HOTELS

Sea Spray Galle Face Hotel

Seafood at its best:

The Sea Spray yet another captivating restaurant at the Galle Face Hotel is open daily only for dinner from 7.00 pm to 10.30 pm. The restaurant is located in the bustling Colombo city just a few steps away from the Indian Ocean, where one could dine under the stars in candlelight with the twinkling lights of the distant ships that are anchored near the harbour add to the splendour of the evening.

Nothing can match the sound of the sea music in your ears as you enjoy a gourmet meal prepared from the freshest of seafood.

The Sea Spray, an open-air restaurant, offers daily seafood dinner buffets with calypso music during the weekends. In addition to this the Sea Spray also offer ala-carte menus and is the ideal place to relax and rewind with friends of family.

The restaurant provides a magnificent view of the ocean and also offers the ideal surrounding for those who enjoy the concept of open air dining which can be done at the restaurant's enchanting seaside walk. The Sea Spray offers a wide selection of menu offerings, which include seafood, Mediterranean salads, and soups to a wondrous selection of meat items as well as desserts.

This restaurant is famous not only for foreigners but also among Sri Lankans. Guests who come to this place can taste seafood as well as meat items too. Every night they have action station of cuttle fish, prawns, crabs and seer without extra charges. Around 120 people can be accommodated at this restaurant and we update our menus every six months uniqueness of Sea Spray.

Sea Spray also offers the Asian BBQ Night and special Seafood Night. The restaurant takes on different themes on a daily basis. The dinnertime buffet offers a selection of grilled crabs, cuttle fish, seer fish, prawns, fillet and meat kebabs. The restaurant also provides an ice cream corner, specialize in a variety of different ice creams.

The Sea Spray is the ideal haunt for those who love high quality seafood and BBQs. Also the open air location provides the right ambience to enjoy gourmet cuisine overlooking the view of the sea, which is one of the signature features of the Galle Face Hotel which undoubtedly is one of the best breathtaking views in South Asia.


 

Hamburger promotion at the Galadari

If you're looking for sizzling, juicy, thick and great tasty hamburgers, then come take a big juicy bite from one of the famous 'Galadari' burgers at the Hamburger Promotion which will be held from October 11 to 18 at the Margarita Blue Pub from 11.00am to 11.00pm.

An a-la-carte menu offers a variety of burgers such as Tex Mex Burger- Steak house gourmet beef burger or cheese burger griddle or broiled served on a sesame and cinnamon bun with hot barbeque sauce and French fried potatoes, Mel Gibson's Burger Kind - Extra large triple decker chicken combination of herb and pepper served on a plaited sesame bun topped with bulls eye egg, Classic Chicken Burger - Aromatic herb and nutmeg marinated in minced chicken, pan fried and served on a toasted cashew and onion bun with apple coleslaw, Sheherezade speciality - Ground mutton burger mixed with generous amount of Arabic spice and served on toasted pine nut bun with grilled vegetable salad, Blue Surf - Minced sole and calamari with whole shrimp cake broiled and se.rved on a toasted thyme and cumin bun with dill butter, Veggie Lovers - Selected rich vegetables combined with mix beans & potato crumbed, shallow fried and served on a rye bread with game chips.

All burgers will be served with Cole Slaw, French Fries and a bottle of Coke. Definitely a juicy, complete meal which is well worth it!
 

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo:

Appreciation of fine wines

The Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo's mid week evening of wine appreciation is back. At this monthly gathering, guests are served a multitude of wines and spend the evening tasting and discussing at length the exquisite products of vineyards from across the continents.

All eighteen wines, nine red and nine white, are carefully selected by the hotel's authority on Wine. This month the selection includes French wines, Chateau Prieure Tours Graves Blanc, J N Moulis Garricq, JN Pouilly Fuisse Tastevin; Chiliean Castillo Molina Sauvignon Blanc, Miguel Torres Cordanilla; Australian Terrazas .Alto Chardonnay, Cape Mentelle Cabernet Merlot, Mathew Lang Chardonnay and Spanish Torres De Casta Rose just to name a few.

