Test Drive – Peugeot 208

[Automobile]

Hot hatches are really fun to drive so when the nice folks at Peugeot Malaysia (aka Nasim Sdn Bhd) invited me to test drive the Peugeot 208 (5 door) for a weekend I happily obliged. Of course it also helped as I have an affinity towards Peugeot cars as I love the level of refinement and detail on their mass market cars.
Styling wise, the Peugeot 208 looks sleek and stylish with the large grille and swept back headlights. Under the hood is a 1.6 litre 4 inline cylinders DOHC 16 valve, VTI (dual variable valve timing and lift) engine which generates 122ps and has a max torque of 160Nm at 4,250rpm.
The engine is mated to an auto adaptive gearbox with Tiptronic and sport mode, and this translates into a quick nippy little hot hatch that’s great for city roads while parking is a breeze!

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 The driver and passenger electric folding side view mirrors come with a heater
 The headlights feature Peugeot’s LED Signature Lighting, and have the “Follow Me Home” setting in which the headlights stay on for a couple of seconds after you lock or unlock the car which helps to illuminate your path

The Peugeot 208 runs on 16″ two-tone helium alloy rims with 195/55/R16 tyres and is steered by an advanced electric power steering system. The front suspension is MacPherson struts with anti roll bar while the rear features a trailing arm with deformable cross-member axle. The front brakes come equipped with ventilated discs while the rear uses solid discs.
The Peugeot 208 has a 5 star EURONCAP rating with safety features that include:

6 Airbags
Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)
Emergency Brake Assist
Electronic Brake Distribution
Electronic Stability Programme with Anti Skid Regulator and Dynamic Stability Control
Very high strength steel body structure
Deadlocking doors
Electronic child safety door lock
Auto hazard light on de-acceleration
2x ISOFIX anchorage points at the rear
3x 3-point safety belts in the rear

Now let’s have a look at the interior.

 The boot is pretty spacious for a car this size. For size comparison I placed 2 brochures – A2 size on the left and A3 size on the right.

 The aircon has a digital dual zone function which is normally found in more premium cars.
 There are audio and multi-function display controls on the steering wheel so you can keep both hands on the wheel when driving. I always like this feature but it’s usually on C segment/ more premium cars. Glad to see it in the 208.
 The floating dashboard comes with a LCD colour display and multi-stage illumination
 The interactive HD colour touchscreen allows you to control the radio/ audio, and the Bluetooth hand-free kit. The audio system is an impressive Arkamys 3D system equipped with 6 speakers and this was a feature that I really liked about the 208!
 Depress the (S) button to enable the “Sport Mode” which gives a sportier ride and gear shifts at higher RPM. The (*) button is for “Snow Mode” and starts the engine at second gear (not that it’ll ever be used here in Malaysia).
 Roomy enough for me (I’m 5′ 10″ tall)
 The chrome trimming gives the 208 a sporty touch, and if you look carefully you can see the speakers embedded subtly in the door
 The rear speakers are also embedded in the door. All of the windows are one touch and anti pinch.
 Girls would love this feature – driver side vanity mirror with lights!
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Other features included in the Peugeot 208:

60/40 one touch foldable rear seats
Glove box with cooler
Auto wipers function with auto rear wipers in reverse gear

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The Peugeot 208 (5 door) is available in five (5) colours namely digital white, platinum black, virtual blue, rogue red, and passion silver.
Price: RM85,888.00 (on the road with insurance) and comes with a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty from the date of first registration.
More info at http://www.peugeot.com.my

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Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Unveiled at The Quail

[Automotive News]

Automobili Lamborghini unveiled the Countach LPI 800-4 at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, at Sant’Agata Bolognese/ Pebble Beach USA on 13 August 2021. The Countach LPI 800-4 is a futuristic limited edition paying homage to the Countach’s iconic status as a revolutionary design and technology rule-breaker and recreated for the 21st century.
The Countach LPI 800-4’s puristic lines are immediately recognizable from the Countach legacy: the patriarch of modern super sports cars and Lamborghini design. With its aspirated V12 engine combined with Lamborghini’s hybrid supercapacitor technology, the Countach LPI 800-4 retains the inimitable V12 experience and sound from its Longitudinale Posteriore (LP) mounted powerplant combined with the hybrid technology developed for the Sián. Delivering 814 cv as maximum combined power (rounded at 800 in the name) from its aspirated powerplant (780 cv) and electric motor (34 cv) to its permanent four-wheel drive transmission, the LPI 800-4 produces peak Lamborghini performance of 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 2.8 seconds, a 0-200 km/h in 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 355 km/h.
“The Countach LPI 800-4 is a visionary car of the moment, just as its forerunner was. One of the most important automotive icons, the Countach not only embodies the design and engineering tenet of Lamborghini but represents our philosophy of reinventing boundaries, achieving the unexpected and extraordinary and, most importantly, being the ‘stuff of dreams’. The Countach LPI 800-4 pays homage to this Lamborghini legacy but it is not retrospective: it imagines how the iconic Countach of the 70s and 80s might have evolved into an elite super sports model of this decade. It upholds the Lamborghini tradition of looking forward, of exploring new design and technology avenues while celebrating the DNA of our brand. It is a Lamborghini that innately expresses the marque’s enduring and emotive power: always inspirational and thrilling to see, hear and most of all drive.”Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann

The Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 is instantly recognizable as a descendant of Countach generations: testament to the lasting impact of the original Countach design that became the poster car of the 1980s and a symbol of automotive and lifestyle ultra-cool. The Countach moniker – a fitting expression of surprise and wonder in Piedmontese dialect and pronounced ‘Coon-tach’ – is one of very few Lamborghini model names not connected to bulls.
“The first Countach has been present in our Centro Stile as a model for some years now. Whenever I look at it, it gives me goosebumps and it serves as the perfect reminder for me and the entire design team to design every future Lamborghini in a visionary and futuristic way. This is an unnegotiable part of our DNA, the essence if you so will. The first Countach shaped the Lamborghini design DNA like no other car; the new Countach translates that unconventional and edgy character into the future.”Mitja Borkert, Head of Centro Stile
The Countach’s distinctive silhouette with the essential line running from front to rear, sharp angles and lines and idiosyncratic wedge shape, innovated modern super sports design, consistent with Lamborghini models. The Countach LPI 800-4 develops the characteristic lines of the Countach’s five models over nearly 20 years, concentrated into the purest realization of iconic automotive design.

The final outline is pure and uncluttered, with references to the first LP 500 and LP 400 production versions. Giving the LPI 800-4 a distinctive Countach face, inspiration was taken from the Quattrovalvole edition in the assertive lines of the front bonnet with long, low rectangular grille and headlights, as well as in the wheel arches with their hexagonal theme. The sharp inclination of the greenhouse adopts the straight lines redolent of the original Countach, adjoining the powerful, clean front-to-rear line. There is no fixed rear wing outside the pure lines, and the airscoops are integrated fluidly in the strong shoulders of the car, embellished with the distinctive Countach slatted ‘gills’. The iconic and aerodynamically powerful NACA air intakes cut into the side and doors of the Countach LPI 800-4 while the distinctive Periscopio lines running through the roof to the rear of the car, particularly distinctive if viewed from above, appear to float towards the rear of the car.
The rear of the Countach LPI 800-4 is immediately recognizable from its distinctive inverted wedge shape, with the rear bumper featuring a lower, sleeker line, and the ‘hexagonita’ design shaping the three-unit rear light clusters. The LPI 800-4 sports the four-strong exhaust tailpipes of the Countach family, connected within the carbon fiber rear diffuser. Access for driver and passenger is of course via the infamous scissor doors, first introduced on the Countach and that have become a Lamborghini V12 signature.

The V12 engine of the Countach is as notable as the design. Mounted longways at the rear together with its forward-cabin layout, the original Countach featured side-mounted radiators from Formula One; forward-facing gearbox and tubular spaceframe technology. It was as revolutionary in its approach to sports car engineering as in its astonishing looks, with its engine position chosen for weight distribution and balance and of course, the aspirated twelve cylinders delivering the most emotive top performance. The Countach developed the best available technologies to produce an extraordinary car: this visionary philosophy is reflected in the Countach LPI 800-4, taking the pinnacle of current Lamborghini technologies and engineering to produce the performance expected from a Countach in 2021.
“The engineering team that developed the original Countach advanced Lamborghini’s pioneering technical approach, delivering unexpected innovations and the best performance available in a production car. That spirit inherently drives Lamborghini R&D, resulting in the pioneering hybrid technology in the LPI 800-4, and the emotive driving experience and top-line performance expected from a flagship V12 Lamborghini.”Lamborghini Chief Technology Officer Maurizio Reggiani

The Lamborghini V12 6.5 litre engine, outputting 780 cv, is combined with a 48 volt e-motor mounted directly on the gearbox providing a further 34 cv for immediate response and increased performance: it is the innovative and unique architecture Lamborghini developed for Sián, that is the only mild-hybrid technology to create a direct connection between electric motor and wheels, preserving the pure V12 behaviour. The e-motor is powered by a supercapacitor providing three times more power compared to a lithium-ion battery of the same weight.
The monocoque chassis and all the body panels are in carbon fiber, provide the optimum lightweight solution as well as exceptional torsional stiffness: the Countach LPI 800-4 has a dry weight of 1595 kg for a dry weight to power ratio of 1,95 kg/cv. Visible exterior carbon fiber features are available in the front splitter, around the front window and wing mirrors, engine bonnet cover air intakes and rocker panel and it is always present in specific interior details. Moveable air vents produced by the state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, and a photocromatic roof – change from solid to transparent at the push of a button.

The Countach LPI 800-4 was unveiled on 13 August 2021 at The Quail, USA in a dedicated colour Bianco Siderale, containing a hint of pearlescent blue and reminiscent of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s own Countach LP 400 S, complete with red and black leather heritage interior. The interior also takes design cues from the original Countach within the context of a modern car. The classic and luxurious leather features geometric stitching on the specially designed comfort seats and dashboard, sporting a square motif referencing the bold style and optimism of 1970s design and technology.
The Countach LPI 800-4 20” (front) and 21” (rear) wheels are created in the ‘telephone’ style of the 1980s, fitted with carbon ceramic brake discs, and Pirelli P Zero tyres.
Owners of the exclusive limited edition Countach LPI 800-4 can choose from a range of heritage exterior paint options, mostly in solid colours, such as the iconic Impact White, Giallo Countach and Verde Medio. Otherwise, the contemporary palette offers modern paintings, mostly metallic colours, such as Viola Pasifae or Blu Uranus.

An 8.4” HDMI center touchscreen unique to the LPI 800-4 manages car controls including Connectivity and Apple CarPlay. It also includes a unique button entitled ‘Stile’ (Design): pressed, it explains the Countach design philosophy to its privileged audience.
Produced in a run of 112 units, the number denotes the ‘LP 112’ internal project name used during the original Lamborghini Countach’s development. The Countach LPI 800-4 will be delivered from the first quarter of 2022 to owners worldwide, privileged to drive a piece of automotive history reimagined for the future.

Photo/ visual credits: Automobili Lamborghini

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PETRONAS Launches the All-New PETRONAS Primax 95 with Pro-Drive

[Automotive News]

PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) launched the all-new PETRONAS Primax 95 with Pro-Drive on 29 January 2019 at the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. The new fuel is part of the company’s commitment to deliver a seamless and frictionless experience for its customers to move ahead smoothly. and promises a smoother drive, responsive engine performance and enhanced fuel efficiency.
PETRONAS developed the new fuel which comes with the world’s first Dual Friction Modifier that helps reduce friction by 20%, as compared to previous single friction modifier, thus allowing engines to run smoother and be more responsive. The Double Detergent has boosted fuel’s cleaning agent to eliminate up to 99% carbon deposits to ensure cleaner engine and better fuel efficiency. Additionally, the Anti-Corrosion chemistry gives engines 2X better protection for superior engine performance.
The new fuel formulation has leveraged on PETRONAS’ world-class research and development facilities in Europe and the USA that supported Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 in a campaign that saw the team win its fifth consecutive World Constructors Championship in 2018. In a prime example of how Formula 1 technology benefits us consumers, the engineers carried on to formulate fuel that meets current road engine technology and requirements, from indirect injection to direct injection and hybrid.
The launch was officiated by the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Y.B. Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (left), accompanied by PDB’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin (right)
Speaking at the event, Datuk Seri Saifuddin said, “I appreciate PDB investing resources and developing new solutions to raise the bar and introduce better products into the market. There is nothing better than healthy competitions between industry players because at the end of the day, the customers win with quality products meeting their demands.”
Elaborating further, Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal said, “This new Primax 95 with Pro-Drive is responding to feedback from surveys we conducted that asked for smoother drive, responsive engine performance, and cleaner engine with better fuel efficiency.”
Prior to the launch, two third-party agencies, Top Gear and Paultan.org, put this new fuel to a blind test with over 200 popular local and international-made vehicles. The results were very encouraging, with over 70% of the participants indicated that the new fuel performed better than their current fuel in terms of smoothness, responsiveness and efficiency.
Dato’ Sri added, “PDB is embarking on a transformation journey to undertake unconventional route in delivering products and services that reduce frictions in our customers’ everyday life and journey. We are adopting a customer-obsessed mindset in this journey and there will be more innovative and value-added offerings awaiting our customers from here forth,”
Beyond fuel, PDB has also introduced its new Kedai Mesra with enhanced offerings, including F&B complementing the signature Mornings@Mesra. More than 100 PETRONAS stations in the Klang Valley are already Setel-enabled (read about Setel by Petronas here – https://timchew.net/2018/12/12/petronas-at-the-kuala-lumpur-international-motorshow-klims-2018/), South East Asia’s first e-payment app that allows drivers to purchase fuel from the comfort of their vehicles. And the ROVR trucks, an innovative mobile fuel delivery service, will be roving the streets to provide fleet customers with a new refueling experience.
PDB’s transformation journey is an ongoing effort, and it will continuously innovate and enhance its products and offerings including facilities such as payment terminal, surau and 5-star quality washrooms to deliver a seamless and frictionless experience. (Ed – I’m really glad to see our national petroleum company taking steps to be a dynamic and progressive organisation which puts its consumers first!)
To encourage trials, beginning 1 February until 3 February 2019, motorists will receive RM1 off any Kedai Mesra items for every RM30 purchase of the new PETRONAS Primax 95 with Pro-Drive at any PETRONAS stations nationwide.
For more information, head over to http://www.mymesra.my
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Editor’s Note – January 2020

[Editor’s Note]
Chinese New Year Menu at Ti Chen, The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Naomi and I recently visited Ti Chen Chinese Restaurant at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur to try their spread of specialty gourmet dishes available this Chinese New Year. This year, Ti Chen is offering three (3) themed set menu creations namely the Silver and Gold Set, Rich and Affluent Set, and Fortune and Longevity Set, signifying representations of the astrological tradition.
This year’s Chinese/ Lunar New Year menus will be available from 8th January till 8th February 2020 from 12 pm to 3 pm (lunch), and 6 pm to 10 pm (dinner). Ti Chen will be open daily during the festive period except on the first day of Chinese New Year (25 January 2020).
“We are excited about our special menu created for our guests this year, highlighting the abundance set menu style meal packages of Silver and Gold, Rich and Affluent, and Fortune and Longevity, targeting corporate clients, families and friends to toss and celebrate the mark of another wonderful season,” says Chef Lim Chee Woi, Chinese Executive Chef.  “2020 is set to be a year filled with luck, growth and prosperity”. Symbolic of good luck, prosperity, health and all things auspicious, toss to “Loh Hei” with Ti Chen.
The set meal packages for five to ten people cover a full range of time-honoured favourites including Roasted Sesame with Cracker and Green Chilli Sauce Chicken, Salmon and Snow Pear Yee Sang with Crispy Shredded Treasure and Blackcurrant-Plum dressing, Mini Steam Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf with Dried Oyster, Wok Fried Sea Prawn with Butter and Egg Yolk in traditional style Chilled Lemon Grass Jelly with Yuzu Sorbet, and much more.
The meal packages are offered with a bottle of Jacob’s Creek Shiraz or Free Flow of Soft Drinks for three hours.  The Rich and Affluent Set, and the Fortune and Longevity Set come with one (1) bottle of Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve, or Berry Bros. and Rudd Classic Sherry Cask.
The price for set meal packages ranges from RM1,788 for the Silver and Gold Set, RM2,088 for the Rich and Affluent Set and RM 3,088 for the Fortune and Longevity Set, inclusive of service charge and government taxes.
To commemorate the Chinese New Year festivities, the Saujana Hotel will host a lion dance performance in the lobby area at 10.30am on 30 January 2020.
Below are some of the restaurant’s signature dishes (that are in the three menus) that we tried during the media preview.

福寿双全齐捞起
Soft Shell Crab and Salmon Yee Sang with Crispy Shredded Treasures and Blackcurrant-Plum Dressing
This yee sang was topped with both salmon and soft shell crab! Takes the crown for being my fav yee sang (so far) this year!

花胶竹笙菜胆汤
Double Boiled Chicken and Vegetable Soup with Bamboo Pith, Fish Maw and Sun Dried Scallops
A rich and flavourful (and very healthy!) soup that really warms the soul!

山珍海味富贵鸡
Stewed Chicken with Dried Seafood and Chinese Herb
Something different from normal (and sometimes dry) roast chicken.

奶皇蒜香烤生虾
Oven Baked Fresh Water Prawns with Chef’s Signature Sauce
One word to describe this – DECADENT!

药膳稻香银鳕鱼
Steamed Fish Cod Fillets with Chinese Herb in Congee Sauce
This was a really wonderful dish of perfectly cooked cod fillets in a flavourful (but not overpowering) sauce!

碧绿锅塔伴鲍鱼
Braised Abalone 5 Head, Dried Seafood Cake and Fatt Choy with Green Vegetable

柚子冰糕香茅冻
Chilled Lemon Grass Jelly with Yuzu Sorbet
鱼跃龙门年年糕
Steamed Golden Fish Chinese New Year Cake with Grated Coconut
A sweet end to the meal with steamed nian gao “fishes” swimming among the grated coconut. Top marks for presentation!

Ti Chen is located at:
The Saujana Hotel,
Saujana Resort,
Jalan Lapangan Terbang SAAS,
40150 Shah Alam,
Selangor, Malaysia.

For details of the Chinese New Year promotion or to book online, head over to http://www.saujanahotels.com – promotions, or call (603) 7843 1234 ext. 6122, or email dine@thesaujana.com
Website: https://www.saujanahotels.com/dining/ti-chen

Thanks for having us over!

The photos above were shot using the OPPO Reno2 and are completely unedited.

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Fashion News – May 2018

[Luxury Fashion]

Natasha Poly wore Atelier Versace on 14 May 2018 at the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival. The model was stunning in a long sleeves lilac silk chiffon Atelier Versace SS18 gown with Swarovski crystal embellishments and thigh high slits. She finished her look with a silver metallic clutch and a pair of silver Versace sandals.

Irina Shayk also wore Atelier Versace on 10 May 2018 in also the 71st annual Cannes Film Festival. The model was stunning in a red custom Atelier Versace gown featuring cut out details held together by gold chains with Medusa studs. She accessorized her look with gold Versace sandals.

Kaia Gerber was spotted wearing a dress and sandals from the Versace Spring Summer 2018 Tribute Collection on 2 May 2018 in Berlin, Germany. The model wore a black silk mini dress with straps enriched by Medusa studs and side cut outs. She finished her look with a pair of black leather sandals with gold Medusa studs.

The irrepressible Kim Kardashian West was spotted wearing Versace on 8 May 2018 at a dinner hosted by The Business of Fashion in New York city, The star was radiant in a Vintage Versace yellow ensemble enriched with a corseted silk top. She finished her look with a pair of Versace yellow sandals and gold chain bracelet.

Priyanka Chopra, who starred alongside The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson in Baywatch recently, was spotted with a Versace bag on 26 April 2018. The actress was spotted out and about in New York carrying her white Icon bag from the Spring-Summer 2018 Tribute collection.

At the Versace Met Gala After Party on 8 May 2018, there were quite a number of prominent celebrities wearing Versace including songstress Katy Perry, Chadwick Boseman (who recently stared in Marvel’s The Black Panther), Formula 1 world champion driver Lewis Hamilton, Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian West, Ashley Graham, Gigi Hadid, 2 Chainz, Migos, Zendaya, Mary J. Blige, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (of Transformers fame), Iman Haman, Ashley Graham, Lily Aldridge. and more!

Visuals courtesy of Versace Malaysia.

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Huawei Ascend P7 – Tech Specs

[Tech & Gadgets]

The nice folks over at Huawei Malaysia passed me a unit of their latest flagship model – the Huawei Ascend P7 which succeeds the outgoing P6. The P7 is an upgrade of the P6 in pretty much every department and comes with a 5-inch FHD touchscreen display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 in both front and rear covers.
The rear cover has a metallic appearance thanks to the seven-layered rear surface treatment with a refined “spin effect” micro-pattern design,  and metal going around the top, and the sides making this phone look extremely classy indeed. The effect of this is that the phone can be a bit slippery as when you’re holding it you’re mainly holding metal and glass so I learned to hold it extra securely.
The phone is 6.5mm thin, putting it among the slimmest 4G LTE smartphones in the world and is very light – about 124 grams. The Ascend P7 is powered by a 1.8GHz HiSilicon Kirin 910 quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and Android’s latest Kit Kat 4.4.2 with Emotion UI 2.3 which is quite a light UI with minimal lag. In fact, I didn’t experience any lag at all even when playing games which have a lot of graphics.
Powering the device running is a 2,500mAh lithium polymer battery which is equipped with an advanced power-saving mode, making it possible for remaining 10 per cent battery life to last 24 hours on standby.
The phone comes equipped with a 13MP non-spherical lens Back-illuminated sensor (BSI) rear-facing camera, with the Image Signal Processor (ISP), giving users functions that mimic those found in professional digital SLRs, including autofocus, white balance and noise reduction. To access the camera quickly, the rear camera can be activated within 1.2 seconds of double-clicking the down volume button while the device is locked making it really handy for capturing the moment.
The front camera is a 8MP non-spherical lens equipped with IMAGESmart 2.0 software that has 10 level auto-facial enhancements in beauty mode. Girls just LOVE taking selfies with this phone as it automatically enhances your face – just adjust the beauty level and snap the pic. No additional editing required although you could edit it even further with the in-built camera software. No 3rd party apps needed here.
The Ascend P7 is equipped with Huawei’s unique dual antenna designed to improve signal receptions and enabling unlimited media viewing with 4G LTE speeds. The Ascend P7 also uses smart network switching technology that stabilizes the connection even during weak signal reception to minimize battery drainage.
The phone is available in black or white and here’s a look at both colours:

And here’s the black one:

Technical Specifications
SIZE

Height 139.8mm
Width 68.8mm
Depth 6.5mm

Weight (with battery): About 124g
Colours: Black / White
DISPLAY

Display 5.0 inch INCELL touch-sensitive screen
FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution
16M colors

Processor Quad-core 1.8GHz
Operating System Android™ 4.4 .2 KitKat / Huawei Emotion UI 2.3
MEMORY

RAM: 2GB
Internal Memory: 16GB
External Memory Support: Micro SD up to 64GB

CONNECTIVITY

Network FDD LTE: B1/B3/B7/B8/B20
UMTS: B1/ B2/B5/B8
GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
GPS/AGPS Yes
wifi_connection 802.11b/g/n

SENSORS

G-sensor
Accelerometer
Proximity & light sensor
Ambient light sensor
Compass

CAMERA

Front Side 8MP FF
Rear Side 13MP AF BSI F2.0, with Flash

MULTIMEDIA

Audio Encoding MP3, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MIDI
Audio file format RA, MP3, WAV, OGG, MID, AMR, MP4, 3GP
Video encoding MP4, 3GP, MPEG-4
Video file format MP4, 3GP, WMV, RM, RMVB, MPEG-4 , FLAC, RMVB

User Interface: Emotion UI
Battery: 2500mAh

IN THE BOX

Handset 1pc
Battery 1pc
Headset 1pc
Charger 1pc
USB cable 1pc
Quick Start Guide 1pc
Warranty Card 1pc

I’ll be uploading some photos taken with the Huawei Ascend P7 on my social media accounts:
Instagram – http://instagram.com/timchew1311/
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/timchewkc
For more information, head over to www.Vmall.my

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Editor’s Note – June 2020

[Editor’s Note]
Restaurants Open for Dine-In in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor
(June and July 2020)
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
As we enter the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) phase in Malaysia, restaurants are allowed to have customers dine-in once again. I’ve compiled a list of some of the restaurants and hotels such as PRIME at Le Meridien, Iketeru at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, DC Restaurant, Bref by Darren Chin, and more that you can visit to dine-in in June and July 2020.
Head over here to read the feature: https://timchew.net/2020/05/15/hotels-and-restaurants-in-kuala-lumpur-and-selangor-to-visit-in-may-june-and-july-2020/

Credible Journalism

During the Movement Control Order (MCO), and Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Malaysia due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I had some time to catch up on a HBO original series called “The Newsroom” that I watched but did not manage to complete a couple of years ago.
The Newsroom is a 3-season series that requires a huge amount of attention to the dialogue, which is often witty and littered with dry humour, as well as intellectual discourse, among the romance and drama, set against a backdrop of real life local (USA) and global events such as the US presidential race, Occupy Wall Street movement, Boston marathon bombing, assassination of the US ambassador in Benghazi, and more.
Coming from a traditional media background myself (I used to work in Mediacorp, MEASAT aka Astro, and for a couple of publishers), the series resonated with me, evoking memories of my time in traditional media. Although the series itself was set in USA and covered many real-life topics mostly in the states from 2011 to 2013, I was able to appreciate it as I often tune in to CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera or other news networks daily over breakfast.
The central theme of the series was integrity and credibility in journalism, something of which the cast of the fictional media company struggled with in their quest to produce a nightly news hour that delivers the real facts to the audience. Details had to be fact-checked and vetted thoroughly before being aired, something which is integral in responsible journalism.
Fast forward to today, and sadly the world has become inundated with fake news, spread by unscrupulous parties bent on personal gain/ profit whether for economical or political purposes. Right here in Malaysia, fake news is rife and used to spread racial and religious hatred for political purposes in a manner that is both divisive and inherently dangerous as it can ignite something more serious like racial riots.
It’s really sad to see a multi-racial country like Malaysia, which practised togetherness and acceptance for decades since independence, descend into a cesspool of intolerance and blatant racism, where the population is unable to discern right from wrong, unable to apply their moral compass as they are blinded by racial/ religious hatred against other citizens who are of different ethnicity/ creed.
I for one, will continue to speak our against abuse of power, corruption, extremism, racism and religious intolerance, and I hope that you will join me. It’s time to stand up together against the forces of evil plaguing our beloved nation.
Remember – evil wins when good men do nothing.

[Updated – 25 June 2020]
Recently, a Reddit user exposed the unethical practises of Malaysian trash tabloid site World of Buzz, detailing the company’s unethical practices such as plagarism, abuse of their own staff members and more.
Read the original story here: https://www.reddit.com/r/malaysia/comments/hcntgu/spilling_the_tea_on_a_malaysian_news_site/
In response, the founders of World of Buzz came up with a video that totally skirted the allegations, sprinkled with some crocodile tears that really looks like a desperate attempt to gain some pity. Sincere or insincere, I will let you be the judge.

We at timchew.net and MHB Digital would like to remind all our friends and readers to always consume media that is credible and trustworthy, avoiding tabloid trash sites like World of Buzz, The Coverage, etc. etc. which either blatantly plagiarise the work of real journalists, copy paste from social media postings, or just come up with entirely fake but sensational news just to get eyeballs to their site (in the hopes that readers will click the display advertising banners).
Please be a responsible consumer of media and remember. If you’re unsure of the authenticity of the article, please DO NOT SHARE IT. You may be spreading fake news.
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Xiaomi Launches the Redmi Note 5 in Malaysia

[Technology News]

Xiaomi officially launched Redmi Note 5 in Malaysia on 24 April 2018 with the very affordable price of RM799 for the 3GB + 32GB variant, and RM999 for the 4GB + 64GB variant. The new Redmi Note 5 was designed to offer users amazing camera image quality and performance previously unseen in this price category, which is in line with the company’s commitment to providing the best smartphone technologies at the most amazing prices.
The Redmi Note 5 comes equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 platform and has superior photography capabilities with a dual camera setup featuring a large 1.4μm-pixel sensor, AI camera effects and an LED Selfie light for its front camera.
Steven Shi, Head of Xiaomi South Pacific Region said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce Redmi Note 5 here in Malaysia, a powerful device with an outstanding camera that can rival any flagship smartphone in the market. I believe that this device will be warmly welcomed by technology enthusiasts as it places more power into the hands of more consumers across the country. In addition, I’m excited to announce that Xiaomi’s plans for expansion in Malaysia include opening a store in every major city, so our products are more readily available to everyone.”

Steven Shi, Head of Xiaomi South Pacific Region introducing the new Redmi Note 5

The Redmi Note 5 comes a dual camera setup, a combination that aims to provide clearer images and faster focusing even in low light, a feature usually available only in more premium smartphones. The main 12-megapixel sensor features large 1.4μm pixels, which can capture more light and deliver better results under low-light conditions.
The camera on Redmi Note 5 comes with Dual Pixel technology which is commonly used in professional dSLR cameras. Every single pixel of the main 12-megapixel sensor contains two photodiodes (semiconductor devices that can convert light into electrical current) – resulting in 24 million photodiodes in total, which is nearly 30 times more than the number of photodiodes of traditional PDAF-enabled sensors of the same resolution. This allows the sensor to measure phase differences more effectively, thus improving autofocus speed significantly.
The front camera of Redmi Note 5 has a 13-megapixel sensor, complemented by an LED Selfie light. When Portrait Mode is engaged, both the front and rear cameras come with Xiaomi’s latest Beautify 4.0, which has different effects enhanced by AI calculations for a natural look. Even without a second sensor, the front camera can provide a bokeh effect in Portrait Mode thanks to its AI technology that helps to isolate the subject from the background.

The Redmi Note 5 uses Qualcomm’s latest powerful and efficient Snapdragon 636 platform based on the 14nm manufacturing process. Users will experience faster performance thanks to its Kryo 260 architecture, 1.8GHz maximum clock speed, and the Adreno 509 GPU. Compared to Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, the Snapdragon 636 has a 40 percent increase in performance while maintaining power efficiency. The Redmi Note 5 is also the first device in the Redmi family to use LPDDR4X DRAM, which is usually only available on flagship smartphones which enables apps to be run simultaneously and switched between programs more smoothly.
The Redmi Note 5 has a 5.99 inch FHD+ 18:9 full screen, large 4000mAh battery and support for fast charging. Equipped with the latest MIUI 9 operating system based on Android Oreo, Redmi Note 5 also comes with full screen display gestures, which allows users to completely hide the navigation bar, for a maximized display area.
The Redmi Note 5 is available in two versions in Malaysia: 3GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB. It is available in three colours – Lake blue, Gold, and Black. A simple and elegant TPU case will be included in the box with every Redmi Note 5.
Pre-orders for Redmi Note 5 start on 25 April on Lazada, and the device can be purchased offline from our Authorised Mi Stores starting 5 May.
At the event, Xiaomi also announced that it will open 6 more Authorised Mi Stores in Malaysia in May, adding on to the current 4 Authorised Mi Stores across the country. The new outlets will be located at:

Dataran Pahlawan Mall, Melaka

Aeon Bukit Tinggi, Klang

Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru

Aman Central, Alor star, kedah

Imago KK Time Square, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Sunway Carnival, Prai, Penang

For more info, head over to http://blog.mi.com/en/

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First Look – Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8

[Tech & Gadgets]

Lenovo has been pretty aggressive in the Malaysian and international market recruiting the likes of actor Ashton Kutcher, and basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, who both are well known and instantly recognisable personalities. Recently, I had the opportunity to review the new Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 (there’s also a 10″ version in the market) which was launched earlier this year.
As you can see in the photo above, the contents of the box are pretty much the essentials, which is good. You get the tablet (of course), the charger which uses a micro-USB slot, the quick start guide, and the basic instruction manual (the full manual can be obtained online on the Lenovo website).

