By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 4: Kuching has officially opened the The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Gastronomy Pavilion 2026, offering visitors a seven-day culinary showcase featuring authentic cuisines from UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy across the world, alongside the debut of a Tuak Buffet highlighting Sarawak’s traditional rice wine.
Speaking at the opening ceremony last night, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the pavilion is one of the highlights of this year’s UCCN Creative Cities of Gastronomy Annual Meeting, bringing together delegates, chefs and visitors from around the globe.
“For the next seven days, visitors will have the opportunity to experience authentic cuisines from UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy across the world all in one place,” he said.
This year’s edition features chefs from Chengdu and Quanzhou in China, Buraydah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia, Iloilo in the Philippines, Belo Horizonte in Brazil, Lucknow in India, as well as Kuching.
Wee said each participating city brings more than just food to the table.
“Every dish tells a story of its city, reflecting its culture, traditions and people. This Pavilion truly offers a journey around the world through food,” he said.
As Malaysia’s first and only UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, Wee said Kuching is honoured to host the international gathering, describing food as a universal language that strengthens friendships and fosters greater appreciation of different cultures.
Among the new attractions this year is the inaugural Tuak Buffet, where visitors can sample traditional Sarawak tuak prepared by eight local producers.
Wee said the initiative offers an opportunity for visitors to discover one of Sarawak’s cultural traditions while supporting local entrepreneurs and celebrating the State’s heritage.
He encouraged visitors to explore every pavilion, meet the international chefs and learn the stories behind each recipe, expressing confidence that they would leave with a deeper appreciation of the cultures and friendships created through food.
Wee also expressed appreciation to Midea for sponsoring electrical appliances used at the pavilion, saying the partnership demonstrated the importance of public-private collaboration in making international events possible.
He also thanked the international delegates for choosing Kuching as the host city and hoped they would enjoy Sarawak’s hospitality while building lasting friendships and meaningful collaborations during their stay. — DayakDaily
