Cinnamon Lakeside undefeated at 2013 bartending competitions

Friday, 5 July 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo continued its winning streak with another win at the Midori Bartender Challenge 2013. The conquest follows a sweeping victory at the Colombo Region Marie Brizard Competition in May where the hotel took both the flair and classic bartending awards and had the most number of qualifiers selected for the all island competition. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo’s Sasiri Ruksala was adjudged the champion of the inaugural Midori Bartender Challenge held on 22 June. In its efforts to support fresh talent, the hotel made a decision to reserve the participation of more experienced bartenders at the Midori Bartender Challenge and yet remained victorious.

“The hotel is brimming with fresh talent and we are keen to provide equal exposure for all those interested in pursuing various interests. With this in mind, previous winners from Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo took a backseat, leaving the new generation a shot at the limelight,” explained Denis Gruhier, General Manager of the hotel. Sasiri Ruksala, a recent addition to the team of talented, award winning bartenders at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, trained under the diligent guidance of the hotel’s Manager Learning and Development, Priyankara Sumanapalage together with support from other associates from the hotel who included Yoshitha Niranjan, Dinusha Vilasini and Ranjith Liyanage, of the hotel’s team of award winning flair bartenders. Sasiri Ruksala’s commitment and skill placed her as a runner-up at the hotel’s in house cocktail competition, Cosmo 2013. She was one of a few female contestants at the Midori Bartender Challenge. Sasiri displayed great finesse and flare and is a beacon to other ladies hoping to join the significantly male dominated profession of bartending. She saw competition from over 30 contestants from other 5-star hotels in the country. Sasiri is a second generation Cinnamon Lakeside associate, counting her father’s term of twenty one years at the hotel. The panel of judges comprised Dhammika Gunathilake, Senior Lecturer at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Andrew Heard, Head of Operations for Midori – Asia and Manuel Terron, Global Brand Ambassador – Midori. General Manager of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo Denis Gruhier was among many other leading hoteliers who were present at the event. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo houses its renowned restaurant The Lounge, in the warm, welcoming environment of the lobby. It is the perfect venue for business as well as casual meetings. For those who missed out on her winning performance at the Midori Bartender Challenge, Sasiri Ruksala will be preparing signature cocktails at The Lounge situated within the spacious lobby at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo has been ranked Best Five Star City Hotel by Sri Lanka Tourism for two consecutive years and Best Luxury Hotel, Sri Lanka at the Business Destinations Travel Awards, UK. The hotel lives up to its reputation with its victories at this year’s cocktail competitions. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo recently won both the Classic and Flair categories and took home the most number of awards at the Colombo Region Marie Brizard Competition.