VALLADOLID, Spain: Sarawak’s culinary talent is ready to shine on the global stage as Chef Liew Kit Kiet prepares to represent Malaysia at the prestigious World Tapas Championship 2025 here.
Born and raised in Miri, Liew currently works in Kuala Lumpur at Eat and Cook.
This will be his first time competing on a world stage, an experience he described as both exciting and humbling.
“My preparation has been good, and my company has given me a lot of support.
“I hope to finish in the top three, but overall, I’m very glad to be part of this incredible event,” he said when contacted recently.
Liew’s creation for the championship, the ‘Pearl of Borneo’, is inspired by Sarawak laksa, the iconic Bornean dish famously described by the late Anthony Bourdain as the “Breakfast of the Gods”.
The tapa is a modern reinterpretation, combining traditional flavours with innovative techniques while preserving the dish’s originality.
“This tapas is about connecting people together. As a Sarawakian, unity and cultural diversity are very important to us.
“I hope this dish can show the world that Malaysians are truly united,” he said.
Through his participation, Liew expressed hopes that it will highlight Malaysian cuisine on the international stage and share the rich cultural heritage of Sarawak.
“I hope my tapas will bring more exposure of Malaysian cuisines and also the culture of Sarawak as well as deliver a strong message of how Malaysians can adapt and embrace their cultures very well like the tapas itself showed.
“I want everyone to know that Malaysian flavours can meet world-class culinary techniques, showing that we can innovate while staying true to our roots,” he added.
The World Tapas Championship is a prestigious global culinary competition which attracts chefs from around the world to showcase their creativity and skill in the art of tapas here.
Valladolid is a birthplace for tapas culture in Spain and it has hosted the National Pinchos and World Tapas Competition since 2005.
In 2009, the event expanded to include the World Tapas Championship which draws international culinary talent and reinforces Valladolid’s reputation as a hub for tapas innovation and tradition.
