Floribben to State dinners to culinary classics to wine and cheeses from Down Under amidst a chocoholic spread awaits in the first quarter in 2010 at Mount Lavinia Hotel
Starting out as an imposing and majestic weekend abode, Mount Lavinia Hotel, consisting of 226 rooms inclusive of suites, retains the old world charm and imperial elegance of yesteryear combined with the most up to date facilities of a modern resort that any discerning traveler might ask for. Furthermore, the innovative events and unique menus that are churned up at the hotel are indeed the talk of the town and are a focal point for all guests. The hotel’s first quarter of events are bound to be your first choice.
Indian cuisine will be the hottest fare that will be added to the Mount Lavinia Hotel’s food selection in the new year. When asked Mr Anura Dewapura, GM at the Mount Lavinia Hotel as to the reason for Indian fare, he stated, “Since of late, there has been a welcome increase in the Indian population to our country, and our hotel in particular, has benefited in the form of hotel occupancy and patronage in the food and beverage outlets.” Chef Chinnapillai Sarvanan, is the specialist on Indian cuisine, who will begin the year with breakfast and lunch specialties.
Then the hot hot Spanish Tapas will light up the Terrace with favourites like Gambas Prawns sauteed in salsa negra (peppercorn sauce), al ajillo (with garlic), or pil-pil (with chopped chili peppers). Calamares or rabas – Rings of battered squid, Boquerones White anchovies served in vinegar (boquerones en vinagre) or deep fried or even Patatas bravas Fried potato dices (sometimes part-boiled and then fried, or simply boiled) served with salsa brava, a spicy tomato sauce. Alioli is often served with it too. Tortilla de patatas, also known as Tortilla española – A type of omelet containing fried chunks of potatoes and sometimes onion are some of the tapas that will be on offer.
Slow Food begins the year with “Floribbean Cuisine South Beach style” on the 16th of January 2010. “The marriage between citrus and fish American style is the essence of this type of cuisine,” states President of Slow Food Chapter,
Chef Leo. It combines Miami and Caribbean flavours and excites all senses just like a visit to the southern beach in Miami USA.
Then love will definitely be in the air as the month of February will combine chocolate. Chocolate being a very big part of anyone’s life and indeed has the power to captivate like no other food. The month of February will be a longlasting Affair with Chocolate. But its roots run much deeper. It begins to melt, giving your mind and body a wonderful sensation. So why Chocolate for the month of February? Mr Anura Dewapura believes that something like chocolate that creates such emotional bonds – and also actually can be good for you – is just another reason to enjoy chocolate for the month of February. Chocolate cravers need not fear, the month of February at Mount Lavinia Hotel will be the month definitely dedicated to chocoholics. The chocolate menu for the month will include: Pairing wines and chocolates sessions, Tea and Chocolate pairing moments, Classic Chocolate Fondue Menu and Chocolate Martinis at a unique venue synonymous to Mount Lavinia Hotel like a secret tunnel, then indeed the 14th of Feb will be an evening extraordinaire with the Symphony Orchestra igniting the love lost.
March brings the culinary classics with history and originality embedded in the recipes when the hotel surfaces the Swedish Food Festival. It is thus all the more exciting that Guest Chef Mats Peltersson who has scored major successes with his tasty creations from Grand Hotel Sweden, which are innovative in both color and design particularly with Lingonberries, cloudberries, root vegetables, Baltic herring, wild game and indeed Västerbotten cheese, will be inspired by the richness of centuries-old Swedish culinary traditions and will surface master creations at the Swedish Food Festival which will be a treat for the new year.
April showers bring in faves from Down Under a – Australian Wine and Cheese Festival will be on the cards. “Every great wine needs some good and fabulous cheese,”states Mr Anura Dewapura, General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel. Australian produced artisan cheeses with appropriate wines will be part of the menu.
There will be a cheese board with a range of cheeses to choose from along with matching the best cheese with the appropriate wine.
Also in the cards is Walter Scheib also known as the White House Chef, who had served at the White House for eleven years and indeed was the food preparer for the first family particularly the Bush and Clinton families, will now tantalize Sri Lankan taste buds with a traditionally very conservative and skewed toward classic French gastronomy – to reflect contemporary American cuisine. To endorse the evening Rohan De Silva who will add some spice to the state dinner. Rohan De Silva globally acclaimed pianist who had appeared at the White House East Room during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Washington DC in 2007, was given a standing ovation by the New York audience when he performed at New York’s Avery Fisher Hall and now will woo Sri Lankan audiences aswell. This fabulous initiative with a creative twist will be the focal point for the month of May 2010.