If variety is the spice of life then Varuni Kulasekera is a woman who likes things fiery.
At first glance, it’s not immediately apparent what drives Kulasekera, who began her career as an entomologist in Sri Lanka and now resides happily in Hobart, where she teaches mindfulness-based stress reduction. In between these two, seemingly disparate career paths, she opened a specialist tea house in Tasmania, introducing locals to the calming ritual of tea making. Something, she suggests, everyone could benefit from in the current state of the world.
But Kulasekera is adamant her choices, which saw her move from Sri Lanka, to the United States (where she married a rock star), and eventually to Australia, are all linked. They are all, she says brightly, connected to science. Science is Kulasekera’s guiding light.
“Science explains life and everything we do. Science is not static, it’s always changing,” she explains. “My mother was a science teacher so it was always part of our lives.”
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Gourmet Traveller.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Gourmet Traveller.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Barossa Valley
We hit the road for a weekend escape, exploring the best regional Australia has to offer. This month we head to the Barossa Valley in South Australia.
Legends of reinvention
As ultra-luxe hotel group Rosewood takes on three benchmark New Zealand lodges, MICHAEL HARDEN gets the read on this next chapter.
EVERYDAY
Easy entertaining, weeknight dinners and suppers to share, all made with speed, without sacrificing flavour.
Australia's most wanted
For love or money, building a wine collection pays dividends. NED GOODWIN reveals the Australian fine wines to put away.
MEET THE MAKER GREG LAMBRECHT
When US-based engineer Greg Lambrecht invented wine preservation system Coravin a decade ago, he changed the way we drink premium wine.
SANDALFORD
Following its recent reboot, this historic WA winery restaurant is ready to wine and dine a new generation of guests, writes MAX VEENHUYZEN.
PITZI
The team behind Fico trot out a chic new pasta bar which makes simplicity something special, writes ALIX DAVIS.
BATHERS' PAVILION RESTAURANT
A new era is dawning at a lower north shore landmark, writes MATTY HIRSCH, with an astute new recruit leading the way
VUE DE MONDE
A Melbourne icon emerges from a makeover refreshed and energised, writes MICHAEL HARDEN.
STEPHANIE ALEXANDER
Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we meet chef, author and original cook's companion, Stephanie Alexander AO.