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Host: Shifu

Colombo, Sri Lanka

USD
$36-$78 per person

Sri Lankan Muslim cooking class and lunch in Wattala

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Shifu

Shifu lives in Wattala, an hour's drive from Colombo, and is a passionate cook and decorator in addition to being a homemaker and mother. She learned to cook from her mother when she was a teenager and has not stopped cooking since, experimenting with unique cooking techniques whenever she can. Being half Malay and half Moore, and having friends from various communities, she has learned a variety of dishes from recipes she has gleaned from grandmothers, aunts, neighbors and friends. She cooks authentic Sri Lankan food, both Sinhalese and Muslim cuisines. She is also into creating fusion cuisine!

“I was once told that it is a godly trait to feed a person's hunger which inspired me to cook and share recipes through my blog. I want to energize others to cook and can pursue this journey further as a host.”

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: (1-5 guests) Shifu will welcome you into her home with a steaming cup of milk tea or a refreshing lime juice depending on the season. As you sip on your welcome drink she will introduce you to Sri Lankan cuisine, the ingredients used and how she learned to cook. You will then join her at the dining table to share a traditional Sri Lankan Muslim meal along with some of Shifu's signature dishes. She offers a choice between two menus. Please indicate your preference when making your booking. The first menu, a blend of Muslim and Malay cuisine includes Sri Lankan Muslim chicken biryani, green peas curry, lemongrass chicken and Malay pickle. Menu 2, a traditional Sri Lankan menu includes ghee rice, kaliya (brinjal and ash plaintain), daal (lentils), potatoes in coconut milk, mango curry and chicken curry.

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) During your 1.5 hour hands-on cooking class you will learn to make three dishes along with Shifu. She will first introduce you to the spices and herbs used in Sri Lankan cooking. Then Shifu will explain how each dish is prepared before you help with the prepping and cooking of the dishes. You will learn to cook two seasonal vegetables and one chicken dish in your cooking class. Join Shifu, an Instagram influencer, to style and plate the meal once it is cooked - so that it is Insta ready!

Notes: Shifu can offer vegetarian, vegan and halal meals on request. Please let her know your preference in advance while booking the experience.

Languages spoken: English, Sinhalese, Tamil

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Choose from menu 1 or 2 below:
  • Menu 1 - chicken biryani, green peas, lemongrass chicken, Malay pickles and watalappam for dessert
  • Menu 2 - ghee rice, daal, kaliya, potatoes in coconut milk, lemongrass chicken, mango curry and watalappam for dessert

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Colombo Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
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Shifu

$36-$78 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
 $64 $44 $36
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $78 $54 $50
Transportation
 $80 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $64 $44 $36
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $78 $54 $50
Transportation
 $80 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 9:00am-12:00pm

Meet Shifu

Shifu lives in Wattala, an hour's drive from Colombo, and is a passionate cook and decorator in addition to being a homemaker and mother. She learned to cook from her mother when she was a teenager and has not stopped cooking since, experimenting with unique cooking techniques whenever she can. Being half Malay and half Moore, and having friends from various communities, she has learned a variety of dishes from recipes she has gleaned from grandmothers, aunts, neighbors and friends. She cooks authentic Sri Lankan food, both Sinhalese and Muslim cuisines. She is also into creating fusion cuisine!

“I was once told that it is a godly trait to feed a person's hunger which inspired me to cook and share recipes through my blog. I want to energize others to cook and can pursue this journey further as a host.”

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: (1-5 guests) Shifu will welcome you into her home with a steaming cup of milk tea or a refreshing lime juice depending on the season. As you sip on your welcome drink she will introduce you to Sri Lankan cuisine, the ingredients used and how she learned to cook. You will then join her at the dining table to share a traditional Sri Lankan Muslim meal along with some of Shifu's signature dishes. She offers a choice between two menus. Please indicate your preference when making your booking. The first menu, a blend of Muslim and Malay cuisine includes Sri Lankan Muslim chicken biryani, green peas curry, lemongrass chicken and Malay pickle. Menu 2, a traditional Sri Lankan menu includes ghee rice, kaliya (brinjal and ash plaintain), daal (lentils), potatoes in coconut milk, mango curry and chicken curry.

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) During your 1.5 hour hands-on cooking class you will learn to make three dishes along with Shifu. She will first introduce you to the spices and herbs used in Sri Lankan cooking. Then Shifu will explain how each dish is prepared before you help with the prepping and cooking of the dishes. You will learn to cook two seasonal vegetables and one chicken dish in your cooking class. Join Shifu, an Instagram influencer, to style and plate the meal once it is cooked - so that it is Insta ready!

Notes: Shifu can offer vegetarian, vegan and halal meals on request. Please let her know your preference in advance while booking the experience.

Languages spoken: English, Sinhalese, Tamil

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Choose from menu 1 or 2 below:
  • Menu 1 - chicken biryani, green peas, lemongrass chicken, Malay pickles and watalappam for dessert
  • Menu 2 - ghee rice, daal, kaliya, potatoes in coconut milk, lemongrass chicken, mango curry and watalappam for dessert

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Colombo Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
 $64 $44 $36
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $78 $54 $50
Transportation
 $80 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $64 $44 $36
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $78 $54 $50
Transportation
 $80 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 9:00am-12:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.