Rice & curry is not a dish. It’s a decision tree.

The rice arrives first, then the curries — dhal, a fish or chicken, three or four vegetables, a mallum of shredded greens, a sambol, a papadam. Nobody expects you to finish them all.

Eat with your right hand

Mix a little of each curry into a small ball of rice with your fingertips and push it into your mouth with your thumb. It really does taste better.

Ask for the pol sambol

Grated coconut, chilli, lime and Maldive fish — the island’s most addictive condiment.