It has been over a year since Covid-19 has impacted our lives and businesses. As many bars remain closed and bartenders struggle to secure their jobs, Hennessy once again launch this challenge to financially support the industry whilst getting us bartenders to get creative and motivated again.
I thought it was pretty cool when I got into the Top 10 Malaysian Winners along with Josh from Hyde@53M as we were rooting for each other and a couple of other fellow bartenders I’ve known.
But when I found out there were over 500 bartenders who globally took part in this year’s challenge, its still so surreal to me that I’ve made into the Global Top 25! Plus being the only Malaysian who made it.š
Not going to lie, I’m still chuckling over the name of my drink.š¹
Thyme Waits For No Pear
40ml Hennessy V.S.O.P PrivilĆØge
30ml Freshly Squeezed Florence Pear Juice
10ml Yuzushu
Splash of Soda
Spritz of Thyme Liqueur Mist
Subtle Smoke of Cherry Wood
What’s the inspiration behind my drink?
I strongly believe the inspiration behind my drink came from my bartending journey. Growing up, I’ve spent most of my time with my grandparents and has always been surrounded and fascinated by my late grandfather’s massive collection of cognac and brandy.
As Hennessy V.S.O.P PrivilĆØge is made from a selection of eaux-de-vie aged mainly in old oak barrels, you could pick up aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and toasted notes which fruits like apples, apricots and pears can go pretty well therefore the ingredients I’ve used was inspired by my current workplace; a slight Japanese influenced and techniques of preparing the drink.
As for the name? When I started getting a little more serious into my career, I was mentored by Arsenio Mariano Jr or also best known as Ash. He loves his puns and we’d often brainstorm for punny cocktail names for his guest shifts and gigs.
To be able to collaborate with Sunquick for such event was rather fruitful. Who would’ve pictured pairing mocktails with a full on 4-Course menu at such an exquisite venue?
I’d also like to use this post to thank some kind souls who pulled together to make this happen.
First of all, Patricia and Sidney for the opportunity. Ash, Josh, Jimmy, Shin and the amazeballs Victor for the ideas, sleepless nights of mise en place and being my barbacks throughout the event. And of course, the production team for the photos and videos.
To anyone who wants to impress your loved ones or try making them at home, here are my mocktail recipes:
Started off with something refreshing to pair with the first course to open one’s appetite. The mint leaves and ginger puree yields plenty of flavor giving this drink an extra kick.
Berries First Crush
š¹10ml Sunquick Select’s Mixed Berries
š¹20ml Cranberry Juice
š¹15ml Lemon Juice
š¹1tps Ginger Puree
š¹1 Mint Sprig
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Pour into glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and dehydrated orange slice.
Tweaked the recipe a little for that night by cooking and infusing Szechuan Peppers into the syrup to give that tingly numbness and unique flavors into the drink.
Pink Rush
š¹15ml Sunquick Select’s Pink Guava & Strawberry
š¹60ml Orange Juice
š¹10ml Lemon Juice
š¹30ml Aquafaba
š¹1 Basil Sprig
Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake vigorously until cold. Strain out ice and dry shake until no ice remnants can be heard. Double strain into a glass.
Decided to go a little extra on the garnish for this drink because Chinese New Year was just around the corner so I decided to put a rat origami on my drink.š
The last drink had the guests bamboozled for its tannins and astringency as they weren’t sure if there’s alcohol in it. Heard it was majority’s favourite too.
XoX
š¹120ml Sunquick Select’s Blackcurrant š¹473ml Grape Juice
š¹1 Cinnamon Stick
š¹1 Star Anise
š¹6 Cloves
š¹6 Slice of Oranges
Combine all ingredients into a saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Let it rest in saucepan to infuse for 30 minutes.
Expressing lemon peelsinto your drink lets fragrant oil loose giving this drink a whole different flavour. Try it!
Ended our night with a selfie looking like exhausted pigeons but it was totally worth the experience. We hope everyone who attended the event enjoyed both of our food and drinks Chef Tyson and I worked on.
