International Chefs' Guild Day celebrated in style
Anushka Nanayakkara
CELEBRATION: The International Chefs' Guild Day was celebrated
on October 20 and the Chefs' Guild of Lanka planned a day's event to
mark this occasion. The event was held with all Chefs in Sri Lanka
hotels islandwide.
Established in 1998, the Chefs Guild of Lanka, spreads its membership
to almost 150 hotels, leading catering institutions and restaurants.
The Guild has contributed immensely to uplift and develop the trade
by organising various training programmes, seminars, cookery work shops,
culinary competitions and social events.
During the tsunami the Chefs Guild of Lanka was actively involved in
setting up kitchens in the coastal areas of Balapitiya and Hambanthota
and supplying food for tsunami refugee camps. Recognising the need of
the victims the Chefs' Guild of Lanka provided between 5,000 and 10,000
cooked meals per day.
At the world congress held in Auckland in 2006 the Chefs' Guild of
Lanka received the inaugural Honorary presidents Humanitarian Awards in
connection with the tsunami cooking camps conducted by the Chefs Guild
Lanka.
During the time of feeding these refugees the Chefs' Guild of Lanka
made a firm commitment to find a way of settling the youth affected by
the tsunami and to give a proper training to them to take up and
eventually be absorbed into the industry.
The hotel school located in Hungama was launched on July 19,
initially taking off with a three month English programme and thereafter
a complete cookery training programme for six months, fully funded by
the Chefs' Guild of Lanka. The main cookery programme for the first
batch of thirty students will commence on November 2.
Don Bosco NGO granted the land to run the project and later on the
school has been named Don Bosco - Chefs' Guild of Lanka, institute of
hospitality and catering.
While the world celebrated the chefs' day new chef is born to take up
their chefs' caps and put-on the neck tie to create a new dish. "The
happiness of our lives depends on the quality of the thoughts". Keep
chefs' flag flying high until, you reach the top of the culinary art
which brings you to the world class chefs, said chef Patrick Phillips.
By ending the programme the Chairman Gerard Mendis said many chefs
have been sent for overseas exposure programs and WACS conferences to
USA, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Maritius, Dubai,
Israel, Netherlands, Germany and Norway.
He also added that local chefs have proved creativity to get the
exposure towards the hotel industry in Sri Lanka.
Awareness programme for jeep drivers and trackers
WORKSHOP: The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism
(ASMET) organised a workshop titled "An educational and awareness
programme for jeep drivers and trackers" on October 13 at the Sarvodiya
Hall, Thanamalvila.
Senior Vice President of ASMET Siri de Silva was in charge of
organizing this event. De Silva drew attention to the fact that Sri
Lanka is an avowedly tourist country despite its immense resources and
that we should do everything to attract many foreign tourists to Sri
Lanka.
The Deputy Director of Wildlife Wasantha Ratnayake drove home some
very salient points speaking from his vast experience in the department.
General Secretary of ASMET and Chairman Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation
Palitha Gurusinghe stressed that training was vital in every profession
to improve professional skills of people.
The Park Warden of Lunugamwehera Prasantha also enlightened the
trackers of the problems in the jungle and how they should perform their
duties as trackers in an efficient manner.
The event was a very useful exercise as an educational and awareness
programme for jeep drivers and trackers who meet and handle tourists
when they visit the parks.
Special offers at Ceylon Continental Hotel
DISCOUNTS: The Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo will offer delightful
discounts at the restaurants to the valued clientele during the months
of October and November.
The Heist Bar - The ultimate gathering place will offer a splendid
discount. You could sip your favourite Cocktail or Mocktail while
listening to the latest music at the Heist Bar.
Groove to the live entertainment at the Heist throughout the week
with popular bands featuring their latest hits and fashion shows by
leading models in Sri Lanka will come alive every Friday and Saturday
nights. Happy hour is from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. to
midnight.
The Coffee Shop - Cafe Emerald that overlooks the pool view and sea
view offers a special discount for four people dining in.
If four persons dine at the Cafe Emerald during lunch or dinner one
person will be complimentary.
Delicious cakes the pastry shop - La Patisserie de Paris will also
offer an unforgettable discounts during the special offer.
There will be a discount of 20% on all cakes like Black Forest, Mocha
Cake, Swiss Chocolate Tart, Pineapple upside down cake, Chocolate fudge
cake, Chocolate chip cake, Chocolate butter cream cake and Vanilla
butter cream cakes for all customers. |