The Fish Ambul Thiyal I grew up eating — memory as a review

I grew up eating Fish Ambul Thiyal and have strong opinions shaped by memory. The version here triggered that recognition in the first bite — the deeply coconut-rich was right, goraka dried gamboge was handled the way it should be.

Sri Lankan cuisine differs markedly between Sinhalese, Tamil, and Burgher traditions on the same island. Growing up it was always a hill country tea estate restaurant, which shaped my reference point entirely. Ceylon tea alongside it is the only way it makes sense to me. It's hard to be objective about food you have emotional history with, but objectively: this is very good.