By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Hundreds of Qatar residents thronged the Malaysian Ramadan Bazaar Friday at Hyatt Plaza's food court. The event, being held on alternate Fridays during the holy month of Ramadan, is a demonstration of Malaysian culture for the people of Qatar to witness and experience, ambassador Ahmad Jazri Mohamed Johar told Gulf Times.
“We do this every year to showcase and sell Malaysian food and delicacies, which are not easy to prepare," he explained on the sidelines of the annual event organised by the Malaysian Association of Qatar (MAQ).
The bazaar showcased dozens of authentic and popular Malaysian dishes cooked mostly at home by Malaysian housewives. These include Mee Hoon Soto, Laxa, Bubur Lambuk and Nasi Kerabu, among others.
Some of the popular Malaysian delicacies at the bazaar are “sambal tempe” (sliced tofu), “frozen pompia” (stuffed vegetables), and Cek Mek Molek (potato stuffed with sugar).
While food remains to be the main product at the bazaar, traditional Malaysian clothes are also being sold at reasonable prices.
The envoy said Malaysian cuisine is now becoming more popular in Qatar. Described as “a fusion of Chinese, Malay and Indian food,” it usually gets sold out to visitors including Qataris.
“Most of the stores close early and some people even do online booking before they come here,” added Johar, who attended the event for the fourth time.
The bazaar attracts 2,000 to 3,000 visitors annually. Other expatriates including those in the Middle East and the West see it as an opportunity to taste unique and authentic dishes from South East Asia. Malaysians also invite and take some of their friends to the event.
“We are very thankful to the community for organising this, we are able to enjoy the food that we like, otherwise we will not be able to have it until we go back to Malaysia,” the envoy said.
Johar urged Qatar residents to visit Malaysia to see the grandeur scale of the bazaar where a whole spectrum of Malaysian food can be seen in every street and in every Ramadan food area.
Besides food, Malaysian traders sell different kinds of unique products in many parts of Malaysia. In Qatar, the bazaar serves as a venue for Malaysian expatriates to bond with their families, meet their friends and colleagues.
The Malaysian embassy, in co-operation with MAQ, also holds similar event known as “night market” which also features authentic Malaysian food and products.
A variety of Malaysian dishes showcased at the annual bazaar. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
