MALAYSIAN FOOD GALORE AT TRADERS HOTEL, DUBAI

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Food lovers should check out what's cooking at
the three-week-long Malaysian food promotion currently underway at the Traders
Hotel Dubai here.

"Guests can expect nothing less than an authentic Malaysian meal prepared
by Malaysian chefs," said the hotel's food and beverage manager, Kevin
D'Almaida.

The promotion, being held at the hotel's The Junction restaurant until Nov
30, involves daily dinner and the weekly Friday brunch.

D'Almaida said Traders Hotel had worked closely with its sister hotel, the
Shangri-La Golden Sands Resort in Penang, Malaysia, and Tourism Malaysia in
organising the event.

Glimpses of Malaysia are abound as the restaurant has been decorated with
colourful Malaysian kites, decorative cloths and posters depicting major tourist
attractions in the Southeast Asian nation of 27 million.

Restaurant patrons are spoilt for choice when it comes to food that can be
enjoyed in a cozy atmosphere with soothing Malaysian music in the
background.

D'Almaida said: "The reason we've picked Shangri-La Golden Sands for this
promotion is because people say that when it comes to Malaysian food, everything
from Penang somehow tastes better -- Penang laksa, mee goreng and so on --
though you can find them everywhere else in Malaysia."

He praised the management and staff of the Penang hotel for their
support.

Chefs Tan Jake Boh and Ridzuan Mat, who had been specially flown in for the
food promotion, said they had brought in several natural ingredients from
Malaysia to ensure the authenticity of the dishes prepared during the event.

Restaurant guests can be assured of quality Malaysian culinary offerings as
Tan has nearly three decades of experience under his belt, having joined
Shangri-La Golden Sands back in 1979, while Ridzuan has perfected his skills in
preparing Malay dishes after spending nearly two decades with the
hotel.

Traders Hotel Dubai sales and marketing director, Arvind
Balasubramaniam,
expressed confidence that the event would be a success.

Noting that only daily dinner was offered during a similar promotion last
year, he expected a good crowd for the weekly Friday brunch as well as dinner
this time around.

"And we have terrific chefs in the house to whip up well-loved Malaysian
dishes," he added.

-- BERNAMA