Although I did a much earlier post about the “Battle of Lampreis” in Sri Lanka, I realized today after lunch that there really is no competition: The lampreis at The Dutch Burgher Union is hands down THE BEST and only lampreis worth eating. For all you novices out there, here’s a little refresher course: Lampreis is a complete rice & curry meal wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf. Authentic, traditional lampreis is comprised of the following individual dishes–samba rice cooked in marrow bone stock; tempered brinjal (eggplant) curry; a fish cutlet or frikadel; a mixed meat curry of pork, beef, and mutton; seeni sambol; fried ash plantain curry, and blachan (a tasty condiment paste made of dried prawns, onions, lime, salt and spices).
Though she appeared a little creepy on the No Reservations: Sri Lanka episode, a little Burgher lady by the name of Lorraine Bartholomewsz, is still the one who makes the lampreis sold at DBU, and she certainly gets massive kudos for her cooking. The delicate samba rice was perfectly cooked and amazingly flavorful due to the rich stock it was cooked in, yet not greasy at all. The tempered eggplant was melt-in-your mouth delicious, while the fried ash plantain had body to it and was not mushy in the least. The mixed meat curry featured tiny cubes of pork fat to enhance its taste, and both the seeni sambol and blachan were bursting with flavor. Instead of only one cutlet or frikadel, there were two. The fact that each individual dish would have been amazing on its own explains why this little package of rice and curry was the equivalent of a multiple foodgasm. If the lunch crowd in Manhattan could get a hold of this, FUHGETABOUT IT!
So, thanks, Lorraine, for your skills, and thanks to the DBU for making this available to the general public. I would recommend calling ahead and reserving yours in the morning as the lampreis becomes available at 11 am and is usually sold out by noon. While normal rice packets sell for about 120 rupees, the DBU lampreis is certainly no steal at 390 rupees, but certainly worth every finger-licking mouthful. Enter around the back of the DBU where there is a little counter where you can pick up your order, and they even steam it for you, so it’s ready to eat!
Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon
114, Reid Avenue
Colombo 4
Sri Lanka
Phone +94 11 258 4511 / +94 11 533 1661
Email – info@dutchburgherunion.org
I suggest you buy two, since like the original lampreis, it’s on the small side.
Trying to stay somewhat in shape, David 😉
I’m definitely gonna try this in February!
We were there last month and definitely will go back again next year the lamprice was the best so was the Love Cake and Milk Toffee saying that everything was fantastic.
Sure. I also think we should buy two. I entertained a visitor with Lampreis but at the end he was licking his fingers an indication that it was tasty but also not enough. If you can add 10% more quantity for the same price it would be lovely. I felt embarassed at the end. Muthu
Thanks for this, got a huge graving for the lamprais and going to Colombo in a few weeks. So hope they’re serving through xmas and new year.
Mrs. Suranganie Gunasinghe, Sri Lankan food historian, amateur chef and owner of a spice company named CurryMate, has a recipe which she had gotten from an old recipe book and she says it is the original Lumpreis recipe. The only difference between your previous post and her recipe was her mixed meat curry contained beef, pork, mutton and liver. And she said the egg was a later addition a la buriyani rice.
It was absolutely delicious and we used her recipe when I had a restaurant called Cafe Ceylon in Hell’s Kitchen in NYC in the mid 1990s and we used to make 150 lumpreis each day and sell them out in 30 minutes.
Wish I could buy some in the U.K.
Lampreis: Get yours before its all gone!!! In Canada,
Hot Bread, 720 Burnhamthrope West , Unit 9B ,Mississauga, Ontario. Canada. work 416 -831- 0501 Mobile 416-232-6339
Rice & Curry
For the Love of Sri Lankan Food & All Things Spicy!!!
Hi
I am a dart player from South Africa. I heard that I can get a good game of darts at the DBU. Can you please send me some detail and contact persons.
Jp
So how do you spell “lamprais” (as per the board) or lampreis – as per the web site? Would appreciate the real dutch spelling too….
lampreis is te dutch spelling.
You can get the best authentic lamprais, better than DBU made by Joannes Cuisine. checkout http://www.facebook.com/joannescuisine1 made by the daughter of the former president of the DBU and grand daughter of Wilma Schokman, famous chef of yesteryear.
She makes to her grandma’s recipe, and all our customers swear its better than the DBU.
Prices are same as DBU with mixed meat at Rs 450 and chicken at Rs 450.
Dimitri
Is the DBU open only during weekends? Do they serve lampreis for dinner?
No Mathew they are open most days for lunch.
The Chicken Lamprais are great !!!
I first tasted and learnt to make Lamprais from my Cookery teachers Mrs Lottie Jansz and her sister Miss Agnes Spittel of the Cuisine Milagiriya. They were sisters of wellknown Dr RL Spittel. One point made very clear was the correct spelling of Lamprais and of course yet to taste anything better.
If u want to try lumprise u shud try fab … Absolutely taste..then which u wud vote as best.