Left to Right; YBhg. Puan Sri Datin Seri Dr. Susan Cheah, Honorary Patron of the 4th World Top Gourmet Awards 2022, Master Chef Jeffrey Tan, Chef of Honour to World Gourmet & Recipient of Order of Australia Medal (OAM), Ms. Peggy Chong, President of World Gourmet, YBhg. Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof, Secretary-General to the Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), YBhg. Prof Datuk Chef Wan, Chef of Honour to World Gourmet, YBhg. Dato’ Sri Francis Wong, Honorary Advisor to the World Gourmet, YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Ammar Abd Ghapar, Senior Director of International Promotions (AMERICA, EUROPE & OCEANIA) at Tourism Malaysia, YBhg. Datin Maylene Yong
YBhg. Datuk Azman bin Yusof, Secretary-General to the Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) officiated the 4th World Top Gourmet Awards 2022 – an event that celebrated Malaysia’s recovering hospitality and F&B sector that has contributed massively to Malaysia’s national Gross Domestic Product value (GDP) over the years.
Guests during Negaraku
With Malaysia going through its endemic phase, the 4th World Top Gourmet Awards acted as a reference point for local and international visitors to visit restaurants, cafes, and unique eateries that thrive in neighborhood hawker centers or niche locations; which was one of World Gourmet’s key efforts in helping small, local F&B businesses to adapt to the country’s ‘new normal’ and assist them as they go through the country’s economic recovery stage.
YBhg. Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof, Secretary-General to the Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP)
YBhg. Datuk Azman bin Yusof, Secretary-General to the Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) shared, “Our F&B industry has been contributing immensely to Malaysia’s national GDP. The revenue of our Services sector, in the first quarter of 2022 alone, has generated around RM473 billion including the wholesale & retail, and accommodation segments. At the Ministry of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), we thrive to develop business opportunities and the socio-economic standing of our Malaysian citizens and it is great to see international world-class chefs, as well as organizations such as World Gourmet, be a medium for our F&B sector to introduce themselves on a national and international scale which will aid tremendously in helping them elevate their businesses, especially during Malaysia’s recovery stage.”
Ms Peggy Chong, President of World Gourmet
Ms. Peggy Chong, President of World Gourmet said, “2022 has been a vital year for the F&B industry as they progressively recover or reboot their businesses from the pandemic. World Gourmet aims to contribute our part in helping our F&B players by showcasing our F&B market players by providing business networking events, industrial talks, exhibitions, and workshops; inviting them as vendors for touristic food tours and many more activities to benefit their businesses, customers, and the community.”
Buzzing crowd at the 4th World Top Gourmet Awards
Additionally, World Gourmet has also been exploring new opportunities in collaboration with industry players such as Alpha Fintech to tap into the online marketplace and e-Commerce platforms to facilitate F&B merchants in the future that is deemed beneficial in helping the F&B industry undergo a speedier post-pandemic recovery rate.
Guests during Negaraku
Supporting World Gourmet on their initiative to boost and upskill Malaysia’s F&B industry, renowned world-class chefs such as; Datuk Chef Wan (Celebrity Chef), Master Chef Chin See Sing (Royal Chef of Brunei), Master Chef Thomas A. Gugler (President of World Chefs Association); Master Chef Ammar Al Ali (Celebrity Chef), Master Chef Jeffrey Tan (Recipient of OAM, Australia) alongside many more were present to celebrate the momentous occasion.
YBhg. Prof Datuk Chef Wan, Chef of Honour to World Gourmet
Datuk Dr. Chef Wan, Malaysian Celebrity Chef, TV Personality & Restauranter said, “Malaysia is a very diverse country and there are many factors that list us as such, but I’m sure one of the prominent factors that we can all agree on would be our food. Having a platform such as World Gourmet and the initiative to boost our F&B industry will spark interest and inspiration within inspiring chefs, restaurateurs, and business moguls to upskill Malaysia and achieve the goal of making our country a Southeast-Asian food paradise.”
Group Photo at the 4th World Top Gourmet Awards
99 recipients were awarded at the 4th World Top Gourmet Awards 2022 with major categories such as the MasterChef awards, Top Restaurant awards, and Top Personalities awards. Attendees were captivated by the performances of Dennis Lau, an International Celebrity Violinist, and Chilla Chia, a Malaysian Singer, and caught an insight into the culinary industry by award-winning world-class chefs.