An appetizing menu, designed to complement the wines, is presented in a buffet for guests to relish in. The spread will include a selection of cheese, asparagus, carvery and canapés. Set in the recently refurbished Lounge of the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, the Wine Buffet has become a fundamental event in the calendars of the hotel's patrons. This month the event will take place on October 13 from 7:30 to 9:30pm.
 

New Director Sales and Marketing for Ceylon Continental

Ceylon Continental has announced the appointment of marketing professional Harsha Samaranayake as the Hotel's new Director Sales and Marketing.

As Director Sales and Marketing at Ceylon Continental, Harsha will focus on enhancing strategies in streamlining the Hotel's efforts to connect with its customers better, the announcement said.

"Service plays a critical role in the hotel sector and Sri Lanka is famous for its hospitality. Our hotel epitomizes this fact. We are happy that Harsha, who has many years of experience in the service industry, from a different perspective, and a strong educational background, has joined us to take the Hotel forward to new heights in the industry," Ceylon Continental (Director/General Manager), Upul Gamage said.

"It is great to be working with Ceylon Continental at this time, as the hotel has made a strong revival since the takeover by the Hayleys Group of Companies. A total refurbishment of the property is in the pipeline. Working towards re-positioning the Ceylon Continental in the resurgence of tourism in the country and achieving the new growth objectives will be challenging. I look forward to it with great enthusiasm," Harsha said.

Harsha brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role, being backed by an outstanding track record in sales and marketing in the service industry. He was part of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd, where he joined in 2007 as Senior Category Manager - General Insurance until 2008, when he was promoted as AGM National Sales - General Insurance. He also overlooked international operations in this capacity at Sri Lanka Insurance.

Previously, Harsha lent his expertise to Ceylinco Life where he served as Brand Manager and was promoted to Senior Brand Manager in 2005. He made his first career steps in 2002 when he joined Ceylon Cold Stores as a Trainee Brand Manager.

Harsha possesses an MBA specializing in Marketing from the University of Colombo, a Postgraduate Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and a Hons Degree in Physical Science from the University of Colombo. Harsha is an old boy of St. Joseph's College, Colombo 10.

Celebrating the official release of the new Beaujolais

Beaujolais nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It is the most popular vin de primeur, fermented for just a few weeks then officially released for sale on the third Thursday of November.

Beaujolais is the 'fun' wine on Mount Lavinia Hotel's wine drinker's lists.

"It's not too heavy, it's very fruity, and it's very approachable even for non drinkers. It's the only red wine that actually benefits from being served slightly chilled (this seems to accentuate the fruitiness in the wine)," GM Anura Dewapura stated. Yet good Beaujolais is still complex enough to hold interest. Best of all, there is a quaint requirement by French Law that all Beaujolais grapes are picked by hand.

Mount Lavinia Hotel celebrates the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 with a night of Beaujolais passions with French culinary extraordinaire and indeed re-creating the French ceremony in the heart of Colombo.

The frenzy the Beaujolais Nouveau's arrival generates is almost as high as the build up for a major award show.

Hence, the hotel will feature French culinary delicacies, and live music. "Guests will not only be able to taste the Beaujolais Nouveau 2010, but also explore many other wines, sample great food, dance, have fun, and enjoy what Mount Lavinia Hotel loves to boast wine, food and ambiance," Anura added.

"November 18 is the official release date for Beaujolais Nouveau, however we are celebrating it on the November 19, when the Empire Ballroom will celebrate the ceremonial release courtesy the Embassy of France," Anura stated.

Then from November 21 to the 27 the Governor's restaurant with our global chefs will have French extraordinaire menu and to compliment it the nouveau passions.

A variety of dishes ranging from Les escargots de la region ( Burgundy Snails with melted butter spiced with garlic), La Darne De Seer la facon du rhone (Cutlet of Seer, white grapes, fresh cream, shallots, white wine garnished with fresh asparagus).

Splendours of the sea surface

The Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is dedicating four days this month to a gastronomic journey through the oceans.

The day's catch will be brought out to the Terrace overlooking the waters of the Beira and the hotel's infinity pool. It is an idyllic setting for the seafood promotion which will take place from October 13 to the 16.

"Being surrounded by an ocean that teams with exotic seafood freshly available to us Sri Lankan natives, is truly a blessing"General Manager Neroy Marso said. "We need to celebrate this and therefore, bring to all our patrons, the 'Splendours of the Sea' promotion!"

