The month-long Malaysian International Gourmet Festival (MIGF) has finally come to an end. I was invited and it was a fun-filled event where we got to try various delectable Malaysian cuisines.
For those uninitiated, here is a brief background of this much anticipated annual festival.
The Awards
The theme 'Red Hot Chefs!' provided the backdrop for the Festival Restaurants to test their mettle against their peers in some of the most creative interpretations of the theme, ranging from spicy servings and sizzling decorations to fire breathers, fireworks and even a chef arriving by helicopter!
Awards were given for creativity, innovation, presentation and value of the Festival Menu, quality of service, effective marketing strategies, best use of the Festival theme, best restaurant station designs and the number of Taste Sovereigns and Gourmet Dollars collected and portions sold during the Gala Launch and Taste MIGF.
Judging
Proving that it was a Festival for all, VIP judges and public diners alike made their opinions heard by way of their votes, selecting the restaurants that excelled in all arenas of MIGF – the Gala Launch, Taste MIGF and the Festival Menus as well as at the restaurants themselves during the month of October.
Festival Background
MIGF 2014 marked the 14th year of the Festival. MIGF began as the KL International Gourmet Festival in 2001 with 13 restaurants – then about all the fine dining restaurants there were in Kuala Lumpur. From humble beginnings, MIGF is now one of Malaysia's most recognizable international tourist brands. It has played a major part in helping Malaysia’s fine dining industry evolve from a virtually zero base to the vibrant premium dining scene we see today. As a result, it received international recognition by winning the PATA Gold Award for Marketing for establishing Malaysia as one of the leading world destinations for food tourism.
Here's the mandatory pose with the backdrop :)
Pictures of some of the celebrations going on that night while we enjoyed the food served at the event.
Talented dancers heating up the dance floor before the awards ceremony began!
The best part of the night was definitely the food. After all, it was an event all about food. I have decided to shortlist and introduce a few which I absolutely love.
Penang 'Char Kuey Teow'
Oh, this was simply heavenly! There were generous amounts of huge prawns in this and the aroma was evident, even from miles away. I had three to four helpings of this, trust me, it was that yummy!
Fried Durian and Snowskin Durian Puff
You either love this or hate this. It's that simple because of the pungent durian flavour and that distinct smell which can be quite intimidating to some people. But, I loved the snowskin durian puff which literally melts in your mouth and the best part, was that the skin was thin and smooth (similar to mochi texture actually).
And, finally the moment everyone was waiting for is finally here! The awards ceremony and the list of winners are as below:
Full List of Award Winners
MIGF2014
Golden Cauldron Award for
the Best All-Round Restaurant 2014
Overall
Winner: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
Winners: La
Scala, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Chef Congeniality 2014
Winner: Chef
Valmurugan Subramaniam
Special MIGF Festival
Awards
Most Popular Overall
Restaurant at the VIP Gala Launch
Winner:
Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
Most Popular Overall
Restaurant at Taste MIGF
Award
Winner: Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Outstanding Marketing
of the Festival
Award
Winner: Resorts World Genting
Most Outstanding Overall
Festival Experience
Award Winner:
Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Langkawi
Most Popular Restaurants
Most Popular Restaurant at
the VIP Gala Launch Taste Sovereigns Collected
Winners: Chambers,
Chynna, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Imperial Rama, Marble 8, Ten Japanese Fine
Dining
Most Popular Restaurant at
the VIP Gala Launch Portions Sold
Winners:
Charcoal, Chynna, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Imperial Rama, Samplings on the
Fourteenth, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Popular Restaurant at
Taste MIGF Gourmet Dollars Collected
Winners:
Chambers, Graze, Grill 582, La Scala, Minori, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Popular Restaurant at
Taste MIGF Portions Sold
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Cuisine Gourmet by
Nathalie, Minori, Nerovivo, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Ten Japanese Fine
