By Chenelle Fernando
“Six packs aren’t made in the gym; they’re made in the kitchen,” they tell you. Nutrition has now been accepted as being a major determinant of fitness. You are essentially what you eat.
What better way to top a tiring, yet strengthening session at the gym, than to indulge in a meal that’s both rejuvenating and wholesome at the same time?
Located away from the busy streets of Colombo, Pure Kitchen is a cosy little outlet that serves up wholesome meals to fitness enthusiasts.
In business for just three months, Pure Kitchen’s co-owner Nishath Karim said that the outlet has caught the notice of the fitness savvy in no time. Needless to say, the presence of a well-established gym within its vicinity favours its success.
Founded as a partnership, Nishath, who has always wanted to own a café, now looks into the superfood aspect of the culinary spectrum. “This is my passion and I try to cook healthy as well,” she said.
Pure Kitchen is listed under the healthy food category on UberEats, enabling customers to get their food delivered right to their doorstep. At present, we were told delivery was their main focus due to the lack of sufficient seating and space at the physical joint.
From breakfast options, to granola bowls, refreshing smoothies, and super bowls, to wholesome pasta dishes, you will be spoilt for choice. After much deliberation due to their wide menu, here’s what we decided to try.
Tandoori salmon bowl – Rs. 1,450
The salmon bowl essentially comprised salad leaves, a pumpkin, and sesame seed mix, pickled carrots, roasted pumpkin, mushroom, and corn, and was offered with a hearty serving of quinoa together with a side of raita.
Customers get to choose their grain of choice; between rice and quinoa.
We were intrigued to taste the combination of salmon and quinoa, hence we opted for it.
We were relieved to discover that the salmon fillet wasn’t over cooked – usually, a rookie mistake by most restaurants. The salmon had great flavour, and definitely spelt healthy from the go.
Apart from that, the quinoa was cooked well and we felt that all the accompaniments in this dish had their specific purpose. We felt the tang of the pickled carrots, freshness of the raw veggies, and the cool of the raita.
For one, it was a hearty portion and the ingredients tasted fresh, a testament to the quality of their food.
We learnt that they change the dishes they have on offer frequently, although the standard components remain. We thought this was a smart idea; spicing up the menu to stray away from the ordinary.
We strongly suggest you try their burger bowl to try a one-of-a-kind guilt-free deconstructed burger experience!
Granola bowl – Rs.650
This wholesome dish included their in-house granola mix served with a good dollop of Greek yoghurt, organic bees’ honey, crunchy walnuts, and sunflower seeds. This dish pulled together to form such a great consistency.
The granola was perfectly sweet and crunchy to complement the creamy sourness of the yoghurt whilst the bees’ honey added some extra sweetness. All the components merged together orchestrated a symphony in our palate.
Power berry smoothie – Rs. 650
This signature drink is sure to please both your vision, with its vibrant purple, and your taste buds as it was jam packed with flavour. After devouring this, we couldn’t help but notice how they didn’t hold hold back on the berries; it is a definite power drink!
Made using blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, kithul treacle for sweetness, and milk, this smoothie we were told, is a meal on its own. It had everything you’d look for in a smoothie, the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
In the event their customers require the addition of supplements or superfood powders in their drink, they’ve got them covered.
Due to the wholesome nature of this drink, customers also have the option of switching it up with substitutes such as almond milk or just plain water.
Address: Body Bar Gym, No. 3 Jawatte Avenue, Colombo 05
Instagram: @purekitchen_sl
Facebook: @Purekitchensl
Photos Krishan Kariyawasam
