Bartender Saufi takes top award

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IT WAS a proud moment for Mohd Saufi Paujian, 22, a bartender at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre when he received the Most Outstanding F&B Personnel Award at the recently concluded Culinaire Malaysia 2009 competition.

Presented to individual contestants who had accumulated the highest points in the best three classes – Table Setting, Fruit Flambe, Cocktail or Mocktail, the honour was awarded to Saufi for his accomplishment of one gold (Table Setting), one silver (Mocktail) and three bronze medals (Cocktail, Flairtending and Fruit Flambe) at Culinaire Malaysia 2009, which is touted as the Olympics of the local culinary industry.

Commenting on Saufi’s achievement, the centre’s general manager, Peter Brokenshire, said it was not an easy feat for Saufi.

Hard work pays off: Saufi is the proud recipient of the Most Outstanding F&B Personnel Award at the recently concluded Culinaire Malaysia 2009 competition.

“To achieve such heights in a tightly fought category, despite the fact that the we do not have a permanent cocktail bar or restaurant is a true testament to his dedication and we are all very proud of his accomplishments.”

This is the highest award that Saufi has received since joining the centre in 2007 and is a recognition of his hardworking nature, professionalism and personality.

He was also the first runner-up in the Malaysian leg of the World Class Bartending Competition 2009 and represented Malaysia at the South-East Asian meet held recently in Singapore, for which he scored a top five ranking.

“This is a proud moment for me as it was a stiff competition and many of the contenders have been in the industry far longer than I have.

“This award will motivate me to work even harder in my career and I attribute the win to the training and development at the centre,” said Saufi.

The biennial Culinaire Malaysia serves as a national platform for professionals, apprentices and students to compete alongside their peers.

It is jointly organised by representatives of the national hospitality industry, namely Malaysian Association of Hotels Chefs Association of Malaysia and Malaysian Food & Beverage Executives Association in conjunction with Food & Hotel Malaysia.