Cinnamon Lakeside takes first place at Colombo Chicken Curry Challenge at WSF Festival 2011

Sixteen of Colombo’s top chefs battled it out to arrive at the ultimate chicken curry during the World Spice Food Festival 2011.
Chandana Gunathilake of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo was the proud recipient of the award for his ‘Colombo Smore’ recipe. Gunathilake impressed the judges with a boneless back quarter steeped in sweet toddy lemon grass infusion, slow cooked in spice and black coconut curry.

Chandana Gunathilaka and Indika Edwin receive their award for the Chicken Curry Challenge

Chandana Gunathilaka is a Commis II at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo. He joined the hotel fresh out of hotel school and has been a part of Executive Chef Wasantha Peiris’ team for 8 years since. He was assisted by Indika Edwin, also a Commis II who has been a member of the Cinnamon Lakeside family for seven years. Both have shared a passion for cooking from their early years and aspire to becoming an Executive Chef some day.
Sponsored by Ma’s Foods, the Colombo Chicken Curry Challenge was open to any chef or professional currently working for a hotel or restaurant participating in the Spice Food Festival. Participants were allowed 45 minutes to prepare their chicken curry which could be served with one accompanying dish.
Recipes had to be original and dishes were judged on taste, texture and consistency, origin of ingredients and the presentation. Judges critically examined the entries for Sri Lankan authenticity and suitability of being served to tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
The use of classic Sri Lankan ingredients such as kitul toddy, cinnamon, cumin, coconut, rampe, cashew nuts, lime pickle and turmeric is what gave the curry its familiar aroma and taste. The chefs at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo are known for perfecting the art of Sri Lankan cuisine. This is evident in the popularity of Hopper Night, the hotel’s Sri Lankan themed dinner buffet that is now held twice a month to accommodate demand. Even amongst late night diners, the Night Owl buffet at The Dining Room on Fridays and Saturdays is known as the place for spicy Sri Lankan food, specifically kiribath, which is also featured in the buffet.
Amongst the Chicken Curry Challenge award, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo took home the award for the Best EGB Mocktail and was also awarded for their Theme Stall at the Hawker Street leg of the Spice Festival.