Chef Aree Jitman back at Cinnamon Lakeside

Home-style authentic Thai cuisine is back, as Chef Aree Jitman also known as ‘Mama,’ the much loved Thai Master Chef, returns to Royal Thai at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.  Mama offers an indigenous mix of Thai home style cooking and delectable contemporary Thai dishes boasting an eclectic mix of spices and flavour.

Chef Aree is back to set new standards at Royal Thai, reviving popular dishes in the finest art of Thai home style cooking.

Born and bred in Thailand, Aree Jitman embraced home style cooking at an early age, helping her folks in the kitchen while she also went onto assist her brother at an authentic Thai Restaurant in Bangkok. She recalls tossing and combining her favourite ingredients, exploring and experimenting new Thai homemade recipes.

“I have had a love for the art of cooking. Every day when I returned from school, I would find myself in the kitchen with my mother. I loved helping her out and it has benefitted me tremendously,” says Jitman.  She reiterated that her mother and her native culture were her inspirations.  “I think it is safe to say women are and always will be the greatest chefs, even if they don’t all make it right to the top in the industry,” she added.

Chef Aree was previously attached to a popular restaurant in China for four years before arriving in Sri Lanka to join Trans Asia Hotel in 2003 and remained the head chef at Royal Thai as the hotel reinvented itself as Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.  She rejoins the hotel after a brief stint away.

Thai food lovers make their regular visits to treat themselves to the tantalising Thai dishes prepared only as ‘Mama’ knows how.  “It is always a great pleasure for any chef when the customers enjoy the meals served and compliment them.  I am always thrilled to have people say nice things about my dishes and it is always a pleasure to serve them, when they revisit the restaurant.”

The most popular dishes at the Royal Thai includes the Tom Yum Soup (sweet and spicy soup), Khao Pad (Fried Rice Thai Style) also popular in Thailand, Ghai Pad Khing (chicken stir fried with a slice of ginger), Green Chicken curry, Pattaya Noodles and the juicy Raw Mango Salad with Cashew nuts which oozes with sweet and tangy flavours.

She also introduces two new dishes this month, the signature fish balls soup with Thai herbs, a clear soup garnered with the subtle spicy flavours of lemongrass and Thai herbs and fish balls and the lagoon crab curry, a luscious curry laced with mint water.

In Aree’s bubbly personality and culinary skills and the exceptional service of the team at Royal Thai lies the signature Royal Thai experience.  Nestled under the roof of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, Royal Thai serves an authentic Thai cuisine that caters to a balance of the five fundamental flavours in every dish, hot (spicy), sour, salty and a touch of bitter.

For the complete Royal Thai experience, the restaurant may be contacted on 2491945 for reservations.