Taste of Singapore Hawker Buffet at The Stamford Plaza

SINGAPORE FOOD FESTIVAL

Taste of Singapore Hawker Buffet at The Stamford Plaza until 31 August 2012
(Thurs, Fri, Sat nights only)

By Mel Fernandez

³My mission is to introduce Kiwis to Singaporean food because it has that
extra Œzing¹ that they will enjoy², says Mohammed (Mo) Arun, Stamford
Hotel¹s Fijian Executive Chef

AUCKLAND - In Auckland you can take a taste trip to Singapore without even
leaving the country - thanks to The Stamford Plaza. The Singaporean-owned
5-star hotel is commemorating Singapore¹s National Day, which was on 9th
August, with a month-long ŒTaste of Singapore¹ promotion.

Picking the dishes that will give punters a Œtaste¹ of Singapore would be a
challenge for any chef.But Stamford Hotel¹s Fijian Executive Chef Mohammed
(Mo) Arun takes it in his stride.

³My mission is to introduce Kiwis to Singaporean food because it has that
extra Œzing¹ that they will enjoy², says Arun. ³We¹ve been offering this
menu in our hotel for the last three years. Obviously, we want to make the
menu as authentic as possible and this is an ongoing process. So when chefs
from our Asia Pacific properties meet, we exchange ideas to keep improving
our dishes.

³We feel some of the dishes on our menu, like beef rendang, bak chang, ikan
balis, fish head curry and the sambals are very, very close to authentic
recipes. We use fresh local ingredients and our highly skilled team strives
to meet our guests' expectations.

³We¹ve had lots of Singaporean guests who dined with us and they liked our
food and said they would love to eat here again. Singaporeans are foodies.
They expect perfection. We take that on as a challenge. It¹s a good thing.
It puts us up there with the best.²

What is Mo¹s personal favourite? ³I really like the fish sambal², he
confides.

Mo¹s career spans 27 years and he has been with the Stamford for the last 5
years. It was his mother who inspired him to go into the hospitality line.
³My mom was a great cook. Back home in the villages you don't go to hotels
and stuff to entertain. We have big families and for weddings it¹s all done
at home. So my Mom used to cater for a couple of hundred people. That is how
I got interested.²

Mo started his career in Fiji and has worked for the Regent and other
properties in New Zealand and Australia. He has also worked at Auckland
destination restaurants Cin Cin and Iguacu.

In the last ten years Arun has won 20 awards, including, the NZ Beef and
Lamb Award (Gold), NZ Culinary Fare Kitchen Team (Gold, Silver and Bronze),
Hallmark NZ Best Dining Out Restaurant Award, Hallmark Supreme Award and the
Food and Beer Match Gold Award.

The ŒTaste of Singapore Hawker Buffet¹ is from 9-31 August (on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday nights only) at the Knights on Albert, The Stamford
Plaza, and priced at $49 per person, gst incl. And if you book a table for
two you go in the draw to win a trip for two to Singapore, including deluxe
hotel accommodation and flights.
ends

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