COi - a name coined for Vichalya Fernando is an amalgamation of his coy nature and his love for koi fish, which is believed to bring good luck, in case anyone was wondering about the story behind the name of this new restaurant which opened in Colombo a month back.
Combining fresh produce and interesting ingredients, COi thrills in terms of flavour and well executed dishes. The cuisine is Asian fusion, and the menu was designed by Vichalya himself, who lends his expertise in the kitchen operations, having gained plenty of experience over the years working for reputed hotels such as Hilton Worldwide, the Intercontinental Group, and Uga Escapes, plus the Emir of Qatar. “I chose the concept of modern Asian because our palates are used to it, and there’s so much that can be done,” he explained.
On our visit to the restaurant a few weeks back, we sampled a few dishes for this review.
The Asian Spiced Lobster Salad made for a perfect starter to the meal, with soft, well cooked pieces of lobster served atop pieces of grilled bell peppers and drizzled with a narang dressing, which packed the flavours perfectly!
If it’s one thing that you have to try at COi, it’s the salmon. Easily one of the best dishes on the menu, the Salmon in Banana Leaf with a Green Tea and Pickled Guava Curry Paste was amazing! Unwrapping the salmon from the banana leaf, you will find that it has been baked to perfection, with the soft flesh falling off, and a lightly sweet flavour from the sauces it’s been cooked in. Additionally, the cubes of pickled guava add some contrast to the dish, with its sweet and sour flavours blending in with the salmon.
Another notable dish is the COi Fried Rice - a dish comprising rice tossed in soy sauce with seafood, chillie and lime. The fried rice makes a great accompaniment to any dish, or even as a shared starter.
Dessert, finally! The Pandan Cheesecake incorporates the tricky flavour of pandan (rampé) into a delightful dessert. The cold cheesecake is soft, and is a lovely melt-in-your-mouth dessert, with its biscuit base and a generous drizzling of pandan syrup and treacle with a sprinkling of chopped roasted cashew nuts.
Clique Gastrobar & Club has partnered with COi by Vichalya, providing a snack and beverage menu, and customers can also order off the main menu if they wish. The staff is friendly and attentive, without being too intrusive, and have a good knowledge of the menu and what goes into the dishes.
COi by Vichalya is open everyday for dinner (6pm -11pm). It is advisable to make reservations on 077 012 2222.
By Sarah Kellapatha
Photographs courtesy Dihan De Silva for COi by Vichalya
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