Oman Air takes the cake At Food and Hotel Expo 2011

At the three-day Food and Hotel Expo 2011, which has just been held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Muscat, a team of experts from Oman Air Catering's pastry kitchen demonstrated advanced culinary skills to the visitors.

The team, led by Oman Air’s head pastry chef, Harsha Ranasinghe, and supported by Fatma Al Riyami and Sampath Fernandez, tackled a range of food preparation methods, including chocolate molding and preparation, dessert plating, showpiece design and wedding cake structure techniques.

In addition to entertaining and informing visitors to the Expo, the demonstration formed a vital part of Oman Air Catering’s training and development initiative, which is spearheaded by general manager catering, Aaron Claxton, along with Food production Manager, Fuad Al Hinai. It also aimed to inspire the youth of Oman to consider careers within the catering industry.

Claxton said: “Our pastry chefs have given a superb demonstration, which not only showcased the commitment and talent for which Oman Air Catering is noted, but also gave an insight into the remarkable range of skills creativity required of the sector’s leading professionals.

“The team’s appearance at the Food and Hotels Expo 2011 was the latest in our Culinary Skills training initiative, which has also seen cross training in Bangkok and Delhi with renowned hotel groups and the deployment of Omani cooks overseas to gain hands-on exposure within very different professional environments.

“Oman Air is proud to be investing in, developing and nurturing Omani talent in this way and we look forward to continuing to produce delicious, attractive and imaginative food for our customers in Muscat and throughout our expanding international network.”