Meet
Buddhima
Buddhima, a former teacher, describes herself as a foodie who loves sharing experiences and making new friends. Sri Lankan food is a blend of spices, flavors and colors and Buddhima is delighted to share her passion for Sri Lankan cuisine with people visiting her beautiful country. Buddhima is someone who is constantly learning new things and the same goes for her cooking as well - she is always learning and experimenting with dishes to evolve her culinary repertoire.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(1-8 guests)
Experience authentic Sri Lankan hospitality in Buddhima's countryside home near Kandy. Set in a small village close to the historic Gadaladeniya Temple, this experience offers a unique opportunity to connect with a local family and enjoy traditional Sri Lankan food in a real home setting.
Upon arrival, Buddhima, a warm and bubbly host, will welcome you with a refreshing coconut juice or a cup of hot local tea while sharing stories about her life in Sri Lanka, her family, and the culinary traditions passed down through generations. You will then sit down to enjoy a homemade Sri Lankan meal with Buddhima and her family (when they are home).
Your meal may include rice, dhal (lentils), seasonal vegetables, and a chicken or fish curry prepared using family recipes and locally sourced ingredients. End your meal with yoghurt served with local honey and fresh fruit. This immersive dining experience near Kandy offers a meaningful way to discover Sri Lankan culture through food, conversation, and hospitality.
Cooking experience:
(1-8 guests)
Join Buddhima in her home kitchen for a hands-on Sri Lankan cooking class and learn to prepare traditional dishes using recipes passed down from her mother. During this one-hour cooking lesson, you will gain insight into the ingredients, spices, and techniques used in everyday Sri Lankan home cooking.
Learn to make dishes such as dhal cooked in coconut milk, cassava (tapioca) curry, and a regional vegetable dish made with banana flower. Along the way, Buddhima will explain the role of spices, herbs, and local produce in Sri Lankan cuisine, helping you build the confidence to recreate these dishes at home.
This cooking class is especially well suited for families traveling with children. Younger guests can play and interact with Buddhima's sons, Mandil and Sandun, when they are home. For children who may not enjoy spicy food, Buddhima is happy to prepare a different main dish to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience.
After cooking, sit down to enjoy the traditional Sri Lankan meal you helped prepare while learning more about local culture and family life in rural Sri Lanka.
Market visit:
(1-8 guests)
Begin your experience with a guided tour of Kandy Central Market, one of the city's most vibrant local markets. Buddhima will pick you up directly from your Kandy hotel by tuk tuk or van, depending on the size of your group, making this a convenient and seamless experience.
Located in a bustling two-story market building, Kandy Central Market is where locals shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, seafood, dried fish, and other daily essentials. As you explore the market together, Buddhima will introduce you to ingredients commonly used in Sri Lankan cooking and explain how they are incorporated into traditional dishes.
Learn about unfamiliar fruits and vegetables, discover the spices that give Sri Lankan cuisine its distinctive flavors, and shop for fresh ingredients that will later be used in your cooking class. This guided market tour lasts approximately one hour and provides a fascinating glimpse into daily life and food culture in Sri Lanka.
Following the market visit, travel with Buddhima to her countryside home, located about 30 minutes from Kandy, where you will continue your experience with a hands-on cooking class and traditional meal (if booked).
Notes:
1. Complimentary pick-up and drop-off from your Kandy hotel is included with all experiences. Transportation will be provided by tuk tuk or van, depending on your group size. Please include your hotel name and address when booking so that Buddhima can arrange your transfers.
2. Buddhima can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal dietary preferences with advance notice. Please include any dietary requirements when making your booking so that she can tailor the menu accordingly.
3. This experience is family-friendly and suitable for travelers seeking an authentic Sri Lankan food experience, cultural exchange, and home-cooked meal in the countryside near Kandy.
Languages spoken:
English
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
We had a wonderful time together with Buddhima who met us at our hotel in Kandy and took us to her private house. We started out with tea and traditional Sri Lankan sweats/snacks. Then we started preparing curries for dinner under Buddhima’s instructions and we learned a lot about traditional spices and food in general. Finally we sat down together and enjoyed a delicious dinner
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dan_h
July 25, 2023
An intensive and enjoying time with Buddhima on the market and especially in her kitchen and on her table with her lovely family. We have picked up and shared a lot … incrediences, spices, preparation, cooking, eating and much much more … a wunderful day !
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Christopher
March 05, 2022
Best 6 hours. Buddhima arrived at my hotel in a tuk tuk to take me to the local markets where we bought fruit and veges for our cooking feast. She happily explained all the veges and fruit that I wasn’t familiar with and we just enjoyed walking and chatting through the hustle and bustle of downtown Kandy. After arriving at Buddhima’s house and meeting her lovely mum and sweet sons we had tea and some Sri Lankan sweet delicacies and then donned an apron to begin our cooking feast. Everything was explained along the way and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. What followed was a delicious meal of Sri Lankan curries and a wonderful experience which is highly recommended to young and old, make or female. Thank you Buddhima for such a wonderful day that I will always treasure!!
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MarianneS325
March 08, 2020
Buddhima was very friendly, knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. She was able to answer of all my questions not only about food but also about Sri Lankan culture and religion. She encouraged me to try new fruits walking round the market and purchased them for me to do so along with some traditional Sri Lankan snacks. The market tour was brilliant and having purchased the produce for the cooking class we drove to her house. I met her family and sat with them to have tea. The whole experience of being at her house and meeting her family I thought was such a nice touch and I felt very honoured to be there. Th cooking course itself was unbelievable I learnt so much. Buddhima explained the justification behind every ingredient and step. We made a range of dishes all of which she had chosen deliberately as she knew I could get those ingredients back in the U.K. The food was amazing and was easily the best meal I had whilst I was in Sri Lanka. I can’t rate the whole day enough.
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Andy H
August 13, 2019
