Douglas Adams fans should get my tortuous (would you expect anything less) pun title and for those who aren’t Douglas Adam’s fans shame on you, you godless Vogons.

I always thought Douglas Adams was a bit of a genius, with a wry, nigh on prophetic, sense of humour. His hypothesis as to humanity’s origins (as stated in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books, including “So Long And Thanks For all The Fish” – see above) always rather rung true with me.

This (poking fun at our ineptitude as a species) suggested we are all descended from “the not doing anything considered productive” elements of the Golgafrinchain race  (telephone sanitisers, as well as TV producers, insurance salesmen, personnel officers, public relations executives and management consultants. were examples given). Those Golgafrinchains were tricked (not a difficult task) into leaving their planet on Arkship B (which was programmed to crash land on a prehistoric earth) on the basis of stories that their planet was doomed (sounds familiar somehow) by the “productive” Golgafrinchains (we will follow shortly, honest chaps, you are the vanguard, tip of the spear that must be saved at all cost 🤥, who then after slapping themselves on the back at the success of their jolly wheeze were wiped out by a virulent disease caught off dirty telephones) and voilà Adam’s explained the idiocy of the human race being a case of (accidental) survival of the thickest.

The indigenous cave man population (no doubt renamed “Cavern persons” by the Golgafrinchains) died out due to utter despair after being co – opted into countless focus groups, pre meeting meetings and sub committees on heath and safety issues in terms of potential pros and cons of inventing the wheel, why the triangle and oblong shapes didn’t work (but shall we try them again and, most importantly, what colour it should be so as not to offend anybody, probably need another focus group people, lets set up some pre pre pre meeting – 42, no make if 4242, should work for starters –  to discuss a motion to think about starting to pre plan). 

I mean, it does rather explain a lot as to where we are right now doesn’t it!!

Anyhow I nicked and bastardised (torturously) the title for blog purposes as I was at Ceylon M8, a Sri Lankan food stall/truck on Penarth Road and I rather like an excuse to waffle on about irrelevant shite.

With the weather set moderately fair (cue “We are all gonna die, as it’s 24 degrees C at midday and it’s likely you and your house will spontaneously combust any minute“), I thought somewhere al fresco was a good choice for lunch and with my mother and various other people I know who have visited Sri Lanka always saying very good things about Sri Lankan food this seemed an not unreasonable choice.

The place is tiny and clearly set up mainly for takeaway, but there are a couple of tables and chairs

and a “lovely” view of Penarth Road.

The menu is pretty short,

being predominately fried rice and koththu (Kottu roti) dishes (and a token salad dish) on one side and drinks and a couple of (unnecessary, in my opinion) burgers on the otherside

I decided on the koththu/kottu roti, being a traditional Sri Lankian street food dish which is a stir-fry of chopped paratha with vegetables, meat (or egg/tofu), and spices

I went for the chicken rather than the beef and from my scenic seat I could hear them chopping away and the sizzle as it all hit a fierce heat. Lovely smells wafted from behind the counter and really heightened my expectations.

What arrived may not have been much of a looker,

but boy did it smell good and it certainly was a very generous portion (easily enough for 2 to share or 1 pig – me – to scoff solo).

Nice textural contrasts in play with the soft paratha strips (few crispy bits would have been nice) having soaked up a good amount of the spicy sauce and crisp stir fried veg.  Plentiful chunks of chicken added nicely to the mix

Really nice level of spicing here, with fragrant fresh curry leaf,

pandan leaf (which bought pleasingly subtle nuttiness and a touch of sweetness)

and a good thwack of chilli heat.

In terms of the chilli, it was clear that there was a fair amount of it in their but it gave it all a pleasing warmthness of spice rather than ferocious heat. It all left a very pleasing tingle on the lips that was there even as I drove back home.

The strips of paratha not only soaked upped the spicy sauce, but also added carbs. This made it a surprisingly filling dish and I didn’t need anything else to eat that day. As I understand it, this dish is commonly eaten in Sri Lankan as a hangover cure and I can see why (not had a hangover, mind, for over 20 years now) it would work.

I thought it very good value for the £8.49  price tag (especially if shared).

On the drinks front, the offering is short but not without interest (I am not at all convinced by the idea of avocado milkshake, mind).

I am sure on a cold day the Celyon ginger tea would go down a treat, but it was a pleasingly warm day and thus something to slake the thirst was required.

On this basis, I was drawn to lime juice and a rather good choice it proved to be.

Invigoratingly sharp, but with the searing acidity temper just enough by the addition of some sugar.

Nice to see a receptical without any ice in it (it was still cold) meaning I actually got a full measure.

The lime juice worked a treat with the warming spiciness of the dish. Really refreshing, lip smacking, stuff.

The verdict

Really enjoyed my lunch here, with the much sought after trifecta of favour, quantity and good value. Can’t ask for much more. OK the locale is a bit uninspiring, but I was happy enough sat in the sun.

If the weather is less clement then it is all set up for take away.

Chatting with the guys running it, as I paid up, and they said they had only been open a week and business had been pretty good. Plenty of office workers in the area and flats to come, so hopefully they will do well. If I still worked in that neck of the woods it would definitely be one of my regular lunchtime haunts.

The details

Address: 59 Penarth Road, Cardiff, CF10 5GP.

Website: Can’t find one.

Opening times: