The 13th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival – MIGF 2013 – ended in an amazing Awards & Celebration Party at the Star Stage of KWC Fashion Mall on Friday, 8th November. 31 of the country’s best restaurants and their Festival Master Chefs were paid a tribute for serving up a month of special Festival Menus at special Festival prices the whole of October, and 180 gold awards were given out to the most deserving restaurants and chefs. The “Golden Cauldron” Award for the “Best All-Round Restaurant of the Festival” was awarded to The Restaurant from The Club Saujana Resort, and its chef Alexander Waschl beat his peers to win the “Chef Congeniality” Award. The Outstanding Festival Achievement Award was awarded to Mr Martin Jones, Vice-President of Food & Beverage Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc for his contributions toward the success of the Festival.
The Principal Sponsor of the Festival was The Vision Four Media Group and the Principal Partner, Tourism Malaysia. U Mobile was the Official Mobile Partner; Zurich Insurance, the Official Insurance Partner; Land Rover the Official Car; Kronenbourg 1664 the Official Beer and Fujifilm, The Official Imaging Partner. The Festival Media partners were Astro, Lite FM, Melody FM, Asian Food Channel, Seni Jaya, Vision Four and Vision KL.
The Awards and Celebration Party was graced by the Festival Royal Patron YAM Tunku Naquiyuddin Ibni Tuanku Ja’afar Tunku Laxamana Negeri Sembilan and Guest of Honour YBhg Dato’ Haji Azizan Noordin, Deputy Director General (Planning) Tourism Malaysia. Other guests included royalty, ambassadors and leaders of the industry.
MIGF 2013 marked the 13th year of the Festival and the theme “Cool Chefs: Cooking with Attitude!” has allowed the Festival restaurants to outdo each other in some of the most creative ways ever seen, for diners throughout October.
The special Festival preview event – Taste MIGF – was a huge hit when it opened to the general public on the 7th and 8th September 2013 at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, a day after the glamorous Gala Launch which showcased the Festival restaurants and the Festival Master Chefs to 2,000 VVIPs in the country.
The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF promotes global cuisines on Malaysian soil, including Western, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Oriental, and, of course, the country’s own rich heritage.
MIGF began as the KL International Gourmet Festival in 2001 with only 13 restaurants. Since then, Malaysia’s dining industry has grown from a virtually zero base to the vibrant premium dining scene we see in the country today. The Festival received international recognition by winning the PATA Gold Award for Marketing in 2007 for establishing Malaysia as one of the leading world destinations for food tourism.
The MIGF Awards & Celebration Party – The First Suspense MIGF 2013 signed off in its usual epic-styled celebration – at the massive Star Stage of KWC Fashion Mall, high above the city lights below. As if that wasn’t high enough, Organising Chairman – looking uber-cool in a black trench coat and shades – kicked off the evening in suspense, literally, by hovering some 20 feet above the stage. And having completed his welcome speech, he made the 31 Cool Chefs appear on stage with another trick up his sleeve.
A Taste of Malaysia
As Dato’ Steve declared, this was the Festival Chefs and Festival Restaurants night off. Guests were therefore treated to “A Taste of Malaysia” sponsored by the Vision Four Media Group; the best traditional Malaysian and Asian dishes from 50 hawker stalls were served.
The evening saw many VIPs in attendance including YAM Tunku Nurul Hayati, wife of Festival Royal Patron, Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Jaáfar; Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Tuanku Ja’a’far and husband Tunku Kecil Besar Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar; and the Crown Prince of Bahrain H.R.H. Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. Other VIPs gracing the event included Ambassador of France, H.E. Martine Dorance; the European Union Ambassador to Malaysia Luc Vandebon; Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Shukor Sabitov; Ambassador of Uruguay, HE Gerardo Prato; and Ambassador of the Philippines, H.E. Eduardo Malaya.
Keeping the Magic Going
The highlight of the event was the MIGF Awards, and just before the ceremony, Dato’ Steve performed a magical trick with the most unlikely volunteer: Tunku Naquiyuddin. In a scene reminiscent of the royal 007 trick at the London Olympics, the Royal Prince entered a box which was then winched up to the ceiling of the high hall before it suddenly collapsed to reveal nothing inside. An instant later, Tunku was seen casually walking into the venue from the far distant end of the hall, much to the amazement of everyone who watched.
The Final Suspense – The MIGF Awards
Then came the final suspense with assembled restaurants holding their breath – the MIGF Awards presentation. 180 gold awards from 31 categories were given out to the most deserving restaurants and chefs, including the coveted Golden Cauldron Award for the best all-round restaurant. Restaurants were given awards for the best courses, from canapés to dessert, as voted by discerning diners. Other awards included “Most Outstanding Dining Experience”, “Most Outstanding Service Team” and “Best Marketed Restaurant”, and were categorized under Judges’ Choice, People’s Choice or Festival Diner’s Choice.
Double Victory for The Restaurant and Chef Alexander Waschl
The Golden Cauldron Award for the Best All-Round Restaurant went to The Restaurant at The Club Saujana Resort. Chef Alexander Waschl, the Executive Chef at The Restaurant, also won the ‘Chef Congeniality’ trophy as voted by his fellow Festival Chefs. The young Austrian who has been with MIGF for the 3rd successive year, thanked his peers who voted for him, the diners and customers of The Restaurant for their confidence, and MIGF for the opportunity and recognition given to him.
VMY 2014
In 2012, Malaysia registered 25 million tourist arrivals and RM60.6 billion in tourist receipts, placing the country firmly as the 10th most popular tourism destination in the world. In 2014, Malaysia will celebrate its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) with the theme ‘Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia’. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started this year with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.
The Malaysia International Gourmet Festival is proud to acknowledge Tourism Malaysia as its Festival Partner and the support it receives from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.
JUDGES’ CHOICE AWARDS
Golden Cauldron Award for the Best All-Round Restaurant 2013
The Finalists
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. Lafite
3. Marini’s On 57
4. Mandarin Grill
5. Tanzini
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
7. The Restaurant
The Winner
The Restaurant
Outstanding Festival Achievement Award
Mr. Martin Jones – Starwood Group
Chef Congeniality – Voted By Their Fellow Chefs
Chef Alex Waschl – The Restaurant at the Club Saujana Resort
Most Outstanding Dining Experience Of The Festival
1. Imperial Rama & LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
2. Lai Po Heen & Mandarin Grill
3. Marini’s On 57
4. Midori & Tuscany Restaurants
5. Seasonal Tastes
6. The Restaurant
Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch
1. Bunga Emas
2. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
3. Lafite
4. Mandarin Grill
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Restaurant
Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch
1. Five Sen5es
2. Kelantan Delights
3. Lafite
4. Lai Po Heen & Mandarin Grill
5. Midori & Tuscany Restaurants
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. Kelantan Delights
3. Lafite
4. Minori Japanese Restaurant
5. Nook
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. Five Sen5es
3. Kelantan Delights
4. Marini’s On 57
5. Minori Japanese Restaurant
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Creative Menu Of The Festival
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. Grill 582
3. Lafite
4. Marini’s On 57
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Olive
Best Value Menu Of The Festival
1. Bunga Emas
2. Kelantan Delights
3. Kiraku Japanese Restaurant
4. Seasonal Tastes
5. Tanzini
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Best Marketed Restaurant Of The Festival
1. Putrajaya Marriott Hotel & Spa
2. Resorts World Genting
3. Tarbush
4. The Restaurant
5. The Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur
6. The Westin Kuala Lumpur
Best Festival Offers
1. Chakri Palace
2. Five Sen5es
3. Kiraku Japanese Restaurant
4. Lai Po Heen & Mandarin Grill
5. Qba Latin Bar & Grill
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch
1. Marini’s On 57
2. Minori Japanese Restaurant
3. Nook
4. Qba Latin Bar & Grill
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Restaurant
Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch
1. Arthur’s Bar & Grill
2. Kelantan Delights
3. Kiraku Japanese Restaurant
4. Lai Po Heen
5. Minori Japanese Restaurant
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. Marini’s On 57
3. Nook
4. Tanzini
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Restaurant
Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. Kelantan Delights
3. Nook
4. Tanzini
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Restaurant
Most Popular Restaurant at Taste MIGF
1. Lai Po Heen
2. Mandarin Grill
3. Minori Japanese Restaurant
4. Tanzini
5. Tarbush
6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
DINERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Most Outstanding Cuisine
1. Lafite
2. Mandarin Grill
3. Marini’s
4. Tanzini
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Restaurant
Most Outstanding Dining Experience
1. Imperial Rama & LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
2. Marini’s On 57
3. Midori & Tuscany Restaurants
4. Seasonal Tastes
5. Ten Japanese Fine Dining
6. The Restaurant
Most Outstanding Service Team Of The Festival
1. Lafite
2. Mandarin Grill
3. Midori/Tuscany
4. Seasonal Tastes
5. The Olive
6. The Restaurant
DINERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Most Outstanding Canapes Of The Festival
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
2. LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
3. Seasonal Tastes
4. The Olive
5. The Restaurant
6. Tuscany & Midori Restaurants
Most Outstanding Soup Of The Festival
1. Blu Med – Creamy Foie Gras Soup with Sweet Corn Espuma
2. Chakri Palace – Gaeng Leang: Wid Spicy Soup with Thai River Fish
3. Dynasty – Lobster Bisque, Ocean Treasure, Bird’s Nest and Truffle
4. Imperial Rama – Stewed Fish Maw with Yellow Fungus Soup
5. Lai Po Heen – Double-boiled “Mingmu” Fish Essence: Ginseng, Black Chicken, Fish Maw, Baby Cabbage
6. The Olive – Truffle Cappucino: Chicken Essence and Candied Almond
Most Outstanding Appetiser Of The Festival
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie – Green Pea Jelly, Grilled French Brittany Blue Lobster, Hokkaido Scallop Toast, Vegetables and Light Hollandaise Sauce
2. Imperial Rama – Mantis Prawn with Passion Fruit Salad
3. Seasonal Tastes – Velvety Foie Gras Terrine, with Fig Marmalade and Port Wine Sauce on Toasted Brioche
4. Tanzini – Hokaido Scallop with Crispy White Bait
5. The Restaurant – Salmon Carpaccio 6. Ten Japanese Fine Dining – “Myouga” Sushi, Grilled Spanish Mackerel, Japanese Omelette, Egg Yolk marinated in Miso Paste, Foie Gras wrapped with White Fish Sashimi, Lotus Roots marinated with Mustard, Sweet Prawn with Ocean Trout Roe, Daikon pickle with a hit of Yuzu flavor, Deep fried Eggplant with Duck Mince, Ginkgo Nuts and Edamame, “Kikuna and Kikka” with Ponzu Sauce, Chips
Most Outstanding Starter Of The Festival
1. Grill 582 – Foie Gras Mousse, “Avruga Caviar”, Smoked Olive Oil
2. Kiraku Japanese Restaurant – Duck Liver Kira Kira
3. Lafite – Seabass and Oyster Tartare with Caviar, Tomato Vinaigrette and Beetroot Coulis
4. Marini’s On 57 – Aragosta e Burrata: Normandy Blue Lobster, Burrata Cheese and Lobster Emulsion
5. Tanzini – Cold Smoked Muscovy Duck Breast, Cold Tossed Cappelini in Truffle Essence and Avruga Caviar, Braised Lotus Roots
6. The Restaurant – Foie Gras Crème: Foie Gras, Duck Roll, Granny Smith Apple
Most Outstanding Entrée Of The Festival
1. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie – Oven Roasted Tasmanian Rump of Lamb, Piquillos Domes, Provencal Short Jus
2. Imperial Rama – Braised Abalone with Morels in Superior Brown Sauce
3. LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge – Josper Grilled Wagyu Beef with Herb Jelly, Quinoa Risotto and Cream
4. Lafite – Dover Sole Filet Grenobloise, Fresh Spinach and Seaweed Butter
5. Marini’s On 57 – M57 Carbonara: Uovo di Parisi, Pasta Monteverde Carbonara & 32 Month Aged Parmiggiano
6. Minori – Sanma Sushi, King Crab Geratan, Salmon Saikyo Yaki, Tsubugai Umani, Foie Gras Ponzu, Grilled Nuts, Ginkgo Nut, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Japanese Yam & Persimmon
Most Outstanding Main Course Of The Festival
1. Lafite – Wagyu Beef Tournados Rossini with Truffle Reduction
2. Lai Po Heen – Australian Deep Sea Abalone Braised in Superior Oyster Sauce, Quail Egg, Stir Fried Cauliflower
3. Mandarin Grill – Char Grilled Australian Wagyu Sirloin MS 10+ & Guinness Braised Beef Cheek Angelotti
4. Marini’s On 57 – Gnudi Toscani: Ricotta Cheese & Spinach Gnudi, Fresh Butter Sage & Black Truffle
5. Prego – Cod Fish with Green Pea Sauce, Potato Mushroom and Shellfish Reduction
6. Tanzini – Seared Tajima Wagyu Tenderloin, Pineapple-Potato Terrine, Spinach, Wasabi-Foie Gras Marmalade
7. Ten Japanese Fine Dining – Marble Score 10+ Wagyu Beef Cheek and Grilled French Foie Gras marinated in White Miso with Red Wine Sauce and a hint of Red Miso
8. The Restaurant – Smoked Rack of Lamb & Confit Lamb Shoulder
Most Outstanding Dessert Of The Festival
1. Arthur’s Bar & Grill – Coconut Macadamia Nut Tart, Butterscotch Ice Cream and Thick Chocolate Sauce
2. Blu Med – Fondant Chocolate Blu Med Style
3. Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie – Lady Gla Gla: Violet, Hazelnut, Chocolate
4. LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge – Chocolate Sphere with Mascarpone Mousse, Bailey’s Coffee Ice Cream and Warm Chocolate Sauce
5. Mandarin Grill – Grand Cru Varlhona Tasting: Jivara Poached Chocolate Pudding, Guanaja Sorbet, Ivory Chocolate-Raspberry Mille Feuille
6. Marini’s – Sicily Tradition: Almond Milk. Orange Sorbet and Lemon Tart
7. Prego – Tiramisu in Tuille: Tiramisu Mousse served in Tulip Cup
8. The Restaurant – Ultimate Chocolate Brownie, Ice Milk Mousse, Nougat Ice Cream, Berries
Most Outstanding Wine Pairing Of The Festival
1. LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
2. Lafite
3. Prego
4. Qba Latin Bar & Grill
5. Samplings On The Fourteenth Restaurant
6. Tanzini
Best Value Menu Of The Festival
1. Arthur’s Bar & Grill
2. Five Sen5es
3. Kelantan Delights
4. Lai Po Heen
5. Nerovivo
6. The Olive
Most Creative Restaurant Ambience
1. LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
2. Mandarin Grill
3. Marini’s On 57
4. Qba Latin Bar & Grill
5. The Olive
6. The Restaurant
Best Use Of The Festival Theme
1. LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
2. Marini’s On 57
3. Midori & Tuscany Restaurants
4. Seasonal Tastes
5. Tanzini
6. The Restaurant