@eointighe@foofighters@FooFightersUK ...He sees the girl, makes a beeline and proceeds to spend ages joking and talking, taking pictures and signing stuff.
This was a massive event, but for a good 15 minutes, she was the most important person in his world. I'll never forget the joy on her face. Gem of a man.
@eointighe@foofighters@FooFightersUK Thanks for sharing Eoin! Here's my Dave story: I was fortunate enough to get backstage at a Foos gig, and there was a small girl with special needs next to me with her father.
After waiting for ages where all the artists walk by, Dave walks over and spots us.
So my legend of a cousin Lorcan just realised he was kind of important to the creation of @foofighters@FooFightersUK He saw a video by Dave Grohl talking about why he got back to work after a visit to Ireland. Lorcan was out hitchhiking wearing his nirvana top when Dave stopped
@DanQayyum Great post Dan. Seems it's a real challenge for SL with their current situation, perhaps better representation of street eats is something the Govt could look at to delight tourists and help local businesses.
Tbh seeing all this dialogue makes me want to revisit Sri Lanka!
FAO: The Passionate Foodies of Sri Lanka!
I would like to address the recent discussions and potential offense caused by my previous comments regarding Sri Lankan food.
First and foremost, I want to emphasize that I have a deep appreciation for Sri Lanka. As a child, I attended a school run by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and developed strong bonds with Sri Lankan friends, some of whom I am still in touch with today. In fact, I can even sing your national anthem—a fun fact that highlights my connection to your culture.
Given my fondness for Sri Lanka, my family and I chose it as a destination for our summer vacation. We were astounded by the warm hospitality we received, the country's fascinating history, the friendly nature of the locals, and the breathtaking natural beauty found in places like Colombo's coastline, the magnificent trees, temples, and mosques, the awe-inspiring hills and winding roads of Kandy, and the captivating beaches of Galle.
However, I must acknowledge that we had high expectations when it came to the food, and in that regard, we felt somewhat disappointed. Allow me to explain why.
In many popular tourist destinations like Bangkok, Istanbul, Cairo, Beirut, Hong Kong, Mexico City, and Marrakesh, it is possible to walk into roadside eateries or street-food stalls and have a fantastic culinary experience. Each of these cities boasts its own unique culinary identity, with locals and tourists alike enjoying the local cuisine whether its Kebabs in Istanbul, Koshari in Cairo, Pad Thai in Bangkok or Tacos in Mexico City. While it could be due to our lack of thorough research, we anticipated a similar experience in finding easily accessible and exceptional Sri Lankan cuisine, which unfortunately was not the case.
As self-proclaimed food enthusiasts, we make it a point to explore not only hotel restaurants and buffets but also medium-range eateries and street food stalls to fully immerse ourselves in the local culinary scene. Our disappointment began with a small breakfast joint where the tea and egg roti seemed stale, and uneaten rotis or parathas from our plates were put back on display—a concerning practice. While hygiene standards can be questionable in roadside eateries worldwide, my primary concern was the lack of freshness and warmth in the food we encountered.
Despite considering this initial experience an isolated incident, we continued to sample various establishments over the next few days, ranging from popular cafes and restaurants to hotel buffets. The consistent theme we noticed was that almost every place predominantly featured international dishes on their menus, with a mere 10% or less dedicated to Sri Lankan fare, if we were fortunate. The Sri Lankan chicken curries we did have were predominantly bones, the chicken fried rice contained pre-fried chewy chicken, and the rotis were typically served cold. Admittedly, there were a few exceptional experiences, which I will share in the attached photos, and I look forward to exploring more of those during my future visits.
In recent days, I have received numerous gracious invitations from Sri Lankans to their homes, offering me the opportunity to sample the true essence of Sri Lankan cuisine. These invitations only reinforce my observation that authentic Sri Lankan food is not readily accessible to tourists and travelers in restaurants. I sincerely appreciate these offers and plan to take up these generous invitations during my next visit, which will be soon.
I would like to clarify that I understand Sri Lankan cuisine encompasses more than just a dozen dishes, and I regret making comments that may have conveyed otherwise. It was the overall food experience that left much to be desired, and for that, I express my regret. On my next trip, I am eager to try string hoppers prepared the right way.
I have noticed that many Sri Lankans (and tourists who have visited Sri Lanka) share the sentiment that the food served in tourist areas falls short of expectations. It is these incredible curries and dishes that you all enjoy at home and have shared on my timeline that I would love to see and experience in restaurants, rather than being offered pizzas, burgers, pastas, and fried rice.
I hope this explanation clarifies my previous remarks and conveys my genuine desire to explore and appreciate the authentic flavors of Sri Lanka in a more accessible manner. Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to discovering the true richness of Sri Lankan cuisine in the near future.
And finally your response has been loud and clear in showing how passionate you are about your food. There were a couple of people I've sadly had to block for their closet racism and general abuse but that't no biggie. Ayubowan!