Literature is replete with descriptions of food or paeans about the importance of food. Even the act of reading is best done with food or drink in hand, after all, and there’s an oft-quoted Virginia Woolf axiom which rings true for most things in life — “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” Books nurture the mind and food soothes the soul and body and it is only natural that both go hand in hand effortlessly.
This year, Unilever Foods brings together the perfect food and book pairings to create a hedonistic experience for book lovers and food enthusiasts for the 2017 Fairway Galle Literary Festival – Sri Lanka’s most anticipated literary event.
Festival goers can curl up with their brand spanking new book purchases at the colourful lit café, or form friendships with fellow book lovers with a cuppa in hand – the Lipton pop-up cart at the lit café will ensure that there is a free flow of both iced and hot Ceylon tea for all festival goers.
Meanwhile the Lipton Tea and Poetry sessions are poised to unravel all things poetry-related over carefully designed menus and stimulating conversations. Fancy discussing the nuances of poetry with performer, musician and poet, Jemima Foxtrot, and Lankan author, Afdhel Aziz? Or would you prefer debating about pushing the limits of the genre and sparring over poetic licenses with performance poet, Luke Wright and Indian writer, Anita Nair, over a spread of tea inspired food? Perhaps you’d like to explore contemporary poetry with international best-selling author, Sophie Hannah, or British writer and poet, Mallika Booker over a hot cup of tea? Lipton’s Tea and Poetry sessions will bring alive the magic of the literary genre with a host of international writers and an array of drinks and mouth-watering pastries by Iron Chef Thailand Pastry Champion, Jason Licker.
For a quick pick-me-up or a breather between the literary sessions, talks and walks, festival goers can head over to the Lipton Tea Room at Sipnara located just opposite the Hall de Galle for a refreshing cup of tea and experience the amazing potential of tea, redefined beyond a humble beverage. The Lipton Tea Room will serve up a dizzying choice of tea infused drinks and mocktails, paired with food to offer a unique culinary experience to satiate tea and lit lovers.
Those who head to Galle for the lit festival will also get a chance to taste the many stories of Sri Lanka and sample its tantalizing flavours and exotic spices. The Unilever Food Lounge will be set up under the shady tree canopies of the sprawling Law Court Square. Bring a friend and a good book and rediscover the historical Galle Fort through its food and numerous stories – there’ll be short stories and short eats galore, with a menu curated especially for the festival.
The Lounge will feature a chill-out area for tired festival goers to kick off their shoes, listen to lounge music and unwind over a plate of delectable kotthu or crisp roast paan and curry. The food lounge will feature continental and Sri Lankan items for varying palates and will have a menu infused with well-loved Unilever brands such as Astra, Marmite, Knorr and Lipton. Themed nights dedicated to special foods will also be a unique feature, and the Unilever Food Lounge will serve up new and exciting dishes during the course of the festival.
As a Gold Partner for the Fairway Galle Literary Festival which is scheduled to be held from 11 – 15 January 2017, Unilever Foods will be bringing the best of the food world to the world of literature, upping the literary ambience for local and international book lovers who throng for the event. Bringing together books, food, fun, music and drinks – the Unilever Food Lounge, Lipton pop-up cart, Lipton Tea and Poetry sessions and Lipton Tea Room will be sure to have something to please everyone.