Hotels

Authentic Cuban Tapas

Chef Leo, the specialist in Cuban American cuisine at the Mount Lavinia Hotel has decided to add some Cuban flavor to your evenings from January 11th to the 17th. So the hotel known to many as a complete getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city life is ready to make your evenings, charming by spoiling you with an intimate and relaxing venue.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel's Terrace that is endorsed by the Newsweek magazine, as 'One of the World's Best Gathering Places' will be the buzzword for tapas lovers. The General Manager Anura Dewapura endorses, "the menu is extremely reasonable and the ambience is absolutely the best; no wonder they like the promotion last year and what more can you ask for with a view of the ocean and soothing music."

Tapas are basically snacks, canaps or fingerfood in modern day terms. Typically loved by Spaniards and indeed as the Spanish term La Tapa which means meaningful, has to be eaten between main meals as food that allows the body to survive until lunch or dinnertime.

Because of the length of time between the early-morning breakfast, and the midday meal, which in fact is really only eaten in the early evening, some Mediterranean countries have adopted the custom of taking a tentempié (snack), an appetizer or the tapita.

This break gives people a chance to socialize and to discuss work-related topics. And indeed it has made waves in Sri Lanka too for all the executives of Colombo who have made their way to Mount Lavinia Hotel for some socializing with tapas.

"Mount Lavinia Hotel is the newest hangout place for all food connoisseurs and especially if you want authentic Cuban food", one guest said.

The menu on the cards will have Cold tapas like Avocado and Onion Salad, Mariqutas con Mojo picante: Fried Plantain chips with spicy Mojo, Pulpo en Escabeche: Pickled Octopus served with Crispy Bread, Ceviche Mixto: Mixture of fish, prawns, and Crab served with cilantro lime juice and Tomato, Sandwiches like Media Noche : Mid night sandwich Soft egg bread with smoked duck, chicken sausauge, Swiss cheese, Mustard aioli and Pickles. Frita Cubana: Cuban Pork and Beef Burger topped with shoe string fries (try with Batido de Mango y naranja), Elena Ruiz: Slow Roasted Turkey, Cream Cheese, and Homemade strawberry jam. Hot Tapas like Guiso de maiz: Cuban Corn Chowder Cuban corn chowder with tomato broth, ham and pumpkin, Chicharones de Puerco: Crispy Pork Tossed In Citrus Mojo, Papa Rellena de Hongos.

Stuffed Potato with Exotic Mushrooms, Frituras De Jaiba: Crispy Crab Fritters with Lime Tartar sauce, Tostones: Double Fried Plantains with Garlic Tomato dipping sauce, Frita Cubana: Cuban pork and beef burger topped with shoe string fries (try with Batido de Mango y naranja), Ham Croquettes with spiced tomato marmalade, Empandas, Ropa Vieja, black beans and cheese with green chilli chimi churri, Arroz Imperial: Yellow rice and chicken topped with aioli and melted cheese, Batidos: Cuban Milk Shakes Very Creamy Mango and Orange, Papaya.

So where else to be to taste these tongue twisting mouth watering dishes - well head on to the Mount Lavinia Hotel before any of these dishes run out.

Thai style royal treatment

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Tucked away in the city, nestling under the roof of Cinnamon Lakeside, the 'Royal Thai' restaurant is all about treating yourself and your friends to an experience of Thai dining in the authentic setting surrounded by elements of Thai culture. The walls painted with ethnic flowery design in green and cream hues add an aura of excitement to those who enter the restaurant and sets the stage for a gastronomic adventure.

If you are in the mood to indulge your taste buds with an entirely different flavour from your everyday cooking 'Royal Thai' is the perfect dining experience for you.

Hot and spicy food takes center stage in the menu as variety of dishes from the spicy Tom Yam soup, sauted lagoon prawns with homemade chilli paste and coconut cream, sweet and sour lagoon crab with pineapple and cucumber, wok fried sliced chicken with cashew nut and dry chilli to red or green curry of beef with lemon grass and coconut cream.

However there are also an assortment of dishes which would suit all palates, spiced with Iherbs and ingredients like lemon grass, hot basil, Tamarind and coconut cream play a central role in the Thai cuisine and in fact offering Tamarind juice is a sign of welcoming customers to dine. Sweet desserts like candid banana, mango sticky rice, Mung pea cake served with fried onions and coconut sauce or exotic fresh fruits such as mangoes, jackfruit, papaya, grapes or melon adds finishing touches to the meal, harmoniously blending the main course with the finale. Not surprisingly 'Royal Thai' has been the talk of the town for its unique blend of flavours, ambiance and warm Thai hospitality. Ever since Cinnamon Lakeside was temporarily shut down for renovations, there had been non-stop inquiries on when Royal Thai will reopen to the public.

The key to its success lies at the fingertips of Chef Aree Jitman, the main chef at the restaurant.

Together with her colleagues she sets to work, her deft hands working wonders as she adds just the right amount of ingredients to make around 108 tantalizing dishes and desserts to titillate your taste buds. The restaurant accommodates around 85 guests per day and is a favourite hotspot for the night.

Private dining areas and space allocated for parties are also on offer. Guests are allowed to book in advance and make sure that a place is reserved for them at their favourite restaurant. So step into 'Royal Thai' and prepare to be adventurous as well as pampered with the best of what Thai cuisine offers in this side of the planet. Bon appetite!

Main varieties that are on offer at 'Royal Thai'

* Appetizer
* Soup
* Seafood Salads
* Meat Salads
* Vegetarian Salads
* Vegetarian Dishes
*Main Courses: Seafood dishes -

King Prawns CuttlefishFishCrabs

* Poultry and meat main courses
* Beef
* Duck
* Rice and Noodles
* Desserts

Cinnamon Lakeside :

Doughnut days and Sushi platter

Cream-filled, glazed, savoury or sweet, doughnuts are a great favourite with just about everyone! Believed to have originated among the Dutch as olykoeks - or oily cakes, doughnuts are now popular the world over.

This month, Goodies, the patisserie at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, rolls out a range of doughnuts in ten different flavours: perennial chocolate, tangy lemon, cinnamon, vanilla, orange, strawberry, butterscotch and signature fudge, almond and wild berry.

Doughnut Days will be on at Goodies from January 1 to the January 31. Certain small pleasures in life are worth taking time off for and tasting a Goodies doughnut is certainly one of them.

So, come along and treat yourself to one! For inquiries, please call 2491804.

If you need to grab a tasty and nutritious meal in a hurry, sushi platters are definitely a wise option. Be it an executive lunch, a business dinner or just a quick catch-up with a friend, sushi will always add that extra flavour to the meal!

This month, the Sushi Bar, introduces two sushi platters at fixed prices, ideal for lunch, dinner or any meal in-between! The first is the Sushi Moriawase Platter includes a delicious assortment of Chef's choice of nigiri and maki for two people.

The second is the Cinnamon Lakeside Platter, comprising nigiri sushi, Californian maki and sashimi with a tempting miso soup also for two.

The sushi platters are available from January 1 to the January 31 from 12 noon - 9 pm. This is undoubtedly a convenient and appetizing option, especially for all Japanese cuisine lovers! And who knows? It might even convert those who have yet to try sushi.