MALAYSIAN FOOD FESTIVAL IN DUBAI A SUCCESS

By Muin Abdul Majid
DUBAI, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- The aroma of Malaysia's culinary offerings
filled the air as guests gathered for the closing of the Malaysian Food Festival at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel here Friday.

Organised by Tourism Malaysia in collaboration with Malaysia Airlines and
the hotel, the week-long event was held to mark Malaysia's 51st Merdeka
(independence) celebrations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The guest-of-honour was UAE's Social Affairs Minister Mariam Mohammed
Khalfan Al Roumi who was greeted on arrival by the Malaysian consul general in
Dubai, Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin.

The heads of various Malaysian agencies in the UAE were also
present.

Guests could be seen helping themselves to a wide array of Malaysian
favourites such as "satay" (grilled marinated chicken satay served in peanut
sauce), "mee goreng" (fried noodles), "nasi lemak" (a dish served with cucumber
slices, small dried anchovies, roasted peanuts, hard boiled egg and hot spicy
sauce), "murtabak" (crepe-like dish includes minced mutton, along with garlic,
egg and onion, and is eaten with curry sauce) and "kerabu" (salad).

In his speech, Syed Mohamad Hasrin expressed the hope that foreigners and
Malaysians alike would take delight in what the Southeast Asian country had to
offer in terms of food.

The culinary experience at the hotel's Beachcombers Restaurant was
accompanied by Malaysian traditional dances performed by a dance troupe brought
in by Tourism Malaysia.

The Aug 22-29 food promotion was deemed a success by Tuan Razali Tuan Omar,
Tourism Malaysia's director for the UAE, Gulf and Iran.

A lucky draw was also held to pick winners for Dubai-Kuala Lumpur
return
air tickets, courtesy of Malaysia Airlines, as well as hotel stays in the
Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA