Cleffairy's Blog, page 81

Where to Dine in SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting: Burger&Lobster

There’s quite alot of ‘news’ being circulating around on the social media about Burger& Lobster Malaysia, even when the outlet were not even operated yet in SkyAvenue about a month back. It seems that the famous seafood joint is quite reputable and is highly anticipated, to be earning quite an amount of gossips and articles among foodie writers even before its official opening in SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting.

Having read about Burger&Lobster in some sites on the Internet, I’ve seen foodies speculating just about everything about the outlet; from the interior design of the restaurant to the menu, to the taste of the food.

There’s negative and positive write ups about Burger&Lobster prior it’s opening in Resorts World Genting, but I’m not one to judge food being served in restaurants through merely the pictures of the menu or advertisement billboards on gossips sites on social media. I think it is unfair to say that certain food is being overpriced or overrated before you even had a taste of it. After all, not all foodie writers are trustworthy and plenty of them are popularity hunters who are desperate to drive traffics to their sites through sensationalized write ups.

Now, having the opportunity to dine in Burger&Lobster with my husband and son recently gives me quite an insight about the first Burger&Lobster outlet in Asia. If you have read somewhere about Burger&Lobster is not up to expectation on the Internet, I can assure you that it is not true. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s overpriced. It’s pretty reasonable, considering they are serving fresh, premium items and the food are simply amazing. I can assure you that the hype is real.

All right, enough ramblings. Read on to find out more about this much talked about restaurant:

Burger&Lobster originates from the UK, and the one in SkyAvenue is the first outlet in Asia. Boasting 3,500 sq ft space, Burger & Lobster debuted both the stripped menu and design ethic of the British chain.

Seating at Burger & Lobster is mix of dining banquettes and booths, with a focus on decorative lighting.

Burger & Lobster specialises in premium 650-700g fresh lobsters from Nova Scotia, Canada, which are delivered weekly to the hilltop via KLIA.

And here’s one of the coveted star in Burger & Lobster, the Big Boys.

Ordering at Burger&Lobster is pretty straight forward. There’s only burgers and lobsters for you to choose from.

The Burger &Lobster menu. And below is little breakdown of their menu for your quick reference, in case you are planning to dine in Burger&Lobster:

Burgers:

The Mayfair, at 168 grams, is their entry-level burger, served with chips.

The Original is 224 grams of beefy goodness, also served with chips.

The B&L brings the best of both worlds together, with a 224 gram burger with lobster meat served with chips and salad.

Lobster Rolls

One of the most popular items at Burger & Lobster are the Lobster Rolls which feature chunks of fresh lobster prepared in a choice of three different styles. Patrons can choose from The Original, Chilli or The Seven Samurai.

Lobsters:

Lobsters are steamed or grilled with clarified butter or the restaurant’s famed lemon and garlic butter. The lobsters here are available in three signature styles, namely The Original, The Big Boy and Chili Lobster.

Here’s what we ordered from Burger& Lobster during our most recent trip up to Resorts World Genting. Some of the dishes that we ordered are specially made for Burger&Lobster Malaysia only.

Burger&Lobster Sky Avenue, Resorts World Genting, Malaysia Review by Ellie

Watch a video of me introducing what we ordered from Burger&Lobster before we practically devoured them.

The B&L Burger (RM138.00 Member/RM153.00 Non Member) is a 224 gram burger patty with lobster meat on top served in a custom baked sesame seed brioche bun with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, the restaurant’s own in-house pickles, and Burger & Lobster’s secret sauce. Accompanying the burger is a side of chips and salad. We had our burger done in medium rare. Juicy and flavourful, the B&L was one of the most satisfying burger I’ve ever had.The burgers at Burger & Lobster are made purely with 100% Australian beef with no fillers, so this is highly recommended to burger lovers who wants serious, no nonsense stuff.

Seven Samurai Lobster Rolls (RM95.00 Member/RM105.00 Non Member) is quite an interesting dish where chunks of lobster meat is prepped with Seven Spices Sauce and served chilled in a signature toasted brioche roll, accompanied by chips and salad. Seven Samurai Lobster Rolls is a Malaysian outlet menu special and is not available in any other Burger&Lobster elsewhere. Pretty controversial on its own and have been quite a talk among foodies who prefers strictly original Lobster Rolls, but I assure you that this does not disappoint. Far from disappointing, I must say. One bite leads to another and before you know it, you’d be claiming addiction and one is never enough.

Chilli Lobster (RM158.00 Member/RM173.00 Non Member)

is another Malaysian only specialty and again, despite of the skepticism among foodies on how it taste like prior to the opening of Burger&Lobster, the Chilli Lobster is actually a bestseller and is a superstar in it’s own rights. Served in a huge claypot bowl to keep everything warm, the lobster are drown in special spicy gravy and served with a side of toasted brioche rolls for you to soak up the gravy with, the Chilli lobster is exceptionally flavourful and stood out above the rest. Suffice to say, it’s finger licking good and it was my favourite that night. Not quite for the unadventurous and the rigid but if you like interestingly spicy dishes that reminds you of an authentic Malaysian dish, then this is definitely for you.

