Serendipity: The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.
An exquisite Sri Lanka dinner at the Biblioteca Pública is the jewel in the crown of a week of exceptional Indian films at
the Teatro Santa Ana. But why a buffet of Sri Lankan culinary delights to mark the closure of an Indian film festival?
Serendipity, no less. The jewel-shaped island of Sri Lanka, which hangs below the southernmost tip of India, has long been known as the Teardrop of India and the Isle of Serendipity and is an integral part of great adventures in Indian mythology.
The most accidental surprise, however, is a new treasure in San Miguel, the Sri Lankan-born chef Dilshan Madawala, who offers his professional expertise for the event.
The Biblioteca Pública has over the past year experienced a period of
rejuvenation with an increasing number of quality activities and events for the
Mexican and expat communities, making it the most vibrant educational and
cultural center in the city. It hosts the oldest scholarship fund in the city,
expanded English language programs for Mexicans of all ages, and educational and
cultural conferences and programs for all members of the community. The patio of
the 17th-century colonial building comes alive daily with hundreds of local
schoolchildren doing homework and international students of all ages in search
of information about Mexico. But the patio will vibrate with a different
intensity this Saturday when it is transformed into the setting for the Sri
Lankan dinner benefit.
A taste of the exotic
Dilshan has prepared an exceptional buffet menu of nine dishes that includes
traditional Sri Lankan recipes such as coconut
milk and shrimp “Negambo” soup and the mouth-watering vegetarian curry “Hatu
Maluwa” as well as Indian tandoori-style meats. The dishes offer another
opportunity for sanmiguelenses to savor some of the delights of this talented
newcomer.
Dilshan’s arrival in San Miguel is surely another serendipitous incident.
The 30-year-old chef trained at Switzerland’s
prestigious Hotel School Institut Hôtelier “César Ritz” (IHCR), and after
working in various positions in the hospitality
industry around Europe (Schweitzerhof Bern, Tonkin Irish Pub and many others) he
finally came to San Miguel four years ago
with his Mexican-born wife.
He made his local debut at the excellent French restaurant Chamonix as a
part-time chef; however, the possibility of a more
“normal” lifestyle proved too tempting after nearly nine years of total
dedication to the hospitality industry. Dilshan
swapped his recipe books for school texts and became an English and French
language teacher at the Universidad Tecnologica Norte de Guanajuato Dolores
Hidalgo. For three years he immersed himself in teaching, and as a self-confessed
perfectionist taught the largest number of classes at the institution. He only
cooked Sri Lankan dishes at home for friends, using spices sent by his mother.
However, when a chain restaurant opened in Dolores Hidalgo that offered a
wide selection of fresh seafood, Dilshan knew it
was time to renounce the nine- to-five lifestyle and return to the hospitality
industry and open a restaurant.
Dila’s Restaurant Gallery opened in January 2006 and hungry patrons lined up
patiently—and some not so patiently—in the
street. Success was immediate. Yet after a few months patrons from San Miguel,
tired of driving to Dolores Hidalgo every weekend, suggested to Dilshan that it
was time to open a restaurant here.
In July, Dilshan opened Dila’s Restaurant Gallery on Ancha de San Antonio to
the same success, captivating locals with
traditional dishes such as chicken and lamb curries and creativenew favorites
that blend his Swiss training with traditional Sri Lankan ingredients.
… and exotic sounds
A fusion of hindi and gyspy-influenced music for the evening will be
provided by Samir Belkacemi, who plays classical and
original pieces for the guitar and oud. Samir is currently composing music that
combines flamenco with classical Arabian chants, ragas from India and jazz for
his first CD. More music will be provided with contemporary Indian music videos.