NanYang Cafe is a local culinary brand who offers fusion interpretation of Nanyang delicacies.
You may have to queue for a table during lunch hours as hungry customers come about for their signature favourites such as Hong Kong Style Wanton Noodles, Freshly Baked Polo Bun, Nanyang Coffee & Tea.
Prawns & Wonton with Noodles in Soup (RM 11.90)
Their springy noodles and silky juicy prawn wontons rest in a hearty bowl of hot aromatic broth had indeed gained their recognition.
Would definitely recommend this dish.š
Special Pork Knuckle in Preserved Bean Sauce with Tossed Noodles (RM 12.90)
If you’re looking for something a little more heavier, you should give this a try.
For its price and generous portion of pork knuckle offered, it was definitely worth it. It was really well marinated and almost melt to mouth texture.
Lettuce with Oyster Sauce (RM 7.90)
Beautifully blanched but glad the oyster sauce wasn’t mixed into the lettuce because it was ridiculously salty!
Signature Jumbo Toast with Ice Cream (RM 16.80)
Got to admit the toast was delicious and lightly buttered. It’s definitely not a dessert for 2 but for a 3 – 4 pax.
Would’ve been better if there’s an additional scoop of ice cream so it wouldn’t be too dry. Not recommended and worth the value.š āāļø
I would strongly recommend to go for the freshly baked breads instead. It was definitely a lot more satisfying than the Jumbo Toast we had.
Pineapple Bun with Butter (RM 4/each)
HK street food cravings satisfied!š I love how they placed a thick slice of butter on top of an ice cube. It’s really soft and fluffy!
If the crust on the bun was crunchy crumbly sweet cookie-like it would’ve made is so much better. Definitely my favorite and to-go-for at this establishment.
Pumpkin & Cheese Bun (RM 4/each)
Same texture as the Pineapple Bun except this one has cream cheese fillings.
Nanyang Milk Tea (RM 4.90)
A hot cup of milk tea to pair with some breads. It tastes exactly like a ‘Teh Tarik’. Looks like one too!
It’s a decent place to have your HK cravings fixed and for its value. Would definitely drop by again for their Pineapple Bun!
The Christmas spirit is back in town and what makes it better to celebrate this festive season with the ever popular year-end festival gatherings at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. They will be offering Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner on 24th December 2018, Christmas Hi-Tea Brunch on 25th December 2018 & New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner on 31st December 2018 at Big Apple Restaurant.
What makes it a little more special to celebrate in Berjaya Times Square Hotel? The hotel’s Michelin Star Executive Chef Abri stepped up the game with a full spread of traditional Christmas delicacies which showcases the true Christmas spirits.
Here are some of the recommended dishes by Chef Abri:
Roast Christmas Turkey with Chestnuts & Roasted Chicken with Honey and Sesame SeedSlow Roasted Prime Beef & Boneless Lamb LegSteamed Brussel Sprout with Alfredo SauceChicken Cordon BleuAssorted Mushroom Ala GrequeSalmon Roulade with Caviar
And for those who would like to satisfy their sweet tooth… there will be plenty of sweet delights from Christmas Spiced Cake, Panettone, Christmas Pudding with Cream Anglaise, assorted macaroons and many more!
Words can’t describe how hype I was when I was told Genki Sushi is back in Malaysia! Welcome back and I’ve missed you, Genki Sushi!š
In celebration of its first outlet opening in Malaysia, Genki Sushi will be launching its menu consisting of 122 core food items that will definitely satiate your appetite along with the selections on the Dai Man Zoku and Genki Premium Selection menu.
Fun Fact: Did you know Genki Sushi’s ‘angry face’ logo is to visualize a serious, professional and confident face of a Japanese sushi expertchef?š”
This time they’ve stepped up their A-game and will definitely make their diners thrilled with the debut of its ‘Kousoku Express’ sushi delivery system and signature Dai Man Zoku selections here at Sunway Pyramid.