The Original Steamed Lobster (RM138.00 Genting Member/ RM153.00 Non-Member). The lobster weights about 700 grams. It is served with a side of chips and salad. The steamed lobster was fresh and juicy. What actually distinguish the dish is the garlic butter sauce. Light and easy, the steamed lobster contains no element of surprises on your palate. It is great for those who wants frill-free lobster eating experience.

The Original Grilled Lobster ( RM138.00 Genting Member / RM153.00 Non-Member) . It weights about 700gm and grilled to perfection. While it was not as creamily juicy as the steamed version of the lobster, it was still naturally sweet and goes really well with the lemon and garlic butter. Simple and very basic, this is a yet another not to be missed dish at Burger&Lobster. Between the steamed version and the grilled version of the lobsters, I personally prefer the texture of the grilled version as the lobster meat has a hint of natural savoury-sweetness to it.

Trying out Lobsters at Burger&Lobsters

Here’s me, digging in.

As for drinks, there are plenty of signature cocktails and other beverages in the menu but I ordered this Malaysian only special off from the menu. This is the Time Keeper (RM21.00 Genting Member/RM24.00 Non Member). Malaysians who frequents Mamak joints might find this endearingly familar. This is basically iced tea served in a plastic bag to make it easier for you to have it while dining here and to takeaway afterwards if you couldn’t finish it.

Suffice to say, the gastronomic experience over there was fantastic for me and my family and I wouldn’t mind a repeated experience in the nearest future.

Burger & Lobster Malaysia

Address: Level 1, SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting, Pahang, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 22:00

Tel: 03-6105 9186

E-mail: info@burgerandlobster-my.com

Tourism Selangor Collaborates with Fireflyz.com to Promote Selangor

Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd (TSSB) in an effort to increase visitors into Selangor, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fireflyz.com.  The parties both signed the MoU this morning at Subang Skypark Airport in conjunction with the launch of Tourism Selangor’s #DiscoverSelangor themed Firefly aircraft.

This collaboration will boost the efforts to increase arrivals of tourists especially from Singapore and promote Tourism Selangor’s 2017 campaign ‘Discover Selangor, Heart of Malaysia’.  It hopes to achieve increased sales of tour packages, primarily into Selangor in both domestic and international markets. Tourism Selangor will work closely with Fireflyz.com to increase number of flights from Singapore to Selangor and make it the main destination for the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018.

One of the main initiatives of the collaboration is the aircraft livery advertising where Firefly aircraft is wrapped with Tourism Selangor’s advertisement featuring a few of Selangor’s main attractions. The aircraft livery was launched at the beginning of this year in conjunction with Tourism Selangor’s campaign, ‘Discover Selangor, Heart of Malaysia’.  The interior of the aircraft carries more information on Selangor’s popular tourist destinations.

The two parties will also work together in promoting tour packages which will range from day trip to 5 day trips and include shopping, culture and homestay, eco and nature, extreme sports and activities, MICE and more as part of the offering. There will also be special promotions throughout the year in accordance with Firefly’s marketing plan to offer special prices with tour and travel agencies, as well as corporate companies that plan series of visits to Selangor. The special ticket prices will also be offered to customers during the promotional programmes participated by Tourism Selangor both locally and abroad.

Speaking at the launch today at Skypark, Subang, Mr. Ignatius Ong, Chief Executive Officer of Firefly beamed with excitement at being the airline to bear the Tourism Selangor livery.  “Being a 100% Malaysian airlines, we are truly proud to have the beautiful colours of the nation on our aircraft. This is the best time to explore and highlight what we have to offer as Skypark is situated in Selangor and passengers will directly land here. We must constantly push for the excellence of the tourism industry and help fulfil the government’s agenda to stimulate growth in tourism in more effective and innovative methods”.

To further enhance the promotion campaign, FAM Trip Programme was organised for the Travel and Tour Agencies and media on the 19th until 22nd January 2017.  The group visited choice areas of interest, including the latest tourism products and activities in the state. The locations are selected based on major tourism segments in Selangor, such as, Homestay, MICE, Sports, Education, Medical, Heritage, Theme Parks, Shopping, Nature and Food & Dining.

“Once again, Tourism Selangor has decided to launch this year’s campaign with the theme, ‘Discover Selangor, Heart of Malaysia’ following the success of Visit Selangor Year 2015 with the same slogan, ‘Discover Selangor’ but with a latest addition of ‘Heart of Malaysia’ to capture the real essence of Selangor,” said Madam Noorul Ashikin Mohd Din, General Manager of Tourism Selangor

This collaboration has very high expectations and hopes to achieve them in the coming months leading up to the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 where it hopes to be named the best destination in the ASEAN region at the forum.

Where to Dine in Sky Avenue, Resorts World Genting: Cafés Richards

I know nothing about France or the French. All I know is that France has this iconic Eiffel Tower. I never once took interest in the famous City of Love until one fine day, I stumbled upon this Chinese drama, 又见一帘幽梦 /  “Dreams Link” where most of the scenes were filmed in Paris and Provence and I could see the beauty of France and its people through the drama.Impressed with the scenery, language and the culture featured in the drama, I wish that I could visit France one day, but right at the moment, the idea is a bit farfetch due to to time and financial constraint.

Traveling to Europe can be quite expensive. Air tickets alone could burn a hole in my pocket, but lucky me, I could at least experience a bit of Parisian teatime affair in Resorts World Genting.