Yoga – what an odd name for a tablet. That’s what I thought until I discovered the aluminium kick stand which enable the tablet to stand up by itself without the need for case. This mode is great when you have a hard and level surface and this mode is most useful when you’re watching videos and don’t need to have much interaction with the tablet.

This is the tablet in tilt mode which is great when you need to type and have the screen comfortably facing you instead of a normal tablet which is lying flat on the table/ surface.

This is the hold mode and this is where the unusual design of the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 comes to play. You know how when you’re reading a magazine and you roll up one side so you can hold it with one hand and have the other hand free? Well this concept is applied to the tablet and I immediately noticed that it’s much more comfortable to hold than normal flat tablets (which have the flat slate design). The unusual “spine” (which is like the spine of a book/ magazine) is put to good use containing the huge battery (Lenovo claims the tablet can be used up to 18 hours to browse the web using WiFi), the dual front facing speakers equipped with Dolby® Digital Plus enhancement, and the rear 5MP camera.
I think this mode is great for reading e-books and other reading materials as it mimics what you’re already accustomed to. Also your thumb and forefinger won’t get fatigued so easily as compared to holding normal (flat) tablets.

The tablet looks pretty stylish with its polycarbonate textured back cover (which is scratch resistant) that looks like metal giving it a very premium feel, and feels smooth to the touch.

There are only two (2) physical buttons namely the power button, and the volume button which is pictured above near the 3.5mm audio jack. Next to the volume button is the mic in case you ever decide to use the tablet to make calls. I think it’s more practical to use the tablet to make Skype calls rather than normal phone calls.

The tablet booted up in seconds and this is the home screen. In fact the Android Ui has been adapted and simplified so that all the apps are actually on the home screen rather than the typical app panel. The screen is pretty sharp and the performance is enough for most users. The screen is viewable from a wide angle thanks to the in-plane switching (IPS) technology meaning that you can view it clearly and comfortably even though you’re sitting at the side and not directly in front.
I will be revealing the technical specs in my next post but if you can always find out more at http://shopap.lenovo.com/my/en/tablets/lenovo/yoga/yoga-8/
The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 has a suggested retail price of RM999.00 and comes with a free folio case (see the photo below) to protect your tablet.

Father’s Day Specials at Impiana KLCC Hotel

Impiana KLCC Hotel is preparing a delightful hi tea buffet spread at Tonka Bean Cafe, on 15 June 2014, Sunday at 12.30pm to 4.00pm in conjunction with Father’s Day!
Look out for a special selection of dishes especially prepared for the occasion including a Deluxe Selection of Sashimi with Japanese Condiments, Roasted Chicken Platter with Melon Balls, Asparagus and Chicken Slices Salad, New Potato Salad, Beef Tenderloin, Chicken Burger, Beef Ribeye, Chicken Breast, Salmon Steak, Jumbo Bratwurst, Tiger Prawns & Squid, Penne with Tomato Sauce & Chicken Sausage, Honey Glazed Sea bass with Mushroom & Leek Ragout, Marinated Chicken cooked with Mushroom and Olive, Mashed Potato with Onion Rings, Century Eggs Porridge with Shredded Chicken & Condiments, Sago and Melon in Coconut Milk, Chocolate Éclair, Assorted Fruit Tartlet and many more.
Among the exciting activities for dad are:

Mystery gifts for Dad
10 minutes head & shoulder massage for Dad by Swasana Spa
DIY Chocolate Cigar and Edible Tie for Dad
Mingling clowns and sand art station by Jelly and Frenz for the kids
Live band entertainment by Harmony and Rhythm
Family activities – FREE family snapshot
Lucky draws

Father’s Day High Tea is priced at RM78.00++ (adult) and RM39.00++ (child 6-12 years old ) Kids below 6 years old enjoy FREE meal!
For dining reservations, please call 03-21471111, extension 3034 or 3035.
Website : http://www.impiana.com

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Tech News – October 2022

HUAWEI Malaysia Appoints Victor Xu as New Country Director

On 30 September 2022, HUAWEI Malaysia (Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd) announced the appointment of Victor Xu Jin Long as the new Country Director of HUAWEI Malaysia Consumer Company Group (BG), with responsibility for managing day-to-day business operations.
Before taking the role of Country Director, Victor served as Director of Huawei Asia Pacific Device Channel Sales. He comes with a broad spectrum of experience across the industry, notably in the area of strategic business planning, establishing corporate ties and alliances, as well as improving organisational competence.
In his new role, he will be in charge of managing every aspect of HUAWEI Malaysia Consumer BG’s business operations, reiterating the company’s commitment to being a top global smartphone brand, bringing high-quality products to Malaysia, and improving Malaysians’ access to a seamless, AI-powered connected life.

“It is with great pleasure to be granted the mandate for this new position in Malaysia. In my current role, I am deeply committed to maintaining the wave of innovation, while ushering in the latest and greatest HUAWEI products to Malaysian fans. I look forward to supporting the consumer business group in Malaysia by providing strategic oversight through my experience in the industry.”
Victor Xu Jin Long, Country Director of HUAWEI Malaysia Consumer BG
“Customer centricity is the core of HUAWEI’s business philosophy. We strive to create unique experiences that other brands could not and bring people closer than ever through HUAWEI’s technologies. With that in mind, I am also glad to announce that Malaysia would be one of the first countries where the latest flagship Mate 50 series would be made available for HUAWEI fans,” Victor added.
Victor began working for HUAWEI China in the Terminal Test Management Department in 2007 and has more than 15 years of expertise in the consumer electronics sector. Since then, he has risen through the ranks of HUAWEI Technologies’ leadership, eventually rising to the position of Director of China Device Channel Sales, and then Director of the Asia Pacific Device Channel Sales Management Department. Victor graduated from China’s Tianjin University.

Photo credits: Respective brands
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A Date with the Toyota Vios (Car Review) to Sapore Italian, Spanish-Mediterranean Restaurant, Ampang

[Car and Restaurant Review]

Beatrice and I decided to head over to Sapore in Ampang from Kota Damansara one sunny Saturday afternoon. With us was the latest (3rd generation) Toyota Vios which the nice folks at Toyota Malaysia passed to me to try for a couple of days.
Since being introduced in 2003, the Toyota Vios has been the best-selling non-national model in Malaysia for 11 years. More than 100,000 units of the 3rd generation Toyota Vios have been sold since 2013, as customers prefer its combination of spaciousness, good fuel economy, a comfortable ride and high quality.
The improved Vios 1.5GX we were in is a certified EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) – with fuel economy, weight and emissions criteria have been tested and approved by the Road Transport Department.
The Toyota Vios 1.5GX comes with a brand new powertrain consisting of the new 2NR-FE engine and a CVT (Continuously-Variable Transmission) in place of the conventional 4-speed automatic transmission.
The new 2NR-FE engine, has a 1.5-litre displacement with a DOHC 16valve cylinder head. However, where the previous engine had VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) on just the intake side, this new engine has Dual VVT-i which means that the opening/closing times of the valves on the exhaust side are also continuously variable according to driving conditions.
The all-aluminium engine also uses Iridium spark plugs and the combustion chambers now have a tapered squish design to enhance the combustion process. Oil jets provide more efficient lubrication for the pistons which reduces friction, and the new enhanced engine cover reduces noise and vibration.

The new Vios 1.5GX variant has a newly designed aerokit with new 15-inch alloy wheels that are fitted with 185/60R15 tyres. The car is also equipped with projector headlamps, and daytime Running Lights (DRLs) integrated in the front bumper.

With the rear seats in use, the boot volume is 506 litres.
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Toyota’s own factory testing shows that the Improved Vios with the new engine and CVT can achieve 18% better fuel economy than the previous engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission. If an owner travelled 25,000 km a year, this would mean fuel-savings of around 302 litres.
Contributing to the better fuel economy is CVT which incorporates a torque converter to provide much smoother operation with less shift shocks. The computer will always maintain the transmission ratio at optimum based on driving conditions and to enhance fuel efficiency within the 0 to 100 km/h speed range (which is the most frequently used), there are more ratios available.
The Vios 1.5GX has the same CVT technology in the Corolla Altis which provides an immediate response to the slightest tap on the accelerator pedal and smooth and linear acceleration. There is also the 7-speed Sport Sequential Shiftmatic mode where you can select pre-set ratios (in a sequential manner) by pulling or pushing on the shift lever – something I enjoyed playing with!

The Vios 1.5GX comes with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) which used to be available only in more expensive models. It is an Active Safety system which helps a driver to regain control of the car if a skid occurs. A computer constantly receives data from various sensors and when it detects that the car is skidding sideways, braking forces will be automatically applied on certain wheels to create a counteracting force. In this way, the skidding will be stopped and the driver will be able to maintain control to safely drive around the corner.
Other Active Safety systems include ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). For extra stopping power, the Vios 1.5GX comes with rear disc brakes.
In terms of Passive Safety, there’s the computer-engineered impact-absorbing body structure with high tensile steel used in many areas. The front of this strong structure is designed to absorb and dissipate the impact forces of a collision so that they do not reach the cabin and cause injuries to the occupants.
There are SRS airbags for the driver and front passenger, a collapsible steering column, and a knee brace below the dashboard which will prevent the driver’s legs from being injured in the event of a frontal collision.
All three rear passengers have 3-point seatbelts, and there are ISOFIX points for compatible child seats. Various sections of the cabin, including the ceiling, have been fitted with impact absorbing materials.

The upholstery is perforated two-tone (black & saddle tan) leather with a new cubic print trim design with a metal hairline pattern.
The reverse camera makes reversing much easier and safer, while the Smart Entry System makes locking/ unlocking the car very convenient.
The audio system in the Vios 1.5GX is a 2-DIN head unit with a large 6.8-inch touchscreen and a DVD player with connectivity options such as AUX and USB ports as well as Bluetooth, with control switches available on the steering wheel.

Other standard equipment includes power retractable door mirrors with integrated turn indicators, rear centre armrest and acoustic glass for the windscreen and side windows to lower noise transmission for a quieter cabin ambience.
The car comes with Toyota Premium Security & Solar Film developed and manufactured using nanotechnology methods, fully complies with JPJ regulations and is certified by PUSPAKOM. Besides providing protection from the harmful and uncomfortable infrared rays of the sun, the film also includes a security layer to delay grass breakage.
The Vios 1.5GX comes with a 5-year Warranty with Unlimited mileage, and is priced at RM 92,800.00 (On-The-Road Price for Peninsular Malaysia including GST with Insurance).

