka, she is able to temper the level of chilli to the Western palette.

A garden tour at a homestay in the Sri Lankan Hill country

We feel extremely fortunate to live in the area of this paradise island that we do.

The estate sits at an elevation of around 1,000 metres above sea level and the climate enables us to grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and spices.

There are lots of organised spice garden tours around the country. It’s great seeing what is grown, but what we don’t like is the hard sell to buy some products as you leave.

Ruwanthi really enjoys delivering an informal garden tour which is complimentary for our guests. And, there is nothing to buy at the end of your walk!

The best homestay in Sri Lanka?

At GlenMyu Estate, we are not interested in titles and accolades.

All we want is for our guests to have the nest time on their holiday in Sri Lanka….and want to come back again.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

The Best Homestay in Sri Lanka? Read More »

The best bread in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

The Best Bread in Sri Lanka

Finding good bread in Sri Lanka is a challenge.

Although you ought to be tasting great local cuisine when you are on holiday in Sri Lanka, sometimes it is good to have something that reminds you of home.

We love bread at GlenMyu Estate and our guests love it too!

At GlenMyu Estate we really believe that the you are on holiday you should try the local cuisine.

With the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef in the UK and Australia, we expect that there will be an increase in tourists looking to experience Sri Lankan food.

Our Sri Lankan food is special

My mother in law orchestrates our Sri Lankan food demonstration in conjunction with her daughter Ru (my wife!).

The demonstration starts around 4 p.m so it’s good for guests that stay more than one night at GlenMyu Estate.

I love bread

We have a standing joke with my oldest friend Peter whose catchphrase when he says at GlenMyu Estate is “I love bread!.

This saying is a daily occurrence when we have breakfast and always is followed by laughter.

Bread is my nemesis. I know I should control how much I have, but when it’s good it becomes more of a challenge.

My wife would like me to control the amount of bread that I eat. I tell her that if she made even average bread, I might be able to do what she askes. However, the bread at GlenMyu Estate is the quality that demands to be eaten. So my waistline might not achieve the inches she would like.

I always say to guests that it is okay to indulge in something good when you on holiday as you can work it off when you get home.

Please have some sympathy for me who has to deal with the delicious offerings everyday!

French people in Colombo visit GlenMyu Estate because of our bread!

It’s quiet an accolade that we have French guests that live in the capital or the south coast that visit Glenmyu Estate because of our bread. It’s hard being away from home and not having baguettes on tap.

We are not saying that our bread can be compared to the boulangeries of France, but our French guests are very happy with what we serve.

There are places in Colombo who do great bread such as Baguette.

However, it’s hard to get great bread when you are away from Sri Lanka’s Metropolis.

Something sweet

Lots of our European guests like something sweet at breakfast.

Ru and the team regularly make sweet brioche type buns and chocolate babka rolls.

We also make our own jam at GlenMyu Estate. Typically we have Mulberry jam made from mulberries picked at the estate.

A ‘marmalade’ jam is made from either Pomelo or the oranges we grow.

Ginger and Passionfruit jam is also normally available.

A special breakfast will mean that you will probably skip lunch

Our breakfasts are quite substantial at GlenMyu Estate. It’s hard to resist having an extra slice of the freshly baked bread topped with our homemade jam.

We offer a fusion of Western and Asian tastes at breakfast with added twists by Ru.

A stay at GlenMyu is not all about bread!

In addition to the food, there are lots of other things to enjoy when staying at GlenMyu Estate.

A great nights sleep and waking up to the beautiful views from your bedroom window.

Exploring the 5 acre estate and meeting our cows, chickens, ducks and dogs.

A garden tour by Ru showing you what spices, fruits and vegetables we grow.

Ru’s mum showing you how we cook Sri Lankan dishes.

Relaxing at the swimming pool and reconnecting with nature.

There are also many wonderful places to explore which are within a short drive from GlenMyu Estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The best bread in Sri Lanka Read More »

Making people happy

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Making people happy

Making people happy – that’s what we aim to do!

This phrase really resonated with me whilst I was listening to a podcast.

Michel Roux Jr. was being interviewed by James O’Brien for the Full Disclosure Podcast.
Towards the end of the interview James ends saying that the impulse driving the hospitality industry is “making people happy”.

This impulse is ultimately what we aim to achieve at GlenMyu Estate.

We feel that we have an advantage

We feel that we have an advantage in our aims of making people happy.

For most of our guests GlenMyu Estate is not their first stop on their holiday in Sri Lanka. The estate is located just over five hours from the airport and therefore it is only the dedicated few that make GlenMyu Estate their first stop.

Fortunately for us, guests arrive already having been wowed by the country and the hospitality of its’ people. They come with smiles on their faces and rave about their experience so for on the island.

Fall in love with the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Cleary, we then have a job to do to continue the feeling that our guests have when they arrive.

We want to create an atmosphere where you feel relaxed and are visiting an old friend. In some hotels you can feel uncomfortable and not fully be able to let your hair down.

The atmosphere that we have tried to create is somewhere that you can truly relax and unwind. It was really important to us that there were comfortable chairs and sofas in the rooms and lounges. Space was also important, so, if you want to spend some time alone, you can.

We have not overdeveloped the land and only have three guest bedrooms. There is always space to swim in the pool and lots of places to explore on the five acre estate.

It makes us feel great when our guests connect and fall in love with GlenMyu Estate.

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien - one of my favourite podcasts.

Watch or listen to the Full Disclosure Podcast with James O’Brien and Michel Roux.

I tend to listen to lots of podcasts in the Sri Lankan Hill country and have waned myself off of television over the years I have lived here. There are many more podcasts that I subscribe to which gives me my fill in entertainment, news, sport and politics.

Food is an important part of what we do at GlenMyu Estate

Eating great food, prepared with love is a way of making people happy.

Ru and her team take pride in the dishes that they prepare for our guests. They are motivated when they hear the positive feedback from our guests.

We try to source as much as we can locally as it is fresh and tastes great. You will find that our menu is mainly plant based with some fish and chicken options.

If you read our reviews on Google, Tripadvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb you will see how much our guests love the food at GlenMyu Estate.

Shared experiences with friends and family

We love to see the smiles on pour guests faces as the sit and eat together.

Hearing the shrieks of joy as families enjoy the swimming pool together puts smiles on our faces. We know that family bonding is important and that we have the facility to enable people to come together and create memories.

Sharing the love for Sri Lankan cooking

Sri Lankans are very proud of their country and also their cuisine.

Our guests really enjoy our complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration which is provided when they order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Ru’s mum, who has over 50 years experience in a Sri Lankan kitchen, shows our guests how the dishes are made.

The great thing is that you get to eat a delicious Sri Lankan meal after an entertaining hour or two.

Fresh fruits and vegetables

The colour of fresh local fruits and vegetables really add something special to the meals we cook. It is really important that we source the best ingredients that we can to cook for our guests.

Reconnecting with nature

Most of the world lives in cities and has pushed nature away.

Reconnecting with nature is good for the heart and the soul.

GlenMyu Estate has five acres for you to explore and enjoy. We have planted species on the estate to encourage wildlife to visit.

Listening to the birds as you swim in our Natural Spring Fed swimming pool is a beautiful experience.

Making a connection with our rescue dogs or watching the ducks wander around the land as they forage brings a bit of inner peace.

Connect with the animals at the estate

We have several rescue dogs at GlenMyu Estate.

Most visitors to Sri Lanka see the poor condition of the stray street dogs as they travel around the island. There are some good organisations that help these poor animals such as WeCare, Embark and Dogs of Ella.

All of our rescue dogs are vaccinated, friendly, and used to meeting guests. We would not recommend that you pet any dogs or cats in Sri Lanka as rabies is still an issue and dangerous for humans.

You can been comfortable in petting our dogs as they have all their vaccinations and love it when guests stay.

Look out for Clove, who thinks that you have come to visit her!

Our dogs add to our aim of making people happy during their stay.

Be happy and come to Sri Lanka on holiday.

Your experience of a holiday in Sri Lanka will put a smile on your face and you will remember your time here for many years.

The tourist boards’ new slogan is ‘You will come back for more’.

Once you have experienced this paradise island we are sure you will want to come back again one day.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Making people happy Read More »

Jackfruit growing at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka.

These delicious fruits are a staple dish on our menu at our luxury bed and breakfast in the central hills of Sri Lanka.

I was delighted to return from my UK trip in October to see so many Jackfruits on the trees next to the lawn at GlenMyu Estate.

An island of many seasons

There are several different zones in Sri Lanka which give rise to different climates and growing conditions. Also, there are two major monsoons that affect different parts of the island during the year.

In the Sri Lankan hill country we have two drier seasons and two season where we have some much needed rain.

The weather patterns have changes due to global warming. However we normally have a dry spell from mid-June until mid-September.

Rains were late coming to GlenMyu Estate this year and our Jackfruit trees were quite bare!

When I returned, this is what I saw!

Before I left GlenMyu Estate for the UK at the beginning of October the tree had not delivered Jackfuits for around month.
I could see a few small shoots starting on the tree. But I was pessimistic that we would have a crop for our guests during the peak tourist season from December to April.

I was amazed, and very happy to see the number of fruits that had grown in less then three weeks.

As you can see, we should have plenty of Jackfruits during the season to make delicious dishes for our guests.

Keeping the food miles low

We are lucky to have some mature Jackfruit trees next to the lawn at GlenMyu Estate.

They provide an abundance of fruits which we use in dishes that we serve to our guests.

The food miles are about as low as you can get being around twenty metres from the kitchen!

What do we use Jackfruit for?

We mainly use Jackfruit for a curry which we serve along with the other elements in our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Most guests are surprised at how meaty the texture of the Jackfruit is when it is cooked. It is however a carbohydrate rather than a protein.

Therefore, we make sure that you get your protein from other dishes that are part of the Sri Lankan sharing platter.

We also make a Pulled Jackfruit Burger which is cooked in a barbecue sauce.

Lots of our guests have been surprised that it isn’t pulled pork as it has a similar texture.

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka -How we open the Jackfruit

Jackfruits are huge and heavy.

Once they have been cut from the tree they are a challenge to break open and get to the good stuff inside. There is also a sticky sap which makes it a tricky item to handle.

Sri Lankans are experts when it comes to opening the Jackfruit, as you can see from this video.

The Jackfruits aren't all ours!

Fortunately there are lots of Jackfruit on the tree. There are lots of animals that visit GlenMyu Estate that also love Jackfuit.

Monkeys, birds and squirrels are happy when they ripen.

Luckily there are enough fruits to share with the wildlife.

We have also planted lots of fruit trees on the edge of the estate which will feed the wildlife in the future.

Learn how to cook Jackfruit

When our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter, Ru’s mum happily provides a complimentary cooking demonstration.

She has over fifty years experience of Sri Lankan cooking and her food is delicious.

Our guests really enjoy the informal setting and give great reviews of the food after they have eaten their evening meal.

It commences at around 4 p.m and therefore is suitable if you are staying more that one night at GlenMyu Estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Jackfruits in Sri Lanka Read More »

Planning your Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Food and Drink, Holiday, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda / By Mikeez

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka.

Planning to spend your Christmas vacation on a paradise island?

Why Sri Lanka is a good option.

Sri Lanka is a popular place to visit during Christmas vacation.

It’s a great place to escape the miserable weather in Northern Europe and the US.

The island offers a variety of things to do for most travellers.
Whether you are a beach lover, want to see wildlife and culture or like to hike, we have it all.

Find out why you should consider a holiday in Sri Lankan for your Christmas vacation this year.

The best places to visit in Sri Lanka during your Christmas vacation

The weather is the key factor when deciding the places that you should visit in Sri Lanka in December.

Did you know that the island has two monsoon seasons?

The good news is that during December you can visit quite a lot of the country.

You will need to avoid the East and North coast in December if you don’t want to get wet!

The Meteorology Department of Sri Lanka is a good place to do some research on what the weather will be like when you visit the island.

Go to the section “Climate Seasons” to read about the monsoon seasons.

As you will see the Northeast Monsoon hits the country from December through to February. Therefore if you want the beach you should stay on the south and west coasts during your Christmas vacation.

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka. So, where should I go in December?

The Southern and Western beaches on the island are great places to visit during the Christmas vacation for some sun and surfing.

You can also visit the Central Hills, Nuwara Eliya and Ella during this period. Lots of our guests at GlenMyu Estate love the hike at Horton Plains National Park.

The cultural triangle, in Sri Lanka’s central plains which consists of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla are also good to visit.

Kandy and the Cultural Triangle

Sri Lanka’s Cultural triangle is situated in the centre of the island.

It covers an area which includes the World Heritage cultural sites:
The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, the Ancient City of Sigiriya, the Ancient City of Dambulla and the Sacred City of Kandy.

In Kandy to visit the Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Botanical gardens.

Kandy is also a popular place to catch the train to Ella and enjoy the stunning scenery on the way.

You must see Ella and Nine Arch Bridge

Ella is one of the most popular tourist spots in Sri Lanka. Historically it was difficult to get to and the main travellers were backpackers.

Since its development and better travel links the town has boomed.

Crowds visit Nine Arch Bridge, which is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country.

A selfie as a train goes over the bridge is a must and you will see a throng of people waiting in anticipation of the train. Beware though, it is common that Sri Lankan trains run late!

Your Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka -Away from the crowds

If you want to be away from the crowds, as GlenMyu Estate only has three guest bedrooms, you can have a unique Christmas in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Within reach of Ella, you can do a day trip and see the sights around the town.

There are also some fabulous things to see and do near to GlenMyu Estate.

Some of our guests just stay at the estate and get some real downtime in a peaceful landscape.

Please read our reviews on Booking,com, Airbnb and Google.

