Chef Carlos Gomez brings in Latin America to MLH

Demi Hewamanna

Mount Lavinia Hotel is one of my top 5 favourite places to go sit down and just stare at the most breathtaking view of Colombo from their Terrace. And with the rain pouring down heavily these days, it’s even more beautiful to look at as the city hides beneath soft curtain of mist.

All this was admired while I waited for the newest guest chef of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Carlos Gomez who is here to host the Latin American cuisine with World Spice Food Festival 2011.

Carlos Gomez was born and raised in New Jersey who is a man full of smiles, laughter and plenty of stories to tell. He’s being in this industry for 23 years and currently he is working at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, Maryland as the Executive Chef. Speaking with ZEST, Chef Carlos said, “I have travelled to most of the European countries, Caribbean Islands, Central and Latin America.

I have worked with the General Manager of this hotel Anura Dewapura which is how I got the chance to come here”.

“Where I live there is a local community of Sri Lankans and some of the doctors who are there are working for the national cancer research centre which is very famous. Latin America is covered from Mexico to Argentina where similar food is used but made in so many different ways”, he added.

He also added that the most consumed food in the USA is ‘Pizza’ and that every state and region has likes it’s very own signature pizza. And when it comes to desserts he said that they are very much like Sri Lanka as we like to eat a lot of fruits, plantains and custards.

The culture is very fast paced, stressful and very friendly”, Gomes stated. We love music, we love to dance, and we stand out “Loud and Proud”. “I have always cooked. Being raised by a single mum, there was always turns in the cooking. My step dad who is from Ecuador is a very good cook and he makes these amazing sandwiched that up to today, no one can top him or come close to what he has cooked”, Carlos said proudly.

Carlos has 3 children, two daughters – Charlene and Merlvi - who are in college and Merlvi is a performer who will be releasing her album soon and also will be getting a role in the American detective drama Law & Order. The youngest in his family is Gabriel who is just 9 years old and always helping around the kitchen. For a school essay, when he was asked to write about his hero, Gabriel wrote about his Carlos and how much he wanted to be like his dad. Carlos speaks wonderfully about his wife Luana and says that she is an awesome cook and travels with him and like him loves to watch a game of baseball in their free time or when they can.

When I asked him about him what he feels about the country and the weather he quoted the saying “a bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work’ and said that he loves the rain and that when it’s raining his wife and he stay home and enjoy it. Coming to Sri Lanka has been an experience all the way…from the time I came from the airport to entering the hotel, everyone makes you feel appreciated.