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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Shasikala

Colombo, Sri Lanka

USD
$140-$230 per person

Authentic Sinhalese Cooking Class in Colombo with a Local Family

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

Meet Shasikala

Shasikala’s family runs a catering business specialized in traditional Sri Lankan, Sinhalese village, Jaffna style, and western cuisines. This is a family business run by her mother, aunt and uncle. They cater homemade food for small events and gatherings. Her uncle has more than 30 years of experience as a chef and is an expert in western cuisine. Shasikala, her mother and aunt are experts in Sri Lankan and Indian cuisines. Her family truly enjoys cooking together and preparing authentic dishes in a healthy manner without using artificial flavors or preservatives.

When asked, why she would like to be a host, Shasikala responded: I will get the opportunity to introduce our traditional cuisine to travelers from around the world and learn about their culture too.

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: (1-6 guests) Shasikala will welcome you into her family's simple, modest home in Dehiwala with a warm smile. While you sip on milk tea or fresh juice, she will introduce you to the entire family. Her family has a wealth of knowledge on Sri Lankan food, local produce and cooking styles. Learn about Sri Lankan food traditions before you sit down at the dining table to enjoy a traditional, homecooked Sinhalese meal together. Your menu may include authentic dishes such as wambatu moju (eggplant), gotu kola salad, ambul thiyal (tamarind clay pot fish) and ambarella curry, served with rice. Shasikala is happy to customize the menu, so if you have anything specific you would like to try, please let her know in advance.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) Join Shasikala in her home kitchen (an old, traditional kitchen) to learn to cook traditional home-style Sri Lankan dishes. During your 1-hour hands-on Colombo cooking class learn to make three Sinhalese dishes from scratch. You will learn to make a seasonal vegetable, coconut sambol and fish or chicken curry before enjoying the meal you helped prepare together.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Meet Shasikala at her home and then take a tuk tuk to the nearby local market. This market is where the locals shop for fruits, vegetables, spices, seafood and meat. Walk through the market taking in all the sounds, sights and smells. You may also taste a few fruits that are locally grown. Purchase a seasonal vegetable of your choice that you will later cook together during your cooking class.

Notes: Shasikala can offer vegetarian, vegan and halal meals on request, if informed in advance.

Languages spoken: English, Tamil and Sinhalese

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.
  • Wambatu moju (eggplant) or green beans or kiri kos (jackfruit cooked with coconut milk)
  • Gotu kola, lotus root, or mallum (leafy vegetables) salad
  • Ambul thiyal (tamarind clay pot fish) or chicken curry cooked in coconut milk or crab curry made with roasted coconut & spices
  • Ambarella curry or tender jackfruit curry
  • Rice
  • Buffalo yoghurt with treacle and local fruit or homemade dessert
  • Seeni Sambol (It is a caramelised onion chutney or relish, with flavours which are spicy, sweet and aromatic)

Traveler reviews

5.0 (9)
Shasi and her mom were wonderful. They have a deep knowledge of Sri Lankan food and loved to share it. The food was excellent. And she was able to cater the class to the exact recipes we wanted to learn.
- 578jmh November 24, 2024
My mum and I thoroughly enjoyed our day with Shasikala and her mum. It was a very authentic and generous experience - we had eight dishes prepared and to try during our visit and Shasikala kindly tailored the menu to suit dishes we wanted to try. The market and tuk tuk tour was a fun way to start the day before settling in at home for food preparation. This is a genuine, in-home experience - not a commercial kitchen - and it is entertaining keeping up with Shasi and her mum. We generally enjoy cooking classes that are very hands on to help with remembering the preparation process, while this was a mix of observation and hands on. Thank you Shasi for a memorable day!
- candicejadekeller November 11, 2024
I found this jewel of Sri Lankan culture by accident and enjoyed every minute. Shasikala and her mother greeted me at the door and the next three hours were spent with laughter, chatting, and of course cooking. Having been to Sri Lanka for five times, I am very keen on learning to use the spices, so the visit to the market was also very helpful. I have cooked back home in Germany many curries since my return and they were all delicious. Not as good as Shasikala's dishes, so I have to return for more classes. Barbara
- Barbara July 19, 2024
We had an amazing experience cooking with Shasi and her mum! They're both very kind, and both my mum and I agreed it was absolutely the best food we had in Sri Lanka. At the end Shasi also gave us some fresh herbs and ordered us tuk-tuk so we could be back home quickly and safely. Highly recommend!!!
- Zuzanne January 25, 2024
This was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka! Shasikala was so friendly and kind, it was wonderful to be welcomed into her home. Both her and her mother showed us how to make a variety of Sri Lankan dishes which were all delicious. Their 3 friendly dogs were a bonus as well! Highly recommend.
- 225sherman June 07, 2023
Family meal with children, highly recommended. delicious salad We ordered a meat to the center to the point that was very good. The attention of the waiters is very good. highly recommended site.
- V5692K November 11, 2022
What an awesome experience! Shasi and her mother were so welcoming and fun. I did the class solo and as soon as they greeted me I immediately felt at ease. The market tour was very cool, I was able to buy some spices to take home. It was so incredible watching Shasi cook and learning the recipes- so many incredible dishes that were the tastiest I’ve had yet! I learned ways to modify the recipes for taste/health, tips and tricks that can only come from home style cooking. Also a great way to understand more about what it’s like to live in Sri Lanka, a great cultural as well as culinary experience. I would (and will) recommend to all my friends travelling in the area and would come back in a heartbeat!
- Alexander March 30, 2022
Shasikala と彼女の家族に感謝しています。ひとり旅だったので最初は躊躇していましたが、行ってみて良かったです。料理レッスンというよりプチホームステイをしている気分で楽しめました。I received a warm welcome from Shasikala's family. I enjoyed my first Traveling Spoon experience even I was solo trip. To tell the truth, it was a little different than I expected. ( I spent most of time watching their cooking. ) It was not just businesslike class, I liked that. They love Sri Lankan food and traditional ways of cooking. You should start your class from market tour with Shasikala's uncle, he knows a lot about local food. That was really interesting. I'm glad to know local family life. It's highly recommended.
- kinakotrip December 31, 2018
We partook in the market tour, cooking experience, and meal with Shasikala. Both Shasikala and her mother couldn’t have been more welcoming and eager to share their food traditions and culture with us. The market tour was not rushed, and we had opportunities to purchase some spices and tea to take home as well. The market was very local (we were the only tourists) and a nice manageable size. Back at the house Shasikala and her mother demonstrated the techniques used to cook several Sri Lankan dishes, some of which were new to us as well. Shasikala was very helpful, and adjusted the menu to suit our preferences without issue. We were thrilled that we got to cook many of the great dishes we had enjoyed during our holiday. I highly recommend Shasikala’s cooking class to anyone who wants to learn to cook Sri Lankan home style food in an authentic setting from a host who is proud to share her food traditions with visitors.
- Christopher
Read More
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Shasikala

$140-$230 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+ people
In-Home Meal
 $140 $144 $142
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $154 $148 $144
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $224 $222
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $140 $144 $142
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $154 $148 $144
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $224 $222
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-2:00pm 3:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Shasikala

Shasikala’s family runs a catering business specialized in traditional Sri Lankan, Sinhalese village, Jaffna style, and western cuisines. This is a family business run by her mother, aunt and uncle. They cater homemade food for small events and gatherings. Her uncle has more than 30 years of experience as a chef and is an expert in western cuisine. Shasikala, her mother and aunt are experts in Sri Lankan and Indian cuisines. Her family truly enjoys cooking together and preparing authentic dishes in a healthy manner without using artificial flavors or preservatives.

When asked, why she would like to be a host, Shasikala responded: I will get the opportunity to introduce our traditional cuisine to travelers from around the world and learn about their culture too.

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: (1-6 guests) Shasikala will welcome you into her family's simple, modest home in Dehiwala with a warm smile. While you sip on milk tea or fresh juice, she will introduce you to the entire family. Her family has a wealth of knowledge on Sri Lankan food, local produce and cooking styles. Learn about Sri Lankan food traditions before you sit down at the dining table to enjoy a traditional, homecooked Sinhalese meal together. Your menu may include authentic dishes such as wambatu moju (eggplant), gotu kola salad, ambul thiyal (tamarind clay pot fish) and ambarella curry, served with rice. Shasikala is happy to customize the menu, so if you have anything specific you would like to try, please let her know in advance.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) Join Shasikala in her home kitchen (an old, traditional kitchen) to learn to cook traditional home-style Sri Lankan dishes. During your 1-hour hands-on Colombo cooking class learn to make three Sinhalese dishes from scratch. You will learn to make a seasonal vegetable, coconut sambol and fish or chicken curry before enjoying the meal you helped prepare together.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Meet Shasikala at her home and then take a tuk tuk to the nearby local market. This market is where the locals shop for fruits, vegetables, spices, seafood and meat. Walk through the market taking in all the sounds, sights and smells. You may also taste a few fruits that are locally grown. Purchase a seasonal vegetable of your choice that you will later cook together during your cooking class.

Notes: Shasikala can offer vegetarian, vegan and halal meals on request, if informed in advance.

Languages spoken: English, Tamil and Sinhalese

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.
  • Wambatu moju (eggplant) or green beans or kiri kos (jackfruit cooked with coconut milk)
  • Gotu kola, lotus root, or mallum (leafy vegetables) salad
  • Ambul thiyal (tamarind clay pot fish) or chicken curry cooked in coconut milk or crab curry made with roasted coconut & spices
  • Ambarella curry or tender jackfruit curry
  • Rice
  • Buffalo yoghurt with treacle and local fruit or homemade dessert
  • Seeni Sambol (It is a caramelised onion chutney or relish, with flavours which are spicy, sweet and aromatic)

Traveler reviews

5.0 (9)
Shasi and her mom were wonderful. They have a deep knowledge of Sri Lankan food and loved to share it. The food was excellent. And she was able to cater the class to the exact recipes we wanted to learn.
- 578jmh November 24, 2024
My mum and I thoroughly enjoyed our day with Shasikala and her mum. It was a very authentic and generous experience - we had eight dishes prepared and to try during our visit and Shasikala kindly tailored the menu to suit dishes we wanted to try. The market and tuk tuk tour was a fun way to start the day before settling in at home for food preparation. This is a genuine, in-home experience - not a commercial kitchen - and it is entertaining keeping up with Shasi and her mum. We generally enjoy cooking classes that are very hands on to help with remembering the preparation process, while this was a mix of observation and hands on. Thank you Shasi for a memorable day!
- candicejadekeller November 11, 2024
I found this jewel of Sri Lankan culture by accident and enjoyed every minute. Shasikala and her mother greeted me at the door and the next three hours were spent with laughter, chatting, and of course cooking. Having been to Sri Lanka for five times, I am very keen on learning to use the spices, so the visit to the market was also very helpful. I have cooked back home in Germany many curries since my return and they were all delicious. Not as good as Shasikala's dishes, so I have to return for more classes. Barbara
- Barbara July 19, 2024
We had an amazing experience cooking with Shasi and her mum! They're both very kind, and both my mum and I agreed it was absolutely the best food we had in Sri Lanka. At the end Shasi also gave us some fresh herbs and ordered us tuk-tuk so we could be back home quickly and safely. Highly recommend!!!
- Zuzanne January 25, 2024
This was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka! Shasikala was so friendly and kind, it was wonderful to be welcomed into her home. Both her and her mother showed us how to make a variety of Sri Lankan dishes which were all delicious. Their 3 friendly dogs were a bonus as well! Highly recommend.
- 225sherman June 07, 2023
Family meal with children, highly recommended. delicious salad We ordered a meat to the center to the point that was very good. The attention of the waiters is very good. highly recommended site.
- V5692K November 11, 2022
What an awesome experience! Shasi and her mother were so welcoming and fun. I did the class solo and as soon as they greeted me I immediately felt at ease. The market tour was very cool, I was able to buy some spices to take home. It was so incredible watching Shasi cook and learning the recipes- so many incredible dishes that were the tastiest I’ve had yet! I learned ways to modify the recipes for taste/health, tips and tricks that can only come from home style cooking. Also a great way to understand more about what it’s like to live in Sri Lanka, a great cultural as well as culinary experience. I would (and will) recommend to all my friends travelling in the area and would come back in a heartbeat!
- Alexander March 30, 2022
Shasikala と彼女の家族に感謝しています。ひとり旅だったので最初は躊躇していましたが、行ってみて良かったです。料理レッスンというよりプチホームステイをしている気分で楽しめました。I received a warm welcome from Shasikala's family. I enjoyed my first Traveling Spoon experience even I was solo trip. To tell the truth, it was a little different than I expected. ( I spent most of time watching their cooking. ) It was not just businesslike class, I liked that. They love Sri Lankan food and traditional ways of cooking. You should start your class from market tour with Shasikala's uncle, he knows a lot about local food. That was really interesting. I'm glad to know local family life. It's highly recommended.
- kinakotrip December 31, 2018
We partook in the market tour, cooking experience, and meal with Shasikala. Both Shasikala and her mother couldn’t have been more welcoming and eager to share their food traditions and culture with us. The market tour was not rushed, and we had opportunities to purchase some spices and tea to take home as well. The market was very local (we were the only tourists) and a nice manageable size. Back at the house Shasikala and her mother demonstrated the techniques used to cook several Sri Lankan dishes, some of which were new to us as well. Shasikala was very helpful, and adjusted the menu to suit our preferences without issue. We were thrilled that we got to cook many of the great dishes we had enjoyed during our holiday. I highly recommend Shasikala’s cooking class to anyone who wants to learn to cook Sri Lankan home style food in an authentic setting from a host who is proud to share her food traditions with visitors.
- Christopher
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $140 $144 $142
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $154 $148 $144
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $224 $222
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $140 $144 $142
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $154 $148 $144
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $224 $222
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-2:00pm 3:00pm-8:00pm
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.