M'sian Minister Gets Thumbs Up In Melbourne Culinary Skills

BY: NEVILLE D'CRUZ MELBOURNE, Aug 15 (Bernama) – Mustapa Mohamed surprised about 120 guests when he donned a chef hat and apron and proceeded to prepare rojak under the watchful eye of Malaysian-born Master Chef Adam Liaw. The impromptu 'performance' by the Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry received the thumbs up from the audience who flocked to have selfies taken with the VIP chef. Mustapa, who was launching Matrade's latest Malaysia Kitchen initiative called "Taste of Malaysia" at The Langham Hotel here, said he was delighted to see the rapid popularity of Malaysian cuisine and food products in Australia. "In the past five years, there has been a doubling of the value of Malaysia's exports of food products to Australia from US$139.9 million in 2009 to US$291.4 million in 2013," he said. "There are more than 200 lines of Malaysian food products available in Australian supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworth, independent retailers such as IGA, La Manna and Colonial and other oriental and Asian stores. "I am happy to say that Australia has one of the largest number of Malaysian restaurants overseas, totaling 224. "Here in Melbourne, I am proud to see long queues outside restaurants such as PapaRich and Mamak which show that there is strong acceptance of Malaysian food in this city. "I have been to these outlets and the crowds are overwhelming," the Minister said. Having spent his university student days in Melbourne, Mustapa said he was well aware Australians were "always game for something new and something different". Chef Adam Liaw spoke of the delights of Malaysian dishes and the growing popularity of Malaysian restaurants in Australia. Among the guests at the "Taste of Malaysia" event were institutional buyers, major importers and distributors of Malaysian products, restaurateurs and the media. Mustapa is leading a high-profile trade and investment mission to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. -- BERNAMA