Christmas at GlenMyu Estate

GlenMyu Estate was only opened in late 2021 so we now have a few Christmases under our belt.

Throughout the year our several of our guests enjoy our Traditional Roast Chicken dinner. For the festive season we jazz it up to reflect the colours and tastes you would expect over the holidays.

We cater for Plant Based, Vegan and vegetarian diets, so don’t worry, you won’t miss out on the festivities.

The house is decorated to reflect the season and lots of the trinkets are made on site by the staff from natural products from the estate.

A Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka

So, if you are looking to have a unique Christmas vacation on a tropical island, then Sri Lanka is a good choice.

We would recommend booking early as Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers are increasing rapidly. Arrivals doubled in December 2023 compared to the previous year and the country has ambitious targets for the coming peak tourist season.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate over the festive season and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Planning your Christmas Vacation in Sri Lanka Read More »

Taking skills from Le Cordon Bleu to Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

Taking cooking skills from Le Cordon Bleu to Sri Lanka

Ruwanthi took some of the cooking skills and techniques that she learnt on a short Le Cordon Bleu course to GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Ruwanthi completed a basic Le Cordon Bleu course in London. She has and taken what she learnt to the kitchen at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Prior to spending sixteen years in the UK, Ruwanthi had limited cooking skills.

Her mother is a great cook, and she provided all the meals for the family as Ru was growing up.
Focusing on her Gymnastic skills whilst attending Ananda Balika Vidyalaya School in Colombo, Ru’s focus was not in the kitchen. Her concentration on her sport led her to becoming National Gymnast champion for several years.

However, a career move to London meant that Ru would need tolerant to cook for herself.

I think that the competitive streak she has resulted in the quality of cooking she delivers at GlenMyu Estate.

I was so lucky

How lucky was I? Ruwanthi used to bring what she cooked home in the evening for me to taste.

Quite often, her Le Cordon Bleu dishes became my lunch the next day much to my colleagues envy.

The place to eat in Queens Park

We lived in our tiny flat in Queens Park, North West London.

As Ru’s cooking skills gained momentum, our flat became the place that everyone wanted to eat.

The number of dinner parties that took place around our small lounge dining table were numerous and are remembered by our friends who were the beneficiaries of Ruwanthi’s food experiments.

What good times we had.

Delia Smith and a Traditional Roast Dinner

Ru knew that Sunday lunches were a favourite of mine.

She decided one day to follow Delia Smith’s cookbook to create a Roast Dinner for myself and my flatmate Phil.

We were amazed on what she served up. Perfect Roast Potatoes and superbly crisp and fluffy Yorkshire Puddings.

High praise was lauded and a Sunday Roast became a welcome meal after I retrained from coaching rugby to the junior teams in my local London rugby club.

Our Traditional Roast Chicken Dinner is a favourite amount the ex-pat community that live on the island. Recently, we have added a mushroom pie for our Plant Based guests so that they don’t miss out on this delicious meal.

Taking those skills to Sri Lanka

The skills that Ru learnt in the Le Cordon Bleu basic cookery course has stayed with her over the years.

There have been many more influences that have developed what she serves to our guests at GlenMyu Estate.

I encouraged Ru by bombarding her with cookbooks for birthdays and at Christmas.

She has quite a collection, from Michel Roux Jnr, Raymond Blanc to Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. I managed to get Rick Stein to sign several of his series of cookbooks over the years.

Delia Smiths Simple Cookery was added to with other books in her collection.

Sri Lankan influences

For many year Peter Kuruvita’s beautiful Sri Lankan recipe book “Serendip, My Sri Lankan Kitchen” has been a reference point for Ru’s Sri Lankan cooking.

Of course, her mother has also been a major influence. Ru continues to hone her Sri Lankan dishes under her mothers guidance.

Food is an important part of GlenMyu Estate

Nourishing our guests with outside and in is an important part of what we do at GlenMyu Estate.

We have tried to create an environment throughout the five acre estate and within the house that is uplifting and connects you with nature.

The dishes that we serve, including our sumptuous breakfast to give you a good start to the day, provides you with good healthy nutrition.

Ingredients from the garden and great local suppliers

One thing that we have learnt from our time in Sri Lanka is that you should use fresh local season ingredients.

We grow a lot of things in our organic garden at GlenMyu Estate which are used as ingredients in the meals we serve.

It is important for us also to support good local producers. We have a great fruit and vegetable suppliers in the Sri Lankan hill country. Mushrooms are supplied by a grown in Bandarawela which is 26 kilometres from the Estate.

Fish is brought from the coast daily and therefore we get great Tuna and Prawns on a regular basis.

Heading towards a Plant Based Diet

It has become a natural process for us to move towards a more Plant Based diet.

You will see from our menus that we have a lots of dishes that are suitable for Vegans and Vegetarians. We still offer some chicken and fish dishes too so that we can cater for all types of diets.

In the past Sri Lankan diets were naturally Plant Based as little meat and poultry was eaten on the island for various reasons.

We have found that as we have such great fresh ingredients that provide a balanced nutritional diet, that it has been easier to move towards a more Plant Based offering.

The meals are delicious and we have had many die hard carnivores tell us that they didn’t miss meat in the dishes that we served them.

A complimentary Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration

One of the fun things that we do at GlenMyu Estate is to provide a complimentary cooking demonstration when guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

In additional to having a delicious meal to look forward to, you also get fifty plus years of cooking experience showing you how to make the dishes from Ru’s mother.

It’s an entertaining way to see how our Sri Lankan dishes are made.

We get a kick out of seeing pictures from our guests of their Sri Lankan dishes that they have made when they get home.

Sri Lankan food - the next big thing?

We love Sri Lankan food and we don’t believe that it has properly arrived on the World stage.

Hopefully, with increasing numbers of tourists visiting Sri Lanka and the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef this will be righted in the future.

In 2024 Sri Lankan chefs did well on Masterchef. Brin Pirathapan won UK Masterchef. Savindri Perera (Sav) came third on Australian Masterchef.

The judges were wowed by the food that they both served that had a Sri Lankan influence in the dishes.

We should be asking for commission!

Supporting Sri Lankan businesses and championing Sri Lankan cuisine is something that we feel is right to do.

Many of our guests seek out Sri Lankan food when they get back home as they have enjoyed what they eat at GlenMyu Estate. We know that several of our guests have eaten at Rambutan, Kolamba, Hoppers in London.

Other have sought out Sri Lankan restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide including Sagara and Lakruwana which are both based in New York.

Peter Kuruvita and Cynthia Shamugalingam’s book Rambutan must have made additional sales from our guests.

Perhaps we should be charging commission!

To be honest, after meeting us, you will know that we are not that type of people. We just like supporting good business and good people.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the great food served by Ru and the team.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and sample the dishes that we prepare freshly for our guests.

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Taking skills from Le Cordon Bleu to Sri Lanka Read More »

Newly opened in 2021 - GlenMyu Resort, Hotel and B & B, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Inspired by Raymond Blanc

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Inspired by Raymond Blanc (and others!)

There are so many elements that inspired us as we developed GlenMyu Estate. Raymond Blanc, Geoffrey Bawa and Peter Kuruvita and many more.

Are there any unique ideas and new thinking? Aren’t most things a spur or inspiration from another idea?

Both my wife and I are humble creatures and are happy to deflect and shine the limelight elsewhere.

However, we do believe that we have created something unique in our little part of the Sri Lankan hill country.

The affect that our little paradise has on so many of our wonderful guests is amazing.
It inspires us to strive harder for everyone who stays with us.

Inspirations that live in my head and dreams

There are so many elements and people that have and continue to inspire us.

Nature now is a main driver as we aim to increase the level of biodiversity at the estate. Growing trees and plants that create a habitat and food for wildlife is our focus.

In order to meet the cost of our ambitions, we have three guest bedrooms that generate the income we require.

I am happy to admit that I have been inspired by Raymond Blanc. However, I’m a little embarrassed that one of the main places drove the inspiration is a place that I have never been.
Perhaps, some things are better left in our dreams.

There are elements of GlenMyu Estate that have been inspired by or influenced by many ideas my wife and I had over the years.

Sri Lanka’s influential architect was also an inspiration and elements of his style can be found at GlenMyu Estate. Again, I have never visited the Kandalama Hotel. I have only seen photos of it in the Bawa books that we own.

Peter Kuruvita is another inspiration for us. We believe that Sri Lankan food is not in the position that it should be as a world cuisine. The beautiful way that Sri Lankan food is presented, in his book Serendip, should be the standard. It would lift the food to another level.

Raymond Blanc - Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

I just love the whole idea of Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

It is one of the reasons why I always tried to stay in the hotel where the reception of the many weddings that I attended over the years. The idea of having a good meal, function or just a good time, and being able to wander up the stairs to bed is my idea of luxury.

I did attend a few weddings where I stayed in a cheap B & B as close to the venue as I could. The frustration of waiting for a taxi to take me to inadequate accommodation was not worth the saving in cost.

At Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons the idea of arriving and having a Michelin Star meal in the early evening. Then retiring to a comfortable room, and knowing that a superb breakfast awaits in the morning is just heavenly.

Not a Michelin Star of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

GlenMyu Estate does not and have, or aspire to achieve, a Michelin Star.

What we want to provide is a comfortable place to stay, with amazing freshly prepared meals. And, of course, a short distance to a comfortable bedroom.

Inspired by a great Sri Lankan architect (and others)

We bought several of Geoffrey Bawa’s books when we were living in London in our small flat.

They were beautiful pieces of art that were not studied, but dipped into from time to time.

As mentioned, I have not been to Kandalama Hotel.

However, you will see that we have incorporated several rocks inside the building at GlenMyu Estate.
Some were inspired by Bawa some were by accident, but Ruwanthi can explain this further when you meet her.

And Sri Lankan food

I say that I was brought up on South Indian and Bangladeshi curries when I was living in London. A staple “British Cuisine” and I loved them all.

However, when I tasted the curries made by my mother in law on my annual trips to Sri Lanka, I was amazed at the difference.

Most Sri Lankan curries use coconut oil as a base rather than Ghee. I feel that Sri Lankan curries have a cleaner taste than the “Indian” curries that I was used to eating in the UK. Rather than being smothered by a sauce (delicious of course) I could really taste the individual dishes in a Sri Lankan curry.

So many tears

Quite often there are tears in the eyes of our guests as they leave us to explore more of the wonderful island.

It’s emotional for us too.
We do get really attached to our guests in a short space of time.
They provide so much colour to our lives sharing their experiences of Sri Lanka, their home and lives.

We were moved recently when two separate German guests sent us messages and photos letting them know that they think back to the experience that they had at GlenMyu Estate.

Experiences reflected in our customer reviews

We are humbled very often by what our guests write about their stay with us.
Whether they have written their review on Booking.com, Airbnb, Tripadvisor or Google.

We are always amazed that they would take the time to write about their experience.
Surely, they have more important things to do!
We are so grateful and soak up the words which provide us with inspiration to make every guests stay as wonderful as we can.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and see what inspired us

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Inspired by Raymond Blanc Read More »

UK overtakes Russian tourist Numbers visiting Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

The UK overtakes Russian tourist numbers visiting Sri Lanka

In August 2024 it was reported that the UK overtakes Russian tourist numbers visiting Sri Lanka.

Now the UK is the 2nd largest source market in cumulative tourist arrivals.

India is still number one, but at GlenMyu Estate, we are finding that more visitors from the UK are discovering the island,

Sri Lankan Tourist Numbers

Over the last few years, since Sri Lankan tourists numbers started increasing, the main source markets were India and Russia.

Historically, Sri Lanka was a favourite destination for travellers from the UK.

It appears that the UK has found Sri Lanka again and now delivers the second highest number of tourists to Sri Lanka.

You can read more about this in the Sri Lankan Daily Mirror Article.

Sri Lankan Tourists numbers are published weekly by the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority.

We feel that we are at a bit of an advantage

GlenMyu Estate is owned and run by Ruwanthi who lived in the UK for about 16 years.

I am from the UK and travelled to the island for many years before relocating from London, UK.

As we have this Sri Lankan/UK mix, we feel that we have an advantage communicating and understanding our guests needs.

Great food - not too spicy!

Another advantage is that we are used to cooking for Western palettes.

In London, our flat was the place that all our friends wanted to come for dinner.

Ruwanthi understands that most people cannot handle the levels of chilli, salt and pepper that most Sri Lankans would add to their dishes.

Lots of visitors from all around the World

We love meeting people from places that we haven’t visited ourselves and get to know more about places from our guests.

Lots of our guests come from the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium and Germany. We are seeing more visitors from Spain, Italy and Portugal.

During August we have had visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Israel and the US and Canada. More Australians are finding Sri Lanka again and exploring the Hill country and East coast during their winter.

We find that we also have a lot of guests from Scandinavia, escaping the winter during the peak tourist season from December to April.

It has been very interesting us meeting guests from Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Both my wife and I feel that we get to see more of the World through our guests eyes.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

UK overtakes Russian tourist Numbers visiting Sri Lanka Read More »

We are receiving more Australian visitors to Sri Lanka

Hatted Restaurants in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Are there any Hatted Restaurants in Sri Lanka?

Are there any Hatted or Michelin Star Restaurants on the paradise island of Sri Lanka?

There are some great restaurants and places to eat when you are on holiday on this paradise island.

What is a Hatted Restaurant?

Hatted Restaurants are a recognition by the Australian Good Food Guide.

A chef hat is a high honour in a chef’s career and a notable achievement in a restaurant’s history. The prestigious ‘hats’ are presented by the Australian Good Food Guide, who use precise award criteria on ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value and consistency, on food alone

The association limits its reach to Australia and therefore restaurants in Sri Lanka do not qualify for the award.

