The Echo of success

Colombo’s premier Italian fine dining restaurant reveals its flavour filled surprises

By Nizla Naizer

This week, part of my life’s purpose was fulfilled. I had found the best tiramisu in Colombo.
Echo at the Cinnamon Grand, is the only restaurant in Colombo which uses the authentic triple cream, Mascarpone cheese in the making of this Italian coffee flavoured, creamy dessert that melts in your mouth and takes you to post-meal raptures.

Chef Sgroi Giuseppe

Chef Sgroi Giuseppe from the South of Italy to whom all kudos is due, is quite simply, a genius. With his dedication to such authentic ingredients he has brought the finer aspects of Italian cuisine to the heart of Colombo and captured many devout fans (including myself) in the three years he has been here.
Fine dining enters a whole new dimension when you step into the minimalist grandeur of Echo and you take in the ambience designed to enhance the pleasure of an Italian meal. The restaurant is all angles and clean lines, complimented by the neon red Echo sign and subdued by the rounded sculptures in strategic corners. With the powerful yet dulcet Italian music emanating around you, it’s a treat for the senses much before the food begins to arrive.

Not about pizza and pasta alone
“In Sri Lanka, many still believe that Italian cuisine is only about pasta and pizza,” Chef Giuseppe tells me as he guides me through the plethora of dishes which taste good even as you read them out. “But there is much more variety to Italian cuisine with many flavours and many dishes.”
I was about to get a flavour of this variety that night with a typical Italian meal that was far removed from the traditional pastas and pizzas. Starting from a plate of Italian breads which you eat dipped in olive oil, chilli oil or balsamic vinaigrette, you move on to the anti-pasta platter which is a range of starters. From Buffalo Mozzarella on Tomato to Kalimari and Grilled Prawns, from Smoked Salmon on Zuchchini to Sauteed Mushrooms and a slice of cantaloupe, the platter has something for everyone and is a scrumptious start to the meal.
For the main course we tried the butterfly pasta in Salmon and Tomato cream sauce which is delicious and wholesome along with the Mushroom Risotto, a traditional Italian rice dish originating from the North, full of flavour and tang. “All our pastas along with three types of ravioli are made in the restaurant,” Giuseppe explains, “So no one else has this flavour.” Along with unique combinations like Pumpkin Ravioli, the chef has incorporated many flavours to suit the palette of the Sri Lankan diner. And although not many associate vegetarian dishes with Italian food, the Chef pointed out that many dishes on the menu cater to the needs of the vegetarian diner. “It is important to have a tasty Italian meal, even if you are vegetarian,” he says with a smile, “So we have dishes like Ravioli with spinach and Ricotta cheese or Lasagna with eggplant and parmesan.” With over 15 varieties of pizza and many more varieties of pasta however, if you are a fan of the traditional, there is plenty to choose from.

He stressed on the importance of the right ingredients. “From the Parma ham to our cheeses, we import the ingredients down from Italy,” Giuseppe pointed out. “And of course, Italian food without Olive Oil is like driving a car without a wheel. So olive oil is used for everything.”
The divine desserts
And then of course, the desserts arrived. The Tiramisu which the chef recommended was the best I had tasted in the country, while the Baked Chocolate the chef assured me was a hit among the ladies proved to be just that. A hit among the ladies. Baked for five minutes, the chocolate pie is crusty on the outside and divine on the inside, with authentic Italian chocolate ice cream to add a delicious balance to hot and cold.
If you are in the mood to try a little bit of everything however, head to Echo any Wednesday night where a magnificent buffet spread brings the best of Giuseppe’s culinary creations on one board. From soups and 35 different starters to five main course dishes, from a range of alcohol at half price to desserts to compliment at the end, the buffet at the Echo has already become a hit among many.
Chef Giuseppe brings 22 years of globe trotting experience in the industry to the diners of Colombo. From Jamaica to the Phillipines, South Africa to China, the Chef has been taking Italian cuisine to the world. Having been in Sri Lanka since the inception of Echo in 2006, he says he loves the people and the culture. “You have a beautiful country and in a few years there will be so much development now that peace has come.”
As the Chef continues to dish out his masterpieces, head to the restaurant at the Cinnamon Grand for a meal you will end with ‘Belissimo!’
Echo is open from 12 pm – 2 pm for lunch and 7 pm -11 pm for dinner.