Cafés Richard, the No. 1 coffee roaster in France, is now at Sky Avenue, the new lifestyle mall with an unprecedented variety of dining and shopping options. Cafés Richard is one of Sky Avenue’s flagship new openings.

Their outlet at the resort is their first international foray into the retail world of cafés, providing a classy Parisian-style atmosphere where customers can experience the genuine French art of living and enjoy authentic espresso, original coffees and teas, as well as French food. Shying away from some of the more conventional coffees, Cafés Richard carefully selects beans from around the world to give customers a sense of exploration and discovery.

Top of the list is Perle Noir, or black pearl, an exclusive Cafés Richard 100% Arabica brewed in a French-style espresso iconic of the Parisian Brasseries. Massaya, also served as an espresso, hails from Mexico and is organically cultivated.

Customers who prefer slow coffee methods such as French press, chemex, syphon or cold drip can choose from Ethiopian Moka Yirgacheffe cultivated in the birthplace of coffee, Costa Rica Tarrazu cultivated on volcanic plateaus, Sumatra “Orang Utan” whose proceeds partly go towards helping the endangered orangutans of Indonesia, as well as the rare and premium Jamaican Blue Mountain.

Other than coffee, Cafés Richard also serves an extensive range of teas – black, white, green, roiboos and herbal – from India, China, Sri Lanka, South Africa and even the Alps.

For those who prefer a twist to their caffeine intake, there are coffee cocktails and tea cocktails to tease their tastebuds. A few were specially concocted for Resorts World Genting.

With more than 2.4 million cups of Cafés Richard coffee served daily worldwide and in the cafés, bistros and restaurants from chic Saint-Germain-des-Prés, hilly Montmartre to historical Grands Boulevards, the traditional French-style coffee roaster aims to replicate the same joie de vivre at 6,000 feet above sea level at Sky Avenue, Resorts World Genting.

From the classic black-and-white mosaic floor tiles, to the cloth awnings and raffia wicker chairs, Cafés Richard has meticulously recreated the quintessential Parisian café at SkyAvenue. The designers took design elements of a classic French café – brass rails, mosaic floor, cloth awnings and raffia wicker chairs – and gave them a fresh interpretation. For example, while brass is a traditional finish, the designers have gone with a satin brush finish for the round tables for a contemporary interpretation of a more traditional look and feel. Colourful oversized advertising posters and 19th-century pendant lamps are juxtaposed against a minimalistic ceiling in metallic paint while red accents from the retro tea canisters along the wall play against the black and white monochrome.

In a nod to the French way of life, where a café is more than a grab-and-go caffeine stop, Cafés Richard has modelled its seating areas after the ones in Paris. Divided into four zones, the 263-square-metre café can accomodate more than 120 customers. There are intimate booths for tête-à-tête conversations, alfresco for cool mountain air, wicker chairs facing out to the walkway for people-watching and banquette seating for groups of friends.

The most coveted seats will undoubtedly be the ones nestled within a stylized fiberglass and steel Frangipani ‘flower’ which can seat up to 34.

To complete the French experience, the 13 local staff at the café were taught basic French phrases such as “bonjour monsieur” and “merci madame’ to welcome and greet the customers.

And here’s introducing Monsieur Thibault, Cafés Richard’s outlet ambassador. He personally attended to me and my family during my visit to Cafés Richard. I wasn’t expecting to be greeted so charmingly in French during my visit, and therefore I found the experience pretty much endearing and yes, I was charmed and lost in my thoughts and were practically transported to Paris for a little moment.

Fine and classy environment aside, here’s sharing with you what we ordered from Cafés Richard:

Sumatran Orang Utan Coffee in Syphon

Espresso Perle Noire

Caffe Mocha

Rose Lychee White Tea

Breakfast BOP

Check this out. Cafés Richard also serves Parisian High Tea between 2:30pm and 5:30pm which is ideal for coffee or tea lovers needing some bites to go with.

A Parisian Hi Tea Affair at Cafés Richard, Sky Avenue

The set for 2 is priced at RM143 and includes an array of savory and sweet desserts with a choice of coffee and tea per person.

Served beautifully in a white drawer, savories such as Blini with Smoked Salmon and Chive Dressing, Smoked Duck with Melon, Salted Beef on French Toast, and Foie Gras Mousse on Vol-Au Vent and Cranberry Dressing will whet your appetite. The High Tea also comes with a selection of sweets that include Mini Éclair, Cheese Cake, Profiteroles and Crème Brûlée.

I shall elaborate no more on Cafés Richard. No actual word can actually do justice to the Parisian coffee and tea affair and is something that you must experience yourselves, so go on up to Resorts World Genting and chill over a cuppa coffee or tea over there. You’ll like it. I promise you that.

For more information on Cafés Richard, refer to the information below.

Cafés Richard

Level 1, SkyAvenue, Resorts World Genting

Business hours: Mon – Thu (10am – 10pm), Fri – Sun (10am – 12am)

Tel: +60 3-6105 9197

A Very Sushi Chinese New Year’s Affair with Sushi King

Sick and tired of the usual Chinese New Year’s meal? Want something different? Well, the year of the Rooster is being welcomed at Malaysia’s all-time favourite Japanese restaurant, Sushi King with much appetizing and mouthwatering selection of Japanese food.

Foodies can eagerly look forward to several delectable auspicious dishes prepared by Sushi King for the festive season; bringing people together through quality and fresh food whilst celebrating Chinese New Year in merriment.

Here’s what you can expect from Sushi King this Chinese New Year 2017:

Spicy Salmon Teriyaki Sushi (RM5.30)

Salmon Teriyaki Sushi (RM5.30)

Fried Salmon Sushi (RM5.30)

Minced Salmon, Salmon and Unagi Sushi (RM6.00)

Salmon Don (RM9.41)

Ontama Salmon Don (RM9.41)

Seafood Bento (RM20.03)

Chinese New Year’s Bento (RM21.09)

Prosperity Yee Sang is also available. (Price for Yee Sang starts from RM41.21). Made with fresh quality ingredients, it is served with premium salmon, harvested from the clear blue waters of Norway.

Customers who spend RM68 and above in a single receipt at any Sushi King outlet will receive an exclusive set of Sushi King Daruma Ang Pows and also be in the running to win an all-expense paid trip to Tokyo.

Note: Sushi King is certified Halal by JAKIM.

For more information on the above festive joy, please log on to www.facebook.com/sushikingasia.

Where to Dine in Sky Avenue, Resorts World Genting: Motorino

Chilling over a plate of pizza or two at 6,000ft above sea level? Yes, please. I’m all for dining in the clouds. And who can say no to pizzas anyway? I know I couldn’t. Pizzas are my all time favourite comfort food, and they are something that I must have at least twice a month.

Motorino; this pizzeria is located at the newly opened Sky Avenue in Resorts World Genting and as of writing, it is one of the most raved about pizza lurk in Sky Avenue.

This Brooklyn and East Village pizza place has New York Times food writers hailing it as the best authentic Neopolitan Italian pizza restaurant in New York, and now that it’s right here in Malaysia, I know that I ought to give it a try, considering that I’m a huge pizza fan.

Motorino is owned and operated by Belgian-Italian born chef Mathieu Palombino who makes Neapolitan-style pizza in wood ovens imported from Italy. Motorino is unique in the sense that they have open kitchen and patrons can actually watch the entire process of the kitchen crews making pizzas. And here’s pizza doughs being tossed and prepared for the diners. Fascinating don’t you think? The chefs are extremely skillful and I can’t help but feel amazed each time I see the dough being tossed. It is definitely not something I’m capable of and I have no doubt that if I were to pull the same stunt, the dough would end up being splat on my face.

Pizzas in Motorino are baked in a special wood-fire oven at 800-900’Celcius. The small mouth and low dome of the ovens actually gets the pizzas cooked in 60 to 90 seconds.

So, what to order when you dine here? Well, Motorino pizzeria in Sky Avenue offers more than just pizzas. They have antipasti, desserts and refreshingly concocted beverages too but I won’t be touching that in this write up and will just concentrate on their wonderful Neopolitan pizzas so that you know what to expect when you hop over.

A Selection of Pizzas at Motorino Sky Avenue, Malaysia

Diners can take their pick from nine stellar favourites, which range from the stripped (marinara, margherita and pepperoni) to the supremely Italian (stracchiatella with basil, sea salt and extra virgin olive oil; cremini mushrooms, and colatura di alici featuring cow’s milk mozzarella, red onions, grape tomatoes, white anchovies and sea salt). Also on offer is a Brussel sprout pizza with fior de latte, garlic, pecorino and smoked turkey bacon; cherry stone clam pizza and an egg, turkey chili variation.

To add to your gastronomic excitements? Motorino also offers over 20 toppings that can be added on to existing pizzas. These include Brussel sprouts, two kinds of anchovies, fresh arugula, buffalo mozzarella and fior de latte (fresh mozzarella made with cow’s milk as opposed to buffalo milk), along with other more conventional ingredients such as turkey, pepperoni and clams. However, purists say that each Motorino pizzas is perfect as it is. Prices per pizza ranges from RM48- RM64. Genting members may enjoy slightly lower price.

Here’s some all time favourite masterpieces from Motorino: Pepperoni, Del Popolo, Meatball, Amatriciana, Arugula & Bresaola, Cherry Stone Clam, Magherita and Marinara.

Pepperoni Pizze (RM 43 for member/RM48 for non member) , a classic all time favourite. A pizza pie with tomato sauce base topped with beef pepperoni, mozerella and pecorino cheese and accompanied with a few dash of extra virgin olive oil, and a hint of fresh chillies and sea salt, Pepperoni Pizze hits all the right notes: meaty, spicy, a little sour and goes really well with the cheesy thin crust. Highly recommended for those who are looking for comfort in familiarity and doesn’t want any strange surprises in their pizzas.

Del Popolo Pizze ( RM 49 for member/RM54 for non member) pie has tomato sauce base and is simply topped with mozzarella cheese, parsley, olives, onions and cured anchovies. Those who are not familiar with anchovies might find cured anchovies toppings is a tad overwhelming on the palate, but pizza lovers who loves extra flavours can this one a go.

