food Archives - GlenMyu Estate Luxury Bed and Breakfast

Are there Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka?

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes / By Mikeez

Are there Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka?

Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka.

Given the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef in the UK and Australia, I was surprised that there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan food is a great cuisine that has been promoted by successful chef such as Peter Kurivita in Australia and Cynthia Shamulangan in the UK.

Cynthia’s restaurant, Rambutan located in Borough Market in London, features as a recommended restaurant in the Michelin guide. We had the pleasure of hosting Cynthia at GlenMyu Estate when she was in the process of writing her award winning cookbook, Rambutan.

We hope that the success of Brin Pirathapan in the UK and Savindri (Sav) Perera in Australia that this wonderful cuisine will become available in more restaurants around the world.

What is a Michelin Star Restaurant?

In the late 19th Century, the Michelin brothers produced a small guide filled with handy information for travellers. It included maps, information on how to change a tyre, where to fill up on petrol. The magazine also provided recommendations for places to eat and stay.

in 1026 the Michelin Guide started awarding stars for fine dining establishments.

Now the Michelin Guide rates over 30,000 establishments in over 30 territories across three continents.

Australia has its own version to rate fine dining restaurants. The Australian God Food Guide Chef Hat Award rates restaurants throughout Australia. Chef Hats’ are awarded for consistent culinary excellence.

I could only find one restaurant with a Chef’s Hat in Australia. It is Ella by Minoli which is located in Darwin. Minoli De Silva appeared on Australian Masterchef.

We are so proud of our food at GlenMyu Estate

Food is a essential part of the experience for our guests at GlenMyu Estate.

We use the freshest and most local ingredients that we can find. Most of our menu is great for a Plant Based, Vegan or Vegetarian diet. Of course, we also cater for those who want to eat chicken or fish.

We love the positive feedback that our guests say and write about us.

What our guests say

Ru and the team at GlenMyu Estate are very proud of the food that they serve to our guests.

Feedback is important to us as it provides guidance and motivation to provide the best we can for our guests.

We are delighted that we have so many complimentary comments in our customer reviews on Booking.com, Google, TripAdvisor and Airbnb.

Please read our reviews so you can see what our customers think.

We believe that the food we serve at GlenMyu Estate is the icing on the cake for your stay with us in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Here is an excerpt from a review from Ali (Dubai) from a recent booking.com review.

The food prepared by this lady is better than many food we have tasted in micheline star restaurants around the world

Other comments about our food

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

Charlotte (UK) – Booking.com -April 2024

Nicola (UK) – Booking.com – February 2024

“The food was something else. I can’t rate this place highly enough. I felt so at home here we’re already planning out next trip!”

“it was like staying with friends and 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.”

Sharon – Oman – April 2024

We are not aiming for a Michelin Star

Although Ru is competitive (she was National Gymnast champion for 5 years) we are not targeting a Michelin Star.

We just want to provide the best experience for our guests at GlenMyu Estate. The food that we serve is an important part of this recipe for the whole experience in the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Fresh local ingredients are important

One of the important things for us is to source the best local ingredients that we can find.

We believe that keeping food miles to a minimum is good for the planet and you also get the best tasting seasonal products.

Although we grow lots of different fruits, vegetables and spices on the five acres at GlenMyu Estate, we know that we cannot provide the amount of produce we need to feed ourselves and the increasing number of guests.

We also believe that we should support good quality local producers.
There are fruits and vegetables that grow well in different parts of the island and therefore we buy and support local Sri Lankan farmers.

We also think that it would not be neighbourly or good for the local community if we were to be self sufficient. Mushrooms, Kitul Treacle and Jaggery, Organic Tea and Sri Lankan Coffee are some of the foodstuffs that we have found locally.

A tendency towards a Plant Based Menu

The longer we have been living in Sri Lanka, the more we have been moving towards a plant based menu.

It makes sense to us as we are able to grow and source great quality, fresh vegetables, spices and fruits.

Sri Lanka historically had mainly a diet that was full of fruits vegetable and, of course rice.

We are not fully satisfies with the animal husbandry on the island and although we do offer some fish and chicken dishes, a majority of our menu is plant based.

Even the most dedicated carnivores that stay with us can’t help being satisfied with our Sri Lankan sharing platter. We often hear that with the texture of our Jackfruit curry and Mushrooms dishes that they don’t miss meat!

We hope that there will be Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka in the future

It is disappointing that there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka in 2024.
We hope that there will be some in the future!

There are restaurants and hotels around the country that serve spectacular tasting food.
We hope that more chefs in Sri Lanka are inspired by the success of Sri Lankan chefs on Masterchef and other cooking programmes.

During the off season, we at GlenMyu Estate like to travel around the island and we would love to have the choice to eat in a Michelin Star restaurant in Sri Lanka ourselves.

Sharing how we cook Sri Lankan Food

At GlenMyu Estate, we are happy to share.

Ru’s mother has over 50 years experience of cooking Sri Lankan food.

She delights in providing a complimentary Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when our guests order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate and experience great 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.

