KUCHING: Sarawak is set to make waves on the global culinary scene with the launch of Serumpun Sarawak, a cultural and gastronomic initiative aimed at redefining indigenous food heritage and creative traditions.
The initiative, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) together with the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), and led by world-renowned chef and indigenous gastronomy advocate, Chef James Won, will make its international debut in Osaka, Japan, before returning to Mulu, Sarawak.
MTCP Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said Serumpun Sarawak is a powerful affirmation that Sarawak’s indigenous heritage, culinary identity and creative spirit deserve their rightful place on the world stage – not as novelties, but as benchmarks of excellence.
“When Kuching earned its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, it wasn’t simply a feather in our cap; it was a call to action.
“A signal to the world that Sarawak’s culinary roots run deep – and our ambitions reach far.
“Thus, Serumpun Sarawak is where ancestral knowledge meets cutting-edge creativity. Where native ingredients become narrative.
“Where stories from the longhouse are translated into unforgettable multisensory experiences,” he said during the launch of Serumpun Sarawak held at Le Meridien Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, on Thursday.
He added, under the guidance of internationally acclaimed Chef James Won, and the creative direction of Atlas Collective, Serumpun Sarawak is not just presenting food but crafting a new language of cultural diplomacy, one that speaks through taste, texture and tradition.
Meanwhile, the initiative’s first stop will be at Seaside Studio Caso in Osaka from August 5 to 8 as part of an exclusive cultural gastronomy showcase in conjunction with the World Expo 2025.
Following its international debut, Serumpun Sarawak will return to its roots in Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in October.
The journey will host a site-specific experience within the park itself, blending indigenous culinary traditions, ecological appreciation and cultural storytelling in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring environments.
The collaborators of Serumpun Sarawak include leading Sarawakian organisations such as Earthlings Coffee Workshop, Tanoti Crafts, The Tuyang Initiative, and the Culinary Heritage & Arts Society Sarawak (CHASS), working together to champion indigenous ingredients, craftsmanship and cultural preservation.
