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See you there: (From left) Chefs Association of Malaysia Penang Chapter training and education director Lee Chan Wai, Kwong Wah Yit Poh Press Bhd assistant general manager Tang Hong Heng, Penang Hawker Association chairman Lam Tong Ying, Ooi, Yeap, hawker Ng Bee Phing, Tourism Ministry Penang office director Jaime Yeoh, Seow and Penang Night Market Malay Hawkers Association deputy president Abu Kasim Bakar posing for the press at the Penang Times Square.

WHEN it comes to the best hawker food or local dish in town, Penangites seem to have their personal preferences as to which place serves the best laksa, fried koay teow or mee goreng.

The inaugural ‘Battle of Penang Hawkers Masters’, which will be held from Dec 20, will aspire to be a yardstick for the local hawkers to prove their ability to dish out the best among the best hawker food.

More than 100 Penang hawkers will battle it out at the Penang Times Square.

The event’s categories are for the best laksa, the best fried koay teow, the best mee goreng, the best hok-kien mee and the best satay.

The event, organised by Ivory Properties Group Berhad, pro- mises as much excitement as that of reality cooking shows on television.

There would be a special appea-rance by Axian’s Food Adventures television host Jason Yeoh, or more popularly known as Axian.

Ivory Properties chief operating officer Datuk Ooi Chin Loo said that the group, which manages Penang Times Square, had invited Yeoh to be the celebrity judge in the final round of the battle.

The event will start on Dec 20 from noon to 2pm for the laksa category followed by the fried koay teow category on Dec 21, mee goreng category on Dec 22 and hokkien mee category on Dec 23.

On Dec 24, hawkers will battle it out in the satay category and the teh tarik category.

The grand finals will be on Dec 25 at the same venue.

“These dishes are somewhat synonymous with Penang and this competition will make it easy for tourists and local residents to identify which places serve the best of such fare,” Ooi told a press conference.

He said that besides providing a platform for talented hawkers to reveal their innate cooking skills, the competition was also aimed at grooming them into ‘celebrity hawkers’ through the award of the master’s title.

“It is a good way to promote Penang hawker food as one of the world’s famous delights in an effort to boost tourism in the state,” he added.

Penang Hawkers Association secretary Seow Hean Teik said that the event would serve as an interactive platform for the hawkers to come together in recognition of the local culinary industry.

“With the event being endorsed by the Tourism Ministry, I am sure many of our members will be keen to join in.

“This way, they can gain recognition and experience,” he said.

Laksa seller Yeap Peng Theam, 47, hopes to win the RM2,000 prize.

“I have been selling laksa for the past 20 years and I hope my experience will help me win and also promote my laksa stall in Paya Terubong,” he said.

Winners from all categories will each walk away with prizes including RM2,000, a three-day-two- night Star Cruise getaway for two, Fusion Excel products, a Thermo-mix cutlery set, a Redbull hamper, an F&N hamper, a medal and a certificate from the Tourism Ministry.

The public are encouraged to take part in a taste-and-vote session from Dec 20 to Dec 24.

Participants stand a chance to win lucky draw contest prizes worth up to RM30,000.

The finals will also see Penang’s celebrity chef Philip Yoong presenting a cooking demonstration.

There will also be a teh tarik performance by F&N and other performances.

Registration fee is RM20 for each category and the entry date closes on Dec 11.

For further details, call 04-2109020. [News link]

Posted by admin on November 30, 2011 under Tourism Event.