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.

Are there Michelin Star restaurants in Sri Lanka? Read More »

Okra Salad Recipe

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

Okra Salad Recipe

Our Okra Salad Recipe

At GlenMyu Estate we are happy to share our recipes.
One of our guests from the USA loved it so much we published it.

So, if you liked this recipe please think your thanks to Janice from Los Angeles for inspiring us to publish our recipe.

Okra Salad Recipe

We normally serve our Okra Salad as an accompaniment to our Chilli and Garlic Prawns or Sesame Crusted Tuna dishes at GlenMyu Estate.

You can read more about the other food we serve got guests at the following link 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.

Okra Salad 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 »

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 »

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef

Cookery Courses, Food and Drink, Holiday, Organic, Our food menus at GlenMyu Estate, Plant Based Menu, Recipes, Ru's Recipes, sri lankan recipes, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Vegan, Vegetarian / By Mikeez

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef.

Celebrating the success of Brin Pirathapan who won BBC Masterchef 2024, we find more Sri Lankan inspired chefs

Brin Pirathapan won BBC Masterchef 2024. His cooking is influenced by his Sri Lankan heritage.

There have been lots of Sri Lankan chefs compete in Masterchef in the UK and abroad. Australian Masterchef has seen the most number of competitors with Sri Lankan heritage.

Some chefs just love Sri Lankan cuisine and have made inspired dishes.

The food in Sri Lanka is wonderful and it’s great to see it being shown on the world stage through Masterchef.

In recognition of Brin’s success, here are some videos of other contestants and their dishes on Masterchef.

Add Your Heading Text Here

Savindri is another Australian Masterchef contestant who served Sri Lanka food.

You can see from these videos that she is also a great character.

Cooking Sri Lankan food for the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama was served Sri Lankan food by Dani Venn on Masterchef Australia.

You don’t have to be an adult to make Sri Lankan food.

Georgie made spicy Sri Lankan coconut curry in Junior Masterchef, Australia.

You don't have to be Sri Lankan to make Sri Lankan food

Many of the chefs on Masterchef have Sri Lankan heritage, however they are not the only ones to prepare Sri Lankan dishes.

There was an elimination round where the contestants had to identify twenty four ingredients in a Sri Lankan curry.

Dee, on Australian Masterchef, made a Sri Lankan crab curry and pineapple salad.

Enjoying Sri Lankan food on holiday in Sri Lanka

When you visit Sri Lanka you will have the opportunity to sample Sri Lankan food in restaurants, hotels and small cafes.

You may even get the chance to be invited into a Sri Lankan families home to enjoy a home cooked meal. Visiting a homestay during part of your exploration of the island is a good way to support a local family and eat with them.

Sri Lankan Street Food

Food in Sri Lanka is not all about the types of dishes served on Masterchef. Street food can be found all round the island.

Whether it is roti, paratha, egg hoppers or wade’s, you will have a culinary experience to remember.

Experience Sri Lankan cooking at our free cooking demonstration

At GlenMyu Estate, we offer a complimentary informal Sri Lankan cooking demonstration when you order our Sri Lankan sharing platter.

Ru’s mother, who has fifty plus years experience of cooking Sri Lankan food runs the show!

It’s a really enjoyable experience for our guests with the benefit of eating what you have seen made in the kitchen.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and it will encourage us to post more videos of our cooking demonstrations at GlenMyu Estate.

Holiday in Sri Lanka and enjoy Sri Lankan Cuisine

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.

Sri Lankan Food on Masterchef 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 »

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 »

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 »

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.

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Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka

Food and Drink, Recipes, Traditional British Sunday Dinner / By Mikeez

Sunday Roast

Sunday Roast is not just for Sundays at GlenMyu Estate.

Our guests are able to order this traditional British dish when they stay at our hotel in the beautiful Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Sunday Roast - a part of British heritage.

We would consider he British love of a Sunday Roast a part of the national identity. At GlenMyu Estate. Beragala, Sri Lanka, we have found to be popular with our guests whatever the day of the week.
It’s not just the ex-pats living in Sri Lanka and those visitors from the UK that love our Roast Chicken Dinner. We have found that visitors from all parts of Europe and local Sri Lankans are keen to sample this traditional dish.

Yorkshire Pudding is something that not many people have sampled and once they do there is no turning back.

Roast beef is eaten as the main meat accompanying the Traditional Sunday Roast.
In the 18th Century the Roast Beef dinner was eaten so often that even the French started calling Englishmen “rosbifs”. It is heard often at England v France rugby matches at Twickenham Stadium.

The Sunday roast is as much a tradition today in the UK as it was a few hundred years ago. It has even made its’ way from the family dinner table to pubs and other days of the week.

What is a Traditional Sunday Roast?