Sapore is an Italian, Spanish-Mediterranean Restaurant located at Ampang. Sapore means flavours in Italian, and the establishment serves authentic Italian and Spanish cuisine. The restaurant’s main specialities include imported quality Jamon Iberico, cold cut Charcuterie, Antipasti Tagliere, various cheese selection, hot and cold tapas, classic Italian Bruschetta bread, and more.
The restaurant is helmed by Chef Fabio Ruggiero who hails from Bari, the capital city of southern Italy’s Puglia region. Chef Fabio graduated from the Professional Institute of Hospitality, Molfetta (BA) Italy in 2006.
From 2006 till 2012, Chef Fabio Ruggiero worked as a Chef de Partie at  5-stars hotels and some of the best restaurants worldwide, such as Relais La Suvera & Hotel Caruso, Hotel Eden (*1 Michelin Stars) in Italy and (Getti Restaurant) London.
Chef Fabio was also the Assistant Head Chef at Marini’s on 57 from 2012 to 2016, before deciding to open Sapore.

The interior is kept simple with dark wood furniture and tables set reasonably far apart so the next table won’t eavesdrop on your conversation
Some refreshing drinks to start lunch!
Red sangria

Prosciutto di Parma ham
Known as the King of Hams. it is a time-honoured classic imported only from Italy, where the pigs are humanely raised, carefully chosen and cured naturally. With only four ingredients, specially-bred pork, sea salt, Italian air, and time, Prosciutto di Parma is 100% natural and does not include harmful ingredients like nitrates.
This was absolutely delicious! Went well on its own or with the warm bread.

Lardo di colonnata (Flavoured tuscany pork lard)
The art of Italian cured meat, lardo is about richness, and the creamy texture of fat and succulence.
Yes I know what you’re thinking… lard? Yes! Eat this with the complimentary warm crusty bread in place of butter! Delicious! Also, new research has shown that pork fat aka lard is the healthiest animal fat!

Spaghetti Carbonara with Eggs Yolk, Guanciale Ham & Pecorino – RM29
Authentic taste of carbonara (unlike the versions found in Malaysia), Sapore uses Guanciale Ham, the cheek meat of the pig, as it provides the flavours to make the pasta carbonara more outstanding. The Guanciale ham is marinated with black pepper, salt, thyme, and dry fennel. The Guanciale ham marination time takes around 3 to 4 months before the meat can be used. An important ingredient for pasta carbonara is the eggs, and Sapore only the eggs yolk because the egg yolk gives more colours to the pasta presentation and the amalgamation (a result of combining) is better because eggs are a natural protein source. Sapore does not cook the pasta using cream, rather using Pecorino Romano (a very hard cheese from Italy combined with the natural salt that was made out from the sheep’s milk).
This was pasta carbonara that was made in the authentic Italian style, not the drenched in runny sauce stuff we get here that’s passed off as a pasta dish. As someone who really loves cheese, this dish was heaven for me! The saltiness of the Guanciale ham matched the creamy cheesy pasta sauce perfectly, balancing it nicely! Share this one though as it can be quite rich (even though there’s no cream)!

Button Mushrooms with Blue Cheese
This tapas went well with the breads, and was not too overwhelming as you might expect with the inclusion of the blue cheese. In fact, it was nice and creamy with the earthy flavours of the mushrooms being the highlight rather than the blue cheese.

Escargots
Cooked with creamy cheese and garlic.
Deliciously creamy and cheesy escargots made this a very hearty dish indeed! Share this one though!

Tuna Tartar with Avocado Guacamole
Refreshing and creamy all in one bite!

Spanish Omelette
A breakfast/ brunch staple which is very filling!

Tiramisu with Coffee & Marsala
A dessert made of layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and a rich, velvety mascarpone cream, with the sweet red wine and marsala.
An incredibly decadent end to a fabulous meal! Beatrice really like this!

Vanilla Crème Brûlée
A smooth and creamy custard with a burst of lime citrus.
Oh my! Another very decadent dessert! A classic French dessert perfectly executed and given a slight twist of flavours with the addition of the green lime!

Sapore is indeed a very good value for money restaurant and ideal for lunch, dinner, and even private events! Check out some of their on-going promotions:

Sapore is located at:
18, Persiaran Ampang,
Desa Pahlawan,
55000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.

Website: https://sapore18my.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saporemy/
Insider tip – Head over here for their promotions and specials – https://sapore18my.com/whatsgoingon/special-deals/

Us with Chef Fabio Ruggiero. Thanks for having us!

Did something a little different this time and also shot the car at night.

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Lenovo Vibe X Launch 150114

[Tech & Gadgets]

It seems that I go to The Roof at First Avenue Bandar Utama almost every week since its opening and this trend continued with me heading over on 15 January 2014 for the launch of the Lenovo Vibe X smartphone which is the latest addition to Lenovo’s PC Plus portfolio (PC Plus is a term Lenovo uses to describe the connected environment, including tablets and smartphones).
Lenovo’s Vibe series is a showcase of the company’s capabilities in smartphones and advancement in their PC Plus category with this new 6.9mm thin and 121g light Vibe X smartphone that comes equipped with a 13MP front and a 5MP wide-angle rear camera, and a high-resolution beveled edge glass display.
“Lenovo continues to bring head-turning innovations to the PC Plus marketplace with the Lenovo Vibe X smartphone’s uncompromising hardware design, its rich display and memory-making camera technologies,” said Khoo Hung Chuan, Country General Manager, Lenovo Malaysia.
Khoo also shared that Lenovo’s “protect and attack” strategy in driving business momentum is proving to be the right strategy for the mobile and consumer-focused PC Plus era. The current trend allows Lenovo to protect their PCs as their core revenue generator, while bringing innovation to capture a larger share of the smartphone and tablet market. This has enabled Lenovo to be 3rd in the smartphone market in 2013 after Apple and Samsung.
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The Vibe X has a premium look and feel with the laser-engraved fabric-feel surface on the back cover, and side chrome accents. The Lenovo Vibe X smartphone comes encased in a slim, featherweight frame while it’s HD five-inch 20/20 Vision Display and IPS panel sits under a scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 screen for the extra impact protection.
The Lenovo Vibe X’s front-facing camera offers one of the highest megapixels in the market today, at five megapixel (MP), and together with a wide-angle 84° lens, to allow you to capture high-quality self-portraits, and even selfies with two or more people if you’re good. It also includes a built-in software editor to help enhance facial features – something I’m sure female users will appreciate a lot. The 13MP auto-focus rear-facing camera comes with a back-illuminated sensor for sharper images and also has an LED flash.
There is also a full-featured photo application that gives users a new way to view and organize pictures, including creating unique custom tags or folders, as well as fun and fresh display arrangements on the screen. The camera application makes it easy to choose custom settings and filters, as well as edit and share any photo or video instantly.
The phone is equipped with the Android™ 4.2 operating system and a Quad-Core MTK 6589T 1.5GHz processor, offering fast performance for apps and games. The Lenovo Vibe X comes preloaded with custom Lenovo applications that allow users to conveniently share photos, videos, and documents, protect your device from malicious software, as well as backup and restore important data. There is also a special Facebook app enhanced with additional screensaver and notification functions for those who are hooked on social media.
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Product Specs
Processor: MTK 6589w 1.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
Graphics: PowerVR SGX544 graphics
Size: 144 x 74 x 6.9 (mm)
Weight: 121g (0.26 lbs)
Display: Capacitive touchscreen, 5.0” Full HD IPS, 20/20 Vision Display with 1920×1080 pixels (441PPI)
Camera: Rear: 13MP auto focus with LED flash; Front: 5MP fixed-focus
SIM: Single- Micro SIM
Memory: RAM: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16 GB eMMC (no expandable memory card slot)
OS: Android™ 4.2 Jelly Bean
Battery: Li-Polymer 2000 mAh (embedded) Standby: 12 days active standby; Talk Time: 16 hours non-stop talk time (2G), 10 hours (3G)
Colour: Silver (another colour will be available soon)
The Lenovo Vibe X is available now at a recommended retail price of RM1,299.00
More info at http://www.lenovo.com/my/en/
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Editor’s Note – December 2019

[Editor’s Note]
Chopard Alpine Eagle Cocktail and Preview

Janet and I recently attended the Chopard Alpine Eagle cocktail at the Chopard boutique in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The new Alpine Eagle sports chic timepiece collection is a contemporary, refined and assertive, state-of-the-art reinterpretation of the St. Moritz, the first watch created in 1980 by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now co-president of Chopard. Imagined and personally designed by him, Alpine Eagle is driven by his passion for the Alps and by the lofty power of the eagle that reigns supreme there.
Crafted from an exclusive, ultra-resistant and light-reflecting metal named Lucent Steel A223, it beats to the rhythm of a Chopard chronometer-certified movement. Bearing testament to Chopard’s ethical approach, Alpine Eagle gives the Maison an opportunity to reveal its new commitment to protecting the Alpine environment through the launch of the Eagle Wings Foundation – of which Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is founding member.
Alpine Eagle is dedicated to contemporary eagles, the aspiring men who outperform in their daily lives and whose vision inspires and elevates. With foresight and determination, they act on the challenges of tomorrow and are innately aware of the importance of environmental issues.

 Janet and me with Jean-Baptiste from Pernod Ricard Malaysia

 DJ Ashley Lau (Jane Chuck AKA Chuckei’s sister) on the decks providing the tunes for the night

The Chopard boutique in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is located at:
Lot 2.24 and 3.26 Levels 2&3, Pavillon Kuala Lumpur,
168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.

Telephone: +60 (3) 2145 3611 /-4611

Oris x Balvenie Whisky Tasting
 Presentation by Tee Shook Yee of Oris Malaysia

We recently attended the Oris x Balvenie whisky tasting in conjunction with Kingsleeve’s anniversary at APW in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. The session began with an introduction to the world of Oris as well as their latest timepiece.
This was followed by a whisky tasting led by James Cordiner, the Balvenie’s Southeast Asia brand ambassador. The Balvenie is owned by William Grant & Sons, which also owns notable brands like Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, and Hendrick’s gin (and many more!).
The Balvenie is a range of single malt whiskies crafted by Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE. The Balvenie is unique among single malts, with their whisky-making process dedicated to maintaining the Five Rare Crafts. As such, they are the only distillery in Scotland that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both a coppersmith and a team of coopers on site.

 James Cordiner, the Balvenie’s Southeast Asia brand ambassador

 Thanks for having us over!