There are Hatted restaurants in Australia

Michelin Stars and Bib Gourmand

A Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking. We take into account five universal criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and, just as importantly, consistency both across the entire menu and over time.

Bib Gourmand
Not quite a star, but most definitely not a consolation prize, the Bib Gourmand – named after Bibendum, the friendly Michelin Man and the official company mascot for the Michelin Group – is a just-as-esteemed rating that recognizes friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.

We are awaiting the first Michelin Star restaurant in Sri Lanka

At present there are no Michelin Star rated restaurants in Sri Lanka.

We hope that with the highlighting of Sri Lankan cuisine from Masterchef contestant Brin Pirathapan (winner in UK Masterchef 2024) and Sav Perera (third place in Australian Masterchef) that more Sri Lankan restaurants open and share this wonderful fare.

The number of Sri Lankan cookbooks such as Rambutan (Cynthia Shamalugan) and Serendip (Peter Kuruvita) will enable cooks to try dishes at home.

Hopefully, the first Sri Lankan based Michelin Star restaurant is not that far away.

Amazing Sri Lankan food

At GlenMyu Estate we are always delighted when guests arrive from different parts of the the island and tell us how much they love Sri Lankan food.

It’s a great cuisine, especially if you follow a Plant Based, Vegan or vegetarian diet. The food lends itself to these diets.

Of course, being an island there are also some delicious fish dishes and curries for your to sample.

Flying the flag for Sri Lankan food

We endorse the cuisine by encouraging our guests at GlenMyu Estate to try our fusion dishes or our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Ru’s mother, who has over 50 years experience cooking, delights in showing Sri Lankan cooking when guests order the sharing platter. An entertaining and informal time in front of our traditional kitchen is a memorable experience for our guests.

It is heartwarming when our guests send picture of the Sri Lankan food they have cooked when they returned home.

Find out more about the GlenMyu Estate Sri Lankan cookery demonstration

When our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter there is an opportunity to see how the dishes are made.

Ru’s mum, who has over 50 years experience cooking Sri Lankan food leads the entertaining experience. If the weather is good we hold this event in our outside kitchen.

It’s great learning about how to create these dishes and getting to eat the results afterwards.

The session normally starts around 4 p.m. and therefore is suitable if you are staying at GlenMyu Estate two nights or more.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate experience great food and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Hatted Restaurants in Sri Lanka Read More »

Free cookery demonstration for our Sri Lankan food

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration

We offer a free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration when the guests at GlenMyu Estate order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

It’s not just informative and fun, at the end of the demonstration, you get to eat a delicious meal!

Sri Lankan Food - The next big thing?

We love Sri Lankan food and, with the recent success of Sri Lankan contestants on Masterchef, that it will reach a wider audience.

Both Brin Pirpathan on UK Masterchef and Sav Perera on Australian Masterchef in 2024 have highlighted what a great cuisine there is on this paradise island.

Brin won UK Masterchef and Sav came this on Australian Masterchef.

We believe that Sri Lankan cuisine is so good that it should be sampled by more people. Perhaps it will be the next big thing to break through as a culinary powerhouse.

Not a Masterchef but....

We don’t have a Masterchef, however, we do have Ru’s mother who has been cooking Sri Lankan food for over fifty years!

She loves showing guests how she cooks the dishes that make up our Sri Lankan sharing platter. Ru translates and adds a bit of colour to her mothers entertaining cookery demonstration.

She loves to hear how much our guests like her food and always is eager to get feedback the following morning.

The cooking demonstration normally starts between 4 pm and 4.30 pm, so it is suitable if you are staying more that one night at GlenMyu Estate.

What is the GlenMyu Estate Sri Lankan sharing platter?

Our Sri Lankan sharing platter usually consists of six or seven vegetarian dishes accompanied by paratha (flatbreads) or rice.

It’s a filling meal and a meat, poultry or fish dish is not required. You will get a nutritionally balanced meal and will not need any additional dishes.

The individual dishes Ru and her mother prepare will depend on availably of ingredients.

However, our Sri Lankan sharing platter normally consists of the following:

Jackfruit Curry (the Jackfruit is harvested from the trees next to our lawn).

Aubergine/Egg Plant Curry (one of my favourite dishes)

Kollu (a dish found only locally to the estate which is similar to satay but full of protein).

Banana flower curry

Dhal curry (lentil curry)

Mallum (a healthy mixture of shredded leaves picked from the garden)

A sample of what we do at our complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

If the weather is good we cook at our traditional Sri Lankan kitchen which is outside.

The curries taste great when they are cooked on a wood fire in locally sourced clay pots.

Here are some videos which reflect the relaxing, informative and entertaining cookery demonstration.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channels for GlenMyu Estate and Ru’s Recipes.

Trying the recipes at home

We love it when our guests send us messages and photos of them preparing some of the dishes when they return home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Free cookery demonstration for our Sri Lankan food Read More »

Cashew Sauce Recipe

Ru’s cashew sauce recipe from GlenMyu Estate.

Cashew Sauce Recipe

Our Cashew Sauce Recipe

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy to share our recipes.

Our guests love our cashew sauce.

Dipping our home-made roast paan into the sauce is a delight and taste that you will remember for a long time.

Cashew Sauce Recipe

We normally serve our cashew sauce with our mushroom or prawn dishes at GlenMyu Estate.

If you want to find out more about the food we serve please click on the link for our food menu below.

This is what Ali wrote when he stayed at GlenMyu Estate in July 2024.

Ali lives in Dubai and therefore has a good selection of cuisines at his doorstep. His words make us immensely proud.

“we ate the best food cooked by Ru. The food prepared by this lady is better than many food we have tasted in micheline star restaurants around the world”

(booking.com – July 2024)

Our guests love the food that we serve at GlenMyu Estate.

We are humbled when they write their reviews about their stay and how much they enjoyed what Ru and the team served them to eat. You can read the reviews on Booking.com, Airbnb, Google and Tripadvisor.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and sample our other recipes

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Cashew Sauce Recipe Read More »

Best food in Sri Lanka

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Best food in Sri Lanka

The best food in Sri Lanka.

We are humbled by guests at GlenMyu Estate when they write in their reviews that we serve the best food in Sri Lanka.

Best food in Sri Lanka!

My wife and I are a little shy, introverted and don’t really like to blow our own trumpets.

Thankfully our guests at GlenMyu Estate are happy to let the world know what they think of the food that we serve.

Some of our guests have said that they have had the best food in Sri Lanka when they have stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Humbled and immensely proud

We are humbled and immensely proud of the words that they write about us in their reviews.
They also tell their friends and we love it when we get recommendations from our guests.

I'll be back!

Some say that they will stay at GlenMyu Estate again when they visit Sri Lanka again on holiday. And they do!
We look after our returning guests with the best rates as they book directly with us.

Don't believe us?

Of course, it’s easy to write an article to lure you to our little piece of paradise in the Sri Lankan hill country.

However, once you get to know us, you will understand that we are genuine and just love having guests visit and enjoy everything we do at the estate.

Food is an important part of what we do and we believe an essential part of the hospitality at GlenMyu Estate.

Read all about it!

Our guests have no reason to write anything but the truth about their experience at GlenMyu Estate and their views on the food we serve.

We don’t say that we have the best food in Sri Lanka, but some of our guests do.

Snippets from our guests reviews

Here are some snippets from our reviews on Booking.com, Google and TripAdvisor.

Please have a look for yourself at the full reviews on the relevant sites.

Charlotte from the UK

(Booking,com) April 2024

“Some of the best food I’ve had the pleasure of eating ever (special shout to Ru’s coconut cake!)”

“The food was absolutely incredible! We never ate so deliciously during our entire vacation”.

Oleysa from Russia

(Booking.com) March 2024

Deimante – Belgium

(Google Review) April 2024

“Oh and the food! Great traditional food is made using ingredients from the garden”.

“All of the meals were outstandingly good using local fresh ingredients and produce”.

Barbara – UK

(TripAdvisor) March 2024

We don't want to be the best - we want everyone to deliver fabulous food in Sri Lanka

My wife and I ae not particularly competitive people. We love Sri Lanka and the smiles and stories that our guests relay when they arrive at GlenMyu Estate.

We love that they have had a great time and great food at other hotels and restaurants that they have stayed at before arriving here.

Sri Lankan food is delicious and we are really happy that it is getting more exposure from contestants in Masterchef. Both Brin Pirathapan and Savindri Perera have shone a light on Sri Lankan food in the 2024 series in the UK and Australia.

Find our more about what food we serve guests at GlenMyu Estate

As Ru lived in the UK for many years before returning to Sri Lanka and developing GlenMyu Estate, she likes to experiment with her dishes

You will find Egg Hoppers with a twist. Our Sri Lankan sharing platter includes a dish that it local to the area in the hill country

A Chicken Roast dinner - a reminder of back home

Although we do champion Sri Lankan food, we do have guests and residents in Sri Lanka that come to us for their traditional roast dinner.

Some tourists want to have something to remind them of home.

There are also lots of people from the UK living for part of the year in Sri Lanka. They have become regular visitors to sample Ru’s roast dinner. We also offer a plant based option for those that do not want to eat chicken.

An informal complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

The dream team of Ru and her mum offer a complimentary informal cooking demonstration when guests order our sharing platter.

It’s a fun and informative experience which is conducted at our outside kitchen (weather permitting!).

As you can hear in this video, there is a lot of laughter accompanying the demonstration.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy our Sri Lankan food offering.

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Best food in Sri Lanka Read More »

Masterchef creates an interest in Sri Lankan food

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Masterchef creates an interest in Sri Lankan food

Although we were really disappointed that Sav Perera left Masterchef, she, along with other contestants have created an interest in Sri Lankan food.

At GlenMyu Estate, we are lucky to already know what an amazing cuisine the country offers.
We truly believe that it should stand alongside other World food in reputation.

Our deepest thanks go out to Sav and Brin (UK Masterchef), for what they have done for the awareness of Sri Lankan food.

Masterchef Top 3 - an amazing achievement

10 Play AU’s website article “‘Intensely Proud Of Myself’: Sav Perera Leaves MasterChef With A Final Love Letter To Sri Lanka”

Savinda Perera made it to the top three in Australia Masterchef in July 2024 which is an amazing achievement.

Sav wanted to illustrate the bold flavours along with refinement and elegancy of the three-course meal for 20 diners and the judges.

“I knew it was going to be a chance to showcase all that Sri Lankan food could be”

Click on the button to read the article on 10 Play AU.

Sri Lankan success in Masterchef UK 2024

Another contestant with Sri Lankan heritage went further in 2024.

Brin Pirathapan, a veterinary surgeon whose love of cooking is inspired by his Sri Lankan heritage was crowned the 20th winner of BBC Masterchef in the UK.

Championing Sri Lankan food in Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate we love our guests experiencing Sri Lankan food.

Our Sri Lankan Sharing platter is a favourite with our guests as they get to sample a wide range of flavours.

Most of the dishes are vegetarian, aubergine curry (eggplant), dhal (lentil), potato, pumpkin and more.

Read our food reviews on Google, Booking.com and Airbnb to see what our guests say.

Our breakfasts are a fusion of Sri Lankan and Western style dishes. As Ru lived in the UK for 15 years, she knows how much spice to add for Western palettes.

A complimentary cookery demonstration by our own "Masterchef"

Ru’s mother has been cooking Sri Lankan food for over 50 years!

We offer a complimentary cooking demonstration for guests when they order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

The variety of dishes provide you with a good understanding of the breadth of Sri Lankan cooking.

Our guests find the informal cookery demonstration, interesting, informative and fun.

Ru conducts the demonstration in connection with her mum providing explanations and translation of what you are seeing and tasting.

You can see some of videos of the demonstration on our You Tube Channel or on Ru’s Recipes.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy delicious Sri Lankan food

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Masterchef creates an interest in Sri Lankan food Read More »

Vegan desserts - Cinnamon and Pineapple Sorbet

Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka

A Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka.

At GlenMyu Estate, Beragala, Sri Lanka we continue to develop our Vegan offerings to our guests.

Our menu is not fully Vegan, as we know that all of our guests are not ready for this.

However, as we increase the level of plant based dishes on our menu we find that more guests are selecting these options.

Our ice cream made without dairy and using unrefined sugar (locally sourced Kithul treacle) is becoming a favourite choice.

Inspired by Brin Pirathapan, the winner of UK Masterchef 2024, we are developing a new range of sorbets experimenting with great locally sourced ingredients.

Naturally plant based in Sri Lanka

We feel that we are already at an advantage in Sri Lanka when it comes to Vegan or Plant based food.

Sri Lanka has lots of Plant Based dishes in its’ normally repertoire of dishes.
You will find that lots of the staple Rice and Curries served on the island are vegan, vegetarian or plant based naturally.

We however suggest that you ask whether there is any meat, poultry or fish in the dishes that you order to avoid any hiccups!

GlenMyu Estate is based in the Sri Lanka hill country, just an hours drive from the tourist town of Ella.

Since we opened in 2022, GlenMyu Estate has continued to develop its’ Vegan friendly menu for our guests.

Fresh local ingredients ,make it easier.

This paradise island in the Indian Ocean provide a bounty of produce which makes it easier to provide plant based dishes for our guests.

The coconuts are amazing and are an important ingredient in lots of our dishes.

We are making more varieties of ice cream using coconut milk and our guests love it. Coconuts are sourced locally, some from our neighbours and scrape at least one coconut a day.

Plant based cakes

When our guests arrive in the early afternoon we like to offer them locally sourced organic tea along with a pice of cake.

Bibbikan is a traditional Sri Lankan coconut cake which is plant based. We also only use unrefined sugar making this guest favourite. Locally sourced Kithul Treacle makes this a special cake to enjoy at GlenMyu Estate.

Whats on the menu at GlenMyu Estate?

