Chef Srimal to bring more glory

Demi HEWAMANNA

From the time he was small he was creating things. At a very young age he loved to draw and create things things. And now all the love and attention he put into the work he wanted to do so much has taken him to places he thought he'll never go to.

Today he is one of the eight Chefs to represent Sri Lanka in the first ever Team Challenge at the Culinary Olympics 2012 which will be held in Germany this October.

The man I'm talking about is none other than Srimal Kulatunga who is the Pastry Chef at the Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle. He has been there for the past two years now. "I have worked with Chef Dimuthu since the year 2000 and have got a lot of experience from him and he is my teacher," Srimal added.

Being in the industry for 13 years, Srimal has made his name international with his achievements in competitions abroad. I am a hotel school diploma holder and I passed out in 1998. I started out as a receptionist at the Kandalama and went back to hotel school to master my cooking. After that I started out at the Colombo Hilton as IT and then went to Kandalama and Heritance Ahungalla where I worked with Chef Dimuthu.

I was with Chef Dimuthu for three years and then went on to Water's Edge also with him and worked there for two years. Then I went to Qatar was there for two years and then came to the Beach as Pastry Chef and after some time went to Dubai.

"I came straight to the Lighthouse and Chef Priyankara has been behind me 100 percent. I love to create something and always think about how to make a new menu. I love a challenge," he added. Chef Srimal has many awards that he has grabbed for his amazing talent with his hands and his wide imaginations. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2005 Culinary Arts competition, Won Gold with Excellence in 2005, Gold award for chocolate carving Diyafa food competition held in Doha, Gold for Creative Wedding Cake structure in 2002 and in Doha in 2007, Live dress cake competition and many silver and bronze medals for other competitions.

His skills are in carving sculpting with butter,marzipan, pastillage, chocolate, fruits and vegetables, salt and many more. At the Culinary Olympics Chef Dimuthu and I will be doing the Pastry Cup and doing a live demonstrations as well as making a gateaux and plated desserts.

Speaking about his general life, he said he doesn't cook at home because his wife doesn't let him. He has one and a half. He thanks his wife who has been with him and supported him in all his work, the hotel and of course Chef Dimuthu and also Hemantha Rathnayake and Senaka Perera for guiding him to Dimuthu.