Life style
SANFIZ: Tantalizing the taste buds
by Rochelle Palipane Gunaratne
SANFIZ pickles and chutneys are the perfect accompaniment for the main dish- with its aromatic, power packed, flavourful concoctions blending perfectly to tantalize the taste buds.
“This is a dream of mine,” enthused Zubeida, who has a passion for cooking and a creative flair that makes her creations all the more appealing. Using fruits, vegetables, spices, juggery/ sugar and vinegar as her preservatives, she has produced a brand which reflects her love for cooking for her family and friends. “It gives me great pleasure to make meal times special and it gives me immense satisfaction to know that something I have created with attention to detail and with love goes a long way, even far off lands and to the homes of strangers- ensuring that they make their meal times memorable and heart-warming.
Listening to her makes you realize that SANFIZ is not a mere product but a personalized accompaniment created with love. While the product has reached many a household worldwide as gifts through friends and relatives, the first official consignment was sent to USA recently which is a source of pride for Zubaida and her family and for the country.
The name SANFIZ too has a deeper meaning as it is an abbreviation of the names of her husband, children, grandchildren and herself combined, which indicates the value placed on everything that is prepared. After all, what began as a love for cooking with a dash of creativity has taken wing as an entrepreneurial venture in a small scale by a lady who believes that dreams do come true.
Fun facts about pickles and chutneys
The key difference between pickle and chutney is that the pickle typically includes whole fruits and vegetables or large pieces whereas chutney includes small pieces of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, pickle refers to vegetables or fruit, sometimes cut into pieces, which have been kept in vinegar or salt water for a long time so that they have a strong, sharp taste. Chutney, on the other hand, is a spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables with vinegar, spices, and sugar.
Although many people consider pickle and chutney as the same type of preservatives, there is a distinct difference between pickle and chutney. The process of pickling makes pickles while slow cooking makes chutneys. Both these foods include preserving perishable food, i.e., fruits and vegetables.
Pickles health benefits
Pickles have many health benefits from being a probiotic to boosting immunity. Pickles are loaded with nutrients like Vitamin A, D and K, along with minerals such as sodium, potassium, etc. Pickles don’t just add flavour to your meal but also enrich the nutrient quality of your food. Pickles such as cucumber, spinach, thyme, mango are also good sources of vitamin C.
Moreover, pickle also has good bacteria and antioxidants that help in enhancing your overall health too. Pickles assist in maintaining good gut health as pickle is a fermented product. Not to mention, if your gut is clear, you will also have a smooth weight loss journey. It is not an aid in weight loss but can be consumed in the right quantity during the time. However, the consumption should be in very small portion as it may lead to constipation.
Pickes are also good as they control sugar levels of a patient. Vinegar based pickles help in improving hemoglobin levels in diabetic patients. It is basically because of acetic acid that is present in vinegar.
Health benefits of chutney
Chutney acts as a detoxifier for your stomach. Consuming even little amounts of chutney can help in cleansing your stomach with its helpful vitamins like Vitamin B, C and A. As it is a probiotic food, it is very beneficial for your digestive system. Chutney helps in lowering the cholesterol levels, thus helping in maintaining good heart health. Chutneys have a lot of beneficial nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and fiber that are good for your heart. So, you can include a little amount of chutney in your daily diet.
Both pickle and chutney are highly nutritious and offer several health benefits to the human body. These tasty food items should be consumed in small quantities to enjoy advantages and prevent side effects of overconsumption. Therefore, you can include both chutney and pickle in your diet in small quantities!
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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