Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Serena Hotel, in collaboration with the Malaysian High Commission, inaugurated the five-day Malaysian food festival at Wild Rice Restaurant.

The Islamabad Serena Hotel continued the Culinary Arts Festival tradition under its cultural diplomacy initiative and brought the renowned Malaysian star chef Zaidah binti Mohammad Noor to Islamabad. The chef took the guests on a virtual trip to Malaysia with her authentic Malay cuisine and impeccable techniques in culinary arts, it was reported.

Zaidah binti Mohammad Noor, a Malay chef with almost 36 years of experience, started her career with cooking programmes in the 1980s which gained country wide popularity and has also written several cookbooks. She currently presents Malaysian cuisine internationally through various collaborations, it was said.

Islamabad Serena Hotel General Manager Michel Galopin said, “We are delighted to be able to bring international flavours and gastronomic delights to Pakistan. Familiarity with other cultures especially cuisines is the best way to experience the rest of the world and we are proud to partner with the High Commission of Malaysia for this beautiful culinary journey to Malaysia”.

During the event it was said the Malay Peninsula, traditionally a melting pot of culture and cuisine, continues to retain its own unique flavour. Traditional Southeast Asian herbs and spices meet Indian, Middle Eastern and Chinese spices in Malaysian food, leading to fragrant combinations of coriander and cumin, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, cardamom, star anise and fenugreek. Though generally spicy, the dishes were served with a chilli-based sambal at the restaurant.

Published in Daily Times, October 16^th 2017.