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A soon-to-be-married couple is looking to bring the authentic taste of Sri Lanka to the Central Market this summer with a new restaurant that aims to create an immersive experience for all five senses.
Jordy Thevenon and Hannah Vautier are set to open 'Little Jaffna' in the market next to SeeDee John’s in August.
They explained: "With no Sri Lankan venue on the island we felt like there was a big gap in the market, and this was the perfect opportunity."
The island's only Sri Lankan restaurant Unawatuna shut its doors at the Weighbridge in July 2022.
Pictured: Jordy Thevenon and Hannah Vautier are set to open Little Jaffna in the Central Market in August.
Jordy and Hannah said their new restaurant will be "an experience for all the senses" with "bright Sri Lankan colours, fresh spices, an open hot plate, [and] great playlists with drinks".
Little Jaffa will be open during the new extended operating hours on Fridays and Saturdays, forming part of a Government drive to turn the Central Market into a focal point of town.
Pictured: The restaurant will be located next to SeeDee Johns in the Central Market.
Explaining the inspiration behind the restaurant, the soon-to-be married couple said: "It has always been Jordy's dream to share his family recipes."
They continued: "Jaffna is a town on the northern tip of the island and is the home of Jordy's mum and family. The food is famous for its bold flavours and seafood.
"Whilst the south of the island is well known for its surf and tourism, the north of the island is like stepping back in time; full of unspoilt nature, Hindu temples, locals wearing traditional colourful sarees."
Jordy and Hannah explained that "Little Jaffna" is a nickname used within the Tamil Sri Lankan diaspora to refer to Sri Lankan enclaves around the world in places such as Paris, London, Toronto and Montreal.
"We want to put Jaffna on the map in Jersey!" they added.
Pictured: Some central market restaurants will open late every Friday and Saturday evening in an effort to make the food hotspot the "jewel in the crown" of town once again.
The duo said the Little Jaffna menu will offer a range of Sri Lankan street foods and snacks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Highlights from the menu will include hot chai teas, dosas, kuttu roti, and butter cake – a Sri Lankan speciality.
Jordy and Hannah confirmed that there will be "plenty of vegan and gluten-free options" available for eating in or taking away.
Hannah has a background in finance and accounting, while Jordy holds an MBA focused on e-business and product management.
Though new to owning their own business, both have previous experience in the food industry.
Pictured: The founders aim to put Jaffna on the map in Jersey with their new restaurant.
Several efforts have already been made to revitalise the Central Market and increase footfall.
These include scrapping early closures on Thursdays, developing a new social media presence, and introducing pop-up shops in vacant units for local artists to display their creative works.
Also set to open in the Central Market this summer is a local cookie company called Dough which has so far been operated from its owner's kitchen.
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