Only The Best Food For ASEAN Meetings' Delegates - Chef

By Balqis Jamaludin KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- Choosing the best menu to entice the 'international tastebuds' of delegates and participants of the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, is indeed a daunting task even a professional chef with 28 years of experience finds it very challenging. In fact, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) Executive Chef Suzaini Mohamed Salih said: "It is the most challenging task I have ever experienced." Speaking to Bernama, Suzaini said the 'journey' to provide meals that would suit the tastebuds of delegates from 27 countries began two months ago. Together with his teammates, they chose 150 items for the menu, of which 60 per cent were considered international cuisine and the rest, local. "Delegates can expect international food such as Vietnamese spring rolls and Thai red beef curry during the event, as well as servings of local fruits such as bananas, mangoes and dragon fruits," he said. Apart from the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, other meetings scheduled to take place at the PWTC are the Post Ministerial Conference Session (PMC) with ASEAN dialogue partners, 16th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers Meeting, the 5th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the 22nd ASEAN Regional Forum. Among the high level delegates expected are US Secretary of States John Kerry, as well as foreign ministers from the 10-member ASEAN and its dialogue partners. Suzaini said that a kitchen, the size of five badminton courts, had been set up with 50 permanent staffs and 80 part-timers working from as early as 5 am until 11 pm everyday, with four meals served daily - breakfast, lunch, coffee break and dinner. Although the routine is hectic, Suzaini said it was an honour to serve the ASEAN delegates, as such an opportunity did not come often. As for the special Gala Dinner to be hosted by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman on Wednesday, a total of 800 plates printed with ASEAN logo, had been specially ordered. PWTC Chief Executive Officer Maxson Abdullah Jaafar said these plates were a symbol of togetherness as portrayed in ASEAN’s theme for this year – Our People, Our Community, Our Vision. Under Malaysia’s chairmanship this year, ASEAN is also set to establish the ASEAN Community by year-end. -- BERNAMA