For more info on The Balvenie, head over to https://www.thebalvenie.com/
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Burberry Releases its First Chinese New Year Campaign

[Fashion News]

Burberry unveiled its new Chinese New Year campaign on 3 January 2019 – celebrating family traditions and togetherness during the festive period. The campaign was shot and directed by photographer Ethan James Green, stars Chinese actresses and Burberry brand ambassadors Zhao Wei and Zhou Dongyu, who make their Burberry campaign debut.
Inspired by classic portraiture, the campaign is reimagined in an informal urban environment, juxtaposing the old and the new, the traditional and the contemporary. The campaign features classic Burberry pieces including archive-print scarves, the trench coat and tailoring, contrasting with urban staples including hoodies, t-shirts and joggers, all of which will be available globally online and in-store from today.
“The campaign draws on the concept of families reuniting for the most important holiday of the year, and represents a sense of belonging, but in a very fresh way. It was great fun being back on set with Zhou Dongyu – I enjoyed it very much!” – Zhao Wei
“A family portrait is a very simple concept, but the ceremonial sense behind it holds so much more. For me, being able to go home once a year to spend quality time with my family is something I value above all else, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” – Zhou Dongyu

 Zhao Wei wearing a sleeveless keyhole detail top, reissued Society-print silk scarf and gold-plated link drop earrings. Zhou Dongyu wearing a Vintage check wool jacket with palladium plated link drop earrings.
 Zhao Wei wearing a sleeveless keyhole detail top with a round buckle leather belt and reissued Society-print silk scarf. Zhou Dongyu wearing a Vintage check wool jacket.
 Zhao Wei wearing a sleeveless keyhole detail top with a round buckle leather belt, a reissued Society-print silk scarf and gold-plated link drop earrings.
 Zhou Dongyu wearing a Vintage check wool jacket with palladium plated link drop earrings.

Burberry stores in Malaysia are located at Suria KLCC, The Gardens Mid Valley and in Parkson Pavilion.
More info at http://www.burberry.com/
All images courtesy of Burberry / Ethan James Green.
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Dior Boutique Officially Launched in Suria KLCC

[Luxury Fashion]

MHB’s Managing Editor Tim Chew and member Nicole Fu headed over to Suria KLCC on 1 December 2016 for the official launch of the new Dior boutique which is the House’s second in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The new boutique, which has a prime location in Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Suria KLCC mall, has been designed to reflect the legendary elegance and modernity of the world of Dior.
The boutique takes inspirations from the original Paris flagship on Avenue Montaigne, and provides a sleek and open environment. The store houses women’s ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, a special area for handbags, and the quintessential dedicated VIP area and fitting room. The decor features lustrous, monochromatic details, dramatic accents of chrome and glass and sumptuous furnishings, reflecting the timeless elegance of Dior within a modern and extremely sophisticated setting.
A number of specially-chosen art pieces from prominent international artists can be viewed in Dior KLCC – as Christian Dior was a patron of the arts. The ready-to-wear area, with its cabochon floor, is the perfect home for the hurricane mirror by Fredrikson Stallard as well as a cityscape credenza by the eminent American artist Paul Evans and a stool by Thierry Lemaire. The artist Oyoram created a video installation specifically for the new location.

Lots of celebrities and socialites attended the glitzy launch!
          Sarah Lian                                         Venice Min
With Pearl, Nicole and Bangsarbabe and husband Rif
With Datin Sri Joey Low
With Kathy Tan

The Dior boutique in Suria KLCC is located at:
LC-G01& G23b, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.

Opening Hours: Monday To Sunday (10:00am To 10:00pm)
Photo credits: Dior Malaysia and author’s own

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MIGF 2015 Review – Qba at The Westin Kuala Lumpur

[MIGF Special]
The entrance to Qba

Pearl and I headed over to Qba at The Westin Kuala Lumpur to try their special Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF) 2015 menu.
Now Qba has been around for some years now and it was previously one of the happening spots where Latin dance enthusiasts would congregate for some wine and dancing. Obviously as I’m not much of a dancer, I decided to come try their special MIGF menu instead which was prepared by the restaurant’s culinary team together with Director of Kitchens, Chef Rudy Junaidie featuring a special 4-course menu that highlights the essence of Latin American cuisine through traditional ingredients in seductive modern presentations.
Qba Latin Bar & Grill consists of a Wine Bar & Cigar Lounge, a Latin Grill dining room, an Island Bar and an Alfresco dining area, steeped in Havana culture. With a Latino inspiration, Qba presents distinctive Cuban gastronomic experiences with fresh ingredients and rustic flavours, matched with a wide variety of rum blends and South American fine wines. The restaurant’s interior features charming Havana architecture, pre-Castro nostalgic fittings which are complemented by live Latin rhythms.
Chef Rudy Junaidie has enjoyed a long and prosperous career with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, with roles dating back to 1995 when he started with Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort as Executive Sous Chef before taking over as Executive Chef. He then spent three years as Assistant Director of Kitchens at The Westin Kuala Lumpur, where he was a crucial member of the pre-opening team. His next challenge was Director of Food & Beverage at Sheraton Subang Hotel & Towers, before returning to the kitchen – where his true passion lies – at The Westin Kuala Lumpur for a further four years and then two years with Sheraton Macao Hotel, the Starwood Hotels & Resorts largest global property.
With an impressive 20 years of extensive exposure and experience across various regions, Chef Junaidie now helms the culinary team as the Director of Kitchens of The Westin Kuala Lumpur.
Throughout his career, Chef Junaidie has competed in numerous Malaysian and international culinary competitions, often as Team Leader, achieving great success personally and as a team. Other career highlights include representing the Malaysia National Culinary Team in the World Cup Culinary Competition in Luxembourg and Singapore Salon Culinaire in 2002.
The bar at the lounge upstairs
The cigar lounge has some comfy sofas
The dining area upstairs
Complimentary bread served with butter and a tomato spread
On to the special MIGF menu at Qba

GAMBAS DE SUDAMERICA aka “qwehli prawns duet”
quinoa crusted on Peruvian causa, calamansi cured on chunky avocado-corn salsa
Paired with the Miguel Torres Santa Digna Estelado Rose Cava
Essentially prawns done two (2) ways – the first being a lovely fresh prawn and the other with a quinoa crust. Both were lovely and we ate them with the creamy salsa and sweet potato puree which added even more sweetness to the dish! The quinoa crusted prawn was quite interesting as the quinoa crust gave it a nice and crispy texture! The way to eat this dish is from the bottom to the top!
The cava was refreshing, dry and with a hint of sweetness and notes of fruits and citrus. Went so well with the prawns while the fine and persistent bubbles refreshed the palate with every sip.

FIDEO A LO MACHO aka “rocoto seafood chowder”
cod, scallop, razor clams, assorted seaweed with homemade squid ink fettucine
The chowder was nice and light and not the creamy and heavy type which is usually quite fattening! We were pleased to see a lot of seafood inside the pot before the broth was poured in. Flavourful and not cloyingly rich, this was a nice and hearty dish that went well with the cava that is also paired with the appetizer. Seafood and cava – what a beautiful combination indeed!

SOURSOP SORBET (Palate Cleanser)
I don’t normally say much about palate cleansers but this one was so addictive that I pretty much finished it! The tart flavours totally refreshed the mouth and got us ready for the main course.

SALMOTENE aka “red mullet with edible crystals”
“Pedro Ximenez” beet emulsion, braised fennel
Paired with the Miguel Torres Cordillera Chardonnay
A beautifully cooked and delicate fish that went well with the citrus notes of the berries.
The Chardonnay had a fresh and fruity aroma with dominant notes of peach, white plum, and grapefruit, with touches of toasted hazelnuts and paired well with the delicate fish.

OR

PABELLON LATINO aka “beef eye fillet”
With stuffed hearts of palm, “sofrito” choron, “wagyu cheek slow cooked in carmenere” with golden beets, artichoke chips
Paired with the Miguel Torres Cordillera Carmenere
This was my favourite dish of the night. A gorgeous and tender fillet and a 48 hour sous-vide wagyu beef cheek which literally melts in the mouth. Both were just bursting with flavour and really…I didn’t quite bother with anything else on the plate besides the beef. They were simply so so awesome! I must come back to Qba to try their steaks another day. If you eat beef, do yourself a favour and order this main. It’s not that the fish is not delicious, but this beef is just heavenly!
The Carmenere is a wine that expresses the character of the Carmenère varietal with hints of forest fruits, eucalyptus, and leather, with notes of torrefaction – laurel and clove – licorice and black pepper. Matched the awesome beef well and added another dimension in flavours.

TARTA DE MANJAR BLANCO
dulce de leche & oreo cookies cake with caramel ice cream
Paired with the Torres Floralis Moscatel Oro
This creative dessert is meant to portray the planets in our solar system in line with this year’s MIGF theme of “Galactic Chefs”. I’m not much of a dessert person but I finished up the whole thing (much to my own amazement). It was the combination of ice cream, caramel, oreo cookies and chocolate that made this one irresistible dessert.
The Moscated is a sweet dessert wine with aromas of orange blossom, Turkish delight and honeyed fruit, accompanied by delicious spicy notes of tobacco leaf and clove. A nice pairing with the dessert but you can’t drink much of it because it’s so sweet!

The special MIGF 2015 menu at Qba runs throughout October 2015, and is priced at RM220.00 nett (without wines) or RM380.00 nett (with wines).

Pearl with Chef Jasper Chow who led the culinary team to prepare the lovely MIGF meal for us that night
Chef Jasper Chow started his culinary career in Dubai at a young age in the butchery of The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi. His passion for food and his natural culinary talent soon saw him advanced as a Commis in the award-winning restaurant Tang of Le Meridien Mina Seyahi. Under the guidance of Tang’s Executive Chef Stephane Buchholzer, Jasper was trained in the conventions of molecular cuisine for fine French dining.
Chef Jasper’s spent six (6) years working for various renowned restaurants and 5-star hotels, before returning to Malaysia to become the Junior Sous Chef in Qba Bar & Grill of The Westin Kuala Lumpur.
He is excited to be able to work with new ingredients and spices making Cuban and Latin American food, applying his experience and unique cooking techniques to this very down-to-earth and traditional cuisine.

Qba is a really romantic spot to bring your date to and if you have a special occasion to celebrate in October, you might as well take advantage of the MIGF menu at Qba to have an unforgettable dining experience.

