Lording it over and Curry, Sorensen style

by Charmaine FERNANDO

Here was a lady who knew her cinnamon and cloves. She churned and spooned the curries with just the right sprinkle of spice. The kitchens of Hilton Hotels round the world flavoured her life and garnished her accomplishments. She had the world's connoisseurs queueing up for second and third servings of what the paradise isle called the authentic `Hath Maaluwa' the elite gourmet food of the Sri Lankans. She built her life-time dream upon curry and spice and all things nice came her way beyond expectation.

But here was a exuberant female who lifted the profession of cookery to a new level, breaking head-first in to a male domain and doing one better by being crowned the `Curry Queen' of the resplendent isle in no time. She sets a benchmark for others, women or men to emulate.

"I am passionate about everything I set out to do and I commit myself nothing short of hundred percent." Then, that is the philosophy of most successful people. She was no exception. "There were times I had to swim against the current. That brought out the best in me. I am not a quitter and am in my element against challenges", she prudently confessed.

Success is not a destination; I believe, it is the way forward.

Sikhamani Felicia Wakwella Sorensen obviously, was no ordinary housewife cooking kiri hodi and mus bistake for the family dinner day in and day out. She, despite two children from her first marriage, deliberately chose to move in with the creme of culinary exponents and outshine them all.

Going professional at a young age adorned with great good looks to send Elizabeth Arden clamouring for a chance to make her over, she had a great following like it happened to pied piper! Whereever in the world Sri Lankan cuisine took centre stage, there she was ladle in hand, dishing out her accomplishments to the elite audiences who enjoyed a good thing with much pomp and peagentry.

Talking of pageantry, Felicia has this creative strain which she uses in no small measure doing the dishes proud against an authentic Sri Lankan ambience. Long stalks of cinnamon, devil masks, clay pottery, brass lamps and hand-made thetin laces with essentially Sri Lankan flavour are her decor artifacts.

Her seafood specials are a firm favourite wherever she gets invited to perform her mastery at the art of making tongues water. People remember the taste of paradise and look out for her presence whenever she stars in the hotel happenings.

Felicia Sorensen is a strong personality and we see her boldness in every culinary presentation and her vibrance in every authentic dish she turns out. The authoratative air about her is not taken as an offence, the least, because she is the authority when it comes to anything simmering on the fire sending out smoke signals that distinctly spell taste.

She is a charming person with a spongy-soft layered tone to her voice, despite its depth and is a people person blessed with an abundant sense of good humour and PR, to her advantage. She seem a master at more things than one.

She travels the globe, makes the executive chefs do her bidding at top notch hotels of the world and is a woman who stepped the peak in her chosen vocation.

The best part about it is that she is self-made, stays focussed on the one area she professes, cooking curry, and doing it the authentic Sri Lankan way with the irresistible aroma, that's pure Sorensen, par excellence, which sets fire to any culinary experience one could garner.