Life style
Celebrating World Pizza Day with special guest chef Roberto Radoni
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Mount Lavinia Hotel’s celebration of World Pizza Day recently was an unforgettable gastronomic journey, bringing together the finest of Italian cuisine, local flavors, and the talents of renowned Italian chef Roberto Radoni said a press release, Known for his expertise and love for authentic pizza, Radoni’s guest appearance at the hotel added a touch of authenticity and passion to the event that had guests coming back for more.
The release said a seasoned chef with over three decades of experience in high-profile hotels and restaurants across Europe and London, Chef Radoni’s journey began in Calabria, Italy, where he first picked up a spatula at the age of 14. Growing up in a family where food was at the heart of everything, Radoni’s passion for cooking ignited at an early age. His career took him across the UK and Europe, where he built a reputation for creating truly authentic pizzas. Inspired by his love for the perfect pizza, Chef Radoni founded his own street-food business; The Gorilla Kitchen, even converting a shipping container into a mobile pizza kitchen. His commitment to serving the best street food earned him multiple accolades, including the Olive Magazine Chef Awards 2019 Best Street Food Chef, The Observer Food Monthly Awards Runner-Up in 2019, and a finalist at the Italian Awards 2019.
For this special occasion, Chef Radoni brought his signature wood-fired pizzas to Mount Lavinia Hotel, showcasing authentic Italian flavors that left guests in awe. The pop-up restaurant, set up at the hotel’s picturesque beachside venue “The Little Hut,” was transformed into a charming rustic pizzeria, complete with a cozy ambiance and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pizzas. The event was a true celebration of the art of pizza-making, offering a unique experience for guests who got to taste some of the finest pizzas in Sri Lanka.
A Taste of Authenticity
Guests were treated to a special selection of appetizers and pizzas that embodied the essence of Italian flavors. Some of the highlights included:
Appetizers:
· Caprese Salad
· Insalata Mista
· Pollo Tonnato
Signature Pizzas:
· La Reine Pizza: Fresh button mushrooms, black olives, oregano, garlic oil, cooked ham, mozzarella, and plum tomato.
· Vesuvio Pizza
: Spicy salami, pepperoni, hot pork sausage, chili, mozzarella, plum tomato, and topped with rocket leaves.
· Summer Garden Pizza
: Marinated char-grilled artichokes, zucchini, and Sicilian sun-dried tomatoes.
· Leanne Pizza
: Garlic, oregano, zucchini, button mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, spicy salami, mozzarella, and fresh cherry tomatoes.
· Hot Chili Cheese Pizza
: Mozzarella, plum tomato, green chili, and fresh basil.
· Marinara Pizza
: Chopped garlic, wild oregano, mozzarella, and tomato sauce.
· Margarita Pizza
: Mozzarella, oregano, plum tomato, and fresh basil.
· Napoli Pizza
: Mozzarella, plum tomato, oregano, black olives, anchovy, basil, and rocket leaves.
Each pizza, crafted by Chef Radoni himself, was a masterpiece, with flavors that transported guests straight to Italy. The combination of fresh ingredients, the wood-fired oven, and Radoni’s expert touch ensured that every bite was nothing short of extraordinary.
A Success to Remember
The hotel’s Chief Operating Officer, Anura Dewapura, expressed great satisfaction with the event’s success, remarking, “The celebration of World Pizza Day was a hit! We’re proud to have had Chef Radoni showcase his incredible pizza-making skills at Mount Lavinia Hotel. We are committed to offering our guests unique experiences, we have many more exciting themed events lined up, where we’ll continue to bring together authentic flavors, high-quality food, wine, and culture. This is the type of experience we want to scale up in the future, creating memorable moments for all our guests.”
As the event closed, guests were left with full stomachs, happy hearts, and a renewed appreciation for authentic Italian cuisine. Mount Lavinia Hotel has proven once again that it is not just a place to stay—it is a destination for extraordinary experiences, where food, culture, and ambiance come together in perfect harmony.
Life style
Aalam Travels shared vision for future
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Aalam International Tours and Travels marked 34 years of excellence with a gathering to celebrate strong relationships, loyal customers and a shared vision for the future of travel at the Ahase Loung. ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo. There were many invitees, diplomats, and loyal customers and partners
Aalam travels have the credit of crafting unforgettable journeys that reflects travel aspirations while embracing many memories of a truly Sri Lankan holidays. Endless destinations, mesmerizing sceneries and travelling adventures resonate strongly with Aalam travels
Founded in 1991, Aalam International has built a distinguished reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s leading tour operator. Specializing in group tours, pilgrimage services and tailor-made travel solutions for destinations worldwide, they have been delivering personalized, hassle-free travel experiences for over 34 years. From offering end-to-end services including visa processing and accommodation arrangements to guided tours, Aalam International has consistently been a trusted name in the industry, known for their attention to detail and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.
This event is a milestone in Aalam International’s journey. It’s not just a celebration of their past achievements, but also an opportunity to honor the strong relationships they’ve built with their loyal customers, partners, and distinguished guests, including ambassadors from various nations.’
This high tea is more than just an afternoon gathering; it’s a celebration of the connections that have been fostered over the years and the exciting journeys yet to come. (Zanita)
Life style
Sri Lanka’s First Super-Specialty Acne Lab
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Christell Luxury Wellness unveiled its state-of-the-art Christell Acne Lab, a first-of-its-kind super-specialty clinic in Sri Lanka dedicated to advanced acne treatment. At the core of the Acne Lab is Christell’s unique and fivestep pathway to glow with confidence, a scientifically designed methodology that offers a personalized, holistic approach to acne care.
