SriLankan thrives at National Culinary Arts Competition 2013

Tuesday, 8 October 2013 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SriLankan Catering (SLC), the catering arm of the national carrier, stole the limelight at the National Culinary Arts Competition 2013, ranking fourth in the island with a medal count of 31 which includes ten gold awards. Organised by the Chefs’ Guild of Sri Lanka, the contest was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) where the chefs of SriLankan Catering who showcased their culinary prowess under different categories were also adjudged the first in the Negombo region.

SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe said, “SriLankan Catering’s achievement at the National Culinary Arts Competition this year, is another feather on its cap which goes to show the high standards it upkeeps. It is none other than its dedicated workforce who has made such feats possible. This achievement will serve an inspiration for SriLankan Catering to explore new avenues to add novelty to the on-board SriLankan culinary experience in time to come.” SriLankan Catering Chief Executive Officer Sarath Fernando said, “SriLankan Catering has been playing a vital role in enhancing Airline’s image internationally. Catering to almost all the airlines which touch down at BIA, SLC has won several prestigious international awards over the years, and winning 31 medals at this national event adds colour to the organisation. This symbolises the great team spirit, dedication and commitment of SLC team which will keep us progressing towards a brighter future.” SriLankan Catering W.P. Chaminda Wickramasinghe won the Gold Excellence Award in the Plated Dessert category while the team managed to bag nine more gold medals in the vegetarian menu, four-course dinner set menu, creative SriLankan cuisine, finger food categories and the cocktail competition. Situated in close proximity to Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), SriLankan Catering is a fully owned subsidiary of SriLankan Airlines, which provides on-board catering services for more than ten international airlines that operate through Colombo; which include Mihin Lanka, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Saudi Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Oman Air, Korean Air, British Airways and Maldivian Airlines. Manned by more than 800 employees, SLC’s state-of-the-art flight kitchen has a production capacity of over 25,000 meals per day, in a 24-hour operation, 365 days a year. It also manages the 24-roomed Serenediva Transit Hotel situated in the departure area of BIA, and provides catering services to SriLankan Airlines’ Business Class lounge – Serendib, and lounges owned by the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited in BIA. ‘Semondu’, SLC’s signature fine-dining restaurant situated in the heart of historic Dutch Hospital complex, Colombo, offers an international menu with a twist of Sri Lankan fusion cuisine. Renowned for its fascinating ‘open kitchen’, and the relaxed ambiance where history resonates through the Dutch architecture, Semondu is a culinary journey filled flavours of past and present. SriLankan Catering also manages the Flight Kitchen at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) supplying food and beverages to the Transit Restaurant, Business Class Lounge and the Public Restaurant. Staffed by 52 employees recruited from the region, these SLC restaurants are utilising maximum possible local produce in all catering requirements. Having been a pioneer in the industry, SLC was awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management Systems); ISO 22000:2005 (Food Safety Management Systems); HACCP (Food Safety Assurance) and ISO 14001: 2004 (Environmental Management System) standards for its service excellence.