Today we begin a series ‘Dining with our chefs’. In this column, we feature Chefs in leading hotels in Sri Lanka, and their exclusive dishes; the hotel’s fast moving dish or the most sought after dish.

Our Chef today is Lloyd Opatha, the Executive Chef of Galadari Hotel.

An old boy of St. Mary’s College Dehiwala, Lloyd, wanted to work, instead of pursuing his studies. At the age of 18, he joined the moonlight beach hotel as a trainee cook. Hereafter he served in many hotels and catering services in Sri Lanka and abroad. Lady Hill Hotel in Kandy, Aramco Catering Services in Saudi Arabia, Sunflower Beach Hotel

Negambo, Air Lanka Thai Flight Catering Services are a few of those. In 1984, he joined Galadari as a Commis 11 and served there, for many years, till he became the Executive Chef in 1995.

SHORT MESSAGE FROM CHEF: Safety first and remember to keep kids away from the kitchen especially when frying and boiling water. Foul smell of gas needs immediate attention, ventilate the kitchen and if possible leave the cylinder out of the premises.

Pix by Nissanka Wijeratne