If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, go grab your cuppa, this is the episode for you! 

I met Urvashi a year ago. We attended the same food writing course, held at the British Library. During the course we got chatting and Urvashi revealed she was about to embark on a four-week journey through Sri Lanka, exploring its food culture.  I knew right away Urvashi would have to be a guest on my show.

At the time of recording Urvashi was fresh from a month in Sri Lanka, we talk about the highlights of her trip including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Knuckles, Ella, Yala, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Hiriketiya. We talk about the differences between Sri Lankan and Indian food, including coconut use, tempering methods, rice-based accompaniments, condiments, and dried fish culture, plus standout meals like Priyamali Gedara and Ministry of Crab.

Urvashi is a former Great British Bake Off contestant. She entered the show as part of a challenge to prove that her middle years would not be boring! And post bake off, ger life has been far from that! She left her career in financial services, is now a successful food writer and cook book author and has also run a community café.

Biting, Biting is Urvashi’s debut cookbook which features fast and easy,100% vegetarian and vegan snacks using leftovers and store-cupboard ingredients. Urvashi takes you into the world of Gujarati-style snacking, where nothing is wasted and every recipe can turn into a whole range of snacks. She shows you how to turn a simple potato shaak ( curry) into a samosa, or serve it up on toast with an egg, or stuffed into a parotha or flatbread. 

Urvashi shares her roots leaving Tanzania to her early childhood in Tooting and Southall. She explains dhokla (a steamed savory cake) and how her book modernised Gujarati recipes, think barfi a fudgelike Indian sweet made from milk powder and ghee reimagined as millionaires shortbread. 

00:20 Meet Urvashi Roe

01:26 Bake Off origin story

06:46 From finance to food writing

10:49 Gujarati roots in Britain

12:59 Farsan and zero waste

15:43 Dhokla explained

19:03 Modern Gujarati leftovers

20:09 Why Sri Lanka for a month

21:30 Road trip and car hire

23:43 Cultural Triangle highlights

26:32 Sigiriya and mountain retreat

29:11 Ella tourism reality check

31:29 Tea factory and heading south

32:03 Yala Safari Reality Check

33:36 Gloriosa Flower Highlight

34:12 Kirinda Villa and Wild Beaches

35:34 Hiriketiya Foodie Beach Vibes

37:14 Galle Fort Food Crawl

38:39 Arak Tasting with Sanjay

39:34 Hikkaduwa Tsunami and Snorkel Stop

41:14 Local Innovation and Sri Lanka Pride

43:20 Sri Lanka Not the New Bali

44:00 Sri Lankan vs Indian Food

51:36 Gujarati Dinner Party Menu

54:35 Urvashi’s Standout Restaurants

56:13 Next Trip Plans and Tips

57:54 Where to Follow Urvashi 

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