GEORGE TOWN: The four-day George Town Unesco World Heritage Site celebration culminated today with an open day at Jalan Pintal Tali here.
Named the 'Meng Eng Soo' open day, the event was held in line with the celebration’s theme “Eat Rite – Ritual Foods of George Town” of promoting traditional food.
Hundreds thronged the five-hour event, which started at 5pm, to enjoy its various elements such as traditional food workshops and food-making demonstrations.
The workshops not only educated visitors the history of traditional food from various ethnicity, but also gave them an opportunity to indulge in some hands-on learning.
The experience was further enhanced with an old time kitchen set-up for visitors to have a look at the traditional designs as well as ancient kitchenware.
Visitors were also able to enjoy traditional charcoal-toasted butter-kaya bread with kopitiam-style coffee while seated on wooden stools amidst the heritage buildings.
Handicraft and food stalls, selling various delicacies such as bak chang and hainan coconut cakes lined the street.
Retired teacher Goh Lay Yong, 59, said she enjoyed the experience of eating toast slathered with homemade kaya along the street.
“It feels timeless, sitting here among the heritage buildings. The open day has many interesting activities lined up,” she said.
Another visitor, Falvien Lambert, 34, was pleasantly surprised by the events.
“This looks to be a very fun event,” he told the New Straits Times.
The annual celebration, held to mark the seventh anniversary of the city’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site, also saw various workshops set up at the Georgetown heritage enclave.
Visitors were given the chance to learn and cook traditional delights such as bengkang suji, ‘paniyaram’, and ‘barmeah’.
Throughout the four-day event, there were also woodcraft activities and and pandan leaf rose-making.
There were also free talks held at the town hall here on Malay, Hindu and Chinese culinary heritage as well as a food heritage trail.
Another highlight was the Kaki Lima short film screening at the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) office in Lebuh Acheh.