Borneo | Insider's | Guide

HIS MAJESTY’S 65TH BIRTHDAY

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 01:37:00 +0000

With His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei’s 65th birthday right around the corner, the Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is celebrating the joyous occasion with exciting promotions both in its all day dining restaurant ‘Tasek Brasserie’ and its fine dining restaurant ‘Deals Restaurant’.

Tasek Brasserie is having an all month long promotion for an enticing international lunch buffet complete with refreshing appetizers, Asian and Western hot dishes and finished off with an alluring dessert selections at only B$16 nett per adult. Tasek Brasserie opens daily from 6.30am to 10pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam’s fine dining restaurant in the heart our city, Deals Restaurant, is offering a 10% discount off their ala carte menu during lunch for the entire month of July. Deals restaurant serves delectable dishes such as the Middle Eastern Mixed Grill, Trio of Salmon, Cod & King Fish, the ever popular succulent OP Wagyu Rib (550gm+, are you up for the challenge?) and many more. Deals Restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday, from noon to 2pm for lunch and 6:30 to 10:30pm for dinner.

Father's Day Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +0000

The Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is having a special Sunday brunch in conjunction with Father’s Day on 19 June 2011 at the Tasek Brasserie. Be delighted by the extensive brunch buffet at only B$26.00 nett per adult from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Children will be charged at only B$1.00 nett per year of age between 5 to 11 years old. There will no charge for children 4 years old and below.
“If your Dad loves good food and you love the idea of having a fun day out with the family then come along to Tasek Brasserie for a fantastic Sunday break. There will be fun activities planned for the fathers on the special day with special prizes to be won,” said Mr Peter Feran, the General Manager.

All diners will stand a chance to win digital cameras and a printer courtesy of Canon, as well as hampers and gift vouchers.

Looking for a Romantic Getaway ?

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:25:00 +0000

Whether it is your first honeymoon or your special anniversary.

Escape & explore your love and passion for each other with our Sweetheart Honeymoon Package that will leave many loving & unforgettable memories.

MALAYSIAN FOOD FIESTA

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:57:00 +0000

Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam will host a Malaysian Food Fiesta commencing 16 to 31 May 2011 showcasing a wide variety of Malaysian cuisine reflecting the influence of the various cultures of Malaysia.

“This culinary journey will give diners an insight into the lifestyles, cultures and traditions of the Malaysian people. Malaysian food is a complex cuisine with its generous use of fresh herbs, spices, chili, ginger and coconut,” said Peter Feran, General Manager. “Our culinary team will prepare various types of Malaysian dishes including the infamous satay, the aromatic nasi kandar lamb curry, delectable laksa noodles, and delightful Malaysian desserts.”

One of the highlights of this fantastic promotion will be a nightly Malaysian cultural performance in the hotel. All diners will be in the running to win a fabulous Grand prize of a 3 day / 2 night stay at Mutiara Bay, Langkawi including airfare courtesy of Tourism Malaysia.

The buffet dinner is priced at B$30.00 plus 10 percent service charge per person. All Baiduri Bank cardholders are entitled to 20% discount when dining.

Mother's Day @ Radisson

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Wed, 04 May 2011 04:17:00 +0000

“No bull … just great steaks!”

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Wed, 04 May 2011 04:05:00 +0000

LE MERIDIEN KOTA KINABALU LAUNCHES ‘FLAMES’

With a catchphrase like that, Flames ~ a casual, stylish steak restaurant that is Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu’s latest dining option, promises a meaty line-up of the best quality, prime steaks that Kota Kinabalu diners will savour yet.

Flames is a transformation of the hotel lobby lounge’s upperdeck, a small and intimate former drinks-and-refreshments niche that has given way to just 24 seats for lovers of luscious, prime steaks and most things non-vegetarian. Open daily since 7 April 2011, Flames, Kota Kinabalu’s only international steak restaurant, will cater to lunch and dinner guests from 12pm – 2.30pm and 6.30pm – 10pm.

