Fabulous Food 1Malaysia aimed at boosting tourism

Food, food, food in KL! Who doesn't love food?

Tuesday October 27, 2009

By RACHAEL KAM

STARTING this year, the last three months of each year will be Fabulous Food 1Malaysia months to celebrate and promote Malaysia’s unique local cuisine, both at home and abroad.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said this was a new product for the ministry and an annual event to further boost the development of the tourism industry.

“The programme celebrates the unique and diverse fabulous Malaysian culinary fare that so aptly conveys the rich cultural tapestry of Malaysia,” she said at the launch of the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia logo and yearly programme in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

The three-month-long initiative started early this month with the Malaysian International Gourmet Food Festival, which promotes the various fine-dining options at several hotels and restaurants.

Under the programme, Dr Ng said, November would be a month for promoting dishes in the food courts of shopping malls.

“We will launch the Asean Heritage Food Trail with Chef Wan at the end of October,” she said.

The event is organised in collaboration with Chef Wan Sdn Bhd and offers the rich and diverse cuisine from the Asean countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“In November, foreign visitors and Malaysians alike will have the opportunity to savour food from these countries and watch renowned chefs cooking up their signature dishes at Lot 10 and Avenue K shopping centres in Kuala Lumpur,” she said.

December will be the month to promote Malaysian restaurants and street/hawker food.

Dr Ng said the participating local food associations, such as the Hawkers Association, would put up a list of 10 “best” or “must-try” food outlets in each of the 13 states in three categories.

The three categories are Nasi Lemak, Laksa and Bak Kut Teh.

Dr Ng said the categories were to help visitors navigate their way through the country’s local food maze.

“It is hoped that the Fabulous Food 1Malasyia drive will also create a buzz and encourage conversation among local residents,” she added.

She said that in future, visitors would also be able to go on specially planned Fabulous Food 1Malaysia travel packages that would introduce them to the spicy and other food that was truly Malaysian.

Meanwhile, Dr Ng claimed that she had received information that business had increased by about 20% for Singpore’s hawkers after the food conflict started.

“Here in Malaysia, the Hawkers Association said their business had also increased and in Johor, the hawkers’ business had increased by 20% to 30%.