By CASEY NEILL
Malaysian chefs got a taste for Greater Dandenong through a produce and dining tour.
Meat and Livestock Australia country manager Rose Yong, who is based in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, vowed to be Springvale’s biggest advocate following the Wednesday 8 June visit.
“I can’t believe I have been coming to Melbourne for so long and haven’t been here,” she said.
“Every Chinese visitor to Melbourne will want to visit here.”
The Victorian Agribusiness Council (VAC) hosted the week-long Red Majesty Chefs Tour.
They started their day in Greater Dandenong with a visit to the Melbourne Barra fish farm in Bangholme, where they watched a fish feeding, tasted smoked eel and collected fresh barramundi, cod, silver perch and abalone for their lunch.
Goat milk producer and processor Caprilac in Keysborough was the next destination.
They tasted and collected powdered goat’s milk samples to try in a traditional Asian curdled milk custard dessert.
Foodies Elizabeth and Angie Chong joined the tour in Springvale for lunch at My Cambodia, a tea ceremony at Milan Teahouse and a short walking tour.
The chefs marvelled at the variety of produce on offer, particularly fresh Asian vegetables, meat and seafood.
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre executive chef Richmond Lim said Springvale was “a playground for chefs”.
Greater Dandenong Council’s economic development co-ordinator Paula Brennan hopes the chefs will return home as vocal advocates for Springvale.
“The profile of Greater Dandenong as a food manufacturing hub has been heightened and only time will tell of the potential tourism returns for Springvale through these highly influential connections,” she said.
“Additionally, the strengthened relationships with both the VAC representative and the Kuala Lumpur Meat and Livestock Australia representative will provide ongoing opportunities for local food producers, processors as well as their supply chain.”
