Food4Thought | Go meatless any day with Malayan Café

I visited Jaffna for the first time in my life 14 years ago soon after the war ended in 2009. I didn't know what to expect from Jaffna, I assumed it to look like India trying to gauge with the prior experience travelling to the country. I was so wrong to assume anything about Jaffna because it was nothing like India or any other place in the world. No wonder people were fighting over it!

During my first visit, my dear friend Nishanth proudly took the group of Colombyts to a place called Malayan Café. I can remember ordering some Dosa, Idly and Ulundu/Medhu vadai. Honestly, I'm a meat lover, so convincing me to have an entire meal with only vegetables would be one hell of a challenge but Malayan Café just blew my mind with its originality and the freshness of the food. I can still remember the textures of the food and the richness of the spices were used.

Since that day, I never fail to visit Malayan Café every time I pay a visit to Jaffna. Last December I managed to grab my fair share of Ghee dosa, Ulundu/Medhu vadai coupled up with the sambaru, chutney and dhal curry. I have to applaud the consistency because it still had the nostalgic effect on me.

If you want to try great vegetarian food in a common-folk setting in Jaffna, and if you have

about 800-1000 rupees to spare (for one person) then, this would be the ideal place to grab a wholesome meal.

One thing to remember when you visit Malayan Café is that you would not get plates to have your meal but you'll receive a banana leaf. After the meal if you are content with the food you may fold the banana leaf from the upper half towards your side (lower half). If you fail to finish whatever food items that you have been served, and as a result you have some left overs, then it is considered disrespectful. So make sure you serve right and enjoy the meal to the fullest!