Our menus are changed and updated regularly.

For our current menu and prices please click on the following link.

Plant based breakfast options

From the local Sri Lankan rice porridge and healthy leaf drink to twists on Sri Lankan fusion dishes, breakfast is always enjoyable at GlenMyu Estate.

We make sure that our guests are set up for the day with a variety of dishes.

Some of our plant based starters and mains

Freshly made soups with homemade breads.

Delicious homemade pastas, Jackfruit dishes with the jackfruit picked from the trees next to the lawn and our sharing platter. Staying several days at GlenMyu Estate will not exhaust the choice of vegan and plant based dishes we have on our menu.

Sometimes you can accompany Ruwanthi in the garden to pick some of the produce that will be used in your meals.

Not just sorbet!

Desserts are an important part of being on holiday.

However, sometimes the only Vegan or Plant Based dessert options are just a sorbet!

We love sorbet and our Cinnamon and Pineapple sorbet is a favourite with guests but we have several other choices for you.

Catering for all our guests, whatever their dietary requirements,

It’s important for us at GlenMyu Estate to provide the best experience we can during their stay in Sri Lanka with us.

We do still offer some fish and chicken dishes on our menu to provide an alternative option.
What we do find, however, is that once our guests have tasted our Plant Based dishes, they are happy to have a meat free stay.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Vegan friendly hotel in Sri Lanka Read More »

The Best Places to Eat in Haputale, Sri Lanka

Food and Drink, Holiday, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

The Best Places to Eat in Haputale, Sri Lanka.

Where are the best places to eat on holiday in Sri Lanka when you are visiting Haputale?

Here are the best ones we could find.

As you are driving around Haputale, towards Beragala or Ella, you will see lots of signs for the Olive brand.

Olive appears to have tied up lots of the best spots in the area and they feature on our list.

We also have added Katu-K Roast Paan Cafe, which has recently opened.

Just look out for the bullock cart in front of a row of traditional shops on the road from Haputale to Beragala.

Our top four places to eat in and around Haputale.

Clearly these places are our favourites.

New places will open as the area provides more cafes and restaurants for hungry tourists and local Sri Lankans.

1. Katu-Ke Roast Paan Cafe

It’s new and the food is great.

When you are travelling from Beragala Junction you can’t miss a statue of a Bullock Cart on the left. It’s just over one kilometre from Beragala Junction on the A16.

Katu-Ke Cafe is one of the shops in the row behind the cart.

There is seating and shade which you may need on a good day.

The food is delicious and if you are on your way from Beragala towards Haputale it is worth stopping.

They even bake baguettes to order for collection at the cafe on the weekend. You will need to pre-order by contacting the cafe in advance. You can message them through their links on Instagram or call them on 00 94 (0) 750317373

Some of what Katu-Ke Cafe has to offer.

Katur-Ke Cafe is between Beragala and Haputale.

If you are heading towards Ella, Nuwara Eliya or Haputale it is easy to stop off as there is parking by the side of the road.

It’s also handy if you need something to eat after returning from Upper Diyaluma Waterfall.

2. Olive Viewpoint

The first of the Olive brand on our list.

Olives brand is the dominant present in Haputale and it’s surroundings.

The food is pretty consistent in any of their outlets and they have some great spots with wonderful views.

Olive Viewpoint is outside Haputale on the way towards Beragala on the A16.

It has a great view towards the south of the country over age tea estates.

Find Olive Viewpoint here.

Travelling from Haputale town towards Beragala you will find Olive Viewpoint on the left hand side of the road.

3. Olives Lettuce & Cabbage

Olives Lettuce and Cabbage is on the road from Haputale Railway Station.

It has a great view of the railway line and the hustle and bustle of Haputale.

This place is very convenient if you are really hungry after you get off the train.

It has a license so you can have a drink with your meal.

Find Lettuce & Cabbage here.

As you exit the train station at Haputale, walk towards the railway crossing.

Before you reach there you will se a row of shops on the left hand side. Look up, and you will see the Lettuce & Cabbage signboard.

4. Olives City Centre

Olives City Centre (spelt Center) is located on the main Haputale Road.

It is a modern looking building and has a good view of the hills below.

The Best Places to Eat in Haputale, Sri Lanka Read More »

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 – Brin Pirathapan

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 - Brin Pirathapan

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 is Brin Pirathapan who is a vet whose cooking was inspired by his Sri Lankan Heritage.

Congratulations to Brin!

We hope that Brings success will promote Sri Lankan food to the place where it deserves to be!

BBC Masterchef, announced on the BBC

You can read the announcement on the BBC website by clicking on the following link.

"The best final we’ve ever done.”

Judge John Torode told the finalists: “Twenty years we’ve been doing MasterChef. That is the best final we’ve ever done.”

Read about the final at the article in the Independent.

Sri Lankan restaurants are likely to get busy.

We fully expect that people will start to explore the amazing Sri Lankan cuisine and will be seeking out restaurants.

Rambutan is based in London’s Borough Market.

It’s a place that we have tried ourselves and we would highly recommend it.

Book a table early though, it’s aleady a busy spot.

Free informal Sri Lankan cooking demonstrations at GlenMyu Estate.

One of the things that lots of our guests love is the informal cooking demonstrations that we offer when you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

Ru and her mother guide our guests through cooking delicious Sri Lankan food.

We have slowly been putting videos of our cooking demonstration on Ru’s Recipes so you can see what we do.

You can see our food menu at GlenMyu Estate to see the types of dishes we make.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

BBC Masterchef Winner 2024 – Brin Pirathapan Read More »

Freshly Baked Bread in the Morning

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Freshly Baked Bread in the morning.

One of the special things about staying at GlenMyu Estate on you holiday in Sri Lanka.

Our guests love it.

Ru and the team get up early and make a variety of breads, rolls and sweet buns to tempt you put of bed in the morning.

Something to look forward to on holiday

We find that our guests at GlenMyu Estate really look forward to a relaxing and lazy breakfast.

It’s important to Ru and the team that you get a nutritious start to the day.

If you plan to go out and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country you will be expending a bit of energy. There is nothing better to start you on your way with a great filling breakfast which will give you the energy to tackle your walk.

After eating a healthy and heart breakfast you can probably skip lunch and look forward to a delicious dinner in the evening.

What type of breads do we make and serve?

Sri Lankan Roast Paan (curry bread)

This bread is great for dipping into sauces and therefore is known as a curry bread.

We also serve roast paan with some of our evening meals as it’s great to dip into the sauces for our Chilli & Garlic Prawns or Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce dishes.

Baguettes

Although we are limited on the varieties of flour that we can purchase in Sri Lanka we do make a good quality baguette.

Brioche – our version

One of the things that our French and German guest really enjoy is the brioche that we make at GlenMyu Estate. I love it when I see a French guest dip the brioche into their cup of Sri Lankan coffee.

Rolls and rolls

We make a variety of rolls for breakfast, some with wholemeal flour, some mixed or white baps.

Different days, different breads

It’s great if you are staying two days or more as Ru changes what types of bread she makes each day.

Other breads for other meals

Ru and the team also make ciabatta and focaccia which accompany some of the meals on our dinner menu.

It would not be right to serve an Italian style bread with our homemade Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli or our Mushroom Risotto.

You can see our current food menu by clicking the following link.

What about Sourdough?

Ru does make a sourdough bread occasionally.

If we know a guest has some dietary restrictions and we have enough notice ahead of time we have made sourdough rolls and loafs for our guests.

It's not all about the breads.....but

A stay at GlenMyu Estate is not all about the food we serve, however it’s a really important part of your stay.

If you read our reviews on Google, Booking.com and Airbnb you will regularly see Ru being complimented on her food.

Here is a taste! of what our guests say.

Oh and the food! Great traditional food is made using ingredients from the garden

The smell of fresh baked bread in the morning was enough to get us out of bed, and we looked forward to every evening meal, with ingredients straight from the garden.

the food was seriously divine (I’m still dreaming of the cinnamon scrolls

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, enjoy the food and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Freshly Baked Bread in the Morning Read More »

Read our food reviews

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Traditional British Sunday Dinner, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

GlenMyu Estate food reviews. read what our guests say.

Read our food reviews.

We are extremely proud of what our guests write about the food that we serve at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka.

Not comfortable in accepting praise

Like may people we are a little bit shy about receiving praise from people. For me it’s probably a trait from being brought up in the UK.

However, for my wife I think that it’s because Sri Lankans are naturally a little bit shy.

We love what we do

Both my wife and I are not from a hospitality background. Creating GlenMyu Estate was a change in career at the right time of life for us.

We didn’t know whether we would like the hospitality industry. Sri Lanka went through lots of difficulties when we were building the accommodation and creating the garden. Beregala was not an established tourist location as most people just stay in Ella.

It turns out that we love what we do and the guests that come love it here also.

We have tried to create an atmosphere where you feel that you are staying with friends and not in a formal hotel or B & B.

We are happy to share

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy to share what we do. We have had lots of requests for recipes, videos of cooking and even a cookbook.

We provide a complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Our guests find this an enjoyable experience and try to make some dishes when they return home from their holiday.

Using locally sourced ingredients

At GlenMyu Estate we try to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and spices on the five acre estate.

We do buy fish (after all we live on a small island) and chicken, however most of our dishes are plant based.

The ingredients are sourced locally from the estate or from Beragala, Haldumulla, Haputale or Bandarawela.

Supporting local suppliers

Although self sufficiency was a dream for us we realised that we need to support the local community and merchants. We didn’t think that it would be very neighbourly coming to a community and not supporting them by buying some of their produce.

Nevertheless, we were not in a position to meet the demands of production from the estate when GlenMyu Estate is busy with guests.

We are also very new to growing the variety of produce at GlenMyu Estate and we know that it will take several years before we get it right.

So, what do the guests at GlenMyu Estate say about the food?

As we are still a little bit bashful, here are some extracts of what our guests have written in their Google, Booking.com, Airbnb and Tripadvisor reviews.

Some of the best food I've had the pleasure of eating ever (special shout to Ru's coconut cake!).

The hosts were delightful and the food was exceptional!

The food was absolutely incredible! We never ate so deliciously during our entire vacation. Homemade bread and rolls are a delight. My daughter cried when we left.

Ruawanti is a very good cook who spoils their guests with Sri Lankan delicacies. Dinner is individually cooked to the guests' preferences.

Ru’s cooking was to die for. The smell of fresh baked bread in the morning was enough to get us out of bed, and we looked forward to every evening meal, with ingredients straight from the garden

The food that Ruwanthi cooked was the best Sri Lankan food we had throughout our trip and a fraction of what we paid for other meals we had.

It makes us so proud!

We are so proud of what we have created at GlenMyu Estate and are also humbled at what people say.

It’s all about teamwork, of course, and we are supported by staff in the kitchen and who work on the gardens around the estate.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the food that we serve

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and enjoy the meals that we offer to our guests.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Read our food reviews Read More »

Sri Lankan contestants in UK Masterchef

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Sri Lankan contestants in UK Mastechef

Sri Lanka is being represented by some of the the contestants in UK Masterchef 2024.

I’m sure that British born Brin and Sri Lankan born Mathu, will be followed and supported from Sri Lankans around the world in their quests to become UK Masterchef 2024.

Brin has Tamil Sri Lankan heritage and this has influenced the food that he loves to eat and recreate.

We are looking forward to seeing what Brin serves up to the judges on this favourite UK TV series.

Heat 1 - Brin, the veterinarian

Brin, a veterinary surgeon, grew up in Chelmsford and now is located in Bristol.

Find out more about UK Masterchef 2024 by clicking the link to the BBC website.

You can read more about all the contestants on BBC Masterchef by clicking the following link.

Heat 4 - Mathu - A Sri Lankan born Brit competes in UK MasterChef 2024.

A Sri Lankan born Brit is competing in the fourth heat of MasterChef 2024

Mathu grew up in Sri Lanka and then Toronto, Canada.

She now lives in London and works as a Head of Charity Investments.

Read the Colombo Gazette article by clicking on the following link.

Previous contestants on Masterchef with Sri Lankan heritage

Masterchef does not just take place in the UK. Australia and the US both have their own versions of the show.

There have been several chefs competing in the shows with Sri Lankan connections.

Ray Silva appeared on MasterChef Australia 2017 and made it to the top 24

Minoli De Silva wowed the judges with many Sri Lankan inspired dishes, while making her way towards the top 10 finalists of MasterChef Australia 2021.

Georgia was the winner of Junior Masterchef Australia 2020

Dhayanie ‘Dee’ Williams was first, Sri Lankan female contestant at MasterChef Australia,

Kumar Pereira made it to the top 12 of MasterChef Australia season 3,.

Sri Lankan – American, Jessica Heath is a top 40 contestant on MasterChef USA Season 8,

Samantha Rochelle De Silva participated in the 3rd season of MasterChef USA in 2012. She was ranked in 18th place.

Malin De Silva was a semi-finalist in the 2019 series of BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals

A free cooking demonstration at GlenMyu Estate

If you are interested in Sri Lankan cooking when holiday in the Sri Lankan hill country look no further than GlenMyu Estate.

Ru and the team offer a free cooking demonstration, when you order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

We normally prepare 5-6 vegetarian dishes from local ingredients.

Lots of our guests have taken notes and tried the recipes at home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Join in with the free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration hosted by Ru and her mother.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Sri Lankan contestants in UK Masterchef Read More »

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka

Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Koslanda, Waterfalls / By Mikeez

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka.

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka. The British TV presenter, actor journeyed to the paradise isle of the Indian Ocean in a 2023 documentary.

IMDb provide a summary of each of the 3 episodes.

Alexander Armstrong visits the former Dutch Port of Galle, the cultural city of Kandy and also Tamil country.

Watch the trailer for the series here.