What’s Kousoku Express if you’re wondering? Instead of using the regular conveyor belt with plates of sushi making rounds after rounds, it delivers food items directly from the kitchen to the table as they want to ensure what they serve has to be fresh which also provide diners a different level of dining experience.
True to its innovation legacy since historic times in Japan, Genki Sushi continously incorporates technology into their preparation processes, capturing Japanese efficiency and speed at its best all whilst preserving quality simultaneously.
After the opening ceremony and sake breaking, we had an opportunity to make our very own Temaki. Not going to lie but it was pretty fun getting to test our skills. Guess who won 2nd prize and won RM30 dining vouchers?š
Here’s how we’ll be ordering our food! A QR code will be provided upon seated and you may start ordering straight off from your phone. There’s no need to fuss on waiting for your turn to use the tab to order what you want.š¬
I love how they provide Green Tea Powder instead of sachets. It has this really nice hints of vegetal and oceanic flavors to it.
Here’s a peek on what we had for those who crave nostalgia or ones who are curious what makes Genki Sushi different:
Scallop (RM 6.80)
We ordered some sushi from their ‘Premium Collection’. It was simply tender, sweet carefully butterfly-cut scallop. Simple yet pleasantly delicious.
Salmon & Flying Fish Roe (RM 9.80)
There’s this mouth-filling sensation having this. The salmon was so fresh.š
Salmon Sashimi (RM13.80)
Look at the marbling on the salmon!š
Fried Egg (RM 3.80)
Can’t go wrong with tamagoyaki! Slightly sweet, delicate and comforting.
Seared Salmon with Cheese (RM 6.80)
This was so addictive!
Seared Crab Stick with Cheese (RM 4.80)
Good choice for those who’d prefer a lighter option.
Corn Mayo Inari (RM 4.80)
Flying Fish Roe Inari (RM 7.80)Tuna Mayo Inari (RM 4.80)
Y’all know I have mad love for inari.ā¤ The Corn Mayo was so sweet and crunchy, Flying Fish Roe were generously stuffed into the bean curd skin and Tuna Mayo has actual tuna flakes in it and not mushy.
Udon with Smoked Duck (RM 8.80)
Highly recommended! Smoked Duck was ridiculously flavorful and not too chewy. The udon was springy and slurpi-licious paired perfectly with the broth which was so comforting and satisfying.
Deep-fried Soft Shell Crab (RM 16.80)
Exceptional texture and surprisingly juicy inside. Definitely a recommended dish.
Deep-fried Oyster (RM 13.80)
Crunchy deep-fried to perfection evenly coated with batter.
Deep-fried Rice Cake with Cheese (RM 7.80)
This has to be one of my personal favorite here. You got to have it while it’s piping hot and stretch those cheesy goodness.š
Deep-fried Salmon Skin (RM 8.80)
For those who’d prefer something a little more healthier, you should definitely order this. It may not be as crispy and a little chewy as you’d get a wee bit of salmon flesh on it.
Takoyaki (RM 7.80)
It’s pretty yum, just the right springy texture from the octopus.
Grilled Scallop with Cheese (RM 8.90)
Love the creamy texture from the cheese and mayo topped on the scallop.
Grilled Eel [half] (RM 28.80)
Soft, firm and barely has fishy aftertaste. Highly recommended to unagi lovers!
Grilled Mackerel (RM 12.80)
If you’re not too fond with eels, mackerel could be the other alternative to go for. Lightly salted but still super flavorful.
Steamed Egg Custard (RM 3.80)
And of course we can’t forget helping ourselves with a piping hot chawanmushi.
Check out their Facebook page for their latest updates or have a look on their menu by clicking here!
The cravings for pizza and pasta one fine weekend hit me hard when I happened to stumble across Pizza Plus in this neighborhood.Ā Can’t say no to pizzas and pastas!
