Travel

Jetwing organizes Culinary Tour of Sri Lanka

In the pearl shaped island of Sri Lanka one can encounter a diverse and splendid array of tantalizing food ranging from scrumptious seafood to the traditional rice and curry. The island may seem small in size as it is surrounded by the seas of the Indian Ocean but it is certainly not lacking in gastronomical delights which are not limited by the size of the country.

Cuisine is an ideal means by which to gain knowledge about a country and in a sense relive its experience personally. However to experience it first-hand would be an even greater event and that is what Jetwing Hotels in Sri Lanka seeks to do by offering a vacation built around the culinary arts. Created for the gourmet-travel enthusiast, Jetwing's Culinary Tour is an ideal way by which the discerning traveller can immerse himself or herself in the history and the ethos of Sri Lanka, its people and their customs and of course most importantly their food.

Jetwing's Culinary Tour seeks to provide food connoisseurs with a fortnight holiday spent in varied exotic locations sampling and actively participating in the excitingly delicious food-fare that the island has to offer. For with Jetwing Hotels food is at the heart of recreating a uniquely Sri Lankan Culinary Tour that will truly pay tribute to the island's amazing gastronomical delights.

The first three days will be spent at Jetwing Beach situated among the sun-kissed beaches and palm tree gardens of the Western coastal town of Negombo.

It is a luxurious and romantic setting within a town which has a strong fishing history and a reputation for providing the best seafood in the region. Lobsters, amber jack and pomfret are just a few of the delectable dishes that make up the menu at Jetwing Beach which will undoubtedly satisfy the traveller's palette.

The tour will commence with breakfast by the pool side with the Executive Chef Priyantha Weerasingha. A charming man, he will introduce topics such as "Spices" and "Coconut" to the tour with ease and enthusiasm, helping gourmet "wannabes" become better acquainted with Sri Lanka's culinary secrets.

The stay in Negombo will culminate with an exciting visit to "Lellama" or the Negombo Fish Market, where guests can pick up any fish of their choice and thereafter indulge to their hearts delight in an afternoon cookery class on seafood dishes with the chef.

The Culinary tour then heads towards the environs of the Southern coastal town of Galle which is full of the ambience of its Dutch Colonial predecessors. En-route to Galle, the tour will visit the home of the world renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.

There, the Galle Jetwing Lighthouse, Executive Chef Nihal Senanayake will host a talk on "Breadfruit and Jackfruit." At Jetwing Lighthouse, guests can wake up to a morning visit to the town's vegetable and fruit markets. There will be a special cooking class on rice and curry (curries being the more appropriate word as there will be a wide range of cooking expertise -from chicken curry to gotukola sambol- to gain from).

On the final day in Galle a visit to another hotel located close by, Jetwing Kurulubedda, will enthral new cooking experts with a fascinating lesson on the art of cooking milk rice or kiri bath with its famous side dishes of Ambul Thiyal, Pollos Curry and Lunu Miris.

Next, venture out for two nights on to the charming hills of Nuwara Eliya amidst which is situated the bungalow hotel, Jetwing Warwick Gardens. A safe haven of solitude, the hotel is situated among lush mountain tops and a cool climate which makes for a perfect getaway from the bustle of the coast. As guests enjoy Pink Guava and Black Pepper Caipirinha they can talk about "Pepper" with the bungalow manager and enjoy a "Planter's Roast" dinner which is reminiscent of a by-gone era of British colonial rule. Farewells resound as the journey returns to its original destination of Negombo. From the coastal beaches to the central highlands Jetwing has created an appetizing and scrumptiously delicious experience from head to toe. Food will not be the only delectable on the travel menu, as historical sights and cultural events will contribute to making this an all round palatable experience that will certainly be a "symbolic celebration of the shared repast."