The restaurant’s concept of casual, stylish dining in favour of great quality food, showcasing signature steaks, is a serious effort to truly please the palates of Kota Kinabalu city’s steak aficionados.

At Flames, Executive Chef Abd Rahim Awang brings to the table a unique menu of creative dishes that range from

a Smoked Chicken Breast Salad with mango, tomato, pine nuts & basil dressing starter

and signature Wild Mushroom Soup infused with truffle oil to

Australian Wagyu sirloin or rib-eye for main courses.

Highlights echoing Chef Rahim’s enthusiasm for Western gastronomy include: Roasted Portobello Salad with mescluns & shaved parmesan and sun-dried tomato dressing,

Pan Seared Salmon Fillet, orange and pickled ginger with citrus dressing,

Chilled Cucumber Tomato Soup served with seared seafood, Linguini with Lobster sauteed in tomato basil sauce with a dash of chilli, Pan-roasted Rack of Lamb with roasted vegetables and lamb jus, Norwegian Salmon oven roasted with tomato, garlic, bell pepper and rosemary sauce, and Flames signature steaks including Australian 80 Days (grain-fed) Ribeye, Center Cut Fillet Mignon and Sirloin,

as well as Australian Black Angus (200 Days) Ribeye, Center Cut Fillet Mignon and Sirloin.

To compliment Flames’ signature steaks, diners are offered such sauces as Béarnaise, caramelized balsamic-shallot jus, cracked peppercorn, Porcini mushroom, Morel cream, and barbecue and French Dijon, whole grain moutarde de Meaux Pommery, and homemade English mustards.

The array of side dish options available range from comfort food favourites such as garlic mashed potato, deep-fried potato wedges, French fries and deep-fried crispy onion rings to fairly higher end fare such as roasted herbed potato, seared Portobello mushrooms, green asparagus and grilled Mediterranean vegetables.

Helming the brand new Flames and the hotel’s Culinary team, Chef Rahim enthuses, “Cooking isn’t just a job for me. It’s a passion … an art. I can’t picture myself doing anything else except using all my creativity to design menus and meals from the heart. FLAMES gives the Culinary team and I license to explore and exercise our creative know how. We look forward to impressing KK’s diners.”

Wild Berries with Vanilla Ice Cream

General Manager Alex Riva comments, “I believe we have a winning hand here. For us the most exciting thing is the brand new concept and stimulating new menu for the city’s first and only international steak restaurant. We have the most extensive selection of prime quality steaks available in the city and the creative input that the whole team brings is immense. Engaging + vibrant yet relaxed, from the service to the food – the energy level at Flames is very high. This is a wonderful opportunity for Kota Kinabalu diners to discover yet another exhilarating dining option from Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, the city’s leading hotel choice.”

Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix 2011

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:52:00 +0000

The day started with what many people had expected to be a wet and rainy day.
There were a few minutes of spitting rain on the way to the Sepang International Circuit located 60km south of Kuala Lumpur but when we arrived there, it was absolutely scorching. But this didn’t stop the 65,000 enthusiasts who had turned up to support their favourite Formula 1 team on the last day of the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix 2011 and enjoy the palpable excitement that is part and parcel of speed races such as this.

I was part of the Brunei media participating in the Mega Familiarisation Programme organized by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines and guess what?

We got GRANDSTAND tickets!

This was my first ever Formula 1 race and it certainly lived up to all the media hype that came with it.
The super fast cars, the penetrating high-pitched sound of cars whizzing past, the world-class drivers and even their pit crew looking striking in their team colours gave the entire atmosphere a heightened sense of excitement.
The total precision of the pit crew executing a tyre change with lighting speed was impressive and attracted quite a bit of attention from the grandstand crowd who were poised to capture the event each time a car pulled up to its pit stop.
The entire race was played out on a giant screen right in front of the grandstand which gave a blow by blow account of the spectacular race as drivers overtook each other at crucial points to gain the lead position. The cars are really, really fast – as they should be – but to actually feel the speed as they whiz past is quite electrifying.
A few minor collisions and stumbles only made the race that more thrilling as the crowd held their breath and looked on in anticipation. The outcome was all good and the race ended on a high note for Team Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel who took the chequered flag followed by Jensen Button of McLaren and Nick Heildfeld of Lotus Renault respectively.