Located in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, this little Italian pizza & pasta restaurant dedicated to serving good food at a reasonable price where they also strongly take pride in their handmade pastas and pizzas by using fresh ingredients and to ensure its always full of flavours. It sounds rather promising which leaves no room for doubts so I decided to give it a try!
Loving the open kitchen; being able to see the chef making the pizza dough from scratch was simply fascinating.
Cream of Mushroom Soup – RM 8.50
It was blended finely till grainy and slightly too watery with barely chunks of mushrooms in it. As for flavors wise, it was up to scratch. Personally I’d prefer the soup to be thicker and have some chunks in it to make it a lot more palatable which also gives texture to it.
Tomato based with decent amount of turkey ham & pineapples. The down side were the toppings as the quality was honestly a little disappointing but for its reasonable price, it is what it is. I’ve got to admit their pizza dough was really good though; crispy and thin.
Pesto based generously topped with mushrooms & feta cheese. I do wish they put a little more onions on it to give some nice crunch to it. I’d strongly recommend this over the Aloha Pizza, its worth the value and quite delightful.Ā Vegetarians would love this!
Chicken RavioliĀ in Creamy Tomato Sauce –Ā (RM 16.50)
I was so thrilled when I saw there’s ravioli on their menu instead of having the usual spaghetti but I was disappointed again. Ravioli dough was a little too thick causing it to turn out a little dry and there was only half teaspoon of chicken fillings in it while the sauce didn’t seems like … it was homemade. Canned tomato paste has this really distinctive flavors where you can instantly tell it isn’t homemade.
Overall experience was alright, might come back again for the Pesto Pizza but not anytime soon. Service was okay and food didn’t take too long to arrive. Then again you get what you pay for.
Not to mention they do delivery as well but within the radius of 1km onlyĀ from the restaurant. Minimum order will have to be RM 30 above with a small delivery fee of RM 3. Check out their menu by clicking here!
Pizza Plus Address: 46, Jalan Dwitasik, Dataran Dwitasik, 56000 Cheras, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Opening Hours: 11AM – 10PM daily Contact: 1-300-80-2222 Facebook:Ā Pizza Plus Malaysia
Chef Jeffry Pairin ā Sous Chef at Prego (left),Ā Chef Rudy Junaidie ā Director of Kitchens(middle)Ā &Ā Chef Tan Tzaan Liing ā Chef at Five Sen5esĀ (right)
Feel nostalgic this festive season with your loved ones! Enjoy the traditional Christmas decorations, carefully curated by The Westin Kuala Lumpur. The team will take on the Classical Christmas tones featuring a range of traditional reds and greens, reindeers, snowflakes with hints of mulberry and pine cones.
Savour in an extensive buffet at The Living Room showcasing a classic menu while the kids get excited with sweet delights. Here’s some of the dishes they’ll be serving this festive season as highlighted by Chef Rudy!
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Don’t jump straight for the turkey! Add some greens before you start your Christmas feast with some of these healthy & delicious traditional salads. My personal favorite was the ham cobb salad.
Whole Baked Salmon
If you’re looking for something lighter, the salmon was absolutely delicious and paired perfectly with the salads. It was simply inviting just looking at it, you’d catch yourself going for two or three rounds.
Chicken Galantine
Another classic holiday dish! The stuffing was quite tasteful and plated invitingly. Its a definite must have on your Christmas feast.
Honey Glazed Spiced Brine Roast Turkey stuffed with Granny Smith Apple & Chestnut
Turkey was beautifully brine to assures the moisture was there and pretty flavorful with a dash of turkey gravy. I’ve got the admit stuffing was quite moist it almost feels like it came from inside of the turkey.
Prime RibĀ served with Brussels Sprouts & Roast Tomatoes
It was spectacular! I was actually surprised how unbelievably juicy, tender and full of flavors with a kick of garlic and herbs to it with some Brussels sprouts and roasted tomatoes to complement the dish.Ā I’d highly recommend this!
Rustic Baked Whole Sea BassĀ with Lemon
Pleasingly baked, with a hint of zesty flavors from the lemon. I love how the fish was lightly salted which you can get a better taste of the bold fresh flavors in the sea bass. Another dish I’d recommend!