You can read a review of the programme from the Daily Mail by clicking the link here.

If you have a Sky subscription you can watch the programmes by clicking the link here.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and experience Sri Lanka.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Alexander Armstrong in Sri Lanka Read More »

Amazing Hotels in Sri Lanka. Ceylon tea Trails

Accommodation, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Mini Adam's Peak, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka / By Mikeez

Amazing Hotels in Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Tea Trails -Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder venture in the Highlands of Sri Lanka in a BBC documentary.

The BBC documentary series; Amazing Hotels – Life Behind the Lobby, was initially aired in September 2023 according to the IMDB website.

It stars Monica Galetti and Rob (Robert Rinder).

Monica is a Masterchef Judge, Amazing Hotels presenter, author and chef owner of Mere Restaurant and Bar.

Judge Rob Rinder is a broadcaster, columnist, barrister, former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and author. He had his own TV show Judge Rinder.

Growing tourist numbers

The documentary came to my notice when an old colleague of mine mentioned that it had been aired in Ireland in March 2024.

Sri Lanka is already seeing a surge in tourism numbers. The airing of this documentary is expected to highlight the island as a great place to go on holiday.

Tourist numbers for December 2023 to February 2024 doubled each month compared to the previous year.

The country welcomed just over 200,000 visitors per month. There is a peak tourist season in Sri Lanka from December to the start of April. This is when travellers want to escape the northern hemisphere winter. However, the country is now being marketed as an all year round destination. The Eastern and Northern Coasts, along with the Central Hills, are good to visit when the monsoon hots the South and West of the island.

You can track the tourist arrivals at the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority website.

Ceylon Tea Trails

You can see the details of the colonial bungalows that Monica and Rob visited by clicking in the link to the Resplendent Ceylon website.

The concept was created by the Fernando family who are Sri Lankan tea producers and the founders of Dilmah Ceylon Tea.

Most of the bungalows are located near to Hatton which is ideal for getting to Adam’s Peak. The overnight pilgrimage season is between December and May annually.

At the time of the documentary release in the UK there was lots of press in Sri Lanka and abroad about the celebrities time on the island.

The Central Hills of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has an amazing offering of hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast along with homestay providing a wide range of experiences.

At GlenMyu Estate we have had several guests who have visited Haputale and Ella after completing their Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) hike. The temperatures in the hill country can be cooler, and a bit of a relief from the highs around the island.

Inspiration to go on an adventure

Sri Lanka appears to be rising on wish lists of places to visit.

We, at GlenMyu Estate, have found that more Australians are finding us. There are also many more europeans outside the regular French, German and British visitors.

What we love is that when the guests arrive at GlenMyu Estate, they have already had an incredible experience as they have travelled around the island.

The welcome that they have received from local people, the wonderful sights they have seen make us thankful to be able to live in Sri Lanka.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Amazing Hotels in Sri Lanka. Ceylon tea Trails Read More »

A High Performance Holiday

Birdwatching, Food and Drink, Hiking in Sri Lanka, Holiday, Natural Swimming Pool, Our Animals at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

A High Performance Holiday?

The title of one of my regular podcasts intrigued me. Here’s what I learnt from The High Performance Podcast.

I listen to lots of podcasts

One of my pastimes in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate, in between visitors, is to listen to podcasts.

Some are educational, some are for my mental health and others are just for fun.

A recommendation from a guest

One of our guests and I were chatting about podcasts. He runs a successful business in Colombo and continues his business education with a mentor.
The mentor suggested that he listen to The High Performance Podcast.

This was a podcast that was not in my list of regular listening. The guest liked the podcast as there were lots of interviews with renowned and successful sportspeople, amongst others.
As the guest was interested in a range of sports there was a motivation to listen regularly to this podcast.

The High Performance Podcast

This podcast is hosted by Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes.

Jake is a former television presenter. He stepped away from presenting sports to concentrate on the High Performance Podcast.

Damian is a Professor of Psychology and Change. He has written several books and is a keynote speaker.

They aim to “turn the lived experiences of the planet’s highest performers into your life lessons”.

A High Performance Holiday

A High Performance Holiday.

This is a catchy and intriguing title is important to capture ones interest and it worked with me.

The shocking statistics around the British holidaying public

A British Airways Survey for YouGov revealed that “survey reveals 50% of UK working adults do not take their full annual leave allocation”.

Amazingly ” a third of working Brits (36%) who did not take their full annual leave said it was because they ‘just didn’t get around to it”.

And “42% confessed that they have felt stressed about work whilst on holiday”.

Do you check your work emails when you are on holiday?

Yes lots of people do!

The survey revealed that “48% have checked work emails whilst away and more than a third (39%) have gone one step further and responded“.

Taking your leave is good for you

A 40-year study by the European Society of Cardiology revealed that taking a holiday could help people live longer.

At the ESC Congress in Munich, Germany (28 Aug 2018), Professor Strandberg said: “The harm caused by the intensive lifestyle regime was concentrated in a subgroup of men with shorter yearly vacation time. In our study, men with shorter vacations worked more and slept less than those who took longer vacations. This stressful lifestyle may have overruled any benefit of the intervention. We think the intervention itself may also have had an adverse psychological effect on these men by adding stress to their lives.”

The dangers of presenteeism

Feeling that you always have to be present at work, always connected and available is dangerous in the form of stress and burnout.

Whoop (the Health Monitor Band company) employees are rewarded for getting adequate sleep and rest. What a great idea.

Always working on holiday?

They realise that fully shutting off from work is not always possible. Sometimes a compromise is required. Jake has an agreement with his wife that his work phone is locked in a safe all day and in the evening he is allowed 10 -15 minutes to pick up work calls and e-mails.

Joe Wicks has a technique where he takes time out as “mini retirements” where he takes on less work and is present with his family and friends. This was a result of hearing a phrase “don’t wait until you are older to retire, have mini retirements every year”.

The main elements required for a High Performance Holiday

A second phone

Dr Peter Atia gave Damian and idea to have a sequin phone so that he could turn off.

What a great idea! (apart from the potential landfill question when phones are at the end of their lives).

Having a phone that is only used for personal and family matters can allow you to switch off from the office. If it does not have WhatsApp, Email and job related accessibility, it can just be used for family photos and family calls.

The value of getting new ideas and energy

Alex Scott loves to travel. She gets her education and learning about life from travelling around the world, learning about different cultures and meeting people.

She says that it gives her so much energy and makes her fell alive.

Prioritising going on holiday.

Getting the team to take full responsibility when you are away.

It’s sometimes hard to delegate but it can be really good for your team. If you can get your team on board that when a colleague is on holiday they will not be contacted under any circumstances it will be good for both you and your workmates.

Show me your calendar

Shane Pariss did an exercise with Jake where he asked him what are the most important things in his life?

Jake replied “his children, his wife and finding some time for himself”.

Shane then asked him to show him his diary and he would show Jake his priorities!

Tips on how to have a High Performance Holiday

Jake and Damian provide a few tips on how to have a High Performance Holiday.

Delete all, your work apps (or lock your phone up or get a non work phone).

Plan your holiday well in advance.

Create a boundary in the office where no-one is contacted whilst on holiday.

Keep away from tech when you are on holiday

Be where your feet are – make sure you are fully there and connected in the moment when you are away.

Have some downtime between activities – holidays should not be totally organised.

Remember why you are going on holiday.

Can GlenMyu Estate provide elements of a High Performance Holiday?

There are elements that allow our guests to have a high performance holiday when they are at GlenMyu Estate.

Although we do provide free Wi Fi for our guests we find that it is not used very much when they are here on holiday. The environment appears be right for people to switch off and appreciate the environment and enjoy nature.

I love it when I see guests sitting on the sofas in our lounge reading a book or just watching the clouds.

Walking around the estate or spending time at the swimming pool is a good form of exercise bot physically and mentally. The opportunity to listen to the bird song, watch our ducks in the stream or pet our dogs are simple things in life away from all the tech back home.

We find that our guests really do switch off

Although lots of our guests do explore the wonderful sights in the hill country, many change their plans and just spend time on the estate to relax.

Watching guests pick up a pencil and start drawing on a notepad, playing badminton as a family or swimming in our pool is a good use of their downtime.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and switch off

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

We find that our guests really do switch off.

A High Performance Holiday Read More »

We are excited – Veganuary 2024 is here.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

We are excited - Veganuary 2024 is here.

We are excited – Veganuary 2024 is here.

Are you going to participate?
You don’t have to eat Vegan food for the whole of January.

Veganuary is all about encouraging people worldwide to try vegan for January and beyond.

Veganuary 2024 is here. What's the risk of dipping your toe into Veganuary?

You never know, you may (and probably) will really like what you eat. Plant Based meals have really come on in recent years. There are even lots of Michelin Star Vegan Restaurants around the world.

Veganuary 2024 is here. What should I participate?

By moving towards a more plant-based diet your will:

Help protect the environment.
Prevent animal suffering.
Improve your health.

Good for you, the animals and the environment.

Start your year off with some positive things.

It’s easy to try a plant based diet – there are lots of options for you to choose.

More restaurants offer a plant base option.
There are many more plant based restaurants to visit.
Your supermarket had plenty of Vegan and plant based meals for you to try.

It's easy to try Plant Based food at GlenMyu Estate - it's delicious!

As we can get some great local produce at GlenMyu Estate we have developed and continue adding to our Plant Based Menu.

We even offer a free Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.
The event is run by Ru’s mum and we find our guests really enjoy the experience. You can see how the dishes are made and try them at home for yourself.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate. Try our plant based menu and explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

We are excited – Veganuary 2024 is here. Read More »

Favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Our guests' favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

Our guests’ favourite meal in Sri Lanka?

I think that this is our guests’ favourite meal in Sri Lanka. There are lots of dishes that we prepare for guests at GlenMyu Estate that we hear sounds of delight and praise.

The food is great. It is mainly prepared with the most local fresh ingredients that we can source. As a result, many of our dishes fall within the plant based, vegetarian and vegan categories.

What is our guests' favourite meal in Sri Lanka?

Well, I think that it is our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

There are lots of reasons why I think that it our guests’ favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

Some of our guests may disagree, as there are so many meals that Ru and the team create that are delicious.

However, maybe I’m a little biased, as I love our Sri Lankan sharing platter so much that I limit how often I eat it!

Why is it our guests' favourite meal in Sri Lanka.

There are several factors that make our Sri Lankan sharing platter special for our guests.

One of the main reasons is the memory you get from the whole experience.

Normally when we prepare the dishes, Ru’s mother offers a free Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

Ru’s mum has been cooking for so many years that it’s hard to count. Her husband loves her food and that has been one major joy in their relationship. It’s funny when I ask Ru’s father “How was your lunch?” when someone other than his wife was the chef. The normal response is “It’s okay”.

This is not the most positive response!

In the past when Ru has cooked for him, he has been known to say “Ask your mother how you should cook this”.

I have found that there is little tact and diplomacy in Sri Lanka in these matters and straight talking in the norm!

An entertaining afternoon.

Ru’s mums’ Sri Lankan cooking demonstration normally starts around 4.30 p.m.

The other staff help out by preparing some of the ingredients including chopping the vegetables, preparing the coconut milk and grinding the kollu.

The cooking demonstration adds to the experience.

By participating in the Sri Lankan cookery demonstration (yes you may get your hands dirty!) it adds to the overall experience.

Seeing how your food is prepared and cooked before being delivered to the table appears to add to the flavour of the dishes. I think that guests feel part of the experience.

By the way, the Sri Lankan sharing platter is delicious.

Ru’s mum is really a great Sri Lankan cook. The years of experience come out in the dishes she prepares. Not only are the dishes great tasting, they are also a balanced meal providing you with protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.

There is no meat or fish in our Sri Lankan sharing platter unless you want something on the side) and it is enjoyed by both meat and non meat eaters.
The range of flavours and textures in the dishes means that you replay don’t need any meat or fish with this meal.

It is served with either rice or paratha and you will definitely leave the table full!

Make your own mind up!

Perhaps you will disagree with me and your favourite meal in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate will differ from mine.

We hope to see you in Sri Lanka and have the opportunity to let us know.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy delicious food when you are on holiday.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Favourite meal in Sri Lanka. Read More »

Veganuary is Coming!

Food and Drink, Holiday, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Veganuary is Coming!

Veganuary is Coming!

The launch of the registration for Veganuary 2024 opened on the 7th December 2023.
Are you going to join in?

Perhaps you have your Christmas dinner and are working your way through those turkey sandwiches? Meat, meat and more meat is one of my recollections of the festive period.

I used to get to the stage where I didn’t really want anymore and I was feeling quite unhealthy.
My thoughts turned to healthy vegetables and salads to get my body back in balance.

However, living in the UK, the range of vegetables around the winter period were mainly heavy root vegetables. Some I like and some I don’t. Although I know they are good for you, just ask my wife my reluctance to allow beetroot, cauliflower or cabbage anywhere near my mouth. (apart from coleslaw of course!).

The temporary enthusiasm for a more vegetarian diet quickly disappeared from my mind.

That was then and this is now.

If I was still living in the UK life would be a little different.

The choice of vegan, vegetarian and plant based restaurants to eat was not there when I left seven years ago.
Supermarkets now have a large rang of plant based meals on offer made by good producers such as Bosh.
There are cookbooks such as:
Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan by Richard Makin
Plant-Based India by Dr Sheil Shukla
Whole Food Cooking Every Day by Amy Chaplin
East by Meera Sodha
The New Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone by Deborah Madison
Mildred’s Vegan Cookbook

Flavour by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage

If celebrity chefs are in the bandwagon then......

It was a little bit of a surprise that Gordon Ramsay was cooking vegan dishes. I guess he has to cater for everyone in his restaurant empire!