Dining
Taste MIGF Awards - Judges’
Choice
Most Creative Restaurant
Station at Taste MIGF
Winners:
Hilton KL, NEO Tamarind, Resorts World Genting, Signature by the Hill, Tanzini,
The Marini’s Group
Most Creative Food
Presentation at Taste MIGF
Winners:
Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Marble 8, Nook, Seasonal Tastes,
Signature by the Hill
Most Innovative Cuisine at
Taste MIGF
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Cuisine Gourmet by
Nathalie, La Scala, Marini’s on 57, Nook, Tanzini
Taste MIGF Awards –
People’s Choice
Most Creative Restaurant
Station at the Taste MIGF
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Hilton KL, Nook,
Resorts World Genting, The Marini’s Group, Zender’s Bar & Grill
Most Creative Food
Presentation at Taste MIGF
Winners:
Graze, Marini’s on 57, NEO Tamarind, Nook, Seasonal Tastes, Tanzini
Most Innovative Cuisine at
Taste MIGF
Winners:
Imperial Rama, La Scala, NEO Tamarind, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The
Olive
Festival Awards - Judges’
Choice
Best Marketed Restaurant
Winners:
Dynasty/Sagano (Renaissance KL Hotel), Imperial Rama/LTITUDE/The Olive (Resorts
World Genting), Seasonal Tastes (Westin Langkawi), Signature by the Hill,
Tanzini, Bunga Emas/L’Heritage (The Royale Chulan KL)
Best Value Menu of the
Festival
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Bunga Emas, Charcoal,
Chynna, Dynasty, L’Heritage
Most Creative Menu of the
Festival
Winners:
Bunga Emas, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini, Ten Japanese
Fine Dining, The Olive
Best Festival Offers
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Charcoal, Cuisine
Gourmet by Nathalie, Dynasty, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Festival Awards - Diners’
Choice
Best Festival Dining
Experience
Winners:
Hilton KL, La Scala, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Marble 8, Marini’s
on 57, Seasonal Tastes, Tanzini, The Olive
Most Outstanding Service
Team of the Festival
Winners:
Bunga Emas, Charcoal, Hilton KL, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge,
Renaissance KL Hotel, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Seasonal Tastes, The Olive
Most Outstanding Canapés
of the Festival
Winners:
Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Grill 582, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge,
Maison Francaise, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Most Outstanding Soup of
the Festival
Winners:
Dynasty, Imperial Rama, L’Heritage, Maison Francaise, Marble 8, Samplings on
the Fourteenth
Most Outstanding Palate
Cleanser of the Festival
Winners:
Bunga Emas, Graze, Grill 582, La Scala, L’Heritage, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Outstanding Starter/Appetiser
(Warm) of the Festival
Winners:
Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge,
Marini’s on 57, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Zender’s
Most Outstanding
Starter/Appetiser (Cold) of the Festival
Winners: NEO
Tamarind, Nook, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining,
The Olive
Most Outstanding Mains of
the Festival – Meat
Winners:
Chambers, Chynna, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Marble 8, Ten Japanese
Fine Dining
Most Outstanding Mains of
the Festival – Fish/Poultry
Winners:
Charcoal, Dynasty, Imperial Rama, Marini’s on 57, Sagano, The Olive
Most outstanding Mains –
Others
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Chynna, La Scala, Marble 8, Marini's
on 57, Nerovivo
Most Outstanding Dessert
of the Festival
Winners:
Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge,
Marini’s on 57, L’Heritage, Minori
Most Outstanding Wine Pairing
Winners: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Maison Française, Marini’s on 57,
Seasonal Tastes, The Olive
Best Value Menu of the
Festival
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Chynna, Dynasty,
L’Heritage, Seasonal Tastes, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Best Use of Festival Theme
Winners:
Bunga Emas, L’Heritage, Nerovivo, Seasonal Tastes, Samplings on the Fourteenth,
The Olive
Best Restaurant Ambiance
Winners:
Chambers Bar & Grill, Chynna, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Marble
8, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini
A big thank you goes out to the MIGF team for inviting me as a part of this exquisite event. I will definitely be looking forward to next year's MIGF, see you there!
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