Malaysian cuisine presented at the International Food Festival in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
“Tasanno” which means “Bravo” in Uzbek language has for years served as the title for the annual International Food Festival organized by the Council of Friendship Societies of Uzbekistan, a public agency working to promote cultural, educational, spiritual relations and people to people contacts between Uzbekistan and respective foreign countries.
This year’s “Tasanno 2012”, dedicated to the 21st Anniversary of the Independence of Uzbekistan, was held on 6th September 2012 in the courtyard of the “New Tashkent Palace” Hotel and brought together representatives of 18 foreign Embassies and several other foreign restaurants operating in Tashkent.
During the opening ceremony of the festival the “guest of honour” of the event Senator Abdullah Aripov, the national hero, poet and the author of the text of the national anthem of Uzbekistan, praised the organizers and the participants for the success of the event. The septuagenarian statesman also said that the food festival was a good manifestation and proof that hospitality and kindness were intrinsic qualities of all nations of the world.
Diplomats and their family members from Malaysia, Indonesia, US, Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Egypt, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Syria, Pakistan, India, South Korea, Poland, Turkey, Germany and other participating countries worked hard to impress the jury and the visitors of the food festival with the samples of their national cuisine.
Every stall was virtually “up for grabs” for the throngs of visitors after the tour of the members of the jury selected from among the participating countries whose task was to rate each stall based on several criteria such as hygiene, professionalism, presentation and taste in order to identify the winners of the food festival. The food portions were dished out to all the guests and visitors of the festival free of charge.
The Malaysian stall decorated with various posters depicting the country’s beautiful natural attractions and diversity welcomed the guests to help themselves to the quintessential example of Malaysian cuisine - Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk), and quench their thirst with Teh Tarik (chai with milk) and Sirap Bandung (rose milky syrup drink).
The Embassy of Malaysia, which took part in the fest for the first time this year, largely due to the enthusiastic efforts of Mrs. Hamidah binti Ashari, the newly arrived Minister Counsellor of the Embassy, fared quite well for a “first-timer” by obtaining the 5th place of the festival, while the grand prize of the festival went to a Syrian restaurant operating in Tashkent which impressed everybody by the lavishness and generosity of its stall.
All the participants were awarded with certificates, medals and other memorable souvenirs presented by the various sponsors of the event.
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Embassy of Malaysia Tashkent 7th September 2012 |