Meatball Pizze (RM 56 for member/RM61 for non member) is simply a pizza pie with tomato sauce base topped with chicken meatballs, mozzarella cheese and basil. A modern rendition of traditional Italian pizza. Children will find this one especially pleasing, I have no doubt.

Amatriciana Pizze (RM48 for member/ RM53 for non member). Pizza alla matriciana is a version of Italian pizza topped with traditional Italian pasta sauce based on guanciale, pecorino cheese, and tomato, but Motorino’s version has chicken sausage, scallions and some fresh chillies on it. This classic pizza takes its spiciness from the fresh chillies and its depth of flavor from the chicken sausage. Rich with unique and intense flavour, the pizza offers immense satisfaction to pizza lovers.

Arugula&Bresaola Pizze (RM59 for members/RM64 for non members). Not the pizza that I’m familiar with. I’m usually a religious subscriber to the all time great Pepperoni Pizza. This is my first time chancing upon an Arugula&Bresaola pizza. The pizza is topped with bresaola. Bresaola, which originated in the mountains of Lombardy, is made by salting beef and allowing it to air-dry for several weeks. The air dried and salt-cured beef tenderloin are nicely arranged on top of the pizza and was accompanied with fresh arugula leaves alongside with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Strong tasting, meaty and flavourful, this pizza is great for those who appreciates intense flavours on the palate.

Cherry Stone Clam Pizze (RM49 for member/RM54 for non member). One of Motorino’s unique signature is this; Cherry Stone Clam Pizza. It is basically a simple pizza topped with mozzarella, garlic, parsley butter, olive oil, and shucked clams. Squeeze a wedge of accompanying lemon slice on top of it and you’ll be screaming perfection in no time.

Margherita Pizze (RM47 for members/RM52 for non members) Another vital element of Motorino’s pizzas is not overloading the pie with toppings. Believing that less is definitely more on pizzas, this is without a doubt applicable to the classic Margherita Pizza. Sometimes the simplest ingredients, combined in the simplest of ways, have the power to erase your woes and send you into a world of peaceful bliss. Such is the power of the Margherita pizza. Fresh tomato sauce, chewy mozzarella cheese, some fresh of basil on a crispy crust oiled with extra virgin olive oil was simply divine to have. An ultimate comfort food that can never go wrong.

Marinara Pizze (RM43 for members/RM48 for non members). The pizza’s name, Marinara takes its name from the marinai, or sailors, for whom it was first baked in the 18th century. It is a pizza pie with no cheese and I think Marinara pizzas reflects the skill and passion of a pizza maker’s ability to evoke deep flavors from such simple and very basic ingredients. This traditional Marinara Pizza from Motorino has tomatoes crushed, or blended, sliced fresh garlic, fresh oregano, extra virgin olive oil and maybe some sea salt to taste. This pizza is all about the tomatoes, garlic, oregano and the extra virgin olive oil. Marinara pizza not only allows the skill of the pizza maker to come through, but really showcases the quality of the individual ingredients. A must try if you appreciate refreshingly basic tasting pizzas. Margherita pizzas by Motorino guarantees hassle free gastronomic experience.

All the pizzas featured above are equally good and individually unique in their own ways, but my personal favourite from Motorino is Pepperoni Pizze and Amatriciana Pizze. I love flavourful pizzas. They’re not only comforting but makes me feel happy as well. If you are a huge fan of pizzas and haven’t visit Motorino in Sky Avenue, Resorts World Genting, then you might wanna do so soon. The hype is real. The pizzas are magnifico!

Motorino is located at Level 1, Sky Avenue. Operation hours is from 10 am to 10 pm daily. For more information, please call 03-6101 1118 or visit www.rwgenting.com.

Miss Chinese International Pageant 2017 Fostered Friendship and Cross Culture Experience

One of my deepest secret fantasy as a child was becoming a beauty queen; a glamorous star who shines above the rest. But then again, fantasy has no collaboration whatsoever with reality. I was pretty much akward when I was growing up. I was ungraceful, looked anorexic, with glasses and not exactly the kind of girl any beauty pageant organization would even consider taking in. I was the Ugly Duckling and a late bloomer.

Akwardness aside, I grew up fine regardless and enjoyed plenty of opportunities to actually watch beauty pageant live, in person and the most recent one is the Miss Chinese International Pageant 2017.

Miss Chinese International Pageant 2017 were held in Arena of Stars at Resorts World Genting in collaboration with TVB and MY.fm as the official media partner. All of the contestants came from different backgrounds, countries and regions but each and every one of them shared one common trait; which is the Chinese Heritage.

Graced glamorous panel of judges; Mr. Simon Yam, Mr.Wayne Lai, Ms. Niki Chow, Dato’ Nancy Yeoh and Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, the event were literally taken a few notch higher with the contestants fiercely showcasing their grace, beauty, talent and intelligence to impress the judges.

