Arts
Taking their passion for food to the people
Colombo is set to welcome a bold new contender to its already bustling dining scene with Food Atrium, an exciting collection of exclusive food outlets at the Colombo City Centre.
Cosy seating with views of Colombo’s changing skyline
Located near the banks of the Beira Lake, it is perfectly situated for both casual and corporate diners. Whether you want to take advantage of the beautiful indoor seating, enjoy the views of the Colombo skyline on the terrace, or want to hold a meeting in one of its private spaces, Food Atrium is designed to accommodate the needs of all their patrons.
Set to officially open to the public on September 19, Food Atrium opened its doors for a special preview for the children of The Warehouse Project and The Sri Jinananda Children’s Home, in an afternoon of games, laughter, music, and especially food.
Children were invited to sample some of the dishes from Food Atrium’s 15 outlets, a delicious and eclectic menu put together by the teams from Jagro, Shiok!, Isle of Gelato, Fresh Intentions by Roots, Sumatran Spice by Far East Indonesian, Mango Tree, Punch by Wine World, Tokyo Shukudo, China Street Food and Okra Kitchen.
Food is an important part of culture, and sharing that passion with the community is integral to the Food Studio philosophy of ‘Connect and Collaborate’, according to Chairman of Food Studio Lim Tai Toom.
Familiar local names are joined by a few international neighbours, from franchise favourites like Portuguese flame-grilled chicken from Aporto to total newcomers like the charming confections of The Little Prince by Mitsi. Food Atrium also promises authentic fare from Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, China and Portugal to name a few.
This will be Food Studio’s first Atrium in Sri Lanka, with plans for more at Shangri-La Colombo in 2019 and at Havelock City in 2022.
For many of these outlets, Food Atrium will be their debut into the fast dining industry as they are typically small family-owned businesses. The Food Studio team emphasises the importance of nurturing their relationships with the restaurants, and are deeply involved in helping them to grow and maintain their business while preserving their theme of ‘memories from home’.
This theme is reflected in the design of the atrium, featuring elegant and traditional woodwork, décor and furniture.
It is an undeniably exclusive location, showcasing eateries that are the cream of the crop – like Sri Lanka’s first dessert bar House on The Moon, specialising in deconstructed desserts created by Michelin starred chefs.
Lim Tai Toom
Nadeem Rajabdeen
There are significant differences between the food courts we are used to and the Food Atrium, other than its upmarket setting. Lim explains that it is not about the rent of a retail space, as it is anywhere else. It is about the diverse and passionate entrepreneurs that have brought their cultural identity to this country through their food.
He compares the company motto of ‘Connect and Collaborate’ to salt, an important component in food preparation as it serves two key roles; that of preserving as well as a flavour enhancing agent.
“As salt, we hope to play a role in the preservation of all that’s good in humanity i.e. kindness, love, charity and in the Sri Lankan culture, warm hospitality. As salt, we also hope to enhance the life of those whom we interact with.”
Lim and Director of Food Studio Nadeem Rajabdeen laugh as they describe the process of going out to the homes and kitchens of these small business owners to sample their dishes; evidently a significantly enjoyable perk of the job.
Their aim is to convince the public to try different cuisines in a comfortable setting, so they may experience the beauty of collaboration and community building through food, often hailed as the language of love.