Waters Edge wins Silver medal at Dilmah Real High Tea Global Challenge 2015

Friday, 10 July 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Waters Edge team Buddika Samarasekera (third from left) and Ishafahan Dain (third from right) with their Silver Award at the Dilmah Real High Tea Global Challenge received from Dilmah founder Merrill J Fernando. Judges Peter Kuruwita and Simon Gault and Dilmah Directors Malik Fernando and Dilhan Fernando are also present - Pic by Samantha Perera

Representing the Pearl of Asia in a global challenge Waters Edge brought on prestige and honour to Sri Lanka at The Dilmah Real High Tea Global Challenge. The competition which took place within a span of three days consisted of a theme to revolutionise the art of tea preparation and presentation. 666

21 teams from 14 countries ranging from Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, UAE, Netherlands, Indonesia, France, Oman and of course Sri Lanka, had the privilege of being selected to take part. The teams were given months for preparation to ensure the high presentation of food and beverages all revolving around the concept of ‘High Tea’; by the means of preserving the uniqueness of tea each country brought on distinctive flavours from each of their homelands. A competition of such stature entailed a panel of judges of a similar nature: Peter Kuruwita (Award winning chef, TV presenter, author, industry speaker and restaurant consultant), Simon Gault (Innovative and entrepreneurial chef and judge for Master Chef New Zealand), Dilhan C. Fernando (younger son of Dilmah founder, Director of the Dilmah School of Tea) and finally – Bernd Uber (recipient of many culinary awards, judge for Gulfood, Dubai, Melbourne Culinary Challenge and many more).

“It is a great honour for Waters Edge to represent Sri Lanka in an international arena for a global challenge of this nature; we have a great team, hungry for success and this is just the beginning of greater things yet to come,” said Waters Edge General Manager Rohan Fernandopulle.

The Waters Edge team – Executive Chef Buddhika Samarasekara and Mixologist M.I. Dain and mentor Thilanka Muthukumarana, presented the judges with a novel and exclusive notion of modernised High Tea – ‘50 Shades of Tea’. The concept is based on the novel and movie ‘50 Shades of Grey’, which traces the deepening relationship between two people emphasising an explicit sensual bond; this idea together with the essence of rich, sultry flavours of tea paired with an array of sensual food.

The presentation by Waters Edge commenced with an afternoon desire and ended with satisfaction, brimming with steamy passion, romance and sultry sensuality, this afternoon tea was an indulgence that captivated each and every judge. Starting from the selection of tea to the ingredients and culinary techniques; the combination of desired taste and textures, ‘50 shades of tea’ embodied the essence of erotic romance for a passionate afternoon high tea.

Waters Edge most certainly brought the Ceylon back in Ceylon Tea by winning a silver medal at the Dilmah Real High Tea Challenge 2015.