Spanish flair at Cinnamon Lakeside with Chef Chema

Friday, 30 March 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is delighted to welcome its new Spanish Master Chef Juan Maria Marrero Ortega popularly known as Chef Chema, bringing a touch of Spanish flair, creativity and experience from some of the finest kitchens in Spain and Southeast Asia to the island.

Chema has been working as a Master Chef and has a wealth of experience garnered during stages and stints at countless hotels and restaurants throughout Spain, including the Hotel Melia, Grand Hotel Costa Meloneras amongst many others.

He has also had the opportunity to experience many different elements of hotel food and beverage, managing everything from food festivals to fine dining and exploring European cuisines, as well as being invited to participate in numerous high-profile culinary events, including Gourmet Fairs in 2004 and 2005 and the Gastronomy Conference in Madrid, Spain.

Chema says he gave up a career in Law to pursue cooking, “I was in my fourth year in college when I was looking through a book written by famous chef Ferran Adria on contemporary Tapas food one summer, and realised I should take up cooking, there was no turning back since then.”

Having travelled Southeast Asia and Europe extensively, Chema has extracted the best of the diverse cuisines and hopes to add a new zing to the Tapas Menu at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

A dynamic member of the European Association of chefs Euro-Toques since 2001, he says that it is the diverse experiences, and his travels and subsequent food discoveries that keep him inspired and fuel his creativity.

“I would like to introduce an array of scrumptious delicacies to the new menu, from the French, Italian and Spanish cuisines enabling guests to get the feel of Modern Tapas at its best.”

He also invites those who are fans of authentic Spanish food to try out Gazpacho Andaluz (a traditional Spanish soup), Boquerones a la Andaluza (fried Anchovies with lemon), Albondigas (meatballs with spicy tomato and cumin) this month.

Having grown up in Gran Canaria Island, Spain, Chema is no stranger to the ocean. Aside from cooking, he considers travelling to be one of his main loves.

Seven Degrees North serves an extensive Tapas and Mediterranean menu with much loved dishes including Gambos al ajilla (prawns mixed with garlic, spices and a dash of olive oil) and Calamares with all-o-oli (Calamari).