I’ve watched Formula 1 races on television before but seeing it actually happening in front of you is phenomenal. It was loud, fast, colourful and gripping – all the ingredients to satisfy the speed demon in you.

The concourse from the entrance to the grandstand was festive with fans walking about in their favourite team colours, waving country flags and even dressing up in costume to show their enthusiastic support.
The merchandise booths and food and beverage stalls were doing brisk business while sport activities like rock climbing and go-carting gave fans something to do while waiting for the race to start. Race day ended with a concert by popular Korean singer Rain, who entertained throngs of screaming fans with his energetic dance moves and charming personality.

The Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix 2011 was held from 8th-10th April and will be back again next year so make sure not to miss out on this truly awe-inspiring event.

The Mega Familiarisation Programme in conjunction with the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2011 and Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix was sponsored by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines.

Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2011

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:29:00 +0000

It was an event that would send every die-hard shopaholic’s heart aflutter. The visual extravaganza that was the Malaysia International Shoe Festival (MISF) held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur from 7th-11th April 2011 lived up to its promise of being the quintessential one-stop, shop for all occasion shoe frenzy.

Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Mr Tony Ting (President, Malaysia Footwear Manufacturers Association) officially launching the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2011

Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo's stylish gallery

Some booths went all out to attract attention with sky-high heels, bling and feather trimmings and colours that would make you dizzy. And who can ignore the classic black and gold themed booth with chandeliers and flowing drapes courtesy of Malaysia’s very own shoe designer to the stars, Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo’s haute couture display of exquisite shoes.

some of Jimmy Choo haute couture collection

The event was launched by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen who is a passionate advocate of Malaysia’s thriving shoe industry and is determined to help it gain a firm foothold in the international footwear market. Citing the remarkable success of Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo as an inspiration for the younger generation to view shoe crafting as a legitimate career, Malaysia is poise to increase its standing as a lucrative destination for shoe shopping. "Footwear accounts for RM1 billion of the Malaysian economy and we want to inspire young Malaysian designers to reach out to the world," she said during her speech at the event launch.

Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo featured his exquisite collection of haute couture shoes at the festival

“Shoes are a part of a lifestyle. And there is a link between shoes, shopping and tourism. With the targeted 36 million tourists by 2020, if every tourist were to buy three pairs of footwear, it would amount to 108 million pairs.”

Co-organised by Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysian Footwear Manufacturers Association, the event attracted a record number of 160 booths, double that of its inaugural event held last year. A number of local footwear brands such as Zang Toi, Carlo Rino, Larrie, Nose and Dr Cardin have emerged from the booming footwear industry in Malaysia with quality products and designs that appeal to a whole spectrum of taste. A dedicated shoe festival such as this will definitely bring on the challenge for local brands to further improve on quality, style and productivity to compete in the international market.

A quick browse through the many displays was an eye-opener of the many choices already available on the market today. From the practical to whimsical and highly-sophisticated creations, the shoes were a visual feast of colour, texture and creativity.

Here's a selection of shoes ... from the weird to the wonderful ... from the Footwear Creative Design Competition Other highlights during the event included the unveiling of the Largest Chocolate Nyonya Shoe weighing 130kg and measuring 3.6m long, 1.2m wide and 0.64m high. The Footwear Creative Design Competition also saw some amazingly creative and innovative creations by aspiring designers.

One for the record - Malaysia's Biggest Nyonya Chocolate Shoe

And of course, there was the shopping. The shoe festival was the perfect opportunity to shop for a pair of shoes to suit every occasion. It’s convenience, choice and a nice discount to boot, all under one roof.

Now, you can’t walk away from a bargain like that, can you?