Here is Jamie Oliver with just some of the plant based recipes for some British classic dishes.

An easy change to a more weighted plant based diet in Sri Lanka.

When we started GlenMyu Estate we quickly realised that the good quality ingredients that we sourced were much more suited to a vegetarian or vegan menu.
My wide also loves to experiment with the produce we can source and try different types of dishes.

It’s easy to mainly eat a plant based diet as there are many dishes that are mainly made from a vegetarian base.

I do still eat some fish and chicken however, if I have the option I will opt for mushrooms, tofu or our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Veganuary is coming! It's easier at GlenMyu Estate!

So, it’s easy at GlenMyu Estate to join in with Veganuary.

The dishes are delicious and varied. being in the tropics, we have a wider variety of fruits, vegetables and spices available to make the dishes at this time on year.

Veganuary is coming. Dip your toes in!

If you are nervous about trying some plant based food then we would welcome you to book a stay at GlenMyu Estate and try some of the dishes that Ru and the team makes.
You may find this a pleasant surprise!

Try our Vegan food when you stay at GlenMyu Estate.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Veganuary is Coming! Read More »

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

Amma’s Sri Lankan Cooking Demo Photos and Videos

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demo Photos and Videos.

Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration photos and videos.

Our guests love Amma’s Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

We thought you would like to get a taste of what happens at the demonstration by sharing some photos and videos of the event.

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

Here is a selection of photos with Amma and our guests participating in Amma’s Sri Lankan cookery demonstration.

You will see that sometimes the demonstration takes place inside and at our outside kitchens. The venue is all weather dependent and both are unique expediences.

Amma's Sri Lankan cookery demonstration Videos.

Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration photos and videos

The videos appear on our two Youtube Channels.

Please subscribe to Ru’s Recipes and GlenMyu Estate Youtube channels so you don’t miss new content that we share.

You will also be able to see our Youtube shorts on these channels.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Amma’s Sri Lankan Cooking Demo Photos and Videos Read More »

Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Amma's Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration is free when our guests at GlenMyu Estate order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

50 years + experience of Sri Lankan cooking!

Amma is Ru’s mum.

Ru’s mum and dad live at GlenMyu Estate and have their own house as you enter the property.

She loves gardening, cares for our rescue dogs and loves cooking Sri Lankan food.

Our guests love Amma's Sri Lankan cooking demonstration.

After a day out exploring the Sri Lankan Hill Country, sitting with a drink and watching Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration is a great experience.

It’s a relaxing way to end the day. I enjoy listening to great conversations and stories being shared by our guests.

Amma is quite entertaining, which adds to the experience.

What's in the platter?

The dishes vary a little depending upon what’s available, however there are some items that are always on the menu.

Jackfruit Curry
Aubergine Curry
Kollu
Mallum

It often comes with Potatoes in coconut milk, Plantain Curry, Banana Flower Curry or Devilled Potatoes.

Rice or Paratha?

I love eating the Amma’s Sri Lanka sharing platter with paratha.
The crispy flatbread is perfect for dipping into the curries. I may get my fingers a little messy, but it’s worth not for the taste.

The Sri Lankan sharing platter also goes well with rice.
These options makes the platter versatile and good for Vegans, Vegetarians, Plant Based and guests with Gluten intolerance.

The food tastes better when you have seen it being prepared and cooked.

The experience of eating what you have watched being cooked in Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration makes the dishes taste even better.

Knowing what ingredients went into your meal provides you with a connection to the dishes.

Ru’s mother always looks for feedback the next morning and she is delighted when guests enjoy the food and the experience.

Great for Plant Based,Vegan and Vegetarian diets.

It’s reasonably easy to eat plant based, vegan and vegetarian diets in Sri Lanka as many of the local dishes are naturally prepared with vegetables and grains.

It’s often a surprising pleasure for our guests when they eat this non meat platter and are amazed at the variety of flavours.

We often hear comments that you don’t miss having meat as part of the meal. Protein is delivered mainly by the Kollu and the meal is a good balance of nutrition.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy delicious food.

We have had great feedback on the food the Ru, her mother and the team serve at GlenMyu Estate. Please read our reviews, which regularly mention how much our guests enjoy the food they eat here.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Amma’s Sri Lankan cooking demonstration Read More »

Is Sri Lanka Worth Visiting?

Accommodation, Cookery Courses, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel / By Mikeez

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?

Here’s why we think you should visit this paradise island before it reaches its’ target of 5 million tourists.

Sri Lanka offers something for everyone.

Sri Lanka offers a wide variety of experiences for you to enjoy on holiday.

Whether you love the beach, history, culture, hiking, animals or nature it packs in a lot for a small island (similar in size to Ireland).

If you are after nightlife then stopping in Colombo, Galle, Kandy or Ella should keep you entertained.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting? It is for the variety of what's on offer.

Backpacking, climbing mountains, river rafting, whale watching, riding a zip wire and wave boarding are all on offer to get your heart racing.

Tranquil walks through nature and birdwatching tours. Yoga & meditation retreats and remote glamping are available for those who want a quieter time to work on ones soul.

Tourist numbers are going up.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?

We would recommend that you visit sooner than later.

The Tourist Board in Sri Lanka has a plan to increase tourist numbers from under 2 million to 5 million by 2029.

We hope that the country will not get to a level where it needs to restrict numbers. We don’t want to be like Barcelona, The Sechelles, Bhutan, Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, The Forbidden City and Lord Howe Island.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?It packs a big punch for a small island.

Sri Lanka is 65,610 sq. km. in area which compares with the Republic of Ireland which is 70,273 sq. km.

The road network has been improved in more recent years however, it does take longer than anticipated to get around. We have lots of German guests at GlenMyu Estate who are used to flying down the autobahn. They are surprised when the same distance covered Sri Lanka can take three or fours times the time to complete. However, Sri Lanka is all about the journey and enjoying what you see on the way.

The variety of experiences and what you will see makes the time you spend on this paradise island worth it.

Come at different times of the year.

The country is now marketing itself as an all year round destination and a place where you will visit again and again.

Monsoons hit the North West and South East of the island at different times of the year.
This opens up parts of the island which are best to see in particular months.

The high tourist season has been during the Northern Hemisphere winter during December to March. The South and East of the country are monsoon free and getting a tan when others are shivering at home is an attractive proposition.

The North and the East.

The North and the East coasts are best seen during April or May to September when lots of European tourists are in the Mediterranean seeking the sun.

This part of the country has only been open in more recent years as it was not a place you could visit due to the civil war which ended in May 2009.

Investment in tourism has started in the North and East. Guests that have stayed with us at GlenMyu Estate have advised to go now, before it gets too busy.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting? Different months, different places to explore.

You can experience the Sri Lankan Hill country for most months in the year.

In October the island is hit by the inter Monsoon and you would need to have good luck during that month to get some rain free days.
Climate change looks like it is changing the weather patterns in Sri Lanka, so there is no guarantee that you will be basking in the sun.

Recent guests from Australia stayed at GlenMyu Estate during the tail of the Inter monsoon and had a spectacular sunrise at Lipton’s Seat. You can read about their experience on our blog post “Sri Lanka’s most beautiful place”.

So, holidaying in Sri Lanka can pose a bit of a risk however you may win by by being derived a unique experience.

Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?- Summary

We would say that Sri Lanka is definitely worth visiting.

From our experience every one of our guests have loved their holiday in Sri Lanka. They are amazed by the people, what they see and the food that they eat around this small island.

Come over and experience this gem before it gets too busy.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Is Sri Lanka Worth Visiting? Read More »

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka.

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka.

This year we have guests from Germany and Scandinavia staying at GlenMyu for Christmas.

Here is what we are planning to do for our guests.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - Decorating the house.

As we have an artificial Christmas Tree, we make some of our decorations from natural materials sourced from the estate.

All our workers, whatever their faith, participate in making the decorations. This provides a sense of community and a break from their day to day roles.

Ru's Mother makes some decorations.

Apart from being an excellent Sri Lankan cook, Ru’s mother is also a seamstress.

She has made some decorations for the house which are quite cute.

Sri Lanka is a multi faith country. Although Ru’s mum is Buddhist, like many other local people, she is happy to contribute to the festivities.

It would be normal in Sri Lanka for Buddhists and Hindus to visit each others temples in times of celebration. Many Sri Lankan Buddhists do a pilgrimage to Kataragama Hindu Temple.

There are often Hindu Kovils attached to Buddhist Temples as well.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - Decide on a menu.

Ru has been thinking about what she will serve to the guests.

As one of the parties are arriving several days before the big event, she will canvass the guests before making a final decision.

We normally serve only Chicken or Fish dishes at GlenMyu Estate. This is because we are limited on what good produce we can source locally.
A goose, turkey, ham or beef would be an exorbitant price as it is mainly imported.

We don’t see the benefit of serving ingredients that guests can buy better quality at home. They can ensure it is organic and costs a reasonable price. This is also the reason why we recommend that guests bring some wine with them. Sri Lanka doesn’t produce wine and therefore it is an expensive import.

At GlenMyu Estate we are getting a reputation for our Roast Chicken Dinner.
This is especially enjoyed by British Expats who reside in Sri Lanka.

I guess what we will serve will be a variation of this dish with some additional festive trimmings.

We were able to source Christmas Crackers and we can play some Christmas Tunes so there will be some feeling of the festive season in the tropics.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - The 24th or 25th December?

One of our German neighbours advised that Christmas is celebrated on the 24th December by both Germans and Scandinavians.

We had only experienced a Christmas in the UK where it is celebrated on the 25th December.

As we have guests on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it looks like we will be celebrating twice.

I must admit I won’t mind – two Christmas Dinners in two days for me!
It looks like I will be swimming twice a day in the swimming pool at GlenMyu Estate to burn off those extra calories!

A plant based Christmas?

Our food menu at GlenMyu Estate is mainly Plant Based as we can source good ingredients to make these dishes locally.

As mentioned we do serve some fish and chicken dishes too.

Ru has been researching Plant Based Festive Dishes. We would hope to be in a position to offer this to guests for Christmas 2024.

I’m looking forward to being the test dummy for the dishes (looks like more lengths in the swimming pool for me).

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka - an update will follow.

When the event has conclude, I will provide a pictorial update on what we did for our European Christmas in Sri Lanka.

I will also let you know what Ru served to our guests for their Christmas Dinner.

In the meantime, we at GlenMyu Estate, wish you the compliments of the season.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and enjoy the Festive Season.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

A European Christmas in Sri Lanka. Read More »

Ru' Sri Lankan Egg Hoppers with a twist.

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling

Cookery Courses, Holiday, Life in Sri Lanka, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling.

5 reasons trying new food is the best part of travelling.

We all love traveling. There’s so many good elements to that two-week break and it’s good for your heart and soul.
Some of the benefits are:

Sight-seeing
Meeting new people
Exploring new places.
Getting away from everyday life at home.
Resting and reenergising.

and let’s not forget about the endless amounts of Instagram posts.

But the best part of all is the food.

Different countries of the world have so many new flavours and dishes that you would not come across at home. It’s unlikely that you would try these dishes at home and travelling gives you the inspiration to get out of your comfort zone.

It’s probably not the main thing that you research before you go on holiday and the beauty is getting out of your comfort zone a trying new tastes.

We find that our guests at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka are really open to trying new dishes that Ru serves. The delight and discussion about the new flavours are music to our ears.

Here are why we think that food is the best aspect of traveling.

1. You Discover Foods You Have NotTried Before.

There are so many dishes in other countries that you would never try if you do not traveled outside you own country. And my what would you have missed if you didn’t sample some of these amazing flavours!

Traveling somewhere new provides you with the opportunity to opens your eyes and your taste buds to a new world of flavour.

In Sri Lanka, even eating local Mangos, Papaya and Avocados (which have not done those food miles) are a discovery. At GlenMyu Estate we have experienced guests’ joy at eating something that tasted different in their home country.

Fresh coconut juice from a King Coconut is delicious and good for you.

Sri Lankan food is favoured with lots of different spices that are grown on the island. If you pop into a supermarket you will see that there is only a limited range of groceries on offer.

As a result Sri Lankans use very little processed food and favour locally grown fresh ingredients.

Even on a small island like Sri Lanka, there are regional variations of the way food in prepared, the ingredients used and how it is served. So on your holiday in Sri Lanka you will experience different flavours around as you travel.

2. You Will Experience Foods You Eat at Home in a New Way.

While you will discover completely new foods when you visit a foreign country, you will also be able to try food you’ve eaten many times before at home. However, you will probably discover a completely new flavour in it.

There’s nothing like eating pizza or pasta in Italy. Or they say that Guinness tastes different in Ireland.

It makes sense that when foodstuff has to travel it will lose its’ freshness. Some food is sprayed with chemicals to preserve it or make sure it does not ripen quickly before it ends up on the supermarket shelves.

Foods local in other countries have so much more flavour because they are authentic and have not been adjusted for a foreign market. They are also fresher and the cooks and chefs are used to preparing dishes with the locally grown ingredients.

3. A Country’s Food Tells You So Much About Their Culture.

Your guide book will give you an insight into the local culture, however, getting into a kitchen or sampling local food will tell you much more.

We have lots of guests that visit GlenMyu Estate that have seen cows in fields and on the roads as they have travelled around the island.

They are surprised when we tell them that Sri Lanka was not historically a culture that used milk. You can imagine, if a farmer milked a cow, years ago they had no way of keeping it cool in the tropics.

So butter, milk and cheese are not products that are used in many of the local recipes. Coconut milk and coconut oil is used in most dishes. Coconuts are grown all over the island and in many home gardens. You will be surprised on how many coconuts a tree will deliver to a family during the year.

Our informal Sri Lankan Cookery Demonstration.

