Rakhine Chapter Chef’s Party 03-05-2013

A, Myanmar Chefs Association – Ngapali Chefs Beach Party 3.5.2013

Rakhine,- World Chefs Without Borders – Myanmar

( Hospitality Training, Environmental Protection, Community – Charity Projects )

Chef Somchai, chairman of MCA Ngapali chapter, invited all chefs of Ngapali Beach Rakhine for annual “ End Season Beach BBQ “ party. Around 110 chefs came and joined the MCA info, fun and socialising event. Hotel management, HR and Service & Bar heads were also invited.

MCA sponsored all fish and seafood and soft drinks, each Hotel and Restaurant brought their special salad or Costa Rica Salsa by Chef Guenter from PVR Island Restaurant. Dagon Draft Beer was sponsored by Dagon Beer thank you here for continuous support. Thanks to Mr Chan – Brew master.

The party started early for the young Chefs as of 15:30 and lasted thanks to Chef Tin Min of Teasure Restaurant and his Rakhine Live Music Band until 2:00 am in the morning. Thanks also for the good support by Chef Myint Htu of Myint Htu Restaurant and Chef Kyaw Soe Htun of Best Friend Restaurant, Chef Chit Lone of Enjoy Restaurant, Chef Htwe Min Soe and thanks to the Girls of Lillis Beach Bar with MCA projects Jochen Meisner for all pre and after party arrangements. Bayview Beach Resort s Patrick Peukert arranged with his Chefs all BBQ equipment.

During the day we had also joined the Union Minister of Hotels & Tourism, U Htay Aung meeting on hospitality and tourism to Ngapali and Rakhine state. Many good developments, joint working with local authorities and community leader were discussed and set on track for the coming season already. The Minister requested MCA to take the lead in low season short course hospitality trainings for Ngapali Beach the next 6 month s,- which we will set up for this rural area prime beach destination between July and September. In is already senior lecturer and MCA founding member U Than Lwin and senior Chef Than Win for Vietnam, Malaysian, Thai and Chinese Cuisine – from Myanmar Hospitality College Yangon for all disciplines of Tourism sponsored by Myanmar Chefs Association. With us will be as “Advisor “, US Chef Steven – Myint Maung Htay( MBA US – Connell Hospitality Master) for Housekeeping, Chefs, Front Office, Service, Hospitality English,- by USA Prof Victor Buga of Gawdopolin Education project, a cooperation with MCA – World Chefs Without Borders, Myanmar since many years.

At the Minister meeting we distributed the MCA – WCWB power point DVD on Ngapali Beach environmental chances and challenges, threats and task suggestions in a fast developing NEW Myanmar, to support a sustainable hospitality growth to all; visitors, communities, staff & investors.

This was as good news to all the young chefs at MCA party as also the announcement of Amata Resort & Spa chefs team under lead of Chef Somchai will compete at THAIFEX in Bangkok in 4 categories including the team event of “ Mekong River Culinary Challenge 2013 ”. This will be the first time that MCA sends a Chefs team to foreign country. We are also happy to let you all know that Premier Food Service and City Mart will sponsor the MCA competition trainings in Yangon in mid May with sponsorship of all food items needed for the cooking as well with a great venue, the Premier Food s “professional Show Kitchen “,– this is a great development for Myanmar chefs.

Many new member were also acquired at the party and we saw many young chefs at around 18 to 20 years,- which is a good news as we will now prepare for a MCA Ngapali Beach Junior Chefs Club, with a main attention to build a team of young Chefs and have a pool of well trained by latest 2015 and be ready to join and bring young Myanmar chefs to Eastern Malaysia for the next “Asian Culinary Youth Conference & Competition 2015 “ in Kuantan. Chef Somchai full in charge to succeed.

