Kota Kinabalu: Renowned food and travel writer Wendy May Hutton and the author of numerous books on Sabah passed away peacefully on Aug 23 at her family residence, here.She was 77. She leaves behind a husband, Jean Francois Cormerais, two children, James and Tiffany, and two grandchildren.
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The funeral service will be held today (Sunday) at the Fook Lu Siew Memorial Hall at 10am, to be followed by cremation at the Fook Lu Siew Crematorium.Hutton, a New Zealander by birth, first set foot on Southeast Asia in 1967, and had worked in the region ever since, specialising in writing on travel and food.
In the 160-page Southeast Asia's Best Recipes, published in 2014, Hutton takes readers on a culinary tour of the region's most popular and best-known dishes.Based in Sabah, she had spent more than four decades travelling and eating her way through Asia, collecting the best recipes from simple country homes to elegant restaurant kitchens.
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Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Christina Liew, described Hutton's departure as a great loss to Sabah's burgeoning tourism industry."With deep regret and sadness, we mourn her loss. She was a prolific author.
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We value her immense contributions to putting Sabah on the world map through her literary work. Her memory will live on through her bestselling books as a most valuable asset," she said when contacted.Liew added that Hutton is an inspiration to the present and future generations of writers.Among her bestsellers is Discovering Sabah, designed as an introduction to Sabah. Other popular books are Kota Kinabalu and Surrounding Areas, Sandakan (History, Culture, Wildlife and Resorts of the Sandakan Peninsula), Kota Kinabalu and Environs, Kudat (Sabah Colour Guide), Tabin and Kinabatangan.She had written or contributed to many books on Asian food, including the highly acclaimed classic, Singapore Food, first published in 1989. Her second edition is a treasury of more than 200 time-tested, delicious recipes from Asia.Discover Book Depository has a huge selection of Hutton's books online.Former General Manager of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), Datuk Irene Charuruks was saddened by the passing of Hutton."Wendy, you are dearly missed. May you Rest in Peace," she said. - Mary Chin
