KUALA LUMPUR: November is the month to tantalise your taste buds. What better place to do this than at the month-long Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF) launched last night.

The MIGF, which starts today and ends on Nov 29, will feature 25 of the country top restaurants with their master chefs serving up festival menus at extra special prices and with a host of happenings and special events thrown in.

Organising chairman Datuk Steve Day said the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival, introduced this year, was built on the success of the Kuala Lumpur International Gourmet Festival held over the last five years.

It also followed the same format that emphasised on collective marketing and promoting the all-year-round qualities of the country best restaurants and resident chefs, he said.

The festival now includes restaurants from outside Kuala Lumpur, a move that is seen as a positive and timely development.

With Visit Malaysia Year 2007 coming up, it makes sense to extend the festival to the whole country, he said.

Next year, the festival would be an even bigger affair with more restaurants coming on board in anticipation of Visit Malaysia Year, said Day.

The 25 participating restaurants were selected by a committee which voted with their stomach and wallet, Day said, adding that quality, tasty food and value for money were the selection criteria.

The festival was also aimed at promoting the country best local chefs and their versatility.

The chefs are home grown and, even the foreign chefs, had been exposed to Malaysian cuisine and spices.

Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Victor Wee said that the MIGF would be listed on the Calendar of Events for Visit Malaysia Year.

Selling Kuala Lumpur as a place for fine dining is one way we can lure tourists, he said.

Visa is the official card of the festival while the official car is the Mercedes-Benz.

Among the participating restaurants are Iketeru in Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Lafite in Shangri-La Hotel, Dynasty in Renaissance Kuala Lumpur, Hanabi Japanese Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Tamarind Springs in Kuala Lumpur, Eest and Prego at the Westin Kuala Lumpur and The Olive in Genting Hotel.

A three-day Epicure Malaysia Fair will be held from Nov 17 to 19 at the Sime Darby Convention Centre.

The food, wine and lifestyle fair will feature everything from fine food and wines to wellness and lifestyle products with workshops and cooking classes.

(News extract from The Star Online http://thestar.com.my)