Malaysian Chef To Prepare Halal Meals At 2018 Winter Olympics

By Erda Khursyiah Basir This last of three articles on the collaboration between South Korean food giant Shinsegae Food Inc and Malaysian company Mamee-Double Decker Sdn Bhd zeroes in on Faizul Hazly Ghazali who is heading the halal kitchen operations at the 2018 Winter Olympics. SEOUL, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- In May last year, a delegation from Malaysian food and beverage manufacturer Mamee-Double Decker Sdn Bhd visited Seoul for its first round of talks with Shinsegae Food Inc on the setting up of a joint venture company. During a slide presentation by Shinsegae Food, the company announced that Mamee chef Faizul Hazly Ghazali would be appointed to head the halal kitchen operations at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics from Feb 9 to 25. It came as a complete surprise to not only Faizul Hazly, who was present at the meeting but also Mamee Corporate Strategy and Finance Director Vuitton Pang Hee Cheah. "The announcement shocked us but of course we were delighted and grateful for being given the opportunity," said Faizul Hazly, 39, who has worked in the restaurant and hotel field for 20 years. He said after the meeting his bosses congratulated him and urged him to do his best as it was a golden opportunity for him to prove himself. He was speaking to Malaysian reporters who were in Seoul recently as part of a media experiential trip from Jan 22 to 25, organised by Mamee in conjunction with its involvement in the 2018 Winter Olympics halal kitchen, here. Faizul Hazly is currently Executive Chef at Shinsegae Mamee Sdn Bhd, the joint venture company formed by Mamee and Shinsegae Food on Nov 27, 2017. FIRST HALAL KITCHEN The halal kitchen at the 2018 Winter Olympics is a first in the history of the prestigious games. Faizul Hazly has made Malaysia proud by being appointed head of the halal kitchen, which would operate in compliance with the halal standards set by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM). Shinsegae Food is the official food supplier for the 2018 Winter Olympics. During the duration of the 2018 Winter Olympics from Feb 9 to 25 and the Paralympic Games until March 18, Faizul Hazly would have to oversee the preparation of meals for about 170 Muslim athletes from 96 countries. The halal kitchen will be required to serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper and among the food items on the menu are scrambled eggs, sausages, lentil soup, mushroom soup, roast lamb, roast salmon, steamed nasi briyani, vegetables, seafood and pasta. Faizul Hazly said when he first spoke about halal food to the Shinsegae Food management, he realised that they did not have much knowledge of it. "They thought any food was considered halal as long as it didn't have pork in it. They were surprised when I explained to them that it was more than that and that the animals had to be slaughtered in a certain way as required in Islam in order for the meat to be certified halal." After the announcement that he would be heading the halal kitchen, Faizul Hazly travelled to Seoul several times to attend meetings to iron out various issues. He has also been liaising with JAKIM and the Korean Muslim Federation to get their input on the running of a halal kitchen. HUGE RESPONSIBILITY Knowing very well that he had to shoulder a heavy responsibility, the father-of-three said he not only had to take care of Malaysia's image but also bring the halal perspective as a brand at the global level. "I'm taking this matter seriously and I'm not going there merely as a Muslim chef. I've to take into consideration all other aspects of halal as well, including how the food is prepared, and the cutlery, pots and pans used for cooking," he said. About 6,000 kilogrammes of chicken and other meat and seafood have already been ordered from halal food vendors from various countries including Brazil and Australia to ensure there is enough food supply for the Muslim athletes. At the 2018 Winter Olympics halal kitchen, Faizul Hazly will be assisted by another Mamee chef, and also a chef from India and 15 South Korean chefs. He knows that there would be communication barriers but he is not allowing it to dampen his spirits. South Korean chef Choi Jeongyong from Shinsegae Food will be in charge of the main kitchen, preparing about 20,000 meals a day for 5,000 athletes, coaches and others. RESEARCH MISSION Faizul Hazly, whose culinary expertise include Japanese and other international cuisines, is already stationed at the halal kitchen, having started work on Jan 26. He will be there for a total of 52 days and he is mentally and physically prepared to face the freezing temperature, which can drop to as low as -20 degrees Celsius as it is still winter in South Korea. He is also on a research mission to establish some sort of platform where both Mamee and Shinsegae Food can exchange knowledge and learn about each other's food and cooking styles. Over the long run, the exchange will enable Malaysians to enjoy authentic Korean delicacies in their country, while Muslim tourists visiting South Korea can safely indulge in the halal version of the local food. "With the growing popularity of Korean food in Malaysia and more Muslims visiting South Korea, I hope to do my part to contribute to the development of its halal food industry," he added. -- BERNAMA