The Embassy of Malaysia in Hungary served up a vibrant display of gastrodiplomacy on 28 October, bringing authentic Malaysian heritage to the heart of Central Europe through an exclusive culinary showcase led by Tourism, Arts and Culture Ambassador for Gastronomy, Dato’ Chef Haji Ismail Ahmad.
Held at the Kuktaparty Cooking School, the event, dubbed “A Taste of Malaysia”, brought together more than 30 distinguished guests, including senior Hungarian government officials, business leaders, culinary educators, media representatives and prominent Hungarian figures.
Guests were treated to an interactive live demonstration of Malaysia’s iconic prawn fritters (cucur udang) by Chef Ismail, followed by a traditional Malay wedding hidang (communal banquet) spread. The curated menu featured regional heritage delicacies, including Johor’s Nasi Biryani Gam, Rendang Tok, Ayam Madu (honeyed chicken), Kari Dhal, Pecal, Lepat Pisang, and Sira Labu (candied pumpkin).
In his welcoming remarks, Malaysian Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Mr. Norafizan Mustaffa highlighted the power of cuisine as a cultural bridge, noting that despite the geographical distance, Malaysia and Hungary share a profound appreciation for hearty meals, warm hospitality, and essential aromatics like garlic, onions, and red paprika.
Norafizan drew smiles from attendees when highlighting a real-world example of this bilateral connection in Perak, Malaysia, where an eatery operated by a Hungarian-Malaysian couple serves traditional Hungarian fried bread (lángos) topped with Malaysian sambal, anchovies, peanuts, and cucumber.
“If a Hungarian lángos can feel right at home in Malaysia, then our two nations already speak the exact same language, the language of good food,” Norafizan said, stressing those enduring international friendships are often forged over shared meals rather than formal communiqués.
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He also framed the showcase as an invitation for Hungarian travelers to explore Malaysia ahead of the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and 2027 campaigns.
Adding a literary dimension to the gathering, Malaysian bilingual writer, poet, and translator Mawar Marzuki recited an original poem dedicated to the occasion. Marzuki is currently in the region undertaking an artistic residency under the Slovene Writers’ Association’s (SWA) Programme in Residence for Literary Mediators in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Also present as Guest of Honour was the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Director for Asia and the Pacific, Adrienn Sallai. Other notable attendees included Budapest District 1 Deputy Mayor Artúr Fodor and Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dr. Zoltán Kovács.
The main showcase followed a dedicated culinary masterclass held a day earlier, where Chef Ismail collaborated with six MATE University food science and gastronomy students alongside prominent Hungarian culinary figures such as Chef Péter Korpádi and Chef Lajos Rácz.
Guests were also presented with custom recipe booklets featuring each dish, encouraging them to recreate authentic Malaysian culinary staples at home.
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