COMPETITOR

Shani Mapitigama

HEAD COOK: Shani Mapitigama

COMPETITION: World Seafood Championship

My enthusiasm for cooking began during my younger age. In an East Asian remote city of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) where I am originally from I always watched over my mother when she prepared food for my father and seven children in our family. \r\nMy culinary experience is combined with recipes that has been passed through generations over in our family which has health benefits and have always been fresh. \r\n\r\nAs I flashback through my teenage years my brother who was a chef during his vacation visits used to teach me the efficient techniques of preparing andpresentation of food, his demonstration ability helped me in my cooking techniques and utilization of food. And I recognized from him that you should always have standards of sanitation, health and safety.\r\n\r\nThe love that I have for cooking is endless and it always makes me happy in preparing a meal for the orphaned. During my vacation to Sri Lanka I always make sure to prepare a home cook meal and feed 20 orphaned children. The happiness and smiles that the children have when they dine my meal gives me immense joy and there\'s no other feeling that you can get. \r\n\r\nThroughout my culinary experience I have always prepared home meals and as a home chef this is the first major step that I\'m going to take in my life. I hope this humble experience given to me to be at its best with the authentic dishes prepared by me to be enjoyed by the world.\r\nWhere there is a will there is a way and I hope that the journey I\'m about to start will take me a long way without any obstacles.