The Mega Familiarisation Programme in conjunction with the Malaysia International Shoe Festival 2011 and Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix was sponsored by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines.

EASTER FUNDAY

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:40:00 +0000

The Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is having an Easter Funday and invites everyone to join the Radisson family for a fantastic fun day out which will begin from 11:30am to 3:30pm on Sunday, 24 April 2011.

“The Radisson Ballroom will be transformed into an Easter playground with activities including a jumping castle, kids movie cinema, magic show, egg painting and a clown show,” said Mr. Peter Feran, the General Manager. “There will also be exciting games with prizes to be won!”

The children will be charged only B$1.00 per year of age between 5 to 11 years old for the children’s buffet in the playground (ballroom). There will be no charge for children 4 years old and below. The children’s buffet will consist of kids-friendly favorites such as chicken nuggets, mini pizzas, healthy bites, cup cakes and much more.

Additionally, Executive Chef Pathma and his culinary team will prepare a delicious array of fresh menu selections for a gratifying feast for the adults at Tasek Brasserie with only B$26.00 nett per person that will include Easter favorites such as shepherd’s pie and hot cross buns.

Firefly unveils its Boeing 737-400

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Firefly unveiled its new fleet of Boeing 737-400 aircraft at the Sultan Ismail International Airport, Senai, Johor Bahru on 26 March 2011.

Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Chairman of Malaysia Airlines, together with Firefly’s Managing Director, Dato’ Eddy Leong, En Shahrull Allam, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Senai Airports Sdn Bhd and En Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), were at hand to receive Firefly’s fully livered Boeing 737-400 jet aircraft.

Dato’ Eddy Leong said, “With Johor being designated as Firefly’s Southern Hub for the 737-400 operations, Firefly’s East Malaysia connections will be a precursor to further its expansion into more regional routes. Johor is a significant hub for Firefly to tap into as our target market will now expand to mass passengers from the southern region, Singapore, Batam and transit passengers in East Malaysia.

“Firefly’s Southern hub routes will increase accessibility to tourists and business travellers to the commercial development of Iskandar Malaysia, a state project under the supervision of IRDA” he added.

Leong further reiterated the benefits of flying with Firefly whereby passengers will enjoy incredible value with low fares, offering savings up to 30% with its seamless holistic approach.

Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Ismail Ibrahim said, “Given the air linkages of the state and now with Firefly’s entry into service from its southern hub, we foresee great potential for the growth in leisure and tourism sectors. Firefly’s services further promote and facilitate the development of Iskandar Malaysia into a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing, where living, working, business and leisure converge seamlessly.”

Flights for the Johor Bahru/Kuching route will commence on 19 May 2011 and the Johor Bahru/Kota Kinabalu route on 16 June 2011.

Meanwhile, it was announced on 30 March 2011 that Firefly will commence services into Sandakan, marking its continuous network expansion with the Boeing 737-800 jet operation from the Main Terminal Building of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). In line with strengthening its network in East Malaysia, Firefly is also increasing its frequency on the recently announced Sibu sector.

Firefly’s Head of Marketing & Communications, Ms Angelina Fernandez said, “Firefly indicates a significant growth and concurrently offers wider travelling options for business and leisure in the East Malaysia region with entrance into services to these sectors. Currently providing services to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, with commencement of Sibu in the third quarter of this year, we are confident in capturing the group of value discerning passengers.”

Firefly will begin its operations between Kuala Lumpur - Sandakan effective 1 August 2011 and Kuala Lumpur – Sibu effective 1 July 2011, from the Main Terminal Building of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Firefly’s airport ticketing offices in the respective towns are targeted to be launched one month prior to Firefly’s commencement of service.

At hand to receive Firefly’s fully livered Boeing 737-400 jet aircraft – (From left to right) En Ismail Ibrahim - Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Tan Sri Dr.Mohd Munir Abdul Majid - Chairman of Malaysia Airlines, Dato’ Eddy Leong – Firefly’s Managing Director and En Shahrull Allam- Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Senai Airports Sdn Bhd.

