On July 22, Sarawak Day, the city of Kuching, on the island of Borneo in Malaysia, opened the 40th edition of its Kuching Food Festival. The first evening’s tally: 72,596 visitors at the MBKS Community Hall grounds, according to figures from organizers reported by local outlet DayakDaily.
The festival runs through August 16, with 323 food stalls and international participation. Twenty-nine events are planned over the run, spanning food, culture, sports, and international exchange programs. Last year’s edition topped one million visitors over its full run. This time, organizers are aiming for 1.3 million, a 30% increase, according to the Borneo Post and the Sarawak Tribune.
On the food side, opening night’s biggest draw had a name that sums up the festival’s spirit: a naan stuffed with cheese and Musang King durian. Two hundred pieces sold in under two hours, queues included, according to BorneoTalk. A short walk away, a stall simply named NASI sells nothing but rice, leaving visitors to build the rest of their plate at neighboring stands. Hard to find a better image of Borneo’s culinary melting pot. Sampan House’s egg tarts and a wave of mochi-based desserts round out the lineup.
Sarawak, the Malaysian state on Borneo known for blending Dayak, Chinese, Malay, and Indian food traditions, has leaned on this festival for years to build its case as a regional food destination. This year’s announced Thai-Melanau fusion dishes, along with New Zealand lamb, back up that ambition.