Sights, sounds and flavours of Morocco at Cinnamon Lakeside

Wednesday, 12 October 2011 02:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo unveils the exotic flavours of Moroccan cuisine from the 13 to 22 October. Diners are invited on a culinary voyage of discovery across Morocco, sampling Moroccan food and drink and witnessing Middle Eastern dancer Dareen Jawhara perform live.

Specialist chefs will visit Sri Lanka exclusively for the event to pool their expertise with the hotel’s kitchen brigade. Chef Mustafa, the Executive Chef of the Gulf Paradise Hotel in Doha is a celebrated chef and will be assisted by Chef Youssef.

Moroccan cuisine is famed for its diversity, a result of influences from Berber, Moorish, Mediterranean, and Arab cultures. It is characterised by rich spices such as cumin, coriander, saffron, chilies, dried ginger, cinnamon, and paprika.

Savoury dishes are enhanced with dried and fresh fruits including apricots, dates, figs, and raisins. Lemons preserved in a salt-lemon juice mixture bring a unique face to many Moroccan chicken dishes whilst nuts such as pine nuts, almonds, and pistachios, are generously incorporated into the dishes.

Moroccan sweets are a delightful experience in themselves. Rich and dense confections of cinnamon, almond, and fruit perfumes are rolled in filo dough, soaked in honey, and stirred into puddings.

The romance of Morocco reaches the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo Terrace which will take on a Hispano-Moorish style for the promotion. The ambience is magical with a view that captures a sparkling blue pool before the serene Beira Lake. Seating styles are available to suit the moods of guests, at tables with chairs or on an elevated platform for Arabian style seating. Guests are advised to book early for Arabian style seating.

A sheisha lounge offers diners double apple, grape, strawberry and mint flavours with disposable nozzles. The flavoured smoke can be enjoyed at leisure over pre or post dinner conversation. Sheisha or hookah pipes will be brought to your table on request.

Mu‘assel, the flavoured substance that is smoked from Hookah pipes, is typically used in areas of its origin as a herbal medicine used to soothe pain. Tracing its origins, Abu’l-Fatḥ Gīlānī, a Persian physician at the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, “first passed the smoke of tobacco through a small bowl of water to purify and cool the smoke and thus invented the hubble-bubble or hookah” according to Cyril Elgood.

Dareen Jawhara, professional Middle Eastern dance instructor and performer based in Dubai graces the event with stunning belly dance performances.

‘Morocco Unveiled’ is a collaboration between Qatar Airways and Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and is offered to guests at a concessionary Rs. 1,700++++ per person. It takes place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Terrace, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo. Reservations and inquiries may be obtained by contacting the hotel on 2491998.