Earth Hour @ Radisson

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 04:48:00 +0000

Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is joining the social- environmental movement by hosting an Earth Hour 2011 candlelight set dinner at Deals restaurant starting from 6:30pm to 10:30pm this Saturday evening.

The Earth Hour 2011 candlelight set dinner offers a fine dining experience while joining the world in this social event.

The candlelight set dinner will include a four course meal with Chef’s compliments, Amuse Bouche of Oyster Kilpatrick, for only BND$125.00 plus 10% service charge per couple. Due to limited tables, table reservation is highly recommended in advance.

Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is not culminating a climate campaign but to foster awareness and behavioural change for individuals, sustainable practice for businesses, and leadership of governments on the path to global environmental reform rendering social and environmental responsibility.

Deals restaurant is open for lunch from 12:00 noon to 2.00pm and dinner from 6:30pm to 10:30pm, from Monday to Saturday.

A GREAT CARVERY & GRILL NIGHT

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 04:45:00 +0000

This month Tasek Brasserie at the Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam is introducing a delectable new menu showcasing the talent of Chef Pathma’s culinary creativity for a special-treat dining experience.

Carvery & Grill Night at Tasek Brasserie offers a delightful weekend buffet dinner experience at
BND$25.00 nett which includes a salad bar, scrumptious main dishes and mouth watering dessert buffet.

Chef Pathma, Executive Chef in the hotel proclaimed that “the new menu features carvery entrée
items such as leg of lamb, roast chicken, Wagyu beef topside or spare ribs to be topped with sauces of your choice such as BBQ, mint jus, black pepper and lemon wedges, to name a few, will leave diners satisfaction guaranteed.” “Carvery & Grill Night also offers a wide grill selection of lamb shoulder chops, Wagyu rump steaks, black pepper sausages, chicken cheese sausages, chicken wings, crabs, travelly steaks and calamari,” added Chef Pathma.
“With this month’s featured Carvery & Grill Night menu, completed renovations and the ongoing
renovations in the main kitchen, Tasek Brasserie is aiming to offer casual diners and loyal fans
something new to look forward to every month,” said Mr. Peter Feran, General Manager of the
Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam.

Tasek Brasserie is open daily until 10 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and introducing new
weekend buffet dinner, Cavery & Grill Night is served on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Southern Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Southern Bakery unveils new healthy choices.

Indulging your sweet tooth without guilt is a cinch with Southern Bakery’s latest selection of pastries, cakes and bread. Established some 20 years ago, the bakery recently launched its new range of goodies with a marked improvement in quality, freshness and emphasizing on healthier choices.

Its owners, Datuk CK Tan and his wife Datin Dr. Lynn Tan, who is a doctor in naturopathy, took over the business three years ago from its previous owners and decided it was time to improve the quality of the existing products. Apart from the quality, customers will also notice that the wider range of products include more health-conscious choices such as whole-meal French loaves,

San Francisco Sour Dough bread,

carrot bread and multi-grain bread which are enriched with vitamins. “We have also made healthier substitutes to some of our existing products. For example, we use butter – which is a better option – instead of margarine, and brown sugar in place of white. It is small improvements such as this that benefit our health in the long run,” said Dr. Lynn.

Other delicious and healthy must-try products are their oatmeal cookies, apple spiced cheesecake, carrot cupcake, carrot cake and banana cupcakes and loaves.

A simple product launch was held on 10th March 2011 and I had the opportunity to sample some of their signature goodies. My first impression was that the cakes looked decadently rich and delicious particularly

Death by Chocolate, and

Durian Divine;

the cheesecakes, and

glazed doughnuts came a close second.

Taste and quality were definitely not compromised in making these sweet treats healthier as you can taste the natural ingredients such as dark chocolate, fresh durian and carrots. My top choice is actually the cookies as they had just the right balance of flavor and crunchiness that would make snacking on them a guilt-free distraction.

These new products will be available at all 18 southern Bakery outlets in Sabah and will be introduced in stages to selected franchise outlets including 2 outlets in Labuan.

On the Paper

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:06:00 +0000

IS biG MAGAZINE STILL FREE?

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:41:00 +0000

If you’ve come across the latest issue of biG, you may have noticed a new addition on the cover page: a price of BND3 / RM5. As our loyal readers may know, biG began as, and has always been a free publication. We would like to reassure our readers that we continue to be a free magazine.

We are frequently met with questions on where biG magazine can be found. Despite our wide circulation in airports, tourist information centres, hotels, cafés, restaurants and more around Borneo, we do not manage the availability of the magazine once it has been distributed to our partner establishments. We decided that biG magazine should also be made readily available in newsstands for the convenience of readers who wish to get their hands on a copy but can’t find it elsewhere. The price is only applicable when purchasing the magazine from a newsstand. Otherwise, the magazine remains free for you to grab!

biG is Out!

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:14:00 +0000

Happy New Year.

Dun forget to grab yourself, our new Jan-March issue.

Firefly

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:51:00 +0000

Social Networking Gets Local: Firefly is the first company in Malaysia with a Foursquare page

Subang: Firefly, Your Community Airline announced today that it is the first company in Malaysia and the second airline in the world to have a page on Foursquare, the location-based social network. The Firefly page enables travellers to discover useful travel tips near their airports or destinations, such as WiFi spots they can use while they wait for their flight or good restaurants to grab a bite.

With more than 80,000 check-ins every day in Malaysia and 4 million daily check-ins globally, Foursquare social networking is a significant trend in social networking. Foursquare is a social network that combines friend-finder and social city guide elements. Users are rewarded for checking into venues such as restaurants and shops and provide their own tips to other users.

Head of Marketing & Communications, Ms Angelina Corrina Fernandez said, "We have ventured to this medium because location-based services are essential tools in travel and also to engage increasingly mobile customers. This service enhances their travel experience and enables us to provide customers with special promotions based on the frequency of their visit. We believe that this service will empower us to develop more ongoing relationships with our customers.

"This feature has also enabled us to further promote our offers creatively and reach out to all official Foursquare mobile clients via iPhone, Blackberry and Android based devices. Foursquare not only calls attention to those at venues, but also to those users who happen to be across the street or two blocks away from our venues," she added.
For more interesting facts and tips, visit our Foursquare page at http://foursquare.com/flyfirefly to meet up with friends, discover new places and unlock rewards as you travel.

Come Celebrate Christmas at Le Meridien

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:40:00 +0000

The towering Christmas tree decorated with cute teddy bears, twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments welcomes you at the lobby of Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu. ‘Tis the season to celebrate and the festive mood at Le Meridien is in full swing with gastronomic offerings and events for you to enjoy with family and friends.

The media was treated to a sneak peak of what’s in store this Christmas season at Circle
restaurant and it was a feast for the eyes and the palate.
The already extensive Christmas Eve Dinner buffet spread (RM118++ per person) will be featuring mouth-watering traditional favourites for the occasion such as roast turkey with pine nut stuffing, roast prime rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding, and lamb leg from the live cooking station. Pour on your favourite sauce and savour to your heart’s content.

Seafood galore is a delightful mix of baked oysters, scallops and mussels with sushi, poached and smoked salmon to give a refreshing balance to the hearty meats.

After dinner, put on your dancing shoes and head over to Rumba for a rock-out party with the hotel’s resident band that will keep the fun and festivities going till early Christmas morning.

With cover charge at only RM35nett per person (inclusive party pack and 1st drink), this is the place to be.
Christmas Day Lunch (RM70++ per person) will be one the whole family can enjoy. A Kids Corner featuring kids movies, Kids’ Chef’s Corner, balloon sculptures, games with prizes and a special appearance by Santa and Santarina will ensure the kids are entertained while you linger over your plate of tempting morsels such as succulent roast turkey, lamb and beef wellington, to name a few. Capping off a perfect season of Christmas gastronomic feasts at Circle is the Christmas Day Dinner (RM95++ per person) with yet another sumptuous buffet.

