COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka is set to serve up its first week-long food festival this August at the country’s most storied hotel.

Celebrating fine food and wine, Galle Face Hotel and Wine World (PVT) Ltd will open up the hotel grounds for Colombo Gourmet Week from August 22 – 28. Each day from the 22nd – 26th tasting counters will be set up poolside and at the Verandah restaurant for wines and canapés that have been paired by a team of chefs and sommeliers.

The international line up of cooks includes Michelin-starred Luca De Berardinis, who was raised in the Abruzzo region of Italy and was 12 years old when he started his culinary training. Galle Face Hotel’s own executive chef Adam Gaunt-Evans will also take part. Originally from the UK, Gaunt-Evans started his culinary journey in the Michelin-starred Green House restaurant and, among other high profile restaurants, has worked in Sydney’s iconic Flying Fish.

From the 23rd – 26th the hotel will host curated multi-course dinners throughout the property, including one at the recently opened Sea Spray restaurant. Each night a different country’s cuisine will be represented: France, Italy, Chile and South Africa, with a wine expert working alongside the guest chefs. The chef and sommelier will be available for discussion with diners at each meal.

‘Vines of the World’ will take place on the 27th and 28th of August. The south lawn will be transformed into a wine fair showcasing premium wines from 10 countries. Wine enthusiasts can taste, savour and compare various varietals whilst enjoying antipasto platters.

The festivities conclude on the 28th with a Fusion Cuisine Brunch, with dishes from the visiting chefs, available from 11am to 4pm paired with Roses and Prosecco accompanied by the vocals of blues singer, Jerome Speldewinde.

For more information please visit the event’s Facebook page by searching “Colombo Gourmet week 2016.”