Below are contestants’ lineup list in their choice of National Costumes :

Contestant no 1: Christina Liu, Auckand

Contestant no 2: Gam Wonglappanich, Bangkok

Contestant no 3: Crystal Fung, Hong Kong

Contestant no 4: Addy Lee, Johannesburg

Contestant no 5: Serene Lim, Kuala Lumpur

Contestant no 6: Lili Qu, Los Angeles

Contestant no 7: Janne Zeng, Manila

Contestant no 8: Gloria Rong, Melbourne

Contestant no 9: Bella Li, Foshan

Contestant no 10: Alice Zhang, Montreal

Contestant no 11: Stitch Yu, New York

Contestant no 12: Steph Wong, San Francisco

Contestant no 13: Lovelle Cengya, Singapore

Contestant no 14: Emily Yu, Sydney

Contestant no 15: Gloria Li, Toronto

Contestant no 16: Maria Rincon, Vancouver

After rounds of judging in all aspects of the common pageant competition, the winners that emerged are as follow:

Winner of Miss Chinese International Pageant 2017- Stitch Yu, New York

First Runner Up- Serene Lim, Kuala Lumpur

Second Runner up- Crystal Fung, Hong Kong

Miss Friendship- Addy Lee, Johannesberg

The cross culture and friendship fostering event was one of the largest international beauty pageant and it has no doubt add to the glamour and excitement in the city of entertainment, Resorts World Genting. Watching pageants live is always a breathtaking experience to me, and I sure hope there’ll be more opportunities for this in the future.

Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Welcomes One Stop e-Commerce Mobile Platform to Malaysia

Constantly moving forward towards a sustainable economic environment, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) has taken alot of initiative to help the local industry players boost their revenue and help contribute in the nation’s economic stability.

In effort to further strenghten the tourism industry in the year 2017 and to encourage collossal growth among the local industry players, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) has welcomed GT Group’s effort to encourage hassle free shopping and trading experience via a one stop mobile e-commerce platform, GT Dollar.

GT Dollar, a one stop mobile e- commerce platform offers hassle free service for both consumers and merchants via its seamless payment system.

This application aims to embrace technology, thus contributing towards the economic growth of the country. A comprehensive platform for both consumers and merchants, encouraging cash free transactions around the world. With zero registration, subscription and advertising fees, merchants need to purchase GT Dollar (Virtual Currency) and distribute it to their users anytime, anywhere. This will in turn form into e-promotion or e-advertising with minimal charges. The Online Payment Gateway will be used to accept payment online – E-wallet / Visa (Credit, Debit, Prepaid) / MasterCard (Credit. Debit, Prepaid) / CUP Card (Credit, Debit, Prepaid) / Direct Debit Account to perform transaction charges.

GT Dollar primary focus is about creating a world of convenience centered around virtual credits account to allow users to make payment via an e-wallet system which enables extensive search for products or services via a marketplace.

Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Welcomes GT Dollar Apps to Malaysia

YB Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) debuted the launch of e-commerce giant, GT Dollar Giant Malaysia at Sime Darby Convention Centre, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur during the FinTech Ecosystem Conference and GT Dollar Grand Launch.

Witnessed by distinguised government officials and industry players, the collaboration between the Malaysian government and GT group is expected to be a giant game changer in the country where it will not only provide seamless shopping and trading experience, but working opportunity as well.

To complement this collaborative effort, GT Robot an innovative high-technological firm under the GT Group, specializes its advancement in humanoid robotic solutions is also inteoduced. In recognition of it’s advancement, the Malaysian government is planning to allocate a zone located along the Malacca-Negeri Sembilan border for GT Robot’s own manufacturing and assembly plant, which is worth approximate to RM300 million in investment. This plant estimated to generate income for the company of approximate USD 20 Billlon (which is equal to 10 Million pieces of Mobile Robot) and create more than 10,000 working opportunities for locals in the next 5 years. The GT Robot plant will be the first in Asia with eco-friendly manufacturing with the high technology equipment after China.

A Reunion of Timeless Tales at Quill City Mall, Kuala Lumpur

Inspired by the era of the 1920’s, Quill City Mall ushered the Lunar New Year of the Rooster with the theme Grand Shanghai, A Reunion of Timeless Tales. Grand Shanghai, in its heydays was the place to be, the place known for the greatest architecture, the best in art and entertainment.

Grand Shanghai, A Reunion of Timeless Tales was officiated by Dato’ Dr. Jennifer Low, Group Managing Director of Quill City Group of Companies and Dato’ Micheal Ong, Group Executice Director of Quill City Group of Companies.

‘Carberet’ performance at Quill City Mall Grand Shanghai CNY Launching

The stage at the main court is majestically constructed to replicate the entertainment club back then, where one could get a nostalgic feel of what it is like to be serenaded by the Jazz and Chinese instrumental performance of the Golden era. The video shows abaret performance during the launching of Grand Shanghai, A Reunion of Timeless Tales in Quill City Mall brought a nostalgic feel of 1920’s. Check it out. It’s mesmerizing.

A display of antiques and deco that will surely transport you back to the 1920’s.

Acrobatic Lion Dance Performance at Quill City Mall CNY 2017 Launching

And what’s Chinese New Year without the Lion Dance performance? Here’s a lively and amusing Lion Dance performance during the launching.

In line with with its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, the mall hosted 60 senior citizens from Rumah Charis and Rumah Victory as well were they were of course, entertained by the lively acrobatic Lion Dance performance and the carberet performance before they were treated to sumptuos meal and a lousang session for good luck and prosperity.

Quill City Mall has also set up wishing cherry blosson trees where you can toss a ribbon tied to ancient coin and make a wish for whatever you want in exchange of a minimum donation of RM10. Proceeds of the donations will be channeled to Rumah Charas and Rumah Victory. Pretty neat, huh? You get to make a wish and at the same time, do good deed.