One way of getting to understand the culture is to take part in a local cooking course when you are in Sri Lanka.

We at GlenMyu Estate, offer an informal cookery demonstration when guests order our Sri Lankan Sharing Platter. Ru’s mother, who has at least 50 years experience in the kitchen, loves sharing the intricacies of her version of Sri Lankan cooking.

There are many regional variations in cooking styles on this small island. Ru’s mum is from the Matara district and the way she cooks is a reflection of that if the south coast.

4. Food Brings People Closer Together.

We have three bedrooms at GlenMyu Estate. Sometimes all three rooms are booked by one party. Eating their meal together as a group allows the guests to bond and have a shared experience.

At other times the rooms are booked by individual parties who are exploring the island. We are delighted when these guests experience new food and tastes with others around the table, especially when they are ecstatic about what they have sampled. It’s also a chance to share their views on the travel around the island and their plans after leaving GlenMyu Estate.

The community feeling and bond creates from this shared experience is one that we treasure. We think that it really adds value to the travel experience around Sri Lanka.

Food is also a good conversation opener for people that have met for the first time.

We have seen friendships created, contact details swapped and photos shared.

5. You Benefit From Discovering New Flavours and Dishes to try at Home.

Going to a new country and trying new dishes and experiencing new flavours means you get to come home with so many ideas to try in your own kitchen.

Of course, the ingredients that you will be able to buy at home may have travelled a bit, so it may not taste exactly like that when on holiday.

But at least it will provide you with a taste of your holiday and bring back memories of what a wonderful time you had.

We have been amazed and delighted that several of our guests have tried our recipes at home. There was a Norwegian couple that sent us a picture of the family trying their version of Ru’s mums Aubergine curry.

A German lady sent us photos of her Sri Lankan Egg Hoppers which she made in Berlin.

We also had a Polish couple who had some fast food restaurants in Poland stay with us at GlenMyu Estate. They worked out that they could get substitute ingredients for the coconut symbol that they eat here and would add it to their restaurant menu.

Ru likes to share her recipes and ho they are cooked. We have a YouTube Channel “Ru’s Recipes” which will we add content to over time to show you how to make the food you enjoyed at GlenMyu Estate.

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling - Summary

You Discover Foods You Have NotTried Before.
You Will Experience Foods You Eat at Home in a New Way.
A Country’s Food Tells You So Much About Their Culture.
Food Brings People Closer Together.
You Benefit From Discovering New Flavours and Dishes to try at Home.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate, try new food and take part in our cookery demo.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country gives you the opportunity to sample a variety of local and fusion cuisine.

We are developing a good reputation for our food (read our guest reviews) and guests enjoy the variety of dishes we offer.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

5 reasons Trying New Food is the Best part of Travelling Read More »

A Plant Based Festive Season

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

A plant based festive season.

The festive season is coming. I thought I would compile a few ideas for a plant based festive season and menu for Christmas.

I have scoured the internet to find recipes and videos that may be of interest.

We are not plant based at GlenMyu Estate.....but...

At GlenMyu Estate we offer chicken and fish options alongside or plant based options.

You can see our food menu by clicking this link.

At the estate,we intend to increase our plant based offering over time as we get a reputation for this style of cuisine. In order to satisfy our guests we still offer non-plant based option. Our philosophy is that all are welcome whatever our guests’ food preferences.

We will try to provide the best meals we can from the ingredients we can source locally.

Hopefully, as we develop our menu, GlenMyu Estate will be a must place to stay on holiday in Sri Lanka, partially for our plant based menu.

In our experience, we do find that, even if our guests have not tasted plant based options before, they tend to order our vegetarian and vegan options once they have sampled some of Ru’s dishes.

We cannot get all the ingredients in Sri Lanka.

Although we do manage to source some fantastic ingredients at GlenMyu Estate, we cannot get some of the ingredients that are required for the recipes so we cannot try them all for ourself.

This is where, although we live on a paradise island, there are reasons to be jealous of you living in the western world where you can go out and pick up a bottle of soya or oat milk from your local supermarket.

Here are the recipes that I have found that make my mouth water.

Hopefully you will try some of them and have a delicious plant based festive season!

1. Plant Based Festive Appetisers and Canapes

2.Starters for a Plant Based Festive Season

3.Plant Based Festive Mains

4. Plant Based Festive Desserts

6. Vegan Festive Treats.

5. What to do with Plant Based Festive Leftovers.

No leftovers at Glenmyu Estate!

We have no problems disposing of leftovers at GlenMyu Estate whether it is the during the festive season, plant base for not!

In no particular order leftovers are happily received by:

The Dogs (we have too many!)

Our Chickens

Our Ducks

Our Cow

And if we actually manage to satisfy the appetites of our animals the remainder can find its home in our compost!

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and try our plant based menu..

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country. We will offer some plant based festive offerings and will try some of these recipes (if we can source the ingredients).

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

A Plant Based Festive Season Read More »

Registration for Veganuary 2024 is open.

Food and Drink, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Registration for Veganuary 2024 is open.

Exciting new!- Registration for Veganuary 2024 opened on the 5th December 2023!

You can click on the Veganuary website to register.

It’s quick and easy so there are no obstacles for you to not dip your toes in!

What is Veganuary?

Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try vegan for January and beyond.

The idea was started ten years ago by a couple whilst sitting at their table in a house in Yorkshire, England.

You can watch the video which was recently released “It’ll never catch on”.

Millions of people have signed up to their one-month vegan pledge since 2014.

You can read more about the organisation at theier website.

Are you going to register for Veganuary 2024?

Lots of us like to make New Years Resolutions. I have made many over the years and have failed.

Registering for Veganuary doesn’t mean that you are going to change your food choices to vegan.

Throughout the year, Veganuary encourages and supports people and businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet. It is a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people.

Even if you trying Veganuary in 2024 results in you eating more plant based meals during the year, that will be a success.

So, why not register and give it a go?

I don't think I'll like Vegan food.

Maybe you haven’t tried Vegan or plant based food before. There are so many options nowadays compared to when I was growing up.

In the supermarkets there are a lot of ready meals available from companies like Bosh which are worth trying. They even have a TV channel where you can follow some of their recipes.

The Veganuary website has lots of recipes to try.

Browsing the Veganuary website there are lots of tools so that you can try cooking some vegan food yourself at home.

There is a Free Cookbook for you to download, recipes and there are Veganuary Ambassadors who hopefully will provide you with some encouragement and inspiration to try vegan dishes.

Christmas is coming - you can still try plant based food.

You may think that you can’t eat anything but a traditional Christmas Dinner over the festive period.

ASDA supermarket has released ASDA Vegan Christmas Options 2023: A Complete Guide which shows a plant based options for festive period. TESCO, Marks & Spencers Sainsbury’s and ALDI have also released vegan options for the period.

Plant Based Restaurants.

There have been lots of Plant Based restaurants that have opened in recent years providing you with another way to try vegan food.

Also, more restaurants are providing one or two vegan options which means that you can still eat in a normal eatery.

LA.Eater reported that singer “Billie Eilish and her producer brother Finneas, are backing a New Vegan Italian Restaurant in Silver Lake”.

In April 2023 , Formula One racing car driver Lewis Hamilton co-founder of Neat Burger opened its’ first US restaurant in New York City.

You can find a list of the best Vegan friendly restaurants in an article by Plant Based News.

Lots of options - so lets give it a go!

Clearly, there are lots of options for you to give plant based food a try, so we encourage you to give it a go. By registering for for Veganuary 2024 you can make your first step.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and try our plant based food options.

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and also try the plant based options we offer on our food menu.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Registration for Veganuary 2024 is open. Read More »

Plan your meals. A healthy breakfast at GlenMyu Estate.

The Veganuary Story

Food and Drink, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes, The Organic Garden at GlenMyu, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

The Veganuary Story

The premiere of the “The Veganuary Story” took place on Friday the 17th November 2023.

We watched the video and learnt a lot about where and when the idea for Veganuary came from.
It is amazing of how a an idea discussed at a kitchen table in Yorkshire, England has developed in a moment and an idea that such a large amount of the UK population knows about. Starting with around 3,300 participants in 2013 the numbers now are really phenomenal.

Now an international movement it was great to hear how strong Veganuary is in Germany. The US and South American is a vast market where the Veganuary team is making significant inroads.

Veganuary is supported by a range of well known Ambassadors including musician Sir Paul McCartney, wildlife presenter Chris Packham , Author and Poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Actor Evanna Lynch which helps highlight the cause.

We don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of this video and would recommend that you click on the video below to watch the program for yourself.

Watch the Veganuary Story - YouTube Video

We would also recommend that you subscribe to the Plant Based News You Tube channel as there was subsequently a question and answer session which I am unable to post on this article. There is also the Plant Based Website for more information.

GlenMyu Estate and our Veganuary Story

Like many other mentioned in this video we had an awareness of Veganuary. Well done to the Veganuary team!

Sri Lanka is an easy country to be a Vegan or Vegetarian as much of the local cuisine is plant based.

Having come to Sri Lanka from the UK we were more confident with the sources and quality of the the produce we eat there.
Also, eating meat was convenient, easy and affordable.

We were sceptical about the conditions and the treatment of animals here and we could not be sure that they were free range and organic. Our thoughts were not as a result of seeing evidence of bad practices ourselves and there may well be good organic producers that treat their animals well.

However, the simple solution to this was to reduce our meat, poultry and fish consumption and we moved naturally to a plant based diet.

Ru was able to experiment with the organic produce we grow at the estate. Over time, she has also developed contacts with good suppliers of mushrooms, vegetables (that we can’t grow) and fruits. And, actually Tofu can be delicious if it is cooked the right way.

After a while, we didn’t miss eating meat and really prefer to eat mainly a plant based diet.

One step at a time.

Ultimately, we would really like to only offer Vegetarian and Vegan cuisine.

Our plan is the fully establish the business, have enough guests write reviews about the Vegetarian and Vegan food we serve which will give us enough confidence to remove the fish and chicken items from our menu.

Until then we need to offer alternatives to our guests.

The good news is that when we serve our Vegetarian and Vegan options to our guests they are wowed and happy to choose their next meals from those menus.

Read our articles about our Vegan food and Veganuary.

Find out more about Veganuary

You can find out more about Veganuary and try some Vegan dishes yourself from the recipes on the Veganuary website.

Vegan Social Media Influencer in Sri Lanka.

Recently social media influencer Maya from @FitGreenMind visited Sri Lanka. She travelled around the island and found out more about Vegan cooking and the cuisine in Sri Lanka.

You can watch the interview by Good Life X here.

Holiday in Sri Lanka at GlenMyu Estate.

Ideally located to take day trips to Ella, Nine Arch Bridge, Upper Dityaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Horton Plain National Park and many more.

A luxury Bed & Breakfast with only three bedrooms with spectacular views of the Sri Lankan countryside.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb however, please contact us directly by WhatsApp for our best direct rates. (WhatsApp 94 752 999 272).

The Veganuary Story Read More »

We are excited!

Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

We are excited! The Veganuary Story - premiere 17th November.

We are excited and are looking forward to watching “The Veganuary Story” which is due to premiere on Friday the 17th November 2023.

At GlenMyu Estate, we have been supporting Veganuary in our own way since we opened our B & B in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Our menu has a specific Vegan menu which our Vegan and non Vegan love.

We are not totally Vegan and do offer, vegetarian, fish and chicken to our guests. In the future we hope to build a reputation for primarily Vegan and Vegetarian dishes.

It's easier to be Vegan in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan cuisine lends itself to Vegan options as lots of the dishes are vegetable based. Historically milk is not a big part of the Sri Lankan diet and many of the ice and curries are totally vegan. If you are Vegan and visiting Sri Lanka on holiday we recommend that you ask whether the dish is Vegan. Then check and ask again, because sometimes you need extra clarity here.

Find out more about Veganuary.

If you want to find out more about Veganuary please visit their website where you will find a some inspiration. There’s free, downloadable recipes which is a good start.

Eating guides and a blog will help you with your Vegan journey and give you some inspiration.

Celebrity recipes from stars including

Ambassadors for Veganuary include: musician Sir Paul McCartney, Wildlife TV Presenter Chris Packham, Author and Poet Benjamin Zephiniah, Actor Evanna Lynch, Comedian Sara Pascoe and many more.

A variety of Vegan offerings at GlenMyu Estate - not just rice and curry.

Ru, the owner of GlenMyu Estate lived in the UK for around fifteen years and has a love of cooking. We know that Vegan guests enjoy Sri Lankan food as they travel around and discover the island. However, a majority of dishes are rice and curry, which are great and there is variety to the ingredients which keeps the tastes interesting.

Ru offers a variety of Vegan dishes outside the usual rice and curry. Dishes could be considered fusion with a Sri Lankan twist.

Lots of the ingredients used are sourced either from our organic garden at GlenMyu Estate or from local suppliers.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate. Sri Lanka.

If you are going on holiday to Sri Lanka and want to stay at a place that serves Vegan dishes please visit our website to find out more.

GlenMyu Estate is located near to Haputale which is convenient for visiting the wonderful sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We are listed on Airbnb and Booking.com.
Please contact us by WhatsApp for our best direct deals (00 94 752 999 272).

What you will find at GlenMyu Estate.

3 Kingsize Double Bedrooms with Spectacular Views
2 Spacious Lounges with views over the hills below the house
A Natural Spring-Fed Infinity Swimming Pool
5 Acres of land to explore

Delicious bespoke meals freshly prepared by the host
A selection of places to dine

A place to relax and be closer to nature

Within reach of the following tourist sites

Diyaluma Waterfall and Upper Diyaluma Pools
Horton Plains National Park – Mini Worlds End, Worlds End and Bakers Falls
Adisham Bungalow
Lipton Seat
Dambetenna Tea Factory
Bambarakanda Waterfall
Thangamale Bird Sanctuary
Ella Town
9 Arch Bridge
Little Adams Peak
Ravanna Waterfall

We are excited! Read More »

World Vegan Day 1st November

Sri Lankan Cooking, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

World Vegan Day - 1st November

Celebrating World Vegan Day on the 1st November at GlenMyu Estate.

