Chef Matias travels down South to Cape Weligama – an idyllic seaside resort, for his tea culinary demonstration while the others get acquainted with the old Dutch Fort the sprawls over one corner of the quaint harbour-town Galle.

Updated 6.00pm, 19th May 2014

With the last couple of days of the programme fast approaching, the team of chefs headed down south to Koggala for some sun, sand and sea and of course a few cups of Dilmah tea. While the others decided to beat the heat by staying in the pool or the cool interiors of the hotel spa, Chef Matias Palomo travelled further down to Cape Weligama to treat us to some more amazing food inspired by tea.

Cape Weligama is a sister property of the beautiful Ceylon Tea Trails. It adorns the sun-kissed Southern coast Sri Lanka like a precious jewel, perched atop a cliff. The sea below is the bluest of blue and the beach pristine. While parts of it are still under construction, getting ready for the opening mid this year, the vistas that unfold before you take your breath away.

This was our location for Chef Matias to do his magic with flavours today. In this instance the tea in focus was the Dilmah Fun Tea range with its diverse collection of flavours that includes old favourites like mint and caramel as well as some interesting new flavours like mango & strawberry tea. While the day simmered under a burning hot sun, Matias turned the heat on to plate up some delectable dishes before joining the others in Koggala. Pork ribs glazed in Dilmah Caramel Tea gastrique with smoked mashed potatoes and white fish with rice cooked in black pepper &tea and seasonal vegetables and an exotic creation which he christened ‘the tea and the chocolate’ were among the day’s star attractions.