Exciting activities have been lined up too throughout the festive period, which includes caligraphy competition wirkshops, fan art workshops and clay figurine workshops for the entire family.

Shoppers may also redeem exclusive packet of Ang Pow with a minimum spend of RM88* and a premium Silk Pouch with a minimum spend of RM188*.

For more information on what Quill City Mall have to offer this festive season, hop over to:

https://facebook.com/quillcity/

Celebrate a Year of Abundance in Utara Coffee House, Armada PJ

So, it’s about two weeks before Chinese New Year 2017. Time surely flies. It felt like yesterday I celebrated the year of the Monkey in my husband’s hometown and now the ‘monkey’ is swinging away with the Rooster cock-a-doodling not far behind. Yes. It’s 2017 and it’s gonna be the year of the Fire Rooster soon enough. Frankly speaking, life have been pretty hectic and I haven’t even prepared a single thing for Chinese New Year 2017. Talk about procrastination, huh. Well, I may not crossed off any of my Chinese New Year’s shopping list yet, but I sure know where I can perch on for family reunion dinner and gatherings this Chinese New Year; Utara Coffee House, Armada Hotel Petaling Jaya.

Utara Coffee House, Armada Hotel Petaling Jaya is my all time favourite place for bountiful festive feast, be it Chinese New Year, Eid or Christmas. Led by the fatherly looking Executive Chef Chew, the kitchen crew in Utara Coffee House is well known for enchanting diners with their scrumptious offerings all year through.

Utara Coffee House Armada PJ CNY 2017 Reunion Feast Offerings

In celebration of the Year of the Rooster, Utara Coffee House kitchen crews have prepared a golden abundance of Cantonese cuisine for your gastronomic pleasure. As shown in the video, a decadent Chinese New Year dinner buffet which also includes international spread awaits. Utara Coffee House have plenty of treasure for you to uncover but in my humble opinion, and here’s some of the must try and highlights for their Chinese New Year’s 2017 feast from the buffet table;

Yee Sang; with a choice of King Salmon and Coral Clams with Special Ayam Percik Sauce and Salmon and Soft

Shell Crab with Roasted Sesame Sauce. The Yee Sang is priced at RM77+ per portion. Other classic Yee Sang available are the Salmon Yee Sang and Butterfish Yee Sang is also priced at RM77+ per portion and the Fruitti Veggie Yee Sang (vegetarian option) is priced at RM65+ per portion.

Herb Chicken Consomme with Scallop Flakes

Fried Rice with Smoked Chicken Ham

Chinese Wax Rice

Mixed Vegetables with Fatt Choy and Dried Oysters

Stir Fried Four Angles Beans with Belacan

Yam Basket

Steamed chicken

Steamed Chicken with Keong Chung

Chinese Longevity Noodles with Kow Wong

Deep fried Whole Fish with Cheong Cheng Sauce

Steamed Fish in Premium Sauce

Treasures Hot Pot ( Poon Choy )

Roast Duck with Plum Sauce

Stir-fried Prawns with Butter Coconut Flakes

Baked Tiger Prawns with Cheese and Egg Yolk Au Gratin

Chinese New Year Chicken Rolls

Chicken slices

Sushi Boat

Fresh Sashimi

Assorted Chinese New Year’s cookies and tidbits like Ngaku Chips, Love Letters, Peanut Cookies, Beehive Cookies and Nian Gao is also available for your enjoyment.

The Chinese New Year Reunion Buffet Dinner is priced at RM88+

per adult, RM62+ for senior citizens and RM44+ per child.

For guests who wish to indulge in exclusive set menus, Chef Chew and his team has whipped up four spectacular Prosperity Set Menus (per table of 10 pax with minimum 2 tables for private dining) ideal for private dining with family, friends or business.

Health, Wealth, and Luck awaits you when you dine privately in our Banquet Rooms with

the :

Blissful Longevity Set Menu priced at RM 988+

Everlasting Success Set Menu priced at RM 1188+

Bountiful Treasures Set Menu priced at RM 1298+

Golden Health & Prosperity Set Menu priced at RM 1308+

In addition, the hotel will also be selling CNY dining vouchers :

 Diners who purchase 10 dining vouchers between 1st January – 11th February 2017 will receive one free dining voucher.

 Bookings between 10 – 19 pax will receive ONE complimentary bottle of wine

 Bookings of 20 pax and above will receive TWO complimentary bottles of wine

For reservations or enquiries on our Chinese New Year specials, please call +603 7954 6888 ext 4557 – Utara Coffee House or email armada@armada.com.my.

Vegetarian Restaurants for The Health Conscious, VDelight, Pavilion Elite Kuala Lumpur

I grew up in a family of carnivours. Well, almost carnivors. My parents doesn’t really emphasized on eating greens and I enjoyed my fair share of junkfood and fast food while growing up. It was stress-free and fun growing up not having to shove nasty tasting green leaf into your mouth. I was pretty much fine with that sort of diet until I turned 17 where I first met boyfriend, (now husband) in college. He came from totally different upbringing where eating clean and healthy was pretty much emphasized. My mother-in-law is a strict vegetarian and while my husband is not a vegetarian, whenever we visit her, we had to follow her diet as no meat whatsover is allowed at home. No meat, no fishes, no poultries and definitely no fastfood or trashy diet in her home.

