THIS year’s ‘Battle of Penang Hawker Masters’ promises to be a sizzling hot affair, with the inclusion of four new categories in the search for the best hawker fare in town.

Apart from two lip-smacking street food from last year’s event — char koay teow and hokkien mee — the new entries this time are curry mee, nasi lemak, rojak and pasembur.

Come Nov 20 to Nov 25, more than 100 hawkers will be cooking up a storm during the event at Chin Ho Plaza in Penang Times Square.

The mall’s general manager C.C. Yeap said the event would serve as a platform to promote Penang as a street food paradise, and enable hawkers to show their cooking skills and gain recognition.

“Like last year, there will also be a special appearance by Axian’s Food Adventures television host Jason Yeoh. He will be a celebrity judge in the final round.

Top street fare: The ‘Battle of Penang Hawker Masters’ promotional poster showing the four new categories of hawker food comprising of curry mee, nasi lemak, rojak and pasembur in addition to the two original categories of char koay teow and hokkien mee. Yeoh, more popularly known as Axian, will be present as a celebrity judge in the final round of the battle.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Malaysia (Penang office) in line with the Ministry’s Fabulous Food 1Malaysia campaign,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Also present were Ivory Properties Berhad executive director Datuk Ooi Chin Loo, Federation of Penang and Seberang Prai Hawkers Association secretary Seow Hean Teik, as well as the champions from last year’s event — Lee Ee Quen (laksa category), Azizan Abdul Aziz (satay), Thong Chen Poh (char koay teow), Koay Teik Ghee (hokkien mee) and Seeni Mohamed Sheik Abidin (mee goreng).

All for good food: (From fourth right) Yeap, Federation of Penang and Seberang Prai Hawkers Association secretary Seow Hean Teik and Ivory Properties Berhad executive director Datuk Ooi Chin Loo posing with last year’s Battle of Penang Hawker Masters winners.

The event will start from noon to 2pm for the curry mee category on Nov 20, nasi lemak on Nov 21, pasembur and rojak on Nov 22, hokkien mee on Now 23 and char koay teow on Nov 24.

The top three finalists from each category in the preliminary rounds will battle it out in the final round on Nov 25, from noon to 6pm.

A special teh tarik demonstration will also be held on the final day where the public will be invited for an ad-hoc teh tarik show competition.

Registration fee is RM20 per category and the closing date is Nov 7. Forms are available from Penang Times Square information counter (ground floor).

The public is encouraged to take part in a taste-and-vote session during the preliminary rounds from Nov 20 to 24.

The contestants will incorporate palm olein products into their traditional hawker dishes as the fruit oil is not only versatile but has many nutritious qualities.

The event is supported by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council. For details, call 04-2109020 ext 131 or visit www.penangtimessquare.com or www.facebook.com/penangtimessquare.

Source : The Star

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