Traditional festive sweet specialties such as gingerbread cookies, Christmas stollen, rich fruit cake,
Yule log and lots of other goodies are on display at the entrance of Circle restaurant for you to purchase and bring home some tasty treats for Christmas. The colourful decoration and delightful aromas of freshly baked cookies will tempt you to indulge before the Christmas festivities even begin. Orders can be placed at the Festive Counter so make sure you get them in early.

A wine sale will be held throughout the festive season until end of December with wines from Australia, Chile and Argentina sold at special discounted prices. Get a bottle when you dine at Circle or bring some home to enjoy at leisure.

For Early Bird vouchers and discover more, +60 88 322238.

Wellness Journey

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:07:00 +0000

Wellness Journey showcase in Kota Kinabalu

One of the most anticipated events to look forward to by health and wellness devotees is the inaugural Wellness Journey (WJ) to be held at Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu from 26th -27th February 2011.

The health and wellness industry in Sabah is one of the most promising economic developments in the state. It is an industry that capitalizes on a ready source of indigenous knowledge and respect for the overall well-being of the human body and spirit. Wellness Journey encapsulates this mindset by providing a prestigious platform for prominent players in the wellness and lifestyle industry to showcase the best of their products and services. A blend of traditional and contemporary concepts of well-being are brought to the fore and presented in an array of activities.

This 2-day event has mapped out an exciting list of events to spur the interest of the general public into discovering the benefits of healthy living and even making spa and wellness a career choice through a series of Enriching Workshops and a Career Corner. The Exhibition Gallery will give exhibitors the opportunity to demonstrate their product and services directly to their target clientele and to also reinforce brand presence and momentum in today’s highly competitive market environment. A 1-day conference on the first day of the event will see notable speakers addressing the topic of “Wellness & Stress Management” to exhibition delegates and visitors alike.

Visitors will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with cutting-edge wellness concepts during the workshops and discover the variety of spa and wellness products available to suit their individual lifestyle and taste.

The 5-star resort ambience of the venue will lend an air of elegance to this premier showcase event aimed at promoting a very important aspect of our day to day life – health and wellness.

The event is organized by the Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (SWEPA) and endorsed by the Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA). Exhibition partner, MaxxMedia Sdn Bhd; media partners AsiaSpa magazine and Borneo Insider’s Guide, and online luxury media LifeandStyle.com.my will be providing editorial and publicity support for the event.

For more information, please contact MaxxMedia Sdn Bhd at 088-719787 or log on to www.wellnessjourney.com.my

Deals Restaurant is back!

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:46:00 +0000

Its good to know that one of Brunei's favourite dining hotspots is back! We had a look at the sleek and ultra-posh interior when we attended the official opening of Radisson last week and we have to say that the mood is perfect for haute-dining.

Looking forward to dropping by for a proper meal soon and will update you on our taste test.

Pasar Ramadhan at Circle

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:22:00 +0000

Ramadhan is upon us again and the food bazaars have come out in force to entice not just Muslims getting ready to break fast with family and friends but the entire community. Just about everybody gets pulled into this wonderful chaos of hawker stalls selling every kind of food you can imagine as people wander from one stall to another choosing the tastiest looking morsels to end a day of fast and abstinence.

I had the opportunity to sample the buka puasa spread at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu’s Circle restaurant and all I can say is that it was an event of gastronomical proportion. Their Pasar Ramadhan themed buka puasa boast of serving more than 300 dishes and condiments is no idle chatter.
When you walk in the restaurant, you literally have to stop and take in the vision before you. Buffet tables are evenly spread out throughout the restaurant so diners don’t have to jostle from one to the other. The live cooking stations are towards the back and the aromas that emanate from there as you approach are amazing. Soups bubbling in huge pots to be poured over noodles, a whole roast lamb and kebab being sliced to bite size pieces, pizzas coming out piping hot from the oven and seafood grilled to perfection. And all these served with a friendly smile from the chefs.
Traditional Malay specialties like bubur lambuk, kerabu, curries, rendang, serunding, ulam, cakes and cookies are mixed with Thai, Japanese, Middle East, Indian and Western cuisine to give that extraordinary blend of flavours and texture. Several Sabah specialties are highlighted like the hill rice served with bambangan (pickled wild mango), pinasakan (fish), wintermelon shoot and hinava (marinated raw fish).