During these four days, guests can revel in a selection of seafood including Red Snapper, Oyster, Sea Bass, Seer, Prawns, Crabs, Tuna, Oysters and Handallo. Guests may also order Lobster, which is not included in the buffet but can be served.

Once the selection of seafood is made, the diner is presented with a variety of preparation methods to choose from. Be it Chinese, Thai, grilled, fried or devilled, with the assistance of the Chefs on hand who will advise you on your choices, the meal promises to be a flavoursome treat.

The seafood will be accompanied by an extensive international dinner buffet consisting of salads, pastas, rice and lasagna, along with a variety of vegetable and meat dishes followed by a spread of desserts.

Beginning at 7.00pm, food will be served up until 11.00pm. Considering the popularity of seafood amongst diners, it is advised to make a prior reservation.

All ready and waiting for winter

Mount Lavinia Hotel combines the old and the new to offer diners an exciting line-up of dining and entertainment events

Come November, a week of Cuban and Brazilian Mojitos and Caiprinhas promise to get your spirits into full swing, and set the mood for the rest of the month as well as the year-end festivities in December.

While sipping South American cocktails, the Hotel's celebrated Chef Pubilis promises to send taste-buds on a gastronomical journey of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, as he delves deep into the cultural heritage to produce culinary masterpieces of yesteryear. The promotion dubbed 'We Dining' will bring back to the table traditional cooking techniques and authentic recipes dating back several centuries, including those from the Veddha culture.

Seafood aficionados will be delighted with the return of the all you can eat 'Crack a Crab' promo, promising blue lagoon crab cakes and mystery dishes such as 'Raging Crab' and 'The Lavinia Dressed Crab'. To solve the mystery head on down to Seafood Cove from November 11 - 17.

The monthly Winemakers Dinner invites wine connoisseurs, amateurs and novices alike to enjoy a carefully selected wine along with a gourmet dinner featuring dishes from its country of origin.

In attendance will be a winemaker from a celebrated vineyard who will give guests a rare insight into the world of wines. November 19 will also feature 'a Night of Beaujolais Passions' which will celebrate and re-create the annual ceremonial release of France's most popular wine, together with a French culinary spread extraordinaire. In attendance will be a French musical quartet who will add a cheerful touch to the night.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, Executive Sous Chef Indika will showcase his flair for American cuisine with a Thanksgiving Dinner the Hotel promises will be the best in town.

Chef Indika will also treat diners to his specialty of Nuevo Latino cuisine, while also lending a new twist to the Slow Food convivium.

Come December, 'Christmas Around The World' will offer diners a daily dinner buffet, featuring each day the cuisine of a specific country, ranging from Argentina and Sweden to the Philippines and Australia.

On Christmas Eve guests can choose between a sit-down dinner at the ballroom or a dinner buffet dinner on the terrace, while the Christmas Eve lunch will see Santa riding in on a sleigh with gifts for the children, followed by a Gospel Brunch on December 26.

The soulful sounds of 'Soul Sounds', fresh from their success at the World Choir 2010 with a bronze and silver medal: Voice Print, the Thomian Christmas Choir by Vinod Senadheera will echo in the essence of Christmas, for the season.

This year too, New Year's Eve at the Mount Lavinia Hotel will resemble a night at the Oscars, complete with a red carpet, 'paparazzi' jostling each other for guest photographs, and even miniature Oscar figurines. With Misty jamming up the dance floor, it promises to be a truly star studded night.

In addition, year-long happenings such as the daily international dinner buffets, Friday nights dedicated to a World on a Grill, Saturday Jazz nights and Jazz Sunday brunches are reason enough for you to head on down to the Hotel whenever it catches your fancy.

Among the achievements Dewapura, who marks his second year as the Hotel's GM in December, is proudest of, is the Hotel achieving Bronze status as an EarthCheck green hotel, the travel and tourism industry's most popular sustainability initiative and guidelines.

The launch of a new website, a refurbishing program which he says will retain the Hotel's famed old world charm while delivering modern facilities and services, greener processes and a strategic realignment of processes are some of the changes Dewapura believes will see the Hotel emerge as Sri Lanka's premier heritage hotel.

