Many Sabah eateries now offering international cuisine due to demand

KOTA KINABALU: Known for its sandy beaches and seafood, Sabah is not only a seafood haven but also is fast becoming a place for great food and wine.

Apart from local cuisine, there are now many eateries offering international fare ranging from Japanese, Thai, Italian and Mexican.

Driving this development is Sabah’s rapidly growing travel industry.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said demand for good food and wines had led to more diversity and quality in the restaurant and hospitality sectors.

“Visitors want to enjoy good food, not just seafood but food similar to what they are accustomed to, and this is where the food and beverage industry needs to play its role well,” he said when opening Sabah’s first Food and Wine Fair at a mall here yesterday.

Event organiser Johnson Or, the director of operations of Vino Vino Bistro, agreed that the food sector had progressed.

A telling sign, he noted, was that many people in Sabah no longer thought of wine as just a beverage.

“Now that we have so many varieties of wine from all over the world, people are more knowledgeable about what good wine is all about,” said Or.

He added that the organising committee was likely to hold a similar food and wine fair next year if this pioneer project received good response.

“So far, visitors to the five booths here have exceeded initial expectations,” he said.

The fair offered visitors a chance to familiarise themselves with varieties of imported beef, lamb, pasta, cheese, herbs and spices as well as taste various types of wine.

The Food and Wine Fair at the City Mall is on until today.

Source : The Star