Chef Publis thrills Americans with “Taste of Lanka”

Philip Fernando

The Meridien ‘Embassy Chefs with Gail Scott’ was hosted by Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya and Mrs. Wickramasuriya at their historic Embassy Row Residence last week. The main feature of the event was the presence of the island’s most celebrated Chef. Dr. T. Publis Silva of Mount Lavinia Hotel to conduct culinary demonstrations.

This was the first of the series arranged by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington to provide a glimpse of the range of dishes made famous by the Sri Lankan chef.

The event was acclaimed by the all-American gathering from the Greater Washington DC area, including representatives from the US Department of State and Department of Justice, who were treated to exotic gastronomical treats, refreshing beverages and soothing ambience tunes, complemented by Sri Lankan hospitality.

The guests were treated to traditional Sri Lankan drinks upon arrival, following which they attended the demonstration and a sumptuous Sri Lankan dinner. While rice based ‘Komm Pittu’, Eggplant Pickle or ‘Moju’, Fish Cutlets, and Watalappan - a Sri Lankan desert were demonstrated and variety of other exotic food items were served for dinner.

Wickramasuriya demonstrated the correct way of brewing a perfect cup of ‘Ceylon Tea’, of which samples were gifted to all the guests together with Sri Lankan recipes as well as several other gifts in the Sri Lankan gift bag presented to each guest.

At the end of the event, attendees signed up to receive information on a tour to Sri Lanka to be arranged by the Embassy in 2009.

In his opening remarks following a short video presentation on Sri Lanka, Ambassador Wickramasuriya, thanked Chef Publis for taking time off his busy schedule to visit the United States and attending this event, as well as SriLankan Airlines and Sri Lanka Tourism for sponsoring the event, and invited all the guests to visit Sri Lanka, to experience the wonders of the resplendent island.

Ambassador H. M. G. S. Palihakkara - the Sri Lankan Permanent Representative to the UN, and Dillan Ariyawansa - Vice President, SriLankan Airlines (North America) and Sri Lanka Tourism representative in New York were also present.