In essence, it is the main Sunday meal. Sunday roast is a British meal that normally has roast beef (or Chicken, Lamb, Pork or Nutloaf) as the main contingent. It also includes a series of other tasty products and sauces, served in the same plate, to celebrate Sunday together with loved ones. There is also a variation of the format on important occasions, such as Christmas and special family gatherings.  Traditionally, a Sunday Roast is eaten around 3pm. However, many people eat Sunday meals around dinner time, especially if they have had a large traditional English breakfast with bacon, eggs and other delicacies which are usually reserved for the weekend.   The preparation of the Sunday roast can be long and laborious process. The meat can be roasted for several hours in advance of the meal, depending upon what cut it is and how the diners like their meal.

What does a Sunday Roast consist of?

What does Sunday roast normally consist of? 
Around the UK, the contents will vary a little however the key items in additional to the meat or poultry are:
Roasted vegetables
Primarily carrots, and parsnips.
 Potatoes – cooked both in the oven and as mash. Other vegetables – peas, broccoli, cauliflower

On special occasions such as Christmas also added are ‘pigs in blankets’ (pork sausages wrapped in bacon).

 And ……Yorkshire pudding.

Yorkshire Pudding?

One of my favourites of a Sunday Roast.
Bathed in gravy there is little better.

Such a simple dish, really hard to get right…. but when it does…..yummy!

And what about Yorkshire Puddings?

This is a baked batter with a shape similar to that of muffins.

Originally knowns as “dripping puddings” they were originally baked sitting under the roast beef so as to collect the meat drippings.  The first written record of the recipe is found in a book called “The Whole Duty of a Woman” (1737).

Nowadays, Yorkshire pudding is no longer cooked under the meat. The batter is roasted in the oven and it takes some practice to get the dish right. Ideally it should be crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle.
I love dousing the Yorkshire Pudding with gravy – it is just heaven!.
The gravy can be made from the meat juices in the roasting tray and thickened with a little flour.

There are commercial ready made powdered gravies, both meat based and vegetarian on the market which is a quick option. However, there is nothing that tastes like homemade gravy.

Is it not too hot to have a Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka?

The climate here in the Hill Country is more akin to a Summers Day in the UK regularly being between 22 – 26 degrees Celsius during the day.

You can see what the weather is like in Beragala on websites such as Climate-Data or Wanderlog or Just Weather.

The Modern Day Sunday Roast

The modern oven has taken over from roasting meat in front of the fire! On Sundays, throughout the U.K., there is a high demand in both pubs & restaurants for a Roast Dinner. (there new some pubs that serve this every day of the week!).
Instead of slaving over the stove many people choose to go out for Sunday lunch rather than prepare it at home.
Having Sunday Roast with families or friends is great opportunity for people to get together, share and enjoy great food.

Traditional Sunday Roast now includes roasted potatoes and root vegetables, green vegetables like cabbage and spring greens, cauliflower cheese, and lots of gravy.

Roast Beef is usually on the menu, however, there are usually other options including Lamb, Ham, Chicken and even a Nut Roast for vegetarians.

We listen to our guests!

What inspired you to offer a Sunday Roast to guests?

The inspiration came from one set of our guests to highlight that we offer a Sunday Roast. They were long term in Sri Lanka from the UK and clearly missed a bit of home comforts.

They loved the Roast Chicken dinner prepared by Ru and it was a memorable part of their time at GlenMyu Estate.

We, of course, were delighted with their reaction.

Read our reviews at Booking.com and Airbnb

Food: ....THE FOOD!! Ruwanthi and her mother's cooking is beyond delicious, the best food I've ever had? I think so yes!

he food is exceptional, with products directly grown in the garden

the manner they present the meals - is astonishing. Ruwanthi is a great chef, she spoiled us with delicious meals throughout our stay.

Find us on Booking.com and Airbnb where you can also read the full guest reviews.

What will I 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.

We provide a garden tour for our guests so that they can see the different types of fruit, vegetables and spices that we grow on the estate.

Sometimes, whilst on the tour, you will pick some of the ingredients used for your evening meal.

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

Any other delicious food on offer?

Off course! Please look at our menus via the following link.

Sunday Roast Recipes

There are lots of recipes that you can find online that will give you inspiration to try to make the Sunday Roast for yourself.

Ru’s favourite chef is Delia Smith who she finds really clear and easy to follow. The fact that she has early success when learning the ropes in London did help. You can find out more about this story when you stay with us at GlenMyu Estate.

Delia Smith

Delia (Ru’s favourite) gives great detail on her Roast Beef dinner recipe.

The Hairy Bikers

The Hairy Bikers recipe for Sunday Roast uses Beef which we don’t tend to offer at GlenMyu Estate.

Nadiya Hussain

Our favourite winner of The Great British Bake Off recipe is for Chicken as the main meat accompanying the traditional Roast Dinner.

Mary Berry

A National Treasure and British Institution Mary Berry’ Roast Chicken recipe is accompanied with Tarragon Butter and melting onions.

Michael Caines

Michael Caines recipe uses a roast leg of Lamb as the main meat for the dish.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Hugh’s Chicken Sunday Roast recipe has a twist using Kale and Leeks.

Sunday Roast in Sri Lanka Read More »