Proud moment for Sri Lanka – Tasha Marikkar featured on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen Live

Renowned Sri Lankan chef, food curator and author, Tasha Marikkar, brought the vibrant flavours of her homeland to an international audience as she appeared on BBC One’s popular culinary show, Saturday Kitchen Live. This exciting feature marked another milestone in Tasha’s journey as she introduced the world to the rich and diverse cuisine of Sri Lanka through her debut cookbook, Jayaflava.

Published by HarperCollins India – named Publisher of the Year 2023 – Jayaflava was a heartfelt celebration of Sri Lankan cuisine, culture, and heritage. More than just a collection of recipes, the book presented a deeply personal exploration of the island’s culinary identity, shaped by its multicultural influences and evolving traditions. Tasha’s unique perspective as a Sri Lankan-born chef offered readers an authentic taste of the country’s most beloved dishes, along with engaging narratives, humorous local slang, and beautifully illustrated anecdotes that captured the essence of island life.

Tasha’s appearance on Saturday Kitchen Live showcased her passion for Sri Lankan flavours and her mission to share the country’s rich food culture with a global audience. The feature came on the heels of Jayaflava’s highly anticipated Sri Lankan launch in December 2023, where Tasha unveiled her book in Colombo and Ahangama, staying true to her commitment to celebrating her roots first.

“I was beyond thrilled to be featured on Saturday Kitchen Live,” said Tasha. “Sri Lankan cuisine is full of warmth, history, and bold flavours, and I loved sharing its magic with a very wide audience in the UK. Jayaflava is not just about food – it’s about identity, community, and the joy of cooking.”

Her appearance on the famed TV show was alongside renowned two Michelin Star Chef Andrew Wong and beloved UK TV presenter and author Stacey Dooley. During the show, Wong was even teased for ‘shamelessly’ taking photos of the book pages and admitting he wanted to try cooking the ‘Malay pickle’ recipe himself. Stacey declared the dishes of Black Chicken Curry, Leeks ‘Thel Dhala’ and Yellow Rice as ‘beautiful’ when she tasted them whilst Wong called it ‘super addictive’.

Tasha made it a point during her appearance and her cooking demo to showcase and talk about the country as much as possible, highlighting the different terrain and giving the Sri Lankan names of the dishes and ingredients whilst presenting. She said ‘It was a really wonderful experience to cook together with Matt Tebbut the host of the show ”

With over 80 easy-to-follow recipes, Jayaflava made Sri Lankan cooking accessible to everyone, from beginners to seasoned home chefs. The book also featured curated sample menus to help readers craft the perfect Sri Lankan feast. Tasha, who honed her culinary skills through short courses at Cordon Bleu and Leiths in London, blended her deep-rooted love for Sri Lankan food with professional training to create a cookbook that was both instructive and inspiring.

In recognition of its excellence, Jayaflava was awarded for Excellence in Book Production 2024 by The Federation of Indian Publishers in the Category of Art and Coffee Table books. This accolade further cemented its place as a standout publication celebrating Sri Lankan cuisine and culture.

As part of HarperCollins’ global 360 program, Jayaflava became available in leading bookstores in India and Sri Lanka, as well as online via Amazon globally. The book hit shelves in the United Kingdom and the United States in late 2024, allowing food enthusiasts worldwide to experience the richness of Sri Lankan home cooking. Post her live cooking demonstration on Saturday Kitchen the book sold out in the UK within days across several leading online book stores.

Tasha Marikkar’s feature on Saturday Kitchen Live was an inspiring showcase of Sri Lankan cuisine, highlighting the depth and diversity of its flavours. Viewers had the opportunity to watch her in action as she took them on a culinary journey through the heart of Sri Lanka.