Wednesday 08th September, 2010 Travel The Island Page 5 FFeeleel SriSri Lanka...Lanka... Sizzling Shanghai Hot Pot Promotion at Cinnamon Grand Imagine a sizzling hot pot placed in front of you with the opportu- nity to create a feast of flavours from an assortment of imported items! The Cinnamon Grand brings you this one-of-a-kind experi- ence with its Shanghai Hot Pot Promotion held from the 9th to the 19th of September at The Courtyard. Toss in seasoned meats sliced to perfection and fresh seafood into a simmering broth brimming with aromatic herbs and exotic vegetables. At just Rs. 1250/-+++, this unique hands-on promotion gives patrons a taste of distant Shanghai, right here in Colombo. The hot pot cooking method is simple but results in an abundance of flavour and taste, according to the various spices, sauces, oils and condiments used. Frozen meat is sliced deli-thin to prepare it for hot pot cooking. Slicing frozen meat this way causes it to roll up during cooking, and it is often presented as such. Meat or vegetables are loaded individually into the hot cooking broth by chopsticks, and cooking time is brief. Meat often only takes 15 to 30 seconds to cook. Guests can place items into the hot pot at a relaxed, leisurely pace, enjoying the cooking process, or throw everything in at once and wait for the hotpot to return to a boil. The Chinese hot pot boasts a history of more than 1000 years. Hot pot cooking seems to have spread to northern China during the Tang Dynasty. In time, regional variations developed with different ingredients such as seafood. By the Qing Dynasty, the hot pot became popular throughout most of China. Because hot pot styles change so much from region to region, many different ingredients are used. “The Cinnamon Grand’s Hot Pot Promotion marks the first Raja Sabawa time such a unique cooking method has been introduced to Sri Lanka,” said new Director F&B, Justin Dingle. ‘We were mesmerised and Auditorium into an art gallery carried out will pave the way to Two jazz bands, one night spellbound for that one hour’ where Sri Lanka traditional stage Sri Lankan traditions The Trans Jazz Quartet and the was what Sri Lanka tourism dances, handicraft and Sri among foreigners in identified Jags Quartet, share more than a heard from all foreigners who Lankan cuisine will be the locations viz Negombo, Bentota, similar name and genre of music. attended the launch of ‘ Feel Sri offered to the tourists in Janakala Kendraya, Hotel The artistes of both bands share Lanka’ – a concert of Sri Colombo. Initially the pro- School Auditorium etc and in the kind of passion for their music Lankan Traditional dances at gram will take place on demand all ad hoc events such as that cannot be described in words, the Hotel School Auditorium by the Tour Operators and region Meetings and Conferences’ but can be felt in the intensity of recently. Hotels and it is expected to be a through promotion- says General Manager of Sri their performance. The Trans Jazz On the advice of the regular feature. al strategies in which Sri Lanka Lanka Convention Bureau Quartet has been a feature at the Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo’s Economic Development The launch took place tourism strives to find ways and Vipula Wanigasekera.” monthly Jazz tribute since the very first Jazz Night which was held Minister, Sri Lanka Tourism recently for an audience com- means of projecting the unique ‘Feel Sri Lanka’ – will be last November whilst Jags Quartet are the fresh faces that added a has embarked on promoting Sri prising tour operators, guide attractions in Sri Lanka among staged every Friday at Hotel new dimension to the night last month. The event has become a fix- Lanka Traditions and events in lectures, Embassy home based tourists and business dele- School Auditorium , 78 Galle ture in the calendars of many and it’s no surprise that fans follow the which a program has begun staff, NGOs, and hotels in order gates,” a statement from sri Road Colombo 3 - ( Opposite event with such fervor when the combination of talent transports lis- with presentations of Sri to show the model that will be Lanka Tourism said. Cinnamon Grand) 5.30 pm teners through time from the origins of Jazz through to modern ren- Lankan Traditional dances to made available to the industry. “Apart from Kandy Perehera onwards ditions of the music. The Jags Quartet comprises a saxophonist and Conference delegates and other Speaking at the occasion, and a few others, Sri Lankan Sri Lanka Tourism said it vocalist with a unique style, Gananath Dasanayake, Ashane visitors. Plans are also under- Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism traditions/dance forms are not will also undertake staging this Bernard who is a sensation on keyboards, Suraj Gunawardene, the way to stage these in Negombo Dr Nalaka Godahewa appealed adequately and regularly pre- on any other day for special talented base