MIGF 2013 Gala Launch

This way to gourmet paradise

It’s all in the name of duty of course. I don’t normally go on a binge but an invitation to Taste MIGF is irresistible even if I am doing my best to lose weight. This is Malaysia after all and there’s great food everywhere so losing weight is harder than in a lot of other countries I can think of.

At Taste MIGF yesterday evening, media and the Festival Advisory Committee were ushered into the Theatre of Cuisines for a special preview since we were given the opportunity to judge the restaurants in 4 categories – Most Creative Restaurant Station, Best All-Round Cuisine, Most Innovative Cuisine and Most Creative Food Presentation. How to judge without tasting and taste I did for a solid 2+ hours. I can’t possibly post photos of all the food as much as I like to as they all looked superbly tempting and I think all the chefs did such a fantastic job with the presentation, some better than others of course. I spoke to quite a few of the chefs and they are so friendly and approachable.

There can be little doubt that the Thais are masters of food presentation. Just look at the colour of Chakri Palace’s food. This is Chef Nippa Nitto’s 1st appearance at MIGF. She has been cooking for over fifteen years after being inspired by her mother and family to take up the profession full time.

Chakri Palace is located at Lot 417B, Level 4, Suria KLCC, Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur (03-2382 7788).

Chef Daisuke Miyake at Ten Japanese Fine Dining changes his menu on a monthly basis and claims that no patron has ever tasted the same menu twice. Chef Daisuke has gained a reputation for preparing truly artistic dishes with only the freshest in locally sourced produce.

Ten Japanese Fine Dining is located at No.3, Jalan Pinang, Marc Service Residence, Kuala Lumpur (03-2161 5999).

Chef Pearl Woo of Qba Latin Bar and Grill at The Westin KL is one of the most bubbly, friendly and lovable chefs I know. I think she have quite a following if she ever had her own cooking show. She is so naturally effervescent, she makes me smile every time I see her and that’s even before I have tasted her food.

Chef Pearl’s Festival menu this year contains delights from the Sea and Land, including a unique starter featuring grilled Wagyu intercostals and a hearty main course composed partly of slow braised Oaxacan Mole Black Angus short rib, the sauce has chocolate in it. It’s so tender and a little sweet but doesn’t overwhelm the flavour of the beef at all.

Qba Latin Bar and Grill is located at The Westin KL, 199, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur (03-2773 8338).

Chef Nathalie runs two successful restaurants (Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie and Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio), conducting a variety of cooking classes and managing outside catering services. She has hosted lavish dinner parties during her seven year stint in Thailand. On top of that, she has garnered 16 MIGF awards. Her macarons looks incredible, don’t they?

Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie is located at Ground Floor, Menara Tai Pan Jalan Puncak 50250, Kuala Lumpur (03-2072 4452).

This is Kelantan Delights’ first foray into MIGF and I have a feeling it will be a successful one as their food looks and tastes awesome! Chef Muslim Sadli is the youngest chef at MIGF at only 25 years old. His MIGF menu showcases the best of what is on the restaurants a la carte menu, with modern twists as well as a special eye to the presentation of dishes.

Kelantan Delights is located at Wisma Consplant, Jalan SS 16/4, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan (03-5611 7845) with another outlet at 1st Floor, Sooka Sentral.

One of my favourite chefs is Chef Alexander Waschl, tall, fair and certainly handsome! Never mind food the way to my heart. The Restaurant at The Club Saujana Resort offered so much more than some of the other restaurants. You can tell that Chef Alexander is a perfectionist just by looking at and tasting his superb fare. His chocolate brownie is divine!

The Club Saujana Resort Kuala Lumpur is located at Jalan Lapangan Terbang SAAS, 40150 Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur (03-7806 7000).

MIGF was launched with a bang literally!

The evening wouldn’t have been complete without these lovely ladies who were so very nice when it came to posing for photos.

Visitors can buy “Taste Tokens” and enjoy a “Super Gourmet Safari” sampling creations from Malaysia’s leading chefs as they serve up tasting portions from their Festival Menus at the Theatre of Cuisines. These special portions are big enough to exhibit the creativity of the Festival chefs but small enough to allow you to taste as many dishes from as many restaurants as possible. Live music and cooking demonstrations take place, providing a fiesta-like atmosphere for all visitors. I’m going back for more with my Taste Tokens.