Dine in style

Urban Kitchen launches new menu:

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Walk into the Urban Kitchen (UK) and you are greeted by the mouthwatering aroma of freshly prepared food sizzling on the fire and the sight of an assortment of scrumptious dishes which are being prepared within a matter of minutes.

This is the atmosphere which greets you at this unique food court concept at UK. The place offers a variety of delicious snacks and hot meals perfectly partnered with fresh juices, flavoured coffees and desserts.

Freshly made by the Brigade, their range includes over 35 vegetarian dishes from around 150 tantalizing meals. UK's signature dish the Seafood Laksa, a spicy Malaysian noodle soup, is a must try dish for new entrants.

"Our idea is to provide the customers with good food at unbeatable prices. The food are prepared with great interest and simplicity, retaining its goodness and nutritional value. We developed this concept two years back and it had been an instant success," UK chef cum part owner Jerome La' Brooy said.

Armed with 27 years of experience abroad Chef La' Brooy had introduced a selection of goodies which is not found anywhere in the isle.

Located at 69, Hyde Park Corner, Colombo 10, right in the heart of the city and attached to Arpico Super Center, UK is a quiet place to relax and indulge with your loved ones.

Comfortable egg chairs and colourful lighting adorn UK, setting off an inviting aura for young and old. The place also includes an outdoor dinning area which delivers tasty pizzas .

The working crowd infests the premises during lunch while there are some delectable shorteats on offer for those who like to grab a bite along with their tea in the afternoon. Quipped with a wide selection of dishes for customers of variable tastes, UK had become synonymous for providing their customers with an out of this world experience.

Another plus point is that the eating establishment recently clinched the hygiene award which was handed over by the Colombo Food Authority. The open kitchen atmosphere at UK allows customers to take a peek at how the chefs engage in their gastronomic ventures. There is no room to question the cleanliness of the food as the preparations are done within your view.

Look and learn seminar

Gearing to face world championship competitions:

Renowned hair specialist, international trainer and judge, Joakim Roos will be in Colombo from October 18 to 24 to coach the Sri Lankan team of hairdressers and beauticians as they gear to participate at this year's Organization Mondiale Coiffure (OMC) Hair World in Paris, the world hairdressing championships being held from November 6, 7 and 8.

This highly competitive and popular event will provide an opportunity for local hairdressers and beauticians to showcase their talents on the global arena. The competition is owned and organized by OMC, the world's largest beauty organization with over 70 member countries and 500,000 salon owners, which strives to contribute towards escalating the salon industry through promoting OMC Hair World, sharing ideas and competencies and providing education of high standards.

The team participating in the competition comprises winners of OMC Asia Cup 2010, which was held in Sri Lanka for the first time in March this year with teams from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Greece, Pakistan, Macau, and Sri Lanka.

In addition to training the participants, Joakim will also conduct a hair seminar for stylists, hairdressers and other professionals in Sri Lanka's hair and beauty industry. The seminar aims to provide participants an opportunity to sharpen their skills and stay informed of the new techniques and trends on the global stage.

The seminar will be held on October 19 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Bishops College Auditorium. Presentations will be made on a variety of subjects such as Trend Cuts and Colours, Bridal Hair, Bridal Make Up and Creative fashions - Creative Day Styles and Hair by Night.

The seminar will also showcase collections, including the OMC prestige Club 2010 collection, while the highlight of the event will be the Full Fashion Look. The presentations will be carried out on mannequin and live models.

Considered to be the largest professionally organized hair and beauty seminar for the trade, the day event will also give the chance for professionals from various salons to create and build contact with opinion leaders and other members of the industry.

Joakim is the winner of numerous international competitions. He is the Senior Educator and Artistic Director of Pivot Point International. Joakim will be in Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by OMC Sri Lanka, on his way to China, to train the National Team of China for Hair World.

"We wanted to make this opportunity available for the industry at large, which is why we will be conducting this seminar for the local beauticians and hairdressers," explained President of OMC Asia Zone and Founder President of SLAHAB Nayana Karunaratne.

She noted that the seminar, conducted by Joakim, will no doubt be of great value to the industry, as it progresses towards a promising future.