guitarist, whilst Jude Thiyagaraja drums with flair. The and Bentota for the winter sea- to the industry to make use this sented to tourists, except for the groups including meetings, next Jazz Night at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo will be held on son. opportunity provided by the efforts made by a few industry conference and incentive del- September 10th when from 7:30pm to 11:00pm, guests are invited With a view to having a reg- Government which would fulfill members. ‘ The study that was egates on cost sharing basis. to unwind by the Poolside Terrace of the hotel. Action stations and ular centre, Sri Lanka Tourism a long felt need in Colombo. special menus will offer a range of choices. decided to convert the Hotel “It is widely accepted that Coffee Bean at WTC School Sri Lanka needs to differ- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will soon be opening its new outlet entiate herself at the World Trade Centre, Colombo, expanding its services and from catering to the rising demands of the business community of the country’s financial and commercial hub. With Sri Lanka making rapid economic progress, Colombo is increasingly attracting the global business community. Located in the heart of Colombo’s Central Business District, the World Trade Centre is home to the headquarters of some of the largest businesses in the country, inter- national brand names and leading corporations. Thus, the new out- let, aims to cater to the business community of the World Trade Centre, and neighbouring areas. Expressing his thoughts, Ashvin Mohinani, co-director of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stated, “It’s also a way of saying thank you to our customers and notifying them that we are now at the World Trade Centre. Our goal is to bring our - Pix by Dimuthu Premarathna products to our customers and find new ways of enhancing the cus- tomer service relationship with them.” The outlet will offer an exten- Run Colombo, run sive variety of high quality coffee, tea and ice-blended drinks, togeth- MLH certified by er with a delicious range of meals, which include sandwiches, sal- “The more you sweat in by Sri Lanka Tourism, is recog- Airlines, Ministry of ads, pastas, freshly baked breads, cakes and desserts. In addition, practice, the less you bleed in nized by the Association of Education, Ministry of Youth facilities such as free Wi-Fi will also be available. The new outlet of battle” – Anonymous. Marathons and Distance Races Affairs, Municipal Councils of Earthcheck The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at the World Trade Centre will be open Sport will reunite all caste (AIMS). Negombo and Colombo and the from 6.00 am to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6.00 am to and creed of Sri Lanka; bring- Sri Lanka Tourism gave Negombo Hoteliers Earthcheck is used by travel and ing. The hotel gives the plants back to the 2.00 pm on Saturdays. It will be closed on Sundays, mercantile holi- ing smiles to the innocent and ample support in 2008 and Association. tourism organisations around the world to same communities and they plant them days and Poya days. cheer to the afflicted. The annu- helped in engaging reputed for- The route this year will be confirm their carbon claims and guide their along the river banks to protect themselves Fine wines at Cinnamon Lakeside al Colombo Marathon is sched- eign runners for the marathon. along Borella, Dematagoda, sustainability initiatives. from floods and soil erosion. The income The Cinnamon Lakeside uled to flag on the 3rd of This year, 2000 athletes are Peliyagoda, Wattala, It is encouraging to see that MLH has they gain from this project is used to assist Colombo will host its monthly Wine October at 6 a.m. The event is expected in all categories with a Pamunugama, Thalahena, introduced many innovative ways that host their school going children. Buffet today, the 8th of September. all set to spur the sports spirit minimum of a 100 overseas par- Pitipana and Negombo. The communities, team members and guests Green Month was an opportunity for all It is a lovely opportunity to spend in all Sri Lankans, Sri Lanka ticipants. traffic will be controlled by the are being educated about the benefits of Sri Lankans to take a positive and active an evening engaged in tasting fine Tourism said in a statement. With the resolution of con- police force. This event posi- treading lightly on the planet. role in helping protect the environment. By food and fine wine. The primary The marathon, which cele- flict, this event comes in an at tions the island and Colombo in MLH over the past year has embedded planting native trees and shrubs, MLH attraction on this night is the award brates 10 years, will start close an opportune time and is also particular as not just a tourist sustainability into the way they do busi- helped to combat climate change by par- winning wines list.