For the Spice Spoons cooking class, it started out at 8am with shopping at the local fish and produce markets with the chef. We hopped in a tuk tuk in front of the hotel to head into town.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_75bdae10c201478893be5a4447c6488d~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_938,h_704,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_75bdae10c201478893be5a4447c6488d~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_efe6dbc0a3a0499eb56d042deadf90e4~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_938,h_704,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_efe6dbc0a3a0499eb56d042deadf90e4~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_6bc9dc78c01d47f3a867cf5e4628fb65~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_6bc9dc78c01d47f3a867cf5e4628fb65~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Soon enough we arrived at the Tangalle fish market.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_eaed1db3e8a9411a869ab005b8315890~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_eaed1db3e8a9411a869ab005b8315890~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
It was great to see the hustle and bustle going on.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_9fdddc419ba44390a2af9e96b794e751~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_9fdddc419ba44390a2af9e96b794e751~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
It's amazing to see the different sanitary standards compared to what we are used to.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_970fb677c7114ef6b15eca3fc694c762~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_970fb677c7114ef6b15eca3fc694c762~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Even dogs getting in on the action.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_ce79dbfec02b4ea5b77faf26eea158d5~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_ce79dbfec02b4ea5b77faf26eea158d5~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Yellow and blue fin tuna.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_dc063689ffe34fc28e3a29d765051c7f~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_dc063689ffe34fc28e3a29d765051c7f~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Squid as well.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_2fcd718017bb42c496ffdeaa1a806161~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_2fcd718017bb42c496ffdeaa1a806161~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Chef buying some calamari for us to cook up.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_ce4e804f3be44603baabb77dbe8ac686~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_ce4e804f3be44603baabb77dbe8ac686~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Chef explained more about which ships fish daily and which will go out to deep sea for weeks at a time.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_7b816e06720741d6997d5d753c551d46~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_7b816e06720741d6997d5d753c551d46~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Seeing the smaller boats on shore.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_6129b90cf577420fa9e16c0dfa87a1e7~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_6129b90cf577420fa9e16c0dfa87a1e7~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_bbcf7a5dfca24283944e7a586b6ae2b1~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_bbcf7a5dfca24283944e7a586b6ae2b1~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_41d51f95814f44e6a1ef75af1a179fd8~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_41d51f95814f44e6a1ef75af1a179fd8~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
After we finished our fish shopping, it was time to head to the produce markets.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_bf8a69a4c232499e8f9592b274f5b86e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_bf8a69a4c232499e8f9592b274f5b86e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_ef0478a7a4f449539dfde0bc476c992b~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_ef0478a7a4f449539dfde0bc476c992b~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
The first market we checked out quickly on our way to the bigger market.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_eec51516926d4101b0a665b13bc2f1cb~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_eec51516926d4101b0a665b13bc2f1cb~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_364c59bd59a84144b7d14ac7430b947e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_364c59bd59a84144b7d14ac7430b947e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_a7647c3a53e6499b998fe83d4da33c14~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_a7647c3a53e6499b998fe83d4da33c14~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Avocados, definitely different breed than the ones we have in CA.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_f40f1c3ae9c84a1b850325783a7b5521~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_f40f1c3ae9c84a1b850325783a7b5521~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
A big tennant of Sri Lankan cuisine is using ceramics to cook in, several vendors.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_d3c4c9eaff964216ac7fc5f9af037276~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_d3c4c9eaff964216ac7fc5f9af037276~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_05e19de396444d048a7f7307a96ab6f1~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_05e19de396444d048a7f7307a96ab6f1~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
The bigger market was awesome to see all the vendors selling their goods.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_ed96b42529804e81b5cb5600021e03a9~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_ed96b42529804e81b5cb5600021e03a9~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Really fresh produce.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_7d3740ef56e94e08a9c432e4b18e887c~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_7d3740ef56e94e08a9c432e4b18e887c~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
And some stuff that I didn't totally recognize like the long beans.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_4226bcacdc1645b1bf2541d86c1b53ef~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_4226bcacdc1645b1bf2541d86c1b53ef~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Chef buying different bits of produce for us to cook with later.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_515835097f0d4c3781c71106b500be80~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_515835097f0d4c3781c71106b500be80~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Dried fish, cinnamon and other spices.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_3a9b5eda9f2440f5be0e7670f703db20~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_3a9b5eda9f2440f5be0e7670f703db20~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Different types of dried fish used to add umami to dishes.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_cf0c4d1130c1417fa3c6827f2f41f101~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_cf0c4d1130c1417fa3c6827f2f41f101~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_55555560c4a94f6aab52d1b1146937a0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_55555560c4a94f6aab52d1b1146937a0~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
In the middle was a really interesting vegetable that I didn't get the name of, but we ended up cooking with. Eating it raw is super bitter, but if lightly fried, it's crunchy, fresh and with only a slight bitter after-taste.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_a4cb24f2a7c649b183366313470a6bc4~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_a4cb24f2a7c649b183366313470a6bc4~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_108b470e6b894df9908271243df11729~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_108b470e6b894df9908271243df11729~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
I loved how weighing things is super old school.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_18ca380a1ade4407ad2fb9ad7eb74294~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_18ca380a1ade4407ad2fb9ad7eb74294~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_3d61266e9aaf4f6eb0fb40f807b18e66~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_3d61266e9aaf4f6eb0fb40f807b18e66~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Fresh coconuts being husked.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_91bea09552f54263bac773d780832f09~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_91bea09552f54263bac773d780832f09~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Then back to the hotel where chef had his team prepare the ingredients and I killed a couple hours before the actual cooking class. Check out the cooking class part here.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c3468f_101fcd3065ba414a99baa162bc6ee70e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/c3468f_101fcd3065ba414a99baa162bc6ee70e~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg)
Trip links:
- Colombo
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