I was reminded to celebrate World Vegan Day in an email from Veganuary.

You may know that GlenMyu Estate takes part in Veganary annually where we aim to add something different to our menu.

You can read more about Veganuary at GlenMyu Estate in the following articles:

Launching our new Vegan Menu.

Veganuary 2023.

Vegan Recipes our guests love.

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024.

What is World Vegan Day?

World Vegan Day is a global event celebrated annually on 1 November. (n.b. the date/day in November has some variations in different countries).

People are encouraged to explore and embrace a vegan lifestyle.

This involves abstaining from the use of animal products for food, clothing, or any other purpose.

World Vegan Day provides an opportunity to educate the public about the benefits of Veganism.

It also raises awareness about animal rights, and also to promote sustainable and compassionate choices

When did World Vegan Day come about.

World Vegan Day was established by animal rights activist Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society in the United Kingdom, in 1994.

It was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the organisation and the coining of the terms “vegan” and “veganism”.

Louis Wallis is the former president of the Vegan Society. She is a singer, DJ and animal rights activist.

You can read more about Louise in this interview on the Save a Scream website.

And now it's World Vegan Month!

The Vegan Society initially started with World Vegan Day in 1994. This was extended to World Vegan Week and then to World Vegan month.

You can read more about World Vegan month at the The Vegan Society website.

Vegan Food offered all year around.

At GlenMyu Estate we are aware that not all of our guests are Vegan and we do offer some fish and chicken dishes.

We think that the our guests are not ready for GlenMyu Estate to offer only vegetarian and vegan meals. Perhaps in the future, when we have further enhanced our reputation for great food, we will be able to change fully in future.

We have been surprised when we offer guests an alternative to fish, poultry or meat dishes, how much they enjoy them. The ingredients we use are fresh and local which we believe adds to the taste of the meals Ru serves to our guests. You can see Ru in action at our YouTube channel for GlenMyu Estate and also at Ru’s Recipes.

When is World Vegetarian Day?

I thought that there must also be a World Vegetarian Day if there is a World Vegan Day.

World Vegetarian Day takes place on

So what did we do?

We had one of our delicious Jackfruit Burgers with sweet potato fries and a salad for our lunch on World Vegan Day. It’s one of my favourites and a dish that our guests really enjoy.

We had one guest that had come with a friend to have a Roast Chicken Dinner with Yorkshire Puddings, Roast Potatoes and roasted vegetables. The friend was vegetarian and had our Vegan Burger for lunch. After having a taste of the Jackfruit burger the guest chose this as their main meal the following day.

It’s amazing how often we hear the words “You don’t need meat” or “I don’t miss meat” when our guests select dishes from our vegetarian and vegan menus.

The Jackfruit are picked from the trees that are next to the lawn at GlenMyu Estate.

Ru makes the burger buns freshly in the kitchen. The salads and leaves are mainly picked from the garden.

It doesn’t matter how large or small you celebrate or acknowledge World Vegan Day. Perhaps, just eating Vegan dishes on the day appears to be just a small effort. However, we feel that our responsibility is to encourage people to provide a Vegan option. If we provide the best Vegan food and dishes we can to show them how great the food can taste, maybe we will encourage the movement towards plant based meals which is at least better for the planet.

Find our more about a stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is ideally located to discover the sights in the Sri Lankan Hill Country such as Ella Town, Nine Arch Bridge, Lipton’s Seat, Horton Plains National Park, Upper Diyaluma, The Pekoe Trail Waterfall and many more.

We are a luxury boutique hotel with three guest bedrooms looking our towards the south coast of the country.

Read our reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb to see what our guests say about a stay at GlenMyu Estate.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.

World Vegan Day 1st November Read More »

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024

Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, Vegan / By Mikeez

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024

For the last two years Ru at GlenMyu Estate has participated and supported Veganuary by coming up with new Vegan based dishes and adding them to our menu. We are already planning what we will do for Veganuary 2024 and are regular visitors to their website.

Growing ingredients to use in our Vegan recipes.

At GlenMyu Estate, we grow vegetables, fruits and spices on the five acre estate (guests love Ru’s garden tour).

No to pesticides!

We don’t use any chemicals and pesticides on the land and all our produce is organic. Last year we got our rescue cow Maali, our natural fertilising machine, and she adds to our organic principles. Maali will never be used to produce milk and will live a simple, healthy and natural life with us at GlenMyu Estate. She has really added to the interest and landscape at the estate and our guests really look forward to meeting her.

Sri Lanka is a good place to visit as a Vegan as many of the dishes are Vegan anyway.

Check, check,check!

However, it’s important that you check with the hotel/restaurant about the dish you order to avoid any disappointment!

Rice and Curry - we love it ....but!

Rice and Curry is the favourite dish in Sri Lanka and we tend to find that sometimes when guests arrive at GlenMyu Estate, they are Rice and Curried out!

As Ru lived in the UK for several years and developed her love for cooking there, she understands that guests want a variety of dishes during their stay. We offer a range of western, fusion and traditional Sri Lankan dishes at GlenMyu Estate. You can read more at our menu page on our website.

Learn about Vegan Sri Lankan dishes.

We still love offering Sri Lankan dishes and lots of our guests enjoy Ru’s mothers informal Sri Lankan cooking demonstration for our “Vegan” Sri Lankan sharing platter. You can see some videos of the cooking demonstration at Ru’s Recipes YouTube channel

Subscribe to Ru’s Recipes.

Creating new Vegan recipes

Ru loves creating new dishes and twists on common recipes using the produce that is available in the garden or from good producers nearby and around this paradise island. We have found a great producer of mushrooms near Bandarawella. One of our neighbours found some great Kithul Treacle which has not been adulterated with additional sugar. Producers typically add sugar to improve their profits! We support good local businesses and serve locally grown and roasted Hansa coffee to our guests. The tea we serve is organic and supplied by Stassen, who collect the leaves from small local organic tea estates.

Some of our Vegan offerings on our menu are starting to become staples such as our Jackfruit Burger, Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce and Pineapple & Cinnamon Sorbet. I love all of these dishes and really love it when guests order them as I get a portion too!

Not 100% Vegan - yet!

We would love to be a 100% Vegan – Vegetarian hotel at GlenMyu Estate however at this stage in our development we do offer non Vegan and Vegetarian dishes to our guests.

Over the last few years we have found that several of our guests have one Vegan/Vegetarian and one non plant based person in their party. However, we see a trend where once the non Vegan party has tasted Ru’s Vegan dishes they are happy to eat Vegan whilst they are here. One of our American guests recently said that they had been converted to Jackfuit!

Stay in the Sri Lankan Hill Country

So, if you are travelling around Sri Lanka and looking for a fabulous place to stay that offers great Vegan food maybe GlenMyu Estate is an option for you.

We are looking forward to Veganuary 2024 and hopefully will delight you with what we have to offer.

We look forward to meeting you at GlenMyu Estate and giving you a warm Sri Lankan welcome.

Looking forward to Veganuary 2024 Read More »

Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration

Food and Drink, Organic, Recipes, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Cooking Holidays in Sri Lanka

At GlenMyu Estate Hotel we offer our guests a free informal Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration. It’s not quite a cooking course however our guests take notes and try some of the recipes out once they get back home.

Sri Lanka is a culinary Paradise!

The local ingredients picked from fertile land, combined with spices brought to the Island by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonists and the influence of Arab, Malay and Indian flavours, over several centuries, has resulted in a special cuisine where there are subtle differences around the Island.

Being a port on the silk route we should not be surprised that traders brought a wide range of produce that has been immersed into the local dishes.

Although the Island is small, (similar inside to Ireland), the growing conditions and local weather in different part of the isle means that the North, South, East and West all have different tastes and interpretations of the food they offer.

It’s not all about chilli peppers!

There are so many spices, fruits and vegetables that grow well in the Island that your plate is not just about getting a hit from one of the variety of chilli peppers grown here

Sri Lanka reputedly grows the best Cinnamon in the World and this is an ingredient that you will find in many dishes.

Cloves, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Pepper, Chillies, and Vanilla are just some of the spices that are grown on the land at GlenMyu Estate and are used in the dishes we offer on our menu.

Here are a few pictures of some of the produce that we are growing in the garden.

To find out more about GlenMyu Estate, Haputale please click on the following link.

Join in with the cooking at GlenMyu Estate

We don’t run an official Sri Lankan Cooking course at the Estate but we have found that many of our guests are interested in Sri Lankan cooking.

We provide an informal Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration where we encourage our guests to join in.

Ruwanthi will take you around the garden to pick some of the organic produce that will be used as ingredients for some of the dishes.

On returning to the kitchen you will be asked to join in preparing the dishes by our dynamic duo Ruwanthi and her mother. We also will have other workers that assist and help with preparing the ingredients and dishes.

Jackfruit is picked from the trees on the estate and is one of the ingredients for the Sri Lankan sharing platter. This is a dish we regularly demonstrate in our informal cookery course.

Our cooking demonstration is informal and you will have the opportunity to watch the dishes being made and Ru will explain about the ingredients we use. Don’t worry, there is no test at the end of the demonstration, just a lovely meal.

It has been known however, for Ru to hand you a pestle and mortar and get you to work helping to prepare a dish!

Our Sri Lankan Sharing Platter - a guest favourite!

The Sri Lankan sharing platter is a vegetarian selection of Sri Lankan curries which vary depending on the availability of fresh produce. We normally run our informal Sri Lankan Cookery course and demonstration when guests order this meal.

Typically it includes a Jackfruit Curry (Great protein!), Aubergine Curry, Plantain Curry, Malum (green healthy leaves) and a salad.

We serve the Sri Lankan Sharing platter with homemade Paratha or with rice for our Vegan guests.

Ru’s mum is a master with the knife and here she is cutting a banana flower which is one of the ingredients of her curries.

Ru lived in London for around sixteen years and is therefore experienced in cooking to a Western palette. She is fully aware that the level of Chillies and Pepper added to the dishes has to be pared down significantly for most of our guests.

However, here is Ru missing her mother putting in a little bit too much chilli during the informal Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration and course!

It's not all about Sri Lankan Curries!

Ru makes her own fresh pasta for another favourite dish of mine and the guests – Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli.

In effect you may end up picking and cooking your evening meal.

We are always delighted if guests want to join in and we encourage them to do so.

If you end up making a dish or two when you get home it really warms our hearts!

Find our more about a stay at GlenMyu Estate

We only have three bedrooms so we can be booked out quite early in certain time of the year so if you wish to book please try to book early.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb however please contact on the WhatsApp button on our website for the best rates.

Sri Lankan Cooking Demonstration Read More »

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce

Recipes, Sri Lankan Cooking, sri lankan recipes / By Mikeez

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce is one of our guest favourites at GlenMyu Estate.

Mushrooms in Cashew Sauce Read More »

Cooking Sri Lankan Style

Cookery Courses, Sri Lankan Cooking / By Mikeez

Cooking Sri Lankan Style

Opportunities to take part in a Sri Lankan cooking demonstration at GlenMyu Resort, Hotel and Bed & Breakfast, Haputale, Sri Lanka.

We have had many guests that visit GlenMyu Estate who are really interested in Sri Lankan Cooking.

For some, their visit to this Paradise Island is their first taste of the local cuisine.

Similar other countries there are delicate differences between how food is prepared and the ingredients used around the Island.

Feeling, hot , hot, hot!

The level of heat is something that visitors have to get used to.

Even asking for no or only a little black pepper and chilli pepper is something that is interpreted in different ways.

The consequences of this is that some food is overtaken by the spice and you really don’t get to savour the best of Sri Lankan cooking.

Sri Lankans generally expect that you will have chilli in your meal even, if you ask for none to be added.

Expectations and unexpected results

An example of the expectation of my own was in our early holidays to the Island an elderly aunt of my wife would regularly make tea for us.

Unlike in the UK, I always have Plain Tea (black tea without milk) as Sri Lanka is known for the quality of the tea and I really enjoy the flavours here.

I also have not had sugar in my tea since I was around 16 years old.

I would always ask for Plain Tea with no sugar.

I always received Plain Tea with sugar.

The elderly aunt did understand enough English to know how I liked my tea.

After several days of sugary tea, I asked my wife to tell the elderly aunt that I did not want sugar in my tea.

The elderly aunt shook her head and advised that she understood my request, however, “how can you drink tea without sugar?!!!”

Building a tolerance level.

Being from the West, but married to a Sri Lankan, my tolerance for chilli has been watched up over the years. However, I am normally the taster in the kitchen and the barometer of what is likely to be acceptable to a Western palette, and what will having them running for glasses of water to cool them down.

An interest in Sri Lankan Cooking

Often guests have wanted to know more about how dishes are made and what ingredients the food is made from.

Ruwanthi has regularly had guests in the kitchen and given them an outline of how the dishes are made.

Last week Ruwanthi had guests using the pestle and mortar to grind the ingredients for Lunumiris – a spicy Sri Lankan samba paste which is served as a condiment. The dish consists of chilli pepper, shallots, Maldivian fish, sea salt, black pepper and lime juice.

Pick the ingredients and learn how to cook by my mother-in-law

Today we had a couple from Europe who had extended their two night stay to three and they had also really enjoyed the food that we had provided.

They were really interested in Sri Lankan cooking and wanted to be able to replicate some of the dishes when they got home.

Our guest really enjoyed the experience of being part of the team making the dishes and she took plenty of notes as illustrated in the pictures below.