KUALA LUMPUR: After years of being celebrated as a gastronomic hotspot, Malaysian food will finally be validated on an international scale.
This follows the Michelin Guide’s announcement yesterday that it will be debuting in Malaysia and will cover two key culinary hubs – Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
The Michelin Guide Malaysia selections will be revealed on a soon-to-be-announced date in December 2022.
This is when talented chefs in Kuala Lumpur and Penang will find out if their restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Kuala Lumpur and Penang to the Michelin Guide family,” said Gwendal Poullenec, international director of the Michelin Guide.
“The upcoming selection will unveil a new page in Asia’s gastronomic prowess, spotlighting the wonders of Malaysian cuisine and the abundance of home-grown culinary talents.
“Our famously anonymous inspectors are already in the field to experience this colourful culinary scene and find the best local gems,” he added.
The Michelin Guide dates back to 1900 when the first guide book was compiled by brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin as free instructional material for travellers in France.
By 1926, the guide began awarding single stars to fine dining restaurants and by 1936, it had a ranking system in place for one, two and three-star eateries (three stars being the highest and most revered).
Anonymous Michelin inspectors employed by Michelin now rank eateries based on five key components – the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking, the harmony of flavours, the personality of the chef through the cuisine, and consistency both over time and across the entire menu.
The guide has a presence in over 35 countries like Austria, Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom and China.
Closer to home, the Michelin Guide is also present in Singapore and Thailand.
Malaysia has long been regarded as a culinary haven, so the guide’s arrival will likely be welcomed as it will help boost the visibility of chefs in Malaysia.
