World Best Rotti Joint
I'm usually at the bottom of the marketing chain. Some times I have no clue,
whose my final client is. I was doing some work for one of my clients happened
to be the middleman, and as usual I end up getting paid small portion from the
total value. Anyway while I was in NY one day strangely I talked to the end
client, happened to be a British photographer.
After talking to him for couple of minutes he asked me - "Do you know the world
best Rotti Joint?" I didn't expect that question form him, but I immediately
knew what he is talking about.
He was talking about one of the small Rotty Shops in Hikkaduwa. There are so
many Rotty Shops imitating each other's identity there, it is very hard to write
the exact place. Matter of fact there is another Rotty Shop right front of the
same place too.
This place located just pass Hikkaduwa in sea side by the loud Galle road. Open
at night till morning like most of other Rotty Shops. I haven't drive in that
road for last 6 month, but when I do, I usually drive at night. Not for any
strange reason - I just want to save petrol and I don't want to get stuck in
Galle road traffic. When I drive to Hikkaduwa from Colombo it is the correct
time for me to refill my stomach and have a coffee. So I always stop at this
place.
I guess the whole family works there - cooking and serving. There are shaky
tables, cobwebs on the roof, florescent light, and they use firewood to make
Rotty you can smell burning wood. It may not sound very nice, but it has certain
unique feeling to it. Rotty do not have Spicy Sri Lankan identity, so you have
to ask them to make it spicy specifically if you like spicy stuff. They make Rotty with anything on the Earth. Rotty with Vegetables, Rotty with Cheese (5
stars), Rotty with fish, Rotty with shrimp, Rotty with tomatoes and Eggs (my
favorite) - Rotty with anything you can imagine.
A Rotty cost around 40Rs, if I remember correctly. Order two different type of
Rottys with home made coffee. But asked for the coffee first, because those guys
take 10 - 15 minute to make the Rotty. You can sit outside bench and talk to a
tourists and have the coffee until you are served. It is worth waiting - Rotty
is delicious. Delicious enough to talk about it even when you at other side of the
globe. Give it a try.
Labels: Cuisine, Sri Lanka, Travel
17 November, 2006
November 17, 2006 4:58 PM
I know those two shops, and i love the rotis there. You forgot to mention the chocolate rotis. They put an entire bar of Kandos chocolate in them and wrap them up. Superb!
November 18, 2006 4:49 AM
I think it is better to spell it as "Rotti" rather than "Rotty".
The latter uncomfortably reminiscent of rotton.
Being something of a purist, I like my rotti's plain, just rice flour and coconut and the few other things - maldive fish?? that usually go in them.
The very thought of a chocolate rotti sends shudders down my spine.
November 18, 2006 5:11 AM
I had the same issue with the spellings – finally I settled with the same way how those guys have spelled it in the shop. Even though that can be wrong, after all that is what they make.
But I will fix the title of the post – I think it is better.
thanks jack point
November 19, 2006 12:23 AM
Ohh yeah.. I like to fondly refer to the rotti place your talking about as Pilla 3 :-)
There was a time when i'd go down to hikka twice a week, and i'd always go to this place have a 1 cheese rotti, and 1 egg and tomato rotti and come back.. Yummy!
November 19, 2006 12:25 PM
Awww, I wish I could taste those rotis..all of them! You're making me want to come to Sri Lankan in the plane right now.
Ammi's hometown is Hikkadwua, and I always love going back there when I visit.It's so good to get out of the hustle and bustle of Colombo :)
November 20, 2006 4:37 PM
anybody recall a name for the roti shops? i dont know Hix that well but i'd like to try the roti out :)
November 23, 2006 3:08 PM
Guys, I went to the original Rotti shop last week. Still have that great taste in my mouth. For me chicken and cheese with tomatoes and stuff with hot plain tea is the BEST.
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