With over three decades of experience in skincare innovation, Christell’s Acne Lab promises not just clear skin but also a renewed sense of confidence for patients of all ages and skin types.
The five -step pathway to glow with confidence
Pre-consultation – building the foundation
Every patient begins their journey with a detailed initial assessment, including imaging, lifestyle analysis, and skincare product reviews. The process is designed to identify underlying factors like dietary habits, stress levels, and past reactions, ensuring a tailored approach to treatment.
Doctor consultation – crafting your personalized plan
Patients undergo an in-depth medical history review, skin examination, and precise diagnosis with Christell’s expert doctors. A customized treatment plan is created, addressing both the visible effects and root causes of acne while setting achievable goals.
3. Post-consultation and treatment – transforming skin,one step at a time
clinical support specialist walks patients through their personalized plan, explaining product usage, scheduling treatments, and providing support materials. Treatments are carefully executed, focusing on pre-treatment assessments, in-session care, and post-treatment recovery, with real-time progress reviews.
4. Progress assessment and lifestyle support – your Christell buddy
Christell’s continuous care approach includes regular check-ins with a dedicated support specialist, skin analysis, and lifestyle adjustments. Patients also gain access to exclusive resources, such as the Acne Community, workshops, and expert advice for holistic skincare management.
Celebrate progress – rewarding your glow-up
The Christell Acne Lab celebrates every milestone with rewards, including exclusive discounts, advanced face analyses, wellness treatments, and Christell’s signature goodie bags.
Life style
FarCry Boutique Hotel in Wasgamuwa – Re-opens it’s doors!
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By Zanita Careem
FarCry Is a hidden gem in Wasgamuwa situated between the majestic Knuckles mountain range and the great Mahaweli, a serene location, perfect for travellers who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Marrying together every element of the jungle with a chic, modern twist is a marvel to venture into the gateway of Sri Lanka’s wild to enjoy the rustic of local life and the gracious hospitality.
The resort is a mosaic of rustic charm, tasteful features and gracious hospitality. With six rooms , a restaurent and a pool,this place blends into its surroundings offering a haven for the wild cry enthusiasts and a gateway to the dis
cerning traveller. This location is perfect to experience the natural beauty of Sri Lanka and the large pool at the resort is an exceptional place to swim and relax with family and friends or simply unwind in the peaceful surroundings overlooking the Great Mahaweli. The resort is close to many popular tourist attractions including the Wasgamuwa National Park home to majestic elephants, leopards, sloth bear and many rare sighting of exotic birds and the Maduru Oya National Park, Veddhas of Dambana, Mahiyangana Temple and Sorabora Lake.
FarCry resort offers a wide range of activities within the premises from a dip in the pool to long walks in thier five acre property or explore the Great Mahaweli and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The only sounds you hear are the rustling of the leaves,cry of rare species of birds, or beautiful peacocks displaying its fan of feathers or perched up and camouflaged at the top of the tall trees which are a common sight. It is also a a sanctuary for elephants roaming freely in the surrounding jungles,making Far Cry resort a must place to visit for wild life lovers.
Comfort is a top priority at FarCry The resort offers personalised service with a touch of class. The rooms, each named after local wild life like Diviya, Muwa, Aliya, Monara,Hava to mention a few are designed to accomadate families and groups
These spacious luxury rooms, each tucked deeply within luscious foliage, also offer privacy and seclusion.
FarCry Resort offers a serene escape where guests can re-connect with nature and indulge in a memorable experience. Each room has state of the art facilities, with tea and coffee making facilities and spacious toilets.
FarCry has made a name for its traditional Sri Lankan cuisine with bold flavours and exotic spices said Public Relations manager Nadine Fernando. We had the opportunity to taste the authentic rice and curry made to perfection, village style. We were served with rotti, kiribath and Sri Lanka spicy sambol, onions and tomatoes for morning breakfast The resort has successfully embedded on ideal, secluded dining experience The minimalist accentuate of this location brings out a sense of class, a touch of locally attributed gastronomy and the vibrant colours of Sri Lankan food to the table.
At the FarCry Resort there are many activities you can enjoy right in our premises said Nadine. For something even more exotic , a barbeque in the woods is an option, and we are hoping to revive the concept of ‘Gami Gedera’ for family style dining and other corporate functions.
Nadine also said the majority of the nature reserve is free from human interference, with its close proximity to Wasgamuwa National Park, the reserve sees frequent visits by a wide variety of birdlife and guests who will delight in seeing many rare species around the premises making it a true haven for bird watchers. Red faced malkoha,painted stork,white necked stork black headed ibis and spoonbills are seen around for a bird watcher this is a paradise!
FARCRY FARM
The onsite farm allows our guests the unique opportunity to participate in a range of activities built around rural farm life; and there’s nothing more rewarding than knowing the delicious meals we prepare were made from wholesome produce picked fresh from our farm and gardens just before it reached your table!
What is so unique about Far Cry ?
The people and the dedicated staff of six from the local village adds extra vibes of hospitality for those seeking to escape the busy city life. Soak in the sun and the jungle sounds,watch the birds in all thier glory Far Cry provides travellers with a chance to escape the city and immerse themselves in the true beauty of nature!
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