Jetwing launches ‘Nihal’s by the Spa’

Monday, 30 December 2013 00:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food” – George Bernard Shaw

In keeping to their commitment towards the finest in cuisine, Sri Lanka’s premier hospitality brand Jetwing has launched their very first branded restaurant – ‘Nihal’s by the Spa’, headed by internationally renowned Executive Chef Nihal Senanayake. Nihal’s by the Spa follows an innovative restaurant concept, featuring cuisine inspired from the world over and painstakingly designed by Chef Nihal himself. Using the freshest ingredients, Nihal’s will feature a unique menu every day depending on the produce and goods available from the local market.

In addition, building on Jetwing’s reputation for featuring exclusive wines, the menu affords the opportunity for pairing food and wine; all the items on the menu are wine-friendly and Chef Nihal’s masterfully created degustation menu of the day will be paired with selected matching wines for a dining experience quite unlike any other. Dishes will be inspired by flavours and ingredients used in countries such as Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Spain, Italy and Portugal combined with that purely unique Sri Lankan touch. Modern smoking techniques will be used in preparation, such as the use of cinnamon to smoke meat and fish, and Sri Lankan tea, herbs and essential oils for wonderful food infusions to take guests on an aromatic journey of unrivalled dimensions. Previously untouched concepts Previously untouched concepts such as food pairing, where new dishes are created by combining foods and products based on the molecular structure of their flavours, and exciting tea infused dishes will be introduced at Nihal’s, making it definitely the hottest restaurant in the South. With a lifetime of expertise, Nihal Senanayake firmly believes in the potential of rich Sri Lankan cuisine to make a visitor’s stay that much more special. Joining the culinary profession immediately after finishing his schooling, Nihal fell under the tutelage of renowned French chef, Antonine Rodrigus. He left the country to join Le Meridian, Dubai, only to come back to join Jetwing Lighthouse in 1997 – in time for the opening of what was the first luxury hotel in the area. A committee member of the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka, Nihal now plays the part of mentor and teacher, training youth to excel in the culinary arts. Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 40 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand. Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment. Considered a priority, sustainable and responsible practice is implemented through the award winning Jetwing Eternal Earth Program; with energy efficiency, community upliftment, and education of earth saving measures to schoolchildren being a few tenets of the program.