FRA leads 24 Malaysian Culinary icons to global recognition
By Sharen Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: By leveraging industry resources and global networks, the Malaysian Food and Restaurants Association (FRA) actively drives the preservation and innovation of Asian cuisine, positioning Malaysian food culture as a key driver of cultural exports and the tourism economy.
FRA recently led a delegation of 24 distinguished chefs and culinary brands to international acclaim at the 2025 French Cordon Bleu Honour and Awards Ceremony, held in conjunction with the 3rd World Restaurant and Catering Spring Festival Golden Award Banquet in Shenzhen.
Co-organised by the French Gourmet Association, the World Restaurant Cate Association, the Greater China Culinary Association and Province & Hong Kong Food Weekly, the event was a prestigious gathering of global culinary leaders and experts.
A representative from the French Consulate General in Guangzhou graced the event to present the highest accolades in the global gourmet arena.
Among the highlights, FRA president Dr Dillon Yeap was conferred two major honours: the 2025 World Gourmet Culture Exchange Contribution Award and the Chief Executive Medal for Asian Cuisine, cementing his reputation as the "Asian Gourmet God".
His recognition also marks a growing global acknowledgement of Southeast Asian cuisine's significance in the cultural and gastronomic world.
In a special session during the ceremony, the FRA inaugurated the Asian Gourmet Honour Awards to spotlight outstanding achievements in Southeast Asian culinary arts.
Embracing the theme "Preserving Traditional Flavours, Connecting Global Gourmet Cultures", the awards aim to enhance international visibility for regional cuisines.
FRA also unveiled a strategic framework to protect and promote intangible cultural heritage (ICH) food through a 'Protection – Inheritance – Dissemination' system.
The initiative includes efforts toward gaining UNESCO recognition for Southeast Asian cuisine and integrating culinary heritage with tourism growth.
Dr Dillon spearheaded the appointment ceremony, presenting honorary roles to key industry leaders and laying the foundation for the future of Malaysia's food diplomacy.
The list of award winners included the French Cordon Bleu Ribbon Medal (13 recipients); Black Pearl Dishes Awards (4 brands); Most Trusted Consumer Brand Awards (5 brands); ICH Famous Gourmet Awards (25 recipients); ICH Signature Star Dish Awards (21 recipients); and Golden Iconic Brand Awards (5 brands).
Special recognition awards included the Malaysia Premier Food Tourism Destination Award: Auto-City; the Grand Master Chef Award: Chef Yenni Law; the Famous Coffee Brand & Golden Coffee Star Award: Antong Coffee; and the Famous Brand Award: Hock Wong.
This award ceremony serves a dual purpose: to honour trailblazers in the culinary industry and to mark a new chapter for FRA in advancing the global recognition of intangible cultural heritage cuisine.
The event concluded with a networking dinner and the F&B Resource Alliance 24.0 session, which facilitated cross-border collaboration and supply chain dialogues. As FRA continues to lead in culinary innovation and heritage promotion, it is actively shaping Malaysian cuisine into a cultural bridge on the global stage.
Source : fra-leads-24-malaysian-culinary-icons-global-recognition
0 Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!