The dessert table was delicious with Vedablu gelato, a chocolate fondue, fresh fruits and local cakes. It’s impossible to name or taste every dish at one sitting so be prepared to make return visits. To buka puasa with family members and friends that you have not met for a while is a great way to renew and refresh relationships. And with an abundance of dishes to choose from and indulge in, you will definitely get to know everybody very well at the end of the meal.
There are only 1,000 vouchers for the Pasar Ramadhan buffet and they are selling out fast. During my visit on the second day of Ramadhan, the restaurant was almost full and everyone was taking their time to indulge in the gastronomic spread. All after, something of this magnitude only happens once a year! The pipe-in sounds of a real pasar Ramadhan was a nice touch to create the right atmosphere and it had a really comfortable vibe.

The Pasar Ramadhan Buka Puasa Buffet at Circle Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu is from 6pm – 10pm daily from11 August to 9 September, 2010. Price: RM80.00++ (adult) and RM40.00++ (child).

Sungkai @ Radisson

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:08:00 +0000

Sungkai @ Rizqun

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:39:00 +0000

Its that time of the year again, when all the restaurants around town are having all sorts of buffet promotions to herald the arrival of Ramadhan. One of the most popular 'sungkai' venues in BSB is the Rizqun coffeehouse at Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

Check out what they have to offer.

Ramadan Feasting in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:09:00 +0000

If you heading to Singapore this fasting month ( 11 August - 10 September), make sure you make your way to Singapore's hottest Halal restaurant, StraitsKitchen at Grand Hyatt Singapore.

Back by popular demand, experience traditional “buka puasa” favourites from the halal Chinese, Malay and Indian theatre-kitchens at StraitsKitchen, complemented by a selection of traditional Middle Eastern delights prepared exclusively by their guest chefs from Hyatt Regency Dubai.

Guest Chef Ahmed Mohamed Khalaf and Chef Hamdy Abdel Kader Hassan present authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, noted for its simplicity, and exquisite purity of taste, method and appearance, that is a delight for all the senses. Menu highlights include:

Shahwarma Chicken

Babaganoush (Grilled eggplant mixed with capsicum, tomato and mint leave)

Tabouleh (Fresh parsley leave mixed with tomato, lemon juice and olive oil)

Sayadeh fish (Deep fried sea bass with saydeh sauce)

Kabab Halla (Marinated lamb with onion juice and fresh tomato)

Um Ali (Mille-feuille dough with mixed nuts and fresh cream)

Ktayef (Pancake stuff with cinnamon sugar and vanilla syrup)

Balah-El Sham, Asabeh Zenab and Basbosa with Nuts

The Ramadan celebration dinner is available daily from 6:30pm to 10:30pm and is priced at $52++ (adult), including free-flowing selected juices, tea tarik and coffee tarik.

For the convenience of Muslim guests, the hotel also offers prayer rooms for diners to perform the Maghrib prayers, which can be heard through the audio system. For reservations, please call +65 6732 1234.

Sports Coupé with fun factor

noreply@blogger.com (BiG) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:08:00 +0000

Jati Transport is unveiling a stand-alone model series in the guise of the new CLC 180 in mid August 2010.
The Sports Coupé's design, technology and equipment meet the discerning requirements of young drivers looking for an athletic car that gives an involving drive, while at the same time delivering the hallmark Mercedes quality standards in terms of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and functionality.
Engineering highlights of the CLC 180 include a new direct-steer system for even more agile cornering, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring a colour display and media interface, as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 105 kW/143 hp.