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Save room for desserts because there will be a long spread of festive sweet treats on the buffet counter! The photos above were my personal favorites and a must try. Just so you know, local delights and other international cuisines will still be served if you’ve got fellow diners who aren’t feeling Christmassy yet.š
Here are the buffet rates forĀ The Living Room:
Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet | 6.00pm to 10.00pm RM170nett per person
Christmas Day Hi-Tea Buffet | 12.30pm to 3.00pm RM140nett per person
New Year Eve Dinner Buffet | 6.00pm to 10.00pm RM170nett per person
New Year Day Hi-Tea Buffet | 12.30pm to 3.00pm RM140nett per person
The countdown to the year-end festive season is near and thereās no better place than The Westin Kuala Lumpur to get you into the festive spirit. The hotel is ready to tempt you with its exquisite menus and lively entertainment.
For reservations, contactĀ +60 3-2773 8338 or check out other restaurants by clicking here!
This festival of lights, Nook will be presenting ‘An Indian Spice Trail’ featuring an enhanced spread of Indian delicacies on the buffet line for dinner headlined by Nook’s new Indian Chef, Kumaresan Chandra SagaranĀ as he will be spicing up the buffet line during dinner.
This promotion will feature authentic Indian dishes on the buffet with Chef Kumar, as he is fondly called serving up a variety of his specialty dishes on a rotational basis on the buffet line daily.
Potato Masala SaladChana Chat SaladCoconut FrittersPakoras SaladCrab Rassam
Chef Kumar’s appetizers will be offering dinersĀ Potato Masala Salad, Vadai in Yogurt, Chana Chat Salad, Tandoori Aloo Chat, Potato Bhaji, Coconut FrittersĀ as well as Pakoras Salad.
They will also be serving Rassam,Ā a spiced soup dish, with a rotation of eitherĀ Crab Rassam and Tomato Rassam. Isn’t it appetizing just looking at these starters?
BiryaniLamb VeruvalChicken Curry Leaf
The main spread of casserole dishes will allow diners to indulge in the various Indian curries and Masalas. Amongst the dishes that will be available during this festive promotion, start your meal with a hearty plate ofĀ Jeera Pulao Rice and Matar Pulao RiceĀ then paired with scrumptious dishes such asĀ Dhal Terka, Vegetable Sambar, Madras Fish Head Curry, Sri Lankan Fish Curry, Lamb Veruval, Lamb Keema, Chicken Perattal, Chicken Curry Leaf, Bhindi Baigan Masala, Aloo Gobi, Palak Masala, Vegetable Jalfrezi, Cabbage ThoranĀ andĀ Chick Pea Veruval.
Baked Fish with Toum SauceTandoori Chicken
Nook’s carving station will also be featuring Chef Kumar’s specials with the Roasted Lamb Tandoori with Mint Chutney and Baked Fish with Toum Sauce. For a twist of fusion, The Pizza station will be offering Chicken Masala Pizza and a Tandoori Chicken Pizza flavor made using Chef Kumar’s recipes.
To end the meal, some popular Indian sweets will also be featured on the buffet with the specials like Rasgula, Rasmalai, Coconut Candy, Palgova, Mysore Pak, Laddu, Gulab Jamun and Payasam.
Nook’s ‘An Indian Spice Trail‘ buffet is priced at RM 118 nett per adult and RM 59 nett per child aged 6 to 12 years old. It will only be available from 1st to 30th November 2018 daily for dinner from 6:30PM to 10:30PM.
Are you still deciding a venue to have your family dinner? For reservations and more information please callĀ +60 3-2723 1188Ā or clickĀ here!
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral Address:Ā No. 5 Jalan Stesen Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Contact:Ā 03-2723 1188
The Berry TaleĀ just had their Grand Opening a couple of days ago as another community cafe that offers variety of nourishing options perfect for anyone who’s into healthyĀ lifestyle.
