Serendib

'Serendib' is the old Arabic, Persian and Urdu name for the island that later became Ceylon and today is known as Sri Lanka. It is also the origin of the English word 'serendipity', coined in 1754 by Horace Walpole and, so I am told,  comes from the legend of 'The Three Princes of Serendib', in which our happy-go-lucky heroes were making discoveries of things they had not searched for.

And so it was, after making a side trip from our base in Ellsworth over glorious rolling hills to the tiny village of Surry and back, that we happened upon a sort of hole in the wall distinguished by the Sri Lankan flag hanging in front and the name 'Serendib'.  Inside we discovered a delightful dish by the name of Lamprais, which, as the menu describes it, is a "Dutch Burgher influenced dish comprising of a fragrant suduru samba'  rice, mixed meat curry, brinjal pahi, seeni sambol, blachan, and frikkadels wrapped in a banana leaf and baked."  Not having the faintest idea of what any of those things look or taste like, we decided to take a chance.  Granted that almost everything tastes great on a bicyle trip, we were not prepared for this little slice of culinary heaven prepared by owner and chef Sanjeera Saresaskera, who will also regale you with tea, stories and charm.  If you are ever in Ellsworth, perhaps on the quest to get to Bar Harbor, don't pass it by!!!! Pure serendipity.