ENJOY A CHRISTMAS FEAST WITH A SRI-LANKAN TWIST AT STREET FOOD RESTAURANT & BAR, THE COCONUT TREE

Pioneering Sri Lankan street food restaurant group The Coconut Tree will be giving the traditional ‘Christmas menu’ a south Asian twist this winter. The independent boutique operators are front-runners in bringing fresh Sri Lankan dishes to the UK, coupled with a laid-back, convivial atmosphere.

Whether it’s Sri-Lankan-style Split Sprouts with Cashews, or spicy Devilled Pigs in Blankets – their island-inspired winter speciality dishes are sure to warm the cockles on a cold December day.

A brand new ‘Ho, Ho, Hopper’ will also add to the festive spirit; a jolly and bright beetroot hopper (traditional coconut milk pancake) with Cranberry Lunu Miris (cranberry & onion relish), Curry Leaf Sambol (grated coconut with curry leaves), and onions caramelised with a hint of Sri Lankan Cinnamon.

The new Xmas dishes will be available for eat in or takeaway from 27th November right through until 31st January, and to keep spirits high through the festive period and beyond, The Coconut Tree is offering 50% off the entire menu and all non-alcoholic drinks, Monday – Wednesday (eat in) until the end of January 2021.

The street food pioneers said that they were originally inspired by the positive feedback they received for extending the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ offer into September, and now, they want to use the opportunity to put Sri Lankan cuisine firmly on the map.

Brand Director Anna Garrod said, “In the UK, Sri Lankan food is not as widely available or understood as say, Indian or Chinese cuisine, and we want to help change that; we want to be the ones to make it mainstream. 

Eat Out To Help Out gave people the confidence to try new things, and we met so many new customers as a result. We want to build on that momentum by extending the offer and giving people an incentive to give our take on Sri Lankan street food a try this winter.”

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In recent years, Sri Lankan food has been having a moment, with The Times identifying it as a key food trend, and BBC Food attributing its popularity to “most of the food world looking towards exciting new cuisines.”

The Coconut Tree’s take on the cuisine is made up of smaller tapas-style dishes embracing plants, fish and meat – it’s an abundant menu that naturally offers something for everyone.

Whilst curry dishes are featured, The Coconut Tree’s curries never use masala, typical lemongrass or other more common Asian flavours, instead promising plates of flavourful food infused with authentic Sri Lankan spices.

Popular dishes include ‘Hot Battered Spicy Cuttlefish’; green peas and ‘Cashew Nuts’ soaked and cooked in coconut cream; and ‘Cheesy Colombo’ – cheese cubes fried and mixed Colombo style. ‘Jaffna Goat Curry with potato’ is also a firm favourite, as is the ‘Black Pork’ which consists of diced pork belly cooked in 30 roasted spices. Finally, ‘Kotthu’ is a fine example of a street food served all over the country – made with finely chopped roti and cooked with egg, vegetables and / or meat.

In 2019, eminent food critic Jay Rayner visited the Cheltenham restaurant, citing a “raucous, rough-edged enthusiasm to the food” which manages “that rare trick of being totally laid-back and completely on point at the same time.”

To view The Coconut Tree’s up-to-date opening dates, times and to book a Xmas table at each location, please visit: https://www.thecoconut-tree.com/.

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Press Enquiries

Jane Cook: hello@talktojanepr.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Story So Far

The Coconut Tree is more than just a bar and restaurant. They are a family. Take a handful of Sri Lankan boys enjoying London living, team them up with a hospitality guru, watch them open a Cheltenham restaurant, a second in Oxford, two in Bristol, one in Cardiff – and now Bournemouth!

They were born making food an occasion. It’s always big. There is a saying back in Sri Lanka: Lay an extra place at the table – always have room for an unexpected guest, so they hope that The Coconut Tree reflects this kind of warmth.

Why street food? Because this way everyone can try a few of their home cooked recipes at one time, small dishes and mains, mix and match. Everyone is welcome to the table.

Highlights & Awards

  • No1 on Trip Advisor within four months of opening the first restaurant
  • Observer FoodMonthly Awards 2017/2018 – Runner Up – Best Cheap Eats
  • Taste of Gloucestershire Food & Farming Awards 2018 – Winner – The People’s Choice Award: Best Restaurant
  • Opentable – Diners Choice Award 2019 & 2020 – All Sites
  • So Glos Awards 2018/19– Winner – Gloucestershire Restaurant of the Year
  • Cotswold Life Magazine 2018/19 – Finalist – Customer Service Award
  • Cheltenham Business Awards 2018/19 – Winner – Best Restaurant & Bar
  • Bristol Life Awards 2019/20 – Winner – Best Bristol Business
  • Lonely Planet UK – Included in 2019/20 publications
  • Crumbs Awards Bristol & Bath 2019 – Finalist – Best Newcomer
  • Gloucestershire Live Business Awards 2019 – Winner – Best Newcomer
  • 21st Century Icon UK Award 2019 – Finalist – Icon Award
  • National MTM Awards 2020 – Finalist – Best Restaurant
  • Restaurant Magazine R200 Awards 2020 – Finalist – Best UK Operator
  • Cardiff Life Awards 2020 – Finalist – Best New Business
  • Vegetarian & Vegan Awards 2020 – Finalist – V Friendly Restaurant of the Year
  • Ox in a Box Awards 2020 – Finalist – Best Veggie / Vegan Restaurant
  • Bristol Life Awards 2020 – Finalist – Best Restaurant
  • So Glos Awards 2020 – Finalist – Best Restaurant