Here are some of the dishes we’ve tried:
Grilled Chicken ChopĀ with Homemade Mango Chutney, Fries & Green Salad – (RM 19)
The chicken was really juicy and packed with flavors, I’d say its paired pretty well with the mango chutney. Fries could be a little more crispier and deep fried till golden perfection.
Note: This is only available from 12 noon onwards!
Miso Grilled SalmonĀ with Cauliflower Rice –Ā (RM 20)
I was in joy the moment I saw there’s cauliflower rice! Bare in mind that it isn’t bland nor under-seasoned, but also don’t be shy to request for salt and pepper if you’d like it more palatable.Ā Hey, it’s a tastier way to stuff yourself with some veges!Ā The grilled salmon chunks were delicious and went really well with the rice however it was a missed that the edamame, almond slices and walnut toppings were missing on the plate.
Overall if you’re looking for a light meal, I’d still highly recommend this though!
Zucchini PastaĀ with Thai Peanut Crispy Tofu – (RM 18)
Once again I’m so happy they’ve got this on the menu as well! Its almost like having a Thai salad because of the peanut sauce and also has a nice heat to it. Definitely makes a perfect light and tasty meal for anyone who’s trying to cut carbs.
Coconut Oil Nasi LemakĀ –Ā (RM 16)
I love that they’ve replace coconut milk orĀ ‘santan’ with coconut oil and ‘ikan bilis’ with silver fish instead as you barely feel the guilt of eating our local comfort food. Everything about this dish was so good! Chicken was fried to perfection, sambal was brilliant and ‘acar’ was simply refreshing and the silver fish were so crispy. Would definitely recommend this dish as well!
There is no diet that will do what eating healthy does. Skip the diet and just eat healthy! I’d definitely be back for more.
The Berry Tale
Address:Ā C-13A-1 Jalil Link 2, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 1, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening Hours:Ā 8:00AM ā 10PM daily (Closed on Mondays)
Contact:Ā +60 16-217 8875 Instagram:Ā theberrytale
During lunch hours, Chen Chen BBQ Goose & Duck is one of the few popular lunch spots and gets really packed so you may need to wait for a while to get a table.Ā Unless you don’t mind sharing!
The price here still remains reasonable for all and had always tasted the same since the first generation when the owner’s father started this business.
Duck & Salted Vegetables Soup
Soup of the day wasĀ delicious and simply whets one’s appetite before devouring into the star dishes! Its both salty and spicy yet flavorful from the salted vegetables and the ginger that is added.
Pork Meatballs Soup
I couldn’t help but to order some of these springy chewy meatballs as it makes a simple hearty soup extra comforting.Ā I’m a sucker for meatballs.
Bean SproutsĀ topped with Fried Garlic
Some fat crunchy stubby sprouts with a dash of soy sauce and sesame oil is always the best companion for any roast meat regardless chicken or goose.
Roast Goose Leg
Here’s the greasy goodness of their mouth-watering roast goose most of the diners are here for. It was beautifully roasted with a slight gamey taste to it and still juicy on the inside.
Note: Dip them in their homemade plum sauce to make it a lot more palatable.
Roast Duck Breast
Other than their roast goose, the roast duck was definitely finger-licking as well. I really love how the skin does not have a thick layer of chewy fat making it so much more palatable.
Not to mention Chen Chen’sĀ crisp crackling roasted pork belly. Although it isn’t one of the few ‘starred dish’ to have here, its definitely still worth a try. If you didn’t noticed, there’s just a thin layer of fat on it as well.
Chen Chen BBQ Goose & Duck may just be just a hawker stall but the owner never fails to put on his chef jacket and keeps a bright smile to his regulars and new customers.
Best to visit before lunch hours to avoid the crowds!
Chen Chen BBQ Goose, Duck Address:Ā No. 24, Jalan Seladang, Wilayah Persekutuan, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Opening Hours: 9AM to 6PM daily Contact: +60 12-233 3083
Eudaimonia (n.) 