Culinary experts lauded for bringing Sarawak dishes to the world
KUCHING: Food is blind to politics and can unite people – beyond countries, races and political beliefs, said political secretary in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Tan Kai.
Speaking at the 29th Anniversary How Yu Chefs Association dinner at Hoi Tin Lau Restaurant here yesterday, he believed that Sarawak local delicacies are the best tool to promote unity and boost food tourism sector, while at the same time, offering gastronomic experience to foreign tourists.
Utilising local cuisines such as Kolo Mee, Laksa Sarawak, Kampua Mee, Kueh Chap, Kompia and local vegetables like ‘Midin’ to market Sarawak as a tourist destination, Tan lauded the culinary chefs for their initiatives in promoting these dishes.
“Thanks to our many culinary gems, Sarawak is no stranger to being called food paradise, offering a fusion of traditional delicacies and modern classics,” he said.
“Good food is not only about eating well or for sustenance, but also incorporates other elements which are equally important such as hygienic food preparation and nutrition,” he added.
The founder and culinary advisor to Hoi Tin Lau Restaurant Master Chef Goh Ah Seng, meanwhile said the association has been exchanging ideas with many outstanding culinary professionals, which has contributed a lot to the development of the local food service industry.
Chinese food preparation skills have a long, profound history. It is a lifelong learning experience, where one can be creative as creativity knows no boundaries,” said Goh.
The How Yu Chefs Association, he added, had participated in the Malaysia Golden Chef Competition in July 2016; King of Culinary Asia Pacific Competition and the Asia Pacific Food and Beverage Competition, among others.
“End of this month (Nov), we will be participating in the International Macau Festival, where we are going to bring Sarawak cuisine to Macau, along with some other Sarawak cultural dancers and ‘Sape’ player,” he noted.
How Yu Chefs Association Kuching will also be one of the cohosts for the World’s Cantonese Chefs convention, to be held in Kuching next September 2023.
Supported by the state government, the convention will gather some 500 chefs around the world – from the United States, France, India, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Thailand and also from the Peninsula Malaysia.