Chef Somchai introduced the plan for October at International World Chefs Day 2013 to “ Show your Rakhine Culinary Ability to the Public 2013 “ as the theme of WACS President Chef Gissur runs this year and have a “ 1. Rakhine Traditional Cuisine Show and Competition 2013 “. Where every one which has culinary ability in Rakhine Cuisine, – up to the grand mothers and their good way of cooking…… can register & join in 6 categories ( Salad, Appetizer, Soup, Seafood – Main Course with Traditional Sauce, Dessert, Fruit or Vegetable carving ) in a 45 minutes cook of on two traditional Rakhine cooking stoves. Tourism promotion through Rakhine Traditional Cuisine. The event will be at Ngapali Beach Front right at the public local and foreign.

At the side of the Tourism Minister meeting same day we discussed this already with chairman of Myanmar Tourism Federation, which is eager to have such culinary competitions at each tourism destination of Myanmar over the next 12 month s and a grand final in Yangon by June 2014 coinciding with a top hospitality event and also fund raising for Myanmar Chefs Association educational & vocational funds. We are very happy and here thanks to WACS the network & global institution for Chefs from the whole world,– that already now WACS certified Judge and former CAM President – Chef Federico let us know that he would be happy to support the event. It will be of course a very much National level culinary event,- mainly to promote Rakhine State, Tourism, Development and Rakhine cooking as one of the most important and independent cuisine within Myanmar. Specially the rich seafood offers along the Bay of Bengale as well game meat from the Rakhine mountains, same as the very seasonal items as fresh Bamboo shoots – just still available in October – young Rakhine Bamboo shoots are as the Mountain Asparagus of Myanmar.

Chef Somchai announced again the MCA dental charity project mid to end May for all Hospitality staff, family and friends. Lead by MCA cooperation partner German Dr Dent Julia Fruehbuss and Myanmar Dr dent Wynn Kyaw at the MCA,- World Chefs Without Borders – Myanmar community clinic. MCA Chefs will care for all meals and well being of the dental Drs at Ngapali Beach.

At another topic for the MCA message that day we announced that we signed the deal with Thandwe authorities and district principal that MCA – WCWB Myanmar will install 6 big village garbage collection places within 12 month s,– after the Minister meeting MCA met with respective village leaders for location check and as early as a day later on 4.5.2013 this new MCA – community social responsibility project started with the ground braking of the first site. As Chefs contribution to tackle the challenges for the community from garbage pollution where we as F&B might be part of the biggest pollution in tourism. Of course our system will have three chambers to educate and ensure Garbage separation, reuse and recycling. Motivate and show the community how to make money out of garbage with special sign boards direct at the collection places. Plastic, Glass & Tins will be separate collected from rest garbage,- plastic will be reused for road construction and textile production. Here MCA – WCWB Myanmar likes to thank very much to Ngapali Hotel Zone in charge U Kyaw Swar Maung Maung for all communication, ensured and forward important issues,- he ensured that we got so quick so far with this very much also environmental protective MCA – WCWB project ( info later after implementation )

After the speeches and info on activities mainly for the young chefs and community at Ngapali Beach& Rakhine,– the Party set to start and over the day near to 110 Chefs & B joined in,– of course with so many chefs there was good and there hands and fun. Thanks to Chef Tin Min of Treasure Restaurant and his Rakhine Live music band the party went until 2:00 am early morning.

Thank you to all Head Chefs for motivating their staff to join as well all Ngapali Hotel management for full support of the annual MCA Chefs event at Ngapali Beach – Rakhine state.

Sure a growing industry and great young chefs seen there,- it must be our target and duty to bring these fine chefs and young Rakhine further though culinary skills to positive future and by latest 2015 to international culinary events to join the global culinary network “Hands On “, a MCA Young Chefs Club Ngapali Beach- Myanmar, with a culinary library and activities at MCA, World Chefs Without Borders – village community centre in Linthar village is our aim for the next 12 month s, yours

Oliver E Soe Thet

President, Myanmar Chefs Association

Global Board member, World Chefs Without Borders

WACS member since 2000,- Yangon -Myanmar