Hilton presents 25th anniversary signature dishes

Dishes most common to us is where we find the most comfort. The Hilton Hotel, Colombo, has released a range of dishes at Spice to celebrate 25 years of brilliant and exclusive cuisine. The international restaurant with a coffee shop style has been home to some of the classic dishes made with the freshest ingredients in town.

Travellers like to try a range of new cuisines but dishes such as the classical caesar salad and American style beef burger, are examples of universal food standards that tourists still desire. The menu spreads to appeal to a wide range of tastes from authentic cuisine, to Indian, Chinese, Japanese and more. Spice restaurant is open all day and is renowned as a tasty and sophisticated place to dine.

The curry leaf boats an exquisite Sri Lankan buffet, a seafood buffet and has professional chefs to cook up fresh hoppers, pittu, kothu rotti with all the side trimmings. The signature dish is the chilli crab, a wonderful concoction of spices to keep you wanting more. This is a dish that is perfect for anyone who is after authentic cuisine and a must for any tourist. This dish is not one for the knife and fork, a hands on approach is advised and will certainly have your fingers laced in flavour.

The 25th anniversary signature dishes for the cold selection is the classical caesar salad, healthy salad, Norwegian salmon confetti and marinated salmon salad with caper and dill mustard. Both of the salmon dishes are of brilliant quality and tease the taste buds enough to bring on the main courses. The salmon is fresh and the mix of capers and mustard strike contrast well. The caesar salad is light and crispy as expected with a good dressing accompanied with fried breadsticks and to be celebratory, a 25 made out of parmesan cheese.

Hot signature dishes start with pan fried sea bass with a warm vegetable salad and mash potato. A light but satisfying number, the fish is cooked to perfection as it melts once the food hits your mouth. The classic beef burger comes as a tower, the egg and bacon addition to the burger will leave you full to the brim. The choice of fresh local beef produce will not disappoint and will serve purpose for all hunger related adventures.

The chicken biriyani is cooked to perfection. Served in a traditional style pot and comes with raita, egg curry, salad and popadom.

The mix is authentic, bursting with flavour and provides a generous portion. The grilled prawns with white wine mash potato is the guilty pleasure one must indulge in. The prawns are lightly grilled and marinated in enough spice to tickle the taste buds, the prawns easily peel out of their shell to be shared with a dose of creamy white wine mash. The combination of crisp crunch of the prawns along with the silky smooth potatoes, you will not find yourself disappointed with the outcome.

The spices lumpraise, Sri Lanka’s most famous dish is baked in banana leaf and comes with a serving of chutneys and pickles. As expected of the Hilton, the portion is abundant and the flavour is present throughout. The lumpraise is a dish that is very popular with visiting guests from all over the world. Without fail this dish has provided an enjoyable eating experience for many guests hence why it has been on the menu for over 25 years.

 You will have a wide selection of desserts to choose from both the a la carte menu and the buffet. You will find the New York cheese cake with berry topping delightfully pleasing. The small base is towered by a large but light cream cheese centre with a mix of berries on top. It is well balanced and not too heavy on the stomach, those who have room must try.

Traditional apple pie with vanilla cream is a personal favourite. The hot and cold combination pleases to levels of quality associated with the Hilton. The pie itself is light and thankfully, does not house a strong acidic flavour from the apple afterwards. Breaking the crispy pie topping with teaspoon of vanilla ice-cream and the fat lady has sung.

Both the black and white chocolate mousse tower and warm chocolate bread and butter pudding with chocolate ice cream are a delight to eat. Both dishes are beautifully presented, boast being full of flavour and are well balanced.

All in all, the 25th anniversary signature dishes provide a brilliant eating experience for all people for all reasons. The pricing is fair especially as the food produce is of very high quality. Service is exceptional and the venue holds a lot of character, taste and charm. These dishes in celebration of 25 years success at the Hilton will not let you down.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara