The World of Spice heats up city

Colombo’s biggest food festival is back this week to delight your taste buds

Sri Lankan spices literally changed the world. European conquerors fought over it, Western cuisine was transformed by it and irresistible dishes like the Sri Lankan Chilli Crab was born because of it.
And this November, the world of Spice makes its presence felt with the fourth World Spice Food Festival to be held from November 6 to 14 in Colombo.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the World Spice Food Festival will comprise a three day Food Village at Galle Face Green from November 6-8, followed by individual food promotions at each of the participating hotels, up to the 14th, to culminate with a closing ceremony on November 15.
Colombo will literally be on fire with spice, as a Spice Food Village from November 6 to 8 brings the a global flavour of spicy food to the rolling plains of the Galle Face Green, from 6.30 pm to 12 midnight, each day.
Around the world in spice
Eighteen Colombo-based hotels and restaurants will participate at the Food Village, each with their own stalls where 21 signature chefs specialising in various cuisines of the world, specially flown in for the event from Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Spain, and also already working in Sri Lanka will show their genius in manipulating the spices.
If you have a weakness for all things spicy, this is the place to be. The delicious cuisine created by these chefs will be available at a nominal starting rate of Rs. 300. And once you’ve done your rounds, and tasted the spice of life, you can continue indulging in your choice of cuisine at each of the respective restaurants from 9 to 14.
The World Spice Food Festival was initiated in 2005 as an annual event based on Sri Lanka’s reputation of being an island abundant in spices, to create more dining options for visitors to the country, while providing an opportunity for the Sri Lankan culinary fraternity to exchange culinary know-how with specialty chefs from around the world.
The Galle Face Green will take on a festive air for the first time after its re-opening, with live music and cookery demonstrations including the first ever spice art competition, Sri Lankan crab cooking competition, cooking with signature chefs for housewives, and special cultural performances giving a truly unforgettable dining experience for the whole family.
The Spice Art Competition will be held at the Galle Face Green on November 6, 2009 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Crabs, crabs and more crabs
Another highlight of the Spice Food Village will be the Sri Lankan Crab Cooking Competition to be held on 7th November 2009 at 7 p.m., with the participation of master chefs. The participating culinary experts will be required to turn out an innovative signature crab dish with Sri Lankan King Crabs within a space of one hour.
For the seeker of different tastes, a large marquee will be set up at the Galle Face Green with ample seating capacity, to sit and savour the exotic array of signature dishes prepared by specialty chefs at the Spice Food Village. Parking will be available at the Galle Face Green, the Galle Face Hotel, Taj Samudra Hotel, and the surrounding area.
Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry has risen to the occasion as always with a combination of 12 top city hotels and 6 restaurants being enthusiastically involved in ensuring that the master chefs will be on hand to showcase the magical culinary delights, throughout the week. The hotels and restaurants that will don the chef’s hat at the World Spice Food Festival are, Galadari (Lebanese), Hilton Colombo (Asian Sea Food), Hilton Colombo Residencies (Vietnamese), Cinnamon Lake Side (Singapore), Cinnamon Grand (Spanish), Taj Samudra (Moroccan), Water's Edge (Indonesian / Balinese), Galle Face Hotel (Malaysian), Holiday Inn (Jaffna food), Mount Lavinia Hotel (Cuban American), Grand Oriental Hotel (Hong Kong / Chinese), Ceylon Continental (North Indian), Regina Margharita (Italian), Nihon Bashi (Japanese), The Mango Tree (Indian), Siam House (Thai), Raja Bojun (Sri Lankan) and The Sizzle with their unique sizzlers’ concept. Special spiced ice-cream and spice tea promotions will also take place during this time. For further information on the World Spice Food Festival visit www.worldspicefoodfestival.com.