868 CHEFS FOR CULINAIRE MALAYSIA 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Some 868 local and international chefs
will showcase their culinary skills at Culinaire Malaysia 2009 at Kuala Lumpur
Convention Centre (KLCC) from Aug 11-14.

Organising chairman Cheah Swee Hee said Culinaire Malaysia was not solely
aimed at crowning the best chefs but also to observe their real skills.

This was important due to the ever changing food and beverage industry in
the form of new menus and also a change in lifestyle.

"We set the standard. The question is are you able to achieve that
standard?. This competition is a benchmark of our own standard. It is not
about preparing and presenting food and giving medals," he told a press
conference here Tuesday.


Cheah who is also Malaysian Association of Hotels honorary secretary said
the presence of some of the world's best chefs would give the country's young
chefs the chance to learn new skills and menus.

KLCC executive chef Richmond Lim Beng Poh said the event would help promote
and motivate new culinary talents.

"There are a lot of young talents in this competition and now is the time
for them to bring out their ideas to the world," he said.

Culinaire Malaysia 2009 hopes to attract some 20,000 visitors compared
to the 16,000 in 2007.

A part from Culinaire Malaysia 2009, the International Hospitality Seminar
by the Malaysian Association of Hotels Training and Education Centre (MAHTEC)
will also be held.

-- BERNAMA