Chef
Cynthia
Shanmugalingam
Cynthia Shanmugalingam is a British-Sri Lankan Tamil cook who was born in England, visiting Sri Lanka in her childhood holidays and eating dishes adapted by her immigrant family at home. She is the author of “Rambutan: Recipes from Sri Lanka” (Bloomsbury UK, 2022), which won the Fortnum and Mason’s Best Debut Cookery Book 2023, was named as a best cookbook of the year by the New York Times, LA Times, Chrissy Teigan, and Bon Appetit.
She is the chef-proprietor of the restaurant Rambutan, which opened in 2023 and was hailed as “dazzling” by the Financial Times, British Vogue and London’s Evening Standard.
Her cooking has a special focus on Jaffna where her family comes from, and has been featured in The Guardian, the BBC, The Times and We Present.
Dinners
Dinner at Fort Printers
Galle Fort
Wednesday 24th
The Fort Printers, an 18th-century mansion turned boutique hotel in Galle Fort, seamlessly blends minimalistic design with colonial heritage. Its intimate atmosphere, handcrafted details, and fresh seafood menu, set against a frangipani courtyard and bistro dining room, create an elegant escape with unparalleled service and a rich historical ambiance.
Masterclasses
Masterclass at Galle Fort
Masterclass Kitchen
Thursday 25th
Learn cooking secrets and tips from the masters in their field, as Cynthia Shanmugalingam guides you through a demonstration of a culinary masterclass. This is held in our masterclass kitchen in the UNESCO Galle Fort, a very intimate event where you meet the chef, can ask questions and taste morsels of delight. Take advantage of this outstanding talent being here in Sri Lanka, and improve your dinner party hosting skills, surprise friends and loved ones – you can become the kitchen goddess or god!