It was a winning weekend for the culinary team from Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites when they emerged as champions during the recent 4th World Harvest Festival Culinary Competition 2017 (WHFCC 17).
The team won the Challenge Trophy for 2017 and were also crowned the Overall Best Team.
Held at Sarawak Culture Village from April 28 to 30 in conjunction with the World Harvest Festival 2017, the event set a high benchmark of culinary skills. This year the WHFCC 2017 gathered 120 contestants from hotels, restaurants and local culinary schools throughout Sarawak to compete in the prestigious state culinary competition.
The Merdeka Palace team was led by renowned Executive Chef Fadill Hanif who previously represented Malaysia and won medals at the 2004 Culinary Olympic Competition as well as the Culinary World Cup Competition in Luxembourg 2006.
In the individual categories Merdeka Palace won 3 golds – Chef Saiful Hamka won gold in the Plated Appetizer category and Chef Zaidi Bakri won gold in the Plated Main Course. Ramiezie Rapaee won the 3rd gold in the Main Course Meat category.
Four Silver medals were won by Chef Ramzi Yusof in the Plated Dessert category, Chef Farhan Kamal won in the Main Course Fish category, Chef Saiful and Chef Ramzi for Team Pulut Kuning with condiment.
Meanwhile, Chef Yii Boon Kiat and Chef Ahmad each won bronze medals. Ristorante Beccari’s Italian Chef Gedang Jetom was 1st runner up in the blue ribbon Black Box Culinary Challenge for his stunning prawn appetiser and a lamb main dish.
During the competition, many of the dishes showcased at the event are in Merdeka Palace Italian Restaurant’s new menu.
Since April 2017, Restorante Beccari has refreshed its menu to offer a selection of dishes that are affordable and of great quality and taste.
Some of the new items include the Slow Smoked Barbequed Beef Back Ribs, Ravioli Pesto ala Genovese, Salad Nicoise with Tuna Maguro and the Trilogia Di Capesante with Scallops.
The judges for this year’s culinary competition comprised members from the Kuching Chefs Association.
As Director of Competition in the Kuching Chefs Association, Chef Fadill noted that this year’s Culinary Competition saw a remarkably high standard of cooking skills, taste and food presentation from all the participants.
The WHFCC 17 is an annual event held at the Sarawak Cultural Village to develop young talent chefs throughout Sarawak.