Qba Latin Bar & Grill is located at:
Lower Ground 1 & 2, The Westin Kuala Lumpur
 199, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Telephone: +603 2773 8338
Website: http://www.westindining.com.my/qba
Email: westindining@westin.com
Operating Hours:
Monday to Thursday (5.00pm – 1.00am)
Friday to Saturday (5.00pm – 2.00am)
Closed on Sundays

Photos shot with the Leica C. Read more about it at https://timchew.net/2013/11/19/leica-c-launch-with-malaysias-hottest-bloggers/

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Gifts Ideas for Her – Hermes hermesistible

[Fashion]

Hermèsistible is a new fr-adjective to describe the irresistible side of Hermès, with tales of jewellery and accessories from the autumn-winter 2015 collection which is available for viewing online at www.hermes.com/hermesistible
Hermèsistible is an illustrated dictionary of moods – a moment of fleeting jealousy, a creative idleness, a gentle dash of madness, or an impulsive desire to pack your bags, without being able to articulate exactly how you feel? “Jalousele”, “Aparesse”, “Follitude”, “Escapitude”, “Impulcie”…
Jewellery and accessories set the tone for the sketches in this ’emotionary’. Everyday life takes on new meaning in these short stories made up of photographs, films or gifs – a modern day cartoon strip to share and relate to.
Enamel, leather, wood, the stuff of new dreams, in the form of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, take centre-stage in a collection of short, funny, quirky and quasi-cinematographic stories.

For more info, head over to  http://www.hermes.com/hermesistible
Photo credits: Hermes Malaysia

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Luminox Commando Frogman 3300 Series

[Timepieces]

The new Commando Frogman from Luminox is inspired by the intrepid military divers using this moniker and built as a dedicated diving watch. The Frogman is the nickname for combat divers, which comes from their frog kick swim style. Being the most versatile divers in the military, they carry out a variety of missions, such as waterborne recognitions, sabotage of targets on or under the water, as well as amphibious combat assault. Named after these skilled and fearless divers, the Commando Frogman is designed to mimic their extreme versatility to be a trusted companion to anyone looking for a timepiece that can perform in any situations.
Luminox collaborated with Andrea Micheli, military and law enforcement expert, who helped create the Luminox Recon Line, to create the Commando Frogman 3300 Series. This series targets military personnel, police and commercial divers. It is also perfect for outdoor enthusiasts because of its ruggedness that is enough to withstand just about anything. The uni-directional “Dive Time” bezel of the Commando Frogman is capable of displaying how much time you have left underwater and has a no-decompression scale, so you can calculate how much time you can spend at what depth without having to decompress.

With a diameter of 46mm, the Commando Frogman comes in a Carbonox™ case that is water resistant up to 200 meters, battleship grey dial, Navy-style numerals and a military time scale. Carbonox™ is a carbon-based material exclusive to Luminox – light, hypoallergenic and extremely durable and resistant.
The most tactical watch in the Luminox range, the Commando Frogman comes complete with a Commando compass marking on the stainless-steel screw down case back, Luminox Light Technology (LLT) throughout, including one LLT on the bezel, and it is lightweight and extremely comfortable.
The LLTs guarantee ultimate night vision for up to 25 years through their use of tritium tubes. Unlike other luminosity systems, which depend on exterior light sources to charge luminous paint or a pushbutton to illuminate the watch, the luminosity is built right into Luminox watches, ensuring that you will always be able to see the time under any circumstances.
The Luminox Commando Frogman 3301 is priced at RM 2,635.00

Commando Frogman 3300 Series – Main product features

46mm
TimeDate Ronda 715 Li
Lithium battery, 96 months autonomy
20ATM
CARBONOX™ case, uni-directional turning bezel with alu ring
Sapphire with Anti Reflective coating
Stainless steel screwed crown
Stainless steel case back screwed in
Genuine rubber strap
Swiss Made

Luminox watches can be purchased online at: https://www.luminox.com.sg/
Luminox watches are also available at the following departmental stores and other leading watch retailers.
Parkson at Pavilion
Level 3, Pavilion, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Parkson at Sunway Velocity
G-16, Ground Floor, Sunway Velocity Mall, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
SOGO
Kompleks SOGO, 3D Fashion Arena, 190, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman 50100 Kuala Lumpur
SOGO
Central i-City, Unit G-01, No 1, i-City, Persiaran Multimedia, Seksyen 7, 40000 Shah Alam

For further information and the full list of authorised watch retailers, call Crystal Time (M) Sdn Bhd at +603 2938 3938 or head over to http://www.crystaltime.com.sg
You can also follow Luminox Malaysia on social media at http://www.facebook.com/LuminoxMalaysiaBrunei or http://www.instagram.com/luminoxmy
Visuals courtesy of Crystal Time.

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Editor’s Note – August 2019

[Editor’s Note]
London Essence Tonic Water Cocktail at Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur

We recently headed over to Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur for the London Essense cocktail. The London Essense is a new premium flavoured tonic water that’s imported and distributed in Malaysia by HRZ Beverages.

Chuanxi Bazi Hot Pot at Sunway Velocity

We headed over to the “hot pot/ ma lat central” of Malaysia which is at Sunway Velocity in Kuala Lumpur in search of a good hot pot for dinner. We tried the newly opened (and the very first!) Chuanxi Bazi flagship store outside China.
Chuanxi Bazi started out 17 years ago in China, operating out of a modest 3,000 sq ft shoplot in Chengdu. Today, it has nearly 300 stores nationwide, and is one of the top hotpot restaurant chains in China.
Founded by Master Chef Hu Jianqing, Chuanxi Bazi is recognised as the official “Chinese Hot Pot” brand by the China Cuisine Association (CCA). The restaurant’s core values make it different from the rest — as the word “family” lies at the heart of it all. For Master Chef Hu, everyone who works for the restaurant and all those who dine at the restaurant are like his own family — they always come first. As such, the restaurant aims to deliver the top-most quality standards for food and service in Chuanxi Bazi, without compromise on the authentic Sichuan Hotpot essence.
Truth be told, the ma lat broth was absolutely delicious and although very spicy, didn’t leave a burning sensation on my lips (which is an unhealthy side effect of chilli oil). The ingredients were fresh while the tomato based broth (in the smaller section) was so appetising that I happily drank it towards the end of the meal. The restaurant also provides a cooling “yoghurt” which contained lots of good bacteria to settle the stomach after the spicy meal.
Will definitely return for more soon!

 The broth includes only natural ingredients and spices and absolutely NO recycled oil or unhealthy chilli oil.

Chuanxibazimy 川西坝子-大马店 is located at:
2nd Floor, V03A-02-02, Sunway Visio Tower,
Lingkaran SV,
Sunway Velocity,
Jalan Cheras,
Taman Maluri,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Telephone: 03-9202 3028
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuanxibazimy/

Hardy Cognac Tasting at W Wine Warehouse Puchong

We headed over to W Wine Warehouse in Puchong on 10 August 2019 for the Hardy Cognac tasting session. Hardy Cognac hails from Cognac in France, with a heritage that dates back to 1863. Hardy Cognac is imported and distributed in Malaysia by Drinks Connexion (https://www.facebook.com/drinksconnexion/) and is also available at retails stores like W Wine Warehouse.

 Francois – Hardy Cognacs brand ambassador from France led us through the tasting session

For more info, head over to http://www.hardycognac.fr/eng/home

W Wine & Liquor Warehouse is located at:
58G , Jalan OP 1/5,
One Puchong Business Park,
Off Jalan Puchong,
47160 Puchong,
Selangor, Malaysia.

Telephone: 03-8076 6188
Website: http://www.winewarehouse.com.my

Mooncakes & Drams

Headed over to Blu Bar & Cigar, Pullman KLCC on 17 August 2019 for the Drinks City KL whisky and mooncakes tasting session. The pairing featured four (4) types of handmade mooncakes handmade by Chef Jeffrey of Red Chinese Cuisine in Pullman KLCC, with three (3) A.D. Rattray Single Malts – Cask Islay, Cask Orkney 18YO (Limited Edition), and Stronachie.
A.D. Rattray is an independent Scotch whisky company that sources spirits and casks from all the traditional whisky regions of Scotland. The brand has a long-standing history in the blending and maturation of single malt Scotch whisky since 1868. They have perfected their art of maturing whiskies in casks that result in distinctive expressions of the respective distillery’s character.

 We also got to try some rather interesting boutique whiskies!

Let’s Say NO to Racism and Extremism in the Name of Religion in Malaysia

Lately, many insidious and wicked persons and parties have been spreading racial and religious hatred in Malaysia in order to advance their own evil goals. However, there are Malaysians who refused to fall for these divisive tactics and instead have risen up and voiced their opposition by defending their fellow Malaysians. Very heartwarming especially since Merdeka Day is right around the corner.
Come on Malaysians! We’re stronger together. Unity and strength in diversity!

.

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MIGF 2014 Review – Samplings on the Fourteenth

[Food & Beverage – MIGF 2014 Feature]

I have been to Samplings On The Fourteenth Restaurant at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur twice in the last few years for some pretty special occasions and I was quite delighted to note that the restaurant would be participating in the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival 2014.
You can read about my previous visits here:
https://timchew.net/2011/10/20/fine-dine-beer-with-chef-kern-by-kronenbourg-1664/
https://timchew.net/2013/12/09/food-review-christmas-menu-at-samplings-on-the-fourteen/
Located on the fourteenth floor of Berjaya Times Square Hotel and offering a great view of the surroundings, the restaurant’s main dining room seats sixty people with two private rooms that accommodate eight and twelve guests respectively.

The restaurant serves a Classic Western menu, and is helmed by Chef de Cuisine Valmurugan Subramanian who is fondly known as ‘Chef Val’ by his peers and loyal diners. Chef de cuisine Val comes with 25 years’ experience in the hotel fine dining scene with additional experience cooking in several countries from Switzerland to Vietnam.
As a young apprentice in the late 1980’s, he steadily climbed his way to become the chef de cuisine of a Swiss-French inspired fine dine in an international chain of hotels over 20 years. Since joining Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur in 2010 as Chef De Cuisine, Samplings has received Awards of Excellence by the Malaysian International Gourmet Festival (MIGF) for ‘Most Outstanding Canapés of the Festival’ and ‘Most Creative Dining Experience’ in 2011 for the Festival Diners’ Choice Category; ‘Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival’ for his slow-cooked Wagyu beef cheek dish, ‘Most Popular Restaurant’ for Taste MIGF and ‘Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival’ in 2012; and ‘Most Outstanding Wine Pairing of the Festival’ in 2013.
In conjunction with Sampling’s participation in the MIGF 2014 for the fourth year in a row, Chef Val has prepared an exquisite menu for diners throughout the festival period while Vice President of the Sommelier Association of Malaysia and BUCH lecturer Ronald Binati lends his expertise pairing up some wines to complement the dishes.

 The restaurant is dimly lit and is quite a good place to take your partner for a romantic night out!
 You get to watch the chefs work in the open kitchen and enjoy a view of the surrounding areas. As it was raining cats and dogs outside, sadly our view out the window was pretty much obscured that night.

Now let’s have a look at the special MIGF 2014 menu at Samplings on the Fourteenth.

