Jetwing walks away with armful of medals at ‘Culinary Art 2011’

It was certainly an event to remember; the comforting aromas swirling through the hall, the painstakingly carved sculptures of butter and ice, as well as the tantalising array of sinfully appetising desserts, creating a feast for the senses and the stomach. With much effort and sleepless nights, culinary teams from all over Sri Lanka laboured in a magnificent display of gastronomic delights.

Jetwing Hotels was in the midst of all the activity, heavily represented by the Negombo and Galle regions, as well as Nuwara Eliya in the form of Jetwing Blue, Jetwing Beach, Jetwing Sea, Jetwing Lighthouse, and Jetwing St. Andrew’s respectively. All the hard work paid off in spades (or spoons!), walking away with a staggering 107 medals, ranging from Gold with Distinction, Gold, Silver and Bronze.

In addition to the medals won, Jetwing Beach was adjudged Best Culinary Team for the Negombo region. A total of 84 awards were distributed amongst the three Negombo hotels, namely, Jetwing Blue, Jetwing Beach, and Jetwing Sea. Jetwing Beach took pride of place at the competition, carrying a record 41 medals home, with an Excellent Gold, six Gold, 19 Silver and 15 Bronze.

The categories ranged from Plated Desserts to Cocktail Competition, Butter Sculpture to New Sri Lankan Cuisine. Jetwing Lighthouse and Jetwing St. Andrew’s bagged Golds for the Artistic Pastry Showpiece, Mocktail Competition, Cocktail Competition and Apprentice Live Cooking.

Well deserved credit goes to Chef Priyantha Weerasinghe, Regional Executive Chef for Negombo for his ‘revolution of food’; where each Negombo property offers a much-sought-after variety of gastronomic delights, from Jetwing Blue’s open show restaurant, The Kitchen, as well as its one-of-a-kind sushi and shashimi bar, serves the finest in fresh Japanese cuisine.

Jetwing Beach boasts a recent addition, The Deck, which specialises in casual dining, Sands, and Black Coral for fine dining. Jetwing Sea features as a main attraction the unique contemporary seafood dining extravaganza at the Lellama, and Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions focuses on natural and healthy dining.

In addition, regular theme nights such as Jetwing Beach’s Saturday Mongolian BBQ Night, Jetwing Blue’s Sizzling Steak Night on Monday, and Jetwing Sea’s Wednesday Lellama Night are all a part of Chef Priyantha’s master plan to brand Negombo as a food lover’s paradise, with appetites and experiences to be sated at every visit!

“It was a great moment for all of us, especially the chefs and teams who participated in the Culinary Art 2011. We competed in many categories, and are well pleased with the result, coming in fourth overall in terms of a group of hotels, as well as second on an individual hotel basis,” said Ruan Samarasinghe, Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels.

“The creativity, dedication and talent shown by all our associates has definitely been worth it, and we must thank each and every one of them as well as the international panel of judges,” he continued.

Jetwing Hotels is amongst the foremost resort chains in Sri Lanka, with 12 unique properties spread across the country. Renowned for its hospitality and spectacular designs, Jetwing Hotels is present in Negombo with four hotels; the recently transformed Jetwing Blue; Jetwing Beach – a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World; Jetwing Sea, again the result of a massive investment, and Jetwing Ayurveda Pavilions the first purpose built health resort in the island. Other locations include the historic city of Galle with Jetwing Lighthouse – another member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and the elusive Jetwing Kurulubedda.

In addition, there is the quaint Era Beach now operating under the management of Jetwing Lighthouse as well as the re-launched Tangalla Bay, the only hotel in the country designed to look like a ship ready to put to sea.

An unmistakable presence in the Cultural Triangle is Jetwing Vil Uyana, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World as well, while the Hill Country plays host to Jetwing St. Andrew’s and Jetwing Warwick Gardens offering romance and colonial charm in equal measure.

With unique hospitality and service standards Jetwing Hotels offer its guests from around the world an unforgettable holiday experience.