[Business Travel]

Siam House to venture into India soon

By Surekha Galagoda

[email protected]

The authentic Thai restaurant Siam House which celebrated its 15th anniversary recently will venture into India in the near future.

Managing Director of Siam House Lionel Fernando said, “We will initially go to Chennai and then to Bangalore. The operation will be set up as a joint venture where we will own 49%. We will provide the expertise and will be known as Siam House. The first restaurant will be opened before the end of the year.

Outlining the Sri Lankan operations he said that they have a commercial kitchen and bakery, a restaurant at the departure lounge of the Bandaranaike International Airport as well as the main restaurant at Bambalapitiya.

The Commercial kitchen and bakery in Andiambalama in close proximity to Katunayaka was opened in June 2007 investing Rs. 16 million. We can provide 5000-6000 meals per day and the 48 local and foreign staff employed are qualified to do inflight catering as well.

Therefore, if we are given an order we are confident that we can fulfil it as the kitchen is built according to international hygienic and quality standards. This is a 24-hour operation.

The restaurant at the airport too is a 24-hour operation manned by 20 qualified staff. The restaurant has a seating capacity for 100 persons and we provide Thai, Sri Lankan and western food too.

The restaurant was opened in January and already enjoys a market share of 50%, said Fernando. Speaking of the main restaurant in Bambalapitiya, he said that he together with Suvit Shakuma, a Thai national, an expert in the food business with over 38 years’ experience set up Siam House in 1993 as a joint venture company with the BOI and Ceylon Tourist Board approval. Initially we had a staff of 17 including two Thai chefs and a seating capacity for 100 customers.

The main reason for us to maintain quality is Shakuma’s wide experience, he said.

Siam House has 49 staffers including four Thai chefs. Fernando said that Thailand is known globally as the world’s kitchen as they are so famous for their food which is a combination of sweet, sour and spicy flavours. Therefore, we ensure that our dishes are on par with the food prepared in Thailand. All the ingredients used in our food is natural and we ensure that we purchase the best.

The restaurant can accommodate 250 guests at a time and we do indoor, outdoor catering as well as a delivery service within the Colombo limits. The restaurant is open from 11 am -12 midnight while we do a delivery service between 11 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. The restaurant is patronised by locals as well as expatriates and we serve 300-400 customers daily, said Fernando.

Emirates offer to Guangzhou

Escape to the beautiful “spring city” of Guangzhou with Emirates introductory offer of a free hotel stay from July 1 - September 30. The offer extends to passengers in all classes of travel.

First Class Passengers receive a three-night stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou, in an Executive Suite. Business Class Passengers can avail of a two-night stay in a Horizon Club Premier Room and Economy Class Passengers receive a one night stay in a Premium Room.

The offer is inclusive of buffet breakfast and all service charges.

Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Gulf, Middle East and Iran Nabil Sultan said: “We are pleased to offer our customers yet another irresistible offer to a wonderful new destination.

Tailored for

new era

Emirates Airline’s 16,000-plus uniformed staff are to be given a sharper, more business-like look with the introduction of a brand new uniform.

Carrying forward the strongest components of the existing iconic outfit, the new, stylish and contemporary look will be unveiled when the airline receives its first A380s over the next months.

The cabin crew assigned to Emirates’ flagship aircraft will be the first to wear the new uniform.

Cinnamon Grand launches Cake Menu

The Cinnamon Grand Colombo launched The Cake Menu yesterday at the Atrium Lobby.

Patrons had the opportunity to view the 101 stunning cakes that are a part of this unique Cake Menu. The cakes were prepared by the Grand’s team of chefs and include hobby cakes, birthday cakes, cartoon cakes and many more.

“We believe in indulgence for all ages and strive to offer the market new and innovative products.

The Cake Menu represents our latest foray into delivering on that promise,” said General Manager Rohan Karr. Each colourful cake is a masterpiece of creativity and imagination and they will definitely appeal to any person or lifestyle, he said.

He said the Cake Menu epitomises months of extensive research into the complex methods of baking these amazing cakes. The Grand’s chefs are more than capable of recreating these award winning cakes first made by pftissiers and professional cake decorators around the world.

“Cake books were earnestly studied, hundreds of cakes were baked and this is your chance to be part of this memorable experience,” he said.