MIGF 2014 FULL FESTIVAL MENU WITH WINE PAIRING
Amuse Bouche

An Amuse Bouche showcasing the chef’s talents and to whet the appetite for the dishes to follow!

Starter

Rock Lobster Salad
Fennel and basil puree, lobster gazpacho, lobster terrine, asparagus and Asian pear
Sixty Drops Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
Essentially lobster done three ways and I loved all the styles (I could never say no to lobster anyway!). The well-balanced and tasty gazpacho was so delicious that we took our time sipping it slowly as opposed to finishing it in one go (it was served in a shot glass). The salad was accompanied by a balsamic reduction and my focus was of course on the lobster on it which obviously went first. The interesting component of this dish was the lobster terrine (I’ve never eaten a lobster terrine before) which had a soft and jelly like texture to it but imparted lots of flavour. Went well with the asparagus while the Asian pear added some sweetness to balance out this dish.  The wine that was paired with this dish was nice, refreshing and not too dry. What a mind blowing starter indeed!
Soup

Chick Pea Soup
Poached quail egg, broad beans and saffron oil
Presentation plays a big part in F&B because we eat with our eyes before we get to taste with our mouths. For this dish Chef Val himself came to serve us, pouring the chick pea broth around the quail and mashed broad beans which formed like an island in the middle. The aroma from the saffron oil was unmistakable and we combined all the ingredients together so that every mouthful was a contrast of flavours and textures. Beautiful yet wonderfully heartwarming without being overwhelmingly rich! Perfect for a rainy evening!

Hot Appetizer

Smoked Duck Breast
Fricassee of mushrooms with vanilla emulsion
Barone Ricasoli Chianti, DOCG (Italy)
One thing that both Conne and I really like is smoked duck breast. Perhaps its the savoury and earthy flavours and tender textures of a well prepared smoked duck breast, and we’re no strangers to having it during fine dining meals but this was the first time that we were having it with vanilla! The earthy smoked duck breast lay atop a fricassee of earthy mushrooms and was topped with a light vanilla emulsion which lent a fragrant aroma and just that hint of sweetness to the dish. This dish was paired with the Barone Ricasoli Chianti which was round and easy to drink with a nose of ripe fruits, which added some nice contrast against the earthy/ vanilla flavours of the dish.

Sorbet

Riesling Soursop
The combination of the Riesling and the soursop resulted in a refreshingly sour if somewhat creamy sorbet that worked well to cleanse our palate and prepare us for the main course. Loved the presentation on the shaped ice with the LED light underneath it too!

Main Course (choice of)
 Chargrilled Wagyu Steak

Chargrilled Wagyu Steak
Braised wagyu beef cheek, bone marrow, celeriac puree, pickled apples and grapes, mache leaves, coffee sauce
Ruffino Lumina, Delle Venezie IGT, Pinot Grigio (Italy)
Both Conne and I opted for this one as we both love wagyu beef (and coffee). Now this dish has a lot going on with the festival of flavours and ingredients in it, and to our delight it was not some itsy bitsy piece of wagyu either! The beef cheek was so tender than it pretty much melted in the mouth. The steak was cooked medium rare for me and medium for her and both turned out very tender and juicy. The picked apples and grapes added some tartness and acidity to cut through the rich flavours while the coffee sauce had just the right hint of coffee (coffee can be very overpowering) in it.

Or
Steamed Salmon Napoleon
Grapefruit, saffron, squid ink pasta and salsa Verde
Richard Hamilton McLaren, Cabernet Sauvignon, (Australia)
(No photos of it as both Conne and I opted for the wagyu steak)
***
Dessert
 Valrhona Chocolate
Valrhona Chocolate
Chocolate brownies, hazelnut mousse and passion fruit ice cream
A sinful end to a very decadent meal! The dark chocolate brownie was rich and moist while the hazelnut mousse added even more richness which fortunately was cut by the passion fruit ice cream and the berries.

***
Coffee or Tea
Mignardises
Price: RM398.00++ per pax

A pic with Chef Val before we ended the night. He’s a really cheerful guy and happily explained his inspiration for the dishes and the MIGF 2014 menu at Samplings on the Fourteenth.

There are also two (2) more options for the MIGF 2014 menu namely:

MIGF 2014 FULL FESTIVAL MENU WITHOUT WINE PAIRING
Amuse Bouche
Starter
Rock Lobster Salad
Fennel and basil puree, lobster gazpacho, lobster terrine, asparagus and Asian pear
***
Soup
Chick Pea Soup
Poached quail egg, broad beans and saffron oil
***
Hot Appetizer
Smoked Duck Breast
Fricassee of mushrooms with vanilla emulsion
***
Sorbet
Riesling Soursop
***
Main Course
Chargrilled Wagyu Steak
Braised wagyu beef cheek, bone marrow, celeriac puree, pickled apples and grapes, mache leaves, coffee sauce
Or
Steamed Salmon Napoleon
Grapefruit, saffron, squid ink pasta and salsa Verde
***
Dessert
Valrhona Chocolate
Chocolate brownies, hazelnut mousse and passion fruit ice cream
***
Coffee or Tea
Mignardises
Price RM198.00++ per pax and comes with a complimentary glass of wine

MIGF 2014 LIGHT FESTIVAL MENU
Starter
Ceviche of Scallops
Poached oyster in aspic jelly, trout caviar, marinated arugula and Asian pear
***
Soup
Chick Pea Soup
Poached quail egg, broad beans and saffron oil
***
Main Course
Seared Barramundi
Roasted Barramundi fish with Alaskan crab, avocado puree and chipotle tomato
Or
Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb
Rack of Lamb with goat cheese thyme crust, ratatouille and parmesan gnocchi
***
Dessert
Valrhona Chocolate
Chocolate brownies, hazelnut mousse and passion fruit ice cream
***
Coffee or Tea
Mignardises
Price RM158.00++ per pax

Availability of MIGF Menu
October – Mondays to Saturdays
November – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays ONLY

Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur is offering a special room rate for festival diners of any of the three offered menus. Upon paying for the bill, any two diners are entitled to stay in a Superior room for RM295.00++ for one night, subject to availability. In addition, a 10 percent discount voucher is offered for the Christmas takeaway turkey by the hotel from 1 to 31 December 2014.

Samplings on the Fourteenth is located at:
14th Floor, Berjaya Times Square
1, Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.

Telephone: +60 (3) 2117 8000 ext. 8131
Website: http://www.berjayahotel.com/kualalumpur
Email: bth.samplings@berjayahotel.com
Operating Hours: 6.30pm – 10.30pm (Mondays to Saturdays)
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
.

.

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Gift Ideas for Her – DIOR Runway Bag

[Luxury Fashion]

DIOR’s new “Runway” bag made its debut in the ready-to-wear Autumn-Winter 2016-2017 show recently. The new creation from DIOR comes entirely embroidered with beads and sequins, in precious skins, or bearing the emblematic Cannage motif. Its architectural, singular lines makes it a timeless design. Its short and wide strap allows for it to be worn two ways: on the shoulder giving a sense of sophisticated allure, or carried giving a relaxed look.
The Runway bag is a product of the 30 Avenue Montaigne Design Studios in Paris and Italian leatherworking savoir-faire, handmade in an atelier located a few kilometers from Florence. The passionate expert artisans practice the most exacting craftsmanship, with masterful techniques such as manipulating the leather, manually constructing the handles, and assembling the bag in the traditional manner around a wooden form.

Here’s where the bags were first spotted – on the runway at the DIOR ready-to-wear Autumn-Winter 2016-2017 show.

The DIOR boutique in Kuala Lumpur is located at:
G20,21,22,25, 26,27 &28, Indulge Floor,
Starhill Gallery,
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.

Telephone: 603 21431886

For more info, head over to http://www.dior.com/
Images courtesy of Dior Malaysia.
*timchew.net does not promote materialism and we believe in being industrious and ethical to achieve your goals in life. The satisfaction that you get from enjoying the fruits of your labour is worth many times more than that of receiving something for free or in exchange for some unethical or morally wrong service. So go ahead and reward yourself that new Dior bag, knowing that it’s well deserved. Let it serve as an inspiration to go further, and a statement that being professional, ethical and classy gets you far in life.

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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 – Practical Applications

[Tech & Gadgets]

I’ve decided to share with you some practical applications for the tablet, following up to my two previous posts on the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 which you can read here:
https://timchew.net/2014/05/24/first-look-lenovo-yoga-tablet-8/
https://timchew.net/2014/06/01/lenovo-yoga-tablet-8-16gb-tech-specs/
Now in my first two posts I outlined the technical specs and some observations about the tablet. I’ve actually left out something important and that the Dolby Digital Plus DS1 which is actually pretty good especially when you plug in a good speakers or headphones. The effect with the Dolby on is very apparent compared to without Dolby. Dialogue is clearer and the surround sound is more evident making watching videos or music videos definitely a more enjoyable experience!

Now what do I use the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 for?
1. Reading e-books and other reading materials
Because of it’s unique shape which resembles a rolled up magazine, reading e-books comes naturally to the tablet in portrait mode. This coupled with the 18 hour battery life makes the tablet a really great platform for reading. Because it is a 8″ tablet, it’s not too big and can be quite conveniently carried around.

2. Browsing through Facebook when I’m out and about
Now I don’t know about you but trying to browse through Facebook on a smartphone is quite a pain. Checking out my friend’s latest updates on this tablet though is just so much more easy and comfortable without the need to squint at a 5″+ screen.

3. Keeping up with the latest news
I have both the BBC and CNN apps installed and since it’s the World Cup season – also the BBC Sports app installed. In fact if I didn’t stay up late the night before to watch the matches, the first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is to check the scores on this tablet!

4. Instant messaging and Skype
I have the Facebook Messenger app installed and with the tablet’s “Swipe” typing function it’s really fast to type messages. For Skype video calls, the kickstand is super useful and I can just put it on the table or a flat surface in front of me instead of holding the tablet.

5. Playing games
I rarely have the time to play games but sometimes I just need a short break to relax and shoot up some enemies ha ha! The tablet handles most games without lagging so it’s a good gaming companion.

6. Checking email on the go
I’m not really a fan of checking email outside however sometimes urgent and important emails need to be received/ sent when I’m on the go. This definitely beats trying to type out an email on my smartphone.

 The large power button makes turning on and turning off the tablet very easy. No more fumbling and looking for a tiny button.

So what do I ultimately think of the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8?
Well it’s a really handy companion to have with me, and it really complements my lifestyle in so many ways!
Can’t wait to see what other products Lenovo has in store in 2014! Stay tuned to my blog for upcoming product launches.
The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8 has a suggested retail price of RM999.00 and comes with a one (1) year warranty and a free folio case!
More info at http://shopap.lenovo.com/my/en/tablets/lenovo/yoga/yoga-8/

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