I’ll be honest with you. It was hell for me as I literally grew up being some sort of a carnivor where I get away eating anything that I wanted at home but not in my mother-in-law’s house. Stressful? Yes. Not easy to adapt too as vegetarian diet is not exactly my cuppa tea, but as time goes by, I learned to appreciate her cooking and even had a few favourites myself.

Before I met my husband, the sight of even a small leafy thing on my plate repelled me, but these days, I’m just unfazed. Who says healthy vegetarian food can’t be mouthwatering? They can taste pretty good, actually.

And speaking of good vegetarian food, here’s one restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that serves delicious vegetarian food, with a modern twist.

Located on 7th floor of the newly opened Pavilion Elite, VDelight brings the definition of vegetarian food to a completely higher level.

VDelight have a pretty impressive and extensive menu, and I managed to sample some of the dishes over there with my husband and son during our weekend out in Pavilion KL, and here’s sharing with you what we ordered;

Mushroom Soup served in bread bowl. I’m not very sure how many types of mushroom used to make this mushroom soup, but the mushroom soup was nothing but delectable. It was not only bursting with flavour but creamy and rich too. One piece of advice, though; should you order this dish at VDelight, you might want to dig in immediately once it’s placed on the table as the bread tend to soak up the soup, and if you wait too long to have a sip of this, I reckon you won’t have much soup to enjoy and had to eat soggy bread soaked in mushroom soup instead.

Mushroom Kingdom Pizza. Generously topped with a bed of mushroom slices, gooey cheese and a single sunny egg yolk in the middle, this Mushroom Kingdom Pizza is laced with a hint vinegar. Quite a delightful dish to have, as the vinegar brings out the taste of the mushrooms. If you are a fan of savoury food, this Musroom Pizza is highly recommended for you. For strict vegetarians who doesn’t consume eggs, kindly inform the chef to omit the egg yolk upon ordering.

Szechuan Spaghetti is an interesting fusion of East meet West, China meet Itality kinda dish. Instead of being topped with the regular tomatoey or creamy and cheesy sauce, this spaghetti is sauteed and tossed in Szechuan chillies and fried peanuts. The result? Pretty much fiery and tongue numbing. Needless to say, the dish was extremely spicy. My husband and son enjoyed this Szechuan Spaghetti very much, but sadly I couldn’t take the level of spiciness despite liking the taste. My tongue was numb the very minute I twirled it my mouth and I gave up the battle of finishing this off after a few mouthfuls. I had my boys finish this off for me, and that’s just so sad as the spaghetti definitely enliven your senses with it’s interesting taste and texture. Highly recommended to those who loves spicy food and fiery sensation.

Hashbrown Curry Bite Burger. The Hashbrown Curry Bite Burger is constructed with an adeptly fried golden hashbrown topped with fried foochuk slices and dry curry paste alongside with cucumber slices, tomatoes and lettuce leaf, accompanied by charcoal bun and served with a side of french fries, this burger is individually unique and fun to eat. It offers interesting taste and texture on the palate. Being a burger lover, I appreciate this dish very much and I wouldn’t mind ordering this again in my next visit. If you love savoury food, this is a must order from VDelight menu.

Bibimbap. Being a Kdrama fan, I appreciate seeing this Bibimbap on the menu. For those who are not familar with this dish, Bibimbap Bibimbap is a Korean “mixed rice” dish. Bibimbap is usually served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul and gochujang, soy sauce, or doenjang with assorted meat and veggies. I usually like mine with beef bulgolgi and runny fried eggs on top. I was a little skeptical about the Bibimbap when I ordered it off from the menu at VDelight, but thankfully the taste is up to expectation despite lacking the usual beef or chicken. The rice was generously topped with assorted vegetables and fried eggs and served with a side of VDelight specially made kimchi. It was perfectly flavoured. I was told that this is a chef recommended and a bestseller in VDelight, so do give it a go. You might like it as much as I do too.

VDumplings came with the option of fried or blanched. We opt for blanched. Stuffed generously with mushrooms and vegetables and served with a side of black vinegar and ginger dippings, these are pretty much addictive and great for snacking and sharing.

Vietnamese Fruit Rolls. These are Vietnamese rolls with a twist. Instead of containing the usual meat and seafood stuffings, VDelight Vietnamese Fruit Rolls comes with a choice of mixed fruits, mango, kiwi or strawberry stuffing. A pretty refreshing platter, I must say. Another must order item on the menu.

Overall, dining in VDelight is simply delightful.The chefs in VDelight keeps the taste-meter high with its premium quality dishes that suits even hardcore meat eaters. I definitely wouldn’t mind a revisit to this restaurant to try out other items on their menu.

For more information on the restaurant, please refer to the information below:

Address:

VDelight

Lot 7.100.00&Lot S7.100.01

Pavilion Elite No.166

Jalan Bukit Bintang,

55100 Bukit Bintang,

Kuala Lumpur

Tel:- +603-2110 5352

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/VDelightPavilionElite/



Website:- http://www.vdelight.com.my