I was never a great believer in the old adage - the key to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But then I came to Malaysia and fell in love with its intoxicating combination of flavours and sheer variety of cuisines.

Ask any Malaysian and they will tell you, with all the passion I now share, that we have the best cuisine in the world here. It’s what you miss most when you are overseas. But having said this, when the festival started six years ago there were simply not enough diners to sustain our few fine dining restaurants. What was needed was a collective marketing effort to increase the numbers and thus the KL International Gourmet Festival was born in 2001.

And what a successful young adult it’s grown to be! Today, as we get ready for our seventh festival, and the second of what has now become the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival, things are booming. We find ourselves with a record thirty restaurants taking part; being honoured by Tourism Malaysia as one of the top 50 events for Visit Malaysia Year 2007; and an international PATA Gold Award - one of only two organisations in Malaysia to have been so honoured (the other being Tourism Malaysia themselves). Heady stuff!

But no one is getting carried away. We continue to explore new ideas to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a world-class food tourism destination and this year have introduced a ‘Malaysia Truly Asia Cuisine’ competition among our Master Chefs and launched MIGF Gourmet Tour packages. With these initiatives and a record number of restaurants participating we aim to make MIGF 2007 the best festival yet.

So whether you prepare by taking up a gym membership or simply loosening your waist bands get ready to indulge yourselves this November!

Jemput makan!

YBhg Dato’ Steve Day
Organising Chairman
Malaysia International Gourmet Festival

It is with great pleasure that I look forward to the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival 2007. I am honoured to once again be the Patron of this prestigious event. The festival has grown in size and stature every year, with 2007 presenting a record 30 restaurants offering a truly international range of cuisine. I am proud to witness the fine dining offerings in Malaysia continually developing, due in large part to the influence of the festival.

Going nationwide in 2006, the growth and evolution of the festival is something all Malaysians can be proud of. With the introduction of Gourmet Travel Packages in 2007, we look forward to receiving many more international gourmets and writers to the festival, particularly this year as the country celebrates Visit malaysia Year and 50 years of independence.

As Malaysians we are fortunate to enjoy an immensely rich and diverse culture. this year, with the support of Malaysia Kitchens and the efforts of our festival organisers, AsiaReach Events, our international chefs in Malaysia will be designing a variety of original Malaysia Truly Asia cuisine that may potentially be served in Malaysian restaurants around the world.

Earlier this year the festival received the prestigious PATA Gold award for Marketing. I commend all media partners who have collectively contributed to creating a platform for the festival on a global stage.

This annual opportunity to enjoy the excellent hospitality and scintillating cuisine of our top restaurants has become one of the most anticipated events in the country. The delights on offer are not to be missed so I wish you all happy dining and bon appetite!

Warmest wishes

YAM Tunku Naquiyuddin ibni Tuanku Ja’afar
Tunku Laksamana Negeri Sembilan
Royal Patron, The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival

Malaysia is blessed with a multi-racial population that has become the backbone of our tourism industry’s main attraction. our unique mix of race and religion has given us a charming character made up of not only colourful cultures and rich traditions, but also delicious and diverse cuisines.

As such, it is only fitting that an event such as the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival be organised to showcase malaysia as a paradise for epicureans all over the world.

With food tourism becoming a growing phenomenon around the globe, MIGF has the potential to become an important platform to promote malaysia as an exceptional dining destination in both local and international cuisine.

On that note, I commend the organiser for its efforts in coordinating the event this year, in line with the aims of the government to showcase malaysia’s wide range of dining experiences.

I am particularly pleased to note the introduction of the MIGF Gourmet Tours Malaysia which are tailor-made packages during the festival inclusive of accommodation, cooking classes and dining experiences, to encourage more international tourists to visit the country during the month of November.

Malaysia is indeed a melting pot of culture and cuisine and it is my sincere hope that this event will serve up malaysia to the world as a haven for gourmet lovers. We warmly welcome every local and international guest to taste the variety on offer this November.

I wish the organiser every success at this year’s edition of MIGF and hope we may continue our work to promote Malaysia to the World.

YB Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor
Minister of Tourism, Malaysia

Malaysia is a country of contrasts and similarities. We have taken our many different influences—ethnicity, language, religion, heritage, and combined them to create a unique melting pot. This melting pot, our nation of diversity, has come to define Malaysian culture.

The way our diversity brings us together is apparent nowhere more than in our cuisine. The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival is a perfect reflection of the country’s multiethnic culinary flair and passion for food. The Festival showcases some of the most talented chefs in the country. Incredibly unique menus created especially for the month of the festival combine individual ingredients and turn them into works of art. the festival is not only a feast for the stomach, but also one for the eyes!

This year, with the inclusion of special international gourmet tour packages and the Malaysia Truly Asia Dish, the Festival promises to be the most exciting and international one yet. I can think of no better way to celebrate Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

I would like extend warm congratulations to the organisers, AsiaReach Events for their skill and expertise in executing the MIGF and also for being awarded the prestigious PATA Gold Award for the best Marketing Campaign – Industry Category for the Festival. I wish them well for the duration of this superb event. As for the food connoisseurs in the country, I’ll be sure to see you in one of this year’s 30 festival restaurants...

Kind regards

YB Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim
Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage