Saturday, 30 November 2013 00:00
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By Cheranka Mendis
If there is one thing I like about Mitsi’s, apart from the absolutely delicious goodies that she whips up for her beloved customers, it is her vibrant personality. Always with a smile and a twinkle in her eye, Mitsi resembles the typical baker in fairytale movies. You can picture her with a basket full of cookies, handing them out one by one to grinning children.
Having opened up her café, Mitsi’s Delicacies, at Bagatale Road three months ago (she was located down Barnes Place before), Mitsi has managed to imprint her vibrant personality onto the plush and comfortable setting that now offers her customers a welcoming stopover for a mug of hot chocolate – with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and marshmallows – or a plate of buffalo chicken wings, plus loads more.
Bright purple chairs make for perfect seating inside the cafe while gleaming wooden tables are lined up outside. And from the kitchen come wonderful aromas of gastronomic delights that are sure to make even those who are stuffed to bursting point hungry again.
A chat with Mitsi
Momentarily leaving aside her apron and gloves, Mitsi sat down with the Weekend FT for a brief chat about her cafe and her big plans for the future.
Originally from Serbia, Mitsi’s love affair with Sri Lanka stretches many years back when she came here and did not want to return. “I returned 16 years after and stayed at the Galle Face Hotel for six months. Again, I didn’t want to go back and my money was running out. If I was to stay here, I needed to find something to do,” she explained – and so she turned to baking.
A psychologist by profession, baking is a talent passed down from her mother, who she says was a great cook. Three years since, she couldn’t have been happier. “I chose to do this. It’s beautiful. I want to bake more and more. This is my true passion.”
To help her realise this passion, her mother’s large cookbook came in handy. “Many recipes were from my mum, and certain dishes have been inspired from those. This is the taste of my childhood. Whether you are 13, 50 or 70, the taste of your childhood is something you will never forget.”
Favourites on the menu
Hoping to share with Sri Lanka some of these flavours, Mitsi will soon launch a separate menu which includes some of her favourites from the past. Stuffed bell peppers, moussaka, stuffed cabbage, corn bread and the works – “these are good food and healthy too,” Mitsi said.
Dishes on the menu will change every two months or so and will be ready to tantalise our taste buds in two weeks.
Commenting on the move from Barnes Place to Bagatale Road, she noted that she wanted to expand from the small bakery to a coffee shop. The old place as I remember always had the aroma of warm bread and cake and it was always exciting to see her opening up the large refrigerator and bringing out perfectly baked goodies and icing them right in front of us.
Just like her customers, she loved the old place too. “You know how they say some places are good luck for people. Well then, this was my lucky place. But it was time to move on and I found this, which is just what I wanted.”
Top dishes
When we ask about the food she offers and what her favourite is, she cannot answer, “it’s not fair,” she grins. However, some of her most popular dishes are Sri Lankan baked crab, Mongolian fried rice, penne with prawns and grill jerk chicken, she added.
“I love experimenting with new recipes. It is exciting and sometimes you know it is going to be good when you add on all the ingredients.”
Some of the fast-moving dishes are the lasagne with beef, chicken or vegetables and the burgers in the savoury category. While she offers wild mushroom cappuccino with tomato brochette and tom yum (seafood or vegetable) soups, a variety of salads, snacks and sandwiches along with the main dishes, one can expect a complimentary French vegetable terrine to go. “This is colourful and tasty French food. My diners love it.”
The mains also include grilled fish, traditional fish and chips, grill beef medallion steak, and mutton tagin with Arabic rice.
Delightful desserts
More than the savouries, Mitsi’s fame lies in extraordinary catering to the sweet tooth of Colombo’s foodies. Her Death by Chocolate is sinfully delightful – so rich in chocolate and taste.
The black and white chocolate cake is a lighter version, but still perfect in a way only she can deliver. The strawberry meringue, tiramisu and the French macarons are fast sellers, Mitsi added.
“The French macarons and cookies are now being ordered as a substitute for wedding cake,” she said. “And whatever cake you want, you can bring it here and we will make sure you get what you want.”
A range of beverages from ice teas to fresh juices to smoothies, milkshakes and caffeine and non-caffeine drinks are also available at the café, while Christmas goodies will be out soon as well.
Pix by Upul Abayasekara
