The JK Journal
Sri Lankan food explained, event catering advice and stories from the team.
What is Kothu Roti? The Sri Lankan Street Food Taking London by Storm
If you've never heard the sound of kothu roti being made, you're missing something. The rhythm of two metal scrapers hitting a flat iron griddle, chopping, mixing, folding, is as much a part of the experience as the food itself.
Read More →What is a Hopper? Sri Lanka's Most Iconic Dish Explained
A hopper is a bowl-shaped crepe made from fermented rice batter and coconut milk. Crispy and lacy around the edges, soft in the middle. Unlike anything else you've eaten.
Read More →Why a Live Cooking Station Changes the Energy of Your Event
There's a moment at almost every event we run a live station at. Someone hears the sound, the chopping, the sizzle, and they come over to look. Then someone else comes. Before long there's a crowd, and the food hasn't even been served yet.
Read More →Sri Lankan Wedding Catering in London: Everything You Need to Know
Food is one of the things people remember most about a wedding. Not the speeches. Not the venue. The food. Sri Lankan wedding catering gives you big, memorable flavours that feel celebratory in a way that generic wedding food simply doesn't.
Read More →How Much Does Sri Lankan Catering Cost in London?
It's the first question most people have and nobody wants to say it out loud. Fair enough. Here's the honest answer. Sri Lankan catering in London typically ranges from £35 to £85 per head. Let's break down what moves the price.
Read More →Why Sri Lankan Food is Having a Moment in London
A few years ago, Sri Lankan food was relatively unknown in London. Today it's one of the most talked-about cuisines in the city. Here's why, and what makes it stand out from everything else.
Read More →How Jaffna Kitchen Started During a Pandemic and What We've Built Since
Most businesses wait for the right moment. We started in the worst possible one. COVID lockdown, 2020. No events, no gatherings, no obvious reason to think a catering business would work. But the idea had been there long before the pandemic.
Read More →Jaffna: The City Behind Our Food
Most people who know Sri Lankan food know the coconut curries and the hoppers. Fewer know that Sri Lanka's most distinctive food comes from its north, from a city called Jaffna, 250 miles from Colombo, separated by culture, language and cooking style.
Read More →Dissect a Dish: The Sri Lankan Mutton Roll
Every event we do, people ask about the mutton rolls. Not where they can get seconds, though that happens too, but what they are, how they're made, why they taste the way they do. Here's the full breakdown.
Read More →Planning an Event in South London? What to Look for in a Venue
South London has some of the most varied event spaces in the city, from riverside venues to garden spaces to historic halls. We've catered at a lot of them. Here's what we've learned.
Read More →Corporate Catering London: Sri Lankan Office Lunches That Get Talked About
Most office catering is forgettable. Sri Lankan corporate catering from Jaffna Kitchen is something different. Here's what we offer and how to book.
Read More →Book a Sri Lankan Wedding Caterer in London: What Full Service Looks Like
You've got the venue, the dress, the guest list. Now you need a caterer who can do the food justice. Here's what full-service Sri Lankan wedding catering from Jaffna Kitchen actually looks like on the day.
Read More →Live Cooking Station Hire London: Sri Lankan Street Food at Your Event
A live cooking station does something a buffet can't. It gives your guests something to watch, something to wait for, something to remember. Here's how it works and how to hire one.
Read More →Festival Food Stall Hire London: Book Jaffna Kitchen for Your Event
Running a festival, community event or outdoor market in London and looking for a street food vendor? Here's what it looks like to have Jaffna Kitchen at your event.
Read More →Birthday Party Catering in South London: Make It a Night to Remember
A birthday party should feel like a celebration. The food is a big part of that. Here's what Sri Lankan birthday party catering from Jaffna Kitchen looks like, and why it works so well.
Read More →Drop-Off Catering London: Fresh Sri Lankan Food Delivered to Your Door
Drop-off catering is exactly what it sounds like: we cook, we deliver, you eat. No team to manage, no setup to handle, just great food that arrives hot and ready to serve.
Read More →Corporate Away Day Catering London: Food That Actually Brings Teams Together
The food at a corporate away day is either something people notice for the right reasons or something they politely ignore. Here's why Sri Lankan catering works particularly well for team events.
Read More →Outdoor Event Catering London: Sri Lankan Food for Garden Parties and Festivals
Sri Lankan street food was made for outdoors. Here's what we offer for garden parties, outdoor celebrations and festival catering across London.
Read More →Engaged to a Sri Lankan? Here's What to Expect at the Wedding Feast
If you're engaged to a Sri Lankan and you've never been to a Sri Lankan wedding, the food is one of the things people talk about most afterwards. Here's what to expect, from the spread to the traditions.
Read More →What Food Is Served at a Sri Lankan Wedding? A Complete Guide
Sri Lankan wedding food varies by region, family and tradition, but there are dishes and structures you'll find at almost every celebration. Here's the full picture, from starters to the main spread.
Read More →Sri Lankan Engagement Party Food: Traditions, Dishes and What to Order
A Sri Lankan engagement is a significant family event and the food is a key part of it. Here's what's typically served, the traditions behind it and what to think about when catering for guests from different backgrounds.
Read More →Why Sri Lankan Food Tastes Like Nothing Else: The Dutch, Malay and Indian Influences
Sri Lanka sits at the centre of one of the world's oldest trade routes. Every empire and trading power that passed through left something behind. The food is the living record of all of it.
Read More →Sri Lankan Food vs Indian Food: What's Actually Different?
Sri Lankan food and Indian food are related, but they're not the same thing. People who know one often assume they know the other. They don't. Here's what makes Sri Lankan food distinct.
Read More →The Spices That Make Sri Lankan Food Unique
Ceylon was one of the most important spice islands in the world for centuries. That history isn't just heritage. It's still in the food. Here's what makes the Sri Lankan spice profile unique.
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