Visitors to the Malaysian Association of Belgium and Luxembourg (MABL) Food Fair 2010 in Brussels on Sunday were treated to Malaysia's diverse cultures through an array of delicious and popular dishes from each ethnic group.

MABL committee member Sarah Vanherck said the wide variety of food, cooked by specialty chefs, made the fair, held at the GolfLife centre Sterrebeek, look like the largest Malaysian restaurant in Belgium.

"Each cuisine is so unique that no other country in the world can boast a similar blend of cuisine.

"Typical Chinese noodles, the flavours of India and Malay specialties had visitors visiting Malaysia without even leaving Belgium," she said in an email sent via facebook.

Dedicated to a taste of explosions from food representing the multicultural mix, the spread ranged from intricate roti jala and delicious popiah to the ever popular nasi lemak, satay and Chinese noodles.

Vanherck said the turnout of nearly 150 people with a truly international mix exceeded all expectations.

With each race offering its own signature dishes and traditional fare, Vanherck, who is married to a Belgian, said this annual event was to enhance the cultural relationship between Malaysia and Belgium.

"We are always very proud and want to promote our Malaysian food abroad, and by cooking this together (gotong-royong), it shows how united Malaysians are as a multi-ethnic society," she said.

At the food fair, the tombola lucky draw tickets were a sell-out, thanks to the many donations from the Malaysian embassy in Brussels and some MABL members.

The procceds from the sale of the tickets amounting to 150 Euros will be donated to the charity organisation, Hospis, in Malaysia.

The MABL was established as a legally registered non-profit association in Belgium in 2002 with the strong support of the Malaysian embassy in Brussels.