Fort Cornwallis bustles with food, music and stout

FORT Cornwallis, a heritage landmark in Penang, is subdued nowadays as it is undergoing renovation. The century-old moat is being restored at its front and sideways of this imposing structure.

There is a restaurant, which offers diners a glimpse into the Penang cuisine.

But earlier this month, the sprawling facility, which still boasts of the colonial-era cannons, came alive for two days when the organiser of the annual “Guinness Flavour by Fire” festival decided to use it as a venue for this rousing event.

From mid-afternoon to late evening for the two extravaganza days, the fort was bustling with food, music and most importantly stout enthusiasts.

And the dizzying aspects, is that they came from all walks of life and from all ages.

The Guinness Flavour by Fire features various stalls selling food infused with the beverage and grilled while the stout was sold at special prices to fuel the occasion.

On top of it, was a recital of various band acts, with a sparkle of comedians and magicians.

Shaun Lim, the marketing manager for Wheat Beer, Stout, and Diageo Brands at Heineken Malaysia Berhad, was rejoicing at the remarkable reception of their distinctive festival.

In the Klang Valley, it drew some 13,000 people while at Fort Cornwallis, it was estimated that close to 10,000 people from various parts of Penang and the northern region came.

Eugene Alan Dass, who manages the Star City Hotel in Alor Setar, was in the crowd, where he commented that it was a pleasant surprise to see such a high number of people.

“It shows that there is a thirst for such gatherings. The organisers should be lauded as it also helps in promoting tourism. I spotted foreign tourists among the concertgoers.”

Lim said, “It was nice to receive an incredible response to our festival, which takes the taste experience beyond the ordinary. Guinness has a rich, distinctive flavour that is a favourite among chefs and drinkers alike, and when combined with the transformative power of fire, it creates an unforgettable culinary experience.

“Guinness is always looking for new and exciting ways to bring our brand value of power and goodness to life in an engaging and immersive way. Our festival is an occasion for people to come together.”

Masters of grill artistry, including Chef Franky of Arthur’s Storehouse, the rock and roll culinary duo Johnny and Sherson of Kitchen Mafia, and Chef Navin Karu of Big Boyz Barbecue were there to unleash their expertise. 

The two-day festival featured Penang’s own chefs and culinary partners, and there were also taps serving the smooth and creamy draught almost nonstop.

Guinness brought along the renowned Penang masters in the art of grill cooking.

They came flaming with names such as Smoke Papa BBQ, White Smoke, Roku the Taco Bar, DreamBurger, Three Tiers, KAO BBQ, Firewood Penang, and Foxhole 24.

Not to be outdone were their brothers from the Klang Valley, namely the celebrity chefs Johnny and Sherson of Kitchen Mafia.

As the diners sank their teeth into the juicy marinated meat with Guinness, they were rocking to tunes rendered by disc jockeys Y.N.N, DJ Ramsey Westwood, Masia One, K-Town Clan ft Nexto, KAYA, DJ Kavlclub, Somebody Who, Bunga Raya Band, 9 Lives Band ft. Joy Victor, Acidic Bunch and the InStyle Band.

Veteran tourism practitioner Eric R. Sinnaya said that such events should not be held annually but at least monthly to woo tourists.

Amassing crowds is a selling point although, some may still be reluctant because of the physical distancing needs of Covid-19, but having concerts and food festivals are a healthy form of entertainment and this makes tourism lively here, said Sinnaya.

He urged the promoters of tourism to work with the private sector to revitalise the concert scenes by having more such events, including comedy acts, which are now popular. – The Vibes, September 26, 2023