Who will be the Hottest?

International Food Triathlon

Published on 08/09/2016 on Daily News

The Kingsbury Hotel will be one spiced up venue to be at this whole month as flavours from Mexico, Indonesia and Thailand will be sizzling up their menu card. For the first time, the hotel will have a Food Triathlon under the theme “Who is the Hottest” with Chefs representing each country and bringing a part of their culinary delights to the tables of Kingsbury.

“On this historical occasion three countries – Mexico, Indonesia and Thailand – have chosen the Kingsbury for an exciting cultural exchange. We are truly humbled as it’s a first time such an event is taking place, back to back with the full support of the respective Embassies (Consulate of Mexico in Colombo, Embassy of Mexico in India, Indonesian Embassy and The Royal Thai Embassy) to bring very special talents from their home countries”, The Kingsbury Hotel General Manager Scott Mawhinney said at the launch press conference.

Mawhinney went on to add that they are very excited to welcome their friends in Colombo and guests from around the world to this exciting promotion which is titled International Food Triathlon. They hope to bring the hospitality in Sri Lanka to a new phase where Colombo will attract Culinary experts and Celebrity Chefs from around the world. “We believe such food promotions will act positively to the image of Sri Lankan tourism which is growing leaps and bounds”, Mawhinney stressed.

The first of their promotion which is already taking place and will conclude on September 11 (Sunday) is the Mexican Food promotion. To give a taste of the actual Authentic Mexican culinary cultures to us is guest chef Gabriela Ruiz Lugo, who comes all the way from Tabasco.

“I bought some chili peppers, some chocolate and some traditional food from Mexico like Mole poblano which is compared to your food is hot for us. because the name of the festival is who is the hottest…I bought some chillie peppers for that too”, speaking to the media Chef Gabriela said.

Honoarary Consul General to Mexico Mohan Pandithage said that this Mexican Food festival is being organized for the first ever National Day celebrations. “The Embassy of Mexico in India and myself are facilitating the promotion of the Mexican food festival at the Kingsbury hotel titled ‘Who is the Hottest” to celebrate Chef Gaby. Chef Gaby was specially flown down here to cook up the hottest Mexican chilies and serve them up at the Sky Lounge and Kings Poolside. Mexico also has recently launched a national policy to foster Gastronomy by the name of Ven a Comer (Come to Eat) which will take the flavours of Mexico worldwide to promote its natural and cultural wealth. In November 2010, UNESCO singled out traditional Mexican cuisine as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, Mohan Pandithage added.

“The Indonesian food festival will take place from September 15 to the September 18 at one of my favourite hotels in the country. The event is being organized by the Embassy in collaboration with the Kingsbury hotel and our sponsors. During the four days of the food festival we will be serving you Indonesian Lunch and Dinner buffets at the Yue Chuan restaurant courtesy one of Indonesia’s prominent celebrity chef food consultant and food critique William Wongso”, Indonesian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Harimawan Suyitno stated. He went to say that Wongso has been in the culinary business for decades and now has a very popular television series on cooking. At the food festival William Wongso will introduce various Indonesian culinary delights which will be presented with diversity and rich heritage of Indonesia. You will find some similarities in Sri Lanka as well and at the same time you will have a new experience.

“With the growing relationship between Indonesia and Sri Lanka as well as increased connectivity and ease of travel between two countries, I hope the food festival will further encourage Sri Lanka to visit the wonderful Indonesia”, Ambassador Harimawan added.

“The Thai food festival will be held for the time at the Kingsbury hotel from September 26 to the October 2 at the Ocean Seafood restaurant. Just before the promotion begins, the embassy will organize a traditional Thai festival with dancers and puppeteers from Thailand to keep the entertainment running from September 23 to the 25 during High Tea at the Gourmet Station”, representing the Royal Thai Embassy Khun Natnapang said.

Director of Culinary Service Chef Kithsiri de Silva also added that the Mexican food we talk about and eat is not the real deal – it’s more American.

This is also one of the bigger reasons to come to the hotel and have some real HOT Mexican delights! To mark the 206th National Day of Mexico Ambassador to India and Non-resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka Melba Pria was here to inaugurate the Mexican Film Festival yesterday (September 7).