Aitken Spence Hotels showcased their prowess in the culinary sphere, winning five (05) Gold, four (04) Silver and four (04) Bronze at the recently concluded prestigious Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup. Its flagship Maldives resort, Heritance Aarah, collectively took home 13 medals.
The five (05) member team from Heritance Aarah, competed against 60 teams from 55 nations, in an intense five-day competition in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, vying for the prestigious prizes. The winning team was led by Executive Chef Amila Silva and the team was mentored and trained by the Culinary Olympic Record Holder Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe (nine-time Culinary Olympic Gold medallist) and the Corporate Chef Maldives Sector Lalith Gunasekare.
Chef Kumarasinghe is the Aitken Spence Hotels Assistant Vice President, Ambassador Heritance Cuisine / Chefs & Culinary Art Development Officer.
“Heritance Aarah is a unique resort that was designed to challenge the status quo. We turned this into a skill we are proud to have honed and nurtured over the years – our exceptional talent in the culinary world,” Aitken Spence PLC Director, Head of Tourism and Leisure, and Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotels Management Stasshani Jayawardena said congratulating the team. “We are ever so proud to see these achievements and world-class recognition which proves that we are very much in line with the company’s vision. My heartiest congratulations to you all; and thank you for keeping the Aitken Spence flag as well as Sri Lanka flag flying high.”
Aitken Spence Hotels Managing Director Susith Jayawickrama said: “This global recognition is a reward for our continuous investment on culinary training and exposure and proves that Aitken Spence Hotels is among the world’s best in the culinary arena.”
The winning team was welcomed at the Bandaranaike airport by the Senior Management of Aitken Spence Hotels followed by a felicitation lunch and ceremony.
Heritance Aarah Culinary World Cup Winners were: Executive Chef, Amila Silva (Gold and Bronze) Executive Sous Chef, Madhava Ehelamalpe (2 Silvers) Senior Chef De Partie, Duminda Sapuarachchi (3 Gold, Silver and Bronze) Chef De Partie, Kapila De Silva (Gold and Bronze) Sous Chef, Ravindra Jinadasa (Silver and Bronze)