VISITORS to Penang have another reason to travel to the state next month.
Touted to be the first Asian food festival to be held in Penang, the Penang Asian Food & Culture Festival 2019 is set to feature cuisines from five Asian countries in five different venues in Penang.
Cake Experiential Communications chief experience officer Andy Ong said the festival would be held at five shopping malls from Sept 13 to 15.
“Penang has earned the title of being the ‘food capital’ of Asia. That makes Penang the ideal destination for this inaugural festival. Local and foreign tourists visit Penang for food and cultural experiences.
“Now with the festival, they have more reasons to visit Penang,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Cake Experiential Communications is the festival organiser.
“Japanese food fans can visit Gurney Paragon Mall for some unique Japanese fare. We have different types of matcha cakes and even the gourmet Sakura oolong drinks. Watch out for the origami and bento box-making workshops.
“At Gurney Plaza, the focus will be on China. We have Chinese dumplings and pastries.
“There will also be hands-on activities for visitors to participate. Besides that, we have fusion Chinese food competition, paper-cutting workshops and a splendid Chinese cultural performance.
“It is all about Thailand at 1st Avenue Mall. We have Thai snacks and the favourite Thai tomyam. There will be Thai food cooking demonstration, Muay Thai showcase and leather handicraft-making workshop.
“Korean food lovers can enjoy their favourite Korean dishes at Queensbay Mall such as kimchi, Korean ramyun and more; while enjoying the cultural performances and taking part in hanbok origami workshop.
“Visitors can enjoy various Indonesian favourites including the Indomie doughnut at Sunway Carnival Mall. They can take part in batik painting workshop,” he said.
State Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the festival, from 10am to 10pm, would be held simultaneously at all the five shopping malls.
“The festival has been carefully curated to enable visitors to dive deeper into each country’s cultural landscape through cultural performances and activities. Each mall will showcase its speciality cuisine in an interactive pop-up area,” he said.
The opening ceremony of the festival will be held from 5.30pm to 10pm on Sept 10 at the Hin Bus Depot.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said visitors could explore the different food kiosks from various popular Asian food vendors for a taste of what they could expect during the festival.
“There will also be artisanal workshops and cultural performances at Hin Bus Depot,” he said.
Chow said the festival was expected to draw some 100,000 visitors.
For more details visit, Penang Asian Food & Culture Festival on Facebook.
Also present were state executive council members Chong Eng and Soon Lip Chee, Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan and partners of the festival.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad