The Pantai Restaurant Reopens at Bungaraya Island Resort

Step into paradise in just 20 minutes from Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu

 the Bungaraya Island Resort is a tranquil nature resort for those 

who long for a relaxing getaway. 

With an amazing view of the wild Borneo sea 

and the hypnotizing symphony of nature's little critters and birds chirping around you, 

one cant help but completely let go of the stresses of the world in a matter of minutes. 

The Bungaraya Island Resort welcomes all to their brand new Pantai Restaurant and Grill. It was once a small yet charming beach side kitchen, has now become a full fledged 100 seater establishment. 

The Pantai Restaurant houses a bar, lounge, and dining area which is pretty good choice for an intimate event like weddings and anniversary dinners. Their brand new menu with hand crafted creations assembled by Head Chef Lung, under the mentorship of renowned culinary consultant Chef Friedrich Budde. The menu showcases western styled dishes with a distinct Asian touch. 

"We believe good food starts from good and wholesome ingredients, and this makes all the difference. All our dishes are made from farmed fresh organic herbs and vegetables, hybrid groupers, fresh prawns and meat." -Chef Budde, when asked what sets The Pantai apart from the rest. 

The Pantai Restaurant & Bar 

7am - 11pm Every Monday,Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

5.30pm -11pm Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday

For private parties, dinners, celebrations or wedding receptions, 

please contact the Bungaraya Island Resort's Sales Department

T : +6088 380 390 

W : www.echoresorts.com/bungaraya

Pizza + Art = PIZZART is in Kota Kinabalu!

Anchor is mostly recognized by bakers and food enthusiasts 

for their world-class butter and milk.

 But did you know they also produce a wide array of cheeses and cream ? 

Fonterra’s leading dairy food services segment, Anchor Food Professionals celebrates the festive season with a lot of cheesiness by elevating the pleasures of pizza to a whole new level.

This PizzArt campaign takes the enjoyment of pizza a notch up by infusing global food trends into local favourites. With the meat-endowed-cheese-oozing PizzBurger as one of its main attraction, the other four pizza inventions created by Anchor Food Professionals include an ambitious all-meat-based UltiMeat Pizza, a spin on Chicago’s authentic Deep Cheese Pizza, a hearty Cheese Pretzza as well as delicate Pizza Rolls.

Speaking at the unveiling of the second PizzArt campaign in Kota Kinabalu recently, Director of Anchor Food Professionals Malaysia, Ms Linda Tan spoke about how the brand taps into their New Zealand-based research and going beyond their role as consultants to their partner restaurants and clients. She added that the team is always ready to take up the challenge of drawing inspiration from worldwide trends and adapting them locally to help their partners stay ahead of the culinary curve, using only the best dairy by Anchor. With AFP’s New Zealand based research and expertise, the team is able to help them achieve a competitive edge.

“We want to excite the market and take the enjoyment of pizza a notch up by infusing global food trends into local favourites. This round we are working with 18 outlets in Peninsula Malaysia and East Malaysia. In Kota Kinabalu, customers of The Chubs Grill and Mad Ben Café are in for a treat with these one-of-a-kind pizzas just in time for Chinese New Year,” said Ms Tan.

In Kota Kinabalu, The Chubs Grill (non-halal) will be introducing the Ultimeat (RM33.80 per pizza), Pizza Rolls (RM23.80 for 4 pieces) and Cheese Pretzza (RM28.80 for 3 pieces). Mad Ben Café will be introducing Ultimeat (RM45) and Pizza Rolls (RM18).

She added, “These inventive pizzas under PizzArt were conceptualized and created by our own Anchor Food Professionals’ Hot Cooking Chefs. These pizzas can only be made by kitchen crew with advanced culinary skills, and in restaurants with pizza ovens. 

Anchor Food Professional hopes to trail blaze the increasingly popular innovative pizza movement in Malaysia. The likely Malaysian favourite, PizzBurger features a succulent grilled minced meat patty stuffed with Anchor Mozzarella Shredded Cheese, Anchor Colby and Cheddar Cheese and baked in light crust with Anchor Butter. The Deep Cheese Pizza draws inspiration from the Chicago-authentic deep dish pizza, featuring an elevated layer of stuffing filled with creamy, delicious Anchor Shredded Mozzarella Cheese and Anchor Colby and Cheddar Cheese with a hearty Putanesca filling. The Pizza Roll oozes cheesiness with every bite as it’s stuffed with Anchor Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, Anchor Shredded Parmesan Cheese and Anchor Colby and Cheddar Cheese, Masala meat and spinach – perfect for breakfast and as snacks. The wholesome UltiMeat Pizza ambitiously features a pizza base made entirely out of ground meat deep fried to crusty perfection before being baked with Anchor mixed cheeses on top, great for sharing with loved ones. The meat-filled Cheese Pretzza, as the name suggests, incorporates Anchor Cream Cheese, Anchor Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, Anchor Colby and Cheddar Cheese and Anchor Extra Yield Cooking Cream into the dough before it is baked and served with a side of pizza dipping sauce.

The artisanal pizzas will be available :-

U Pizzeria in Subang, Selangor, 

Pizza House in Bandar Utama, Selangor, 

Pizza 185 in Bandar Puchong Jaya, Selangor, 

Havana in Changkat, Bukit Bintang, 

The Butcher’s Table in Petaling Jaya, 

US Pizza in Bayan Lepas & Georgetown, Penang and Bukit Mertajam, 

Mustard Sandwich House and

 Food & Desire in Ipoh, Perak, 

Temasek Hotel Café (Portugese Settlement Hotel) in Ujong Pasir, Melaka, 

Hungry Bear in Bukit Beruang, Melaka, 

Finale Kitchen Bar in Segamat Johor Bahru, 

The Chubs Grill and Mad Ben Café in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 

Osome Wood Fired Pizza in Kuching, Sarawak,

 Chillax Café & Bistro in Miri, Sarawak

 and Bistecca & Bistro in Sibu, Sarawak.

Try out their amazing creations at the outlet closest to you! 

Spread the love for everything pizza, art and Anchor with their up-and-coming hashtag 

#pizzart #AnchorFoodProfessionals 

Tavern's Brand New Lobster Nasi Lemak

No more excuses! Nasi lemak may be a local favourite but admit it, sometimes we feel it's getting boring right? Fret not, the culinary experts in Tavern Kitchen & Bar has come up with the best solution! 

Say hello to the brand new and limited edition 

Lobster Nasi Lemak!

This is the most interesting and luxurious nasi lemak yet!

A full-sized lobster baked with gooey cheese and a generous serving of fragrant coconut rice with all its accompanying condiments. 

Also new on the menu is the grilled giant squid with Tavern'special sambal sauce. I love the  slight charred flavour and the tender texture of fresh squid! 

As usual, this is how we show love and appreciation to good food. Let it bask in the glory of the happy people of the local media scene. 

This promotion is limited to 30pax daily and is valid until December 2017. 

The Lobster Nasi Lemak is only RM49! Pretty good value for money considering the big portion of fragrant Nasi Lemak and that sexy full sized lobster! 

Tavern Kitchen & Bar has different types of entertainment everyday, win mystery prizes when you join in their fun games and enjoy their happy hour! 

Visit them today and try out their food! Oh, my favourite dessert is chocolate brownie! 

Follow me on Instagram @charlottefong and let me know which dish is your favourite in the Tavern Kitchen & Bar! 

For more info on Lobster Nasi Lemak,  please visit www.tavern.com.my/lobster-nasi-lemak

Goon Wah Restaurant : Kuchai Lama

This dish has been haunting me ever since I've moved back to KL. 

Placed on top of a stove to keep the contents hot, but you gotta eat it pretty quick 

to avoid eating overcooked or burnt food. 

Lou Shu Fan 瓦煲老鼠粉

By far the best Lou Shu Fan i've had in years. 

When translated , "Lou Shu Fan" means "Rat Tail Noodles" because of its precut shape. 

Generous with their toppings of minced pork meat, fried dried shrimps, green onions and fresh chilli! 

Cold Tofu 

This dish oddly reminds me of Thailand. Deep fried tofu sprinkled with sweet chilli sauce, strips of cucumber, mengkuang, and peanuts! Topped with some chinese parsley and sesame seeds, served with a side of century eggs and cold tomatoes. This is pretty good to snack on and to help you survive the wait for your main dishes. 

Deep Fried Seafood Noodles

Yellow noodles are deep fried while seafood and vegetables are stir fried with broth as gravy. Both will be combined upon serving. However, I felt like this dish would have been better if the noodles were more crispy. However, the sauce really pulled this dish together and the not-so-crispy noodles can be forgiven. 

Restoran Goon Wah XO 

Business Hours : 8am - 4pm (Closed on Sundays)

Location : 

G13, Jalan 3/115c, Taman Kuchai Jaya, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, 

Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Holiday Hack : Padang Point Beach

I always had a love-hate relationship with picnics at the beach. But after i discovered this hack and tried it out, my love for beach picnics has doubled - no space for hate!

If you are anything like me, I hate noisy crowds. Wishing for an empty or ALMOST empty beach all to yourself and your friends without having to go to a 5 star resort or the Maldives?

It's kinda hard to get that in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah now as our beautiful beaches are becoming increasingly popular with tourists.

Beat the system.

We packed our picnic basket and set out from Jesselton Point, the local jetty where we got a speedboat to Sapi Island. From there, we bought tickets for a ride on the Inter-Island Flying Fox which allowed us a free boat ride to Padang Point beach. You are not allowed on this beach unless you are participating in this activity.

So, we got our tickets at 10am and asked that we play the ride at 1pm. Hence, we had 3 hours to enjoy our picnic on a very quiet beach :)

 Remember to load up on sunscreen and liquids! 

Here are some basic information 

Jetty to Pulau Sapi : Jesselton Point 

Speed Boat company we used : Beach Bums

Activity : Island-to-Island Flying Fox (Coral Flyer)

Items needed : Identification Card (Malaysian) or Passport (Travelers), cash, and sunblock

Tavern Kitchen & Bar : The Most Happening Restaurant in KKcity

Be spotted dining in Kota Kinabalu's most happening restaurant right now! 

Tavern Kitchen & Bar is chock full of fun activities daily, so no boring dinners with your loved ones and friends anymore. I went on a Friday night and had fun playing the limbo rock with guests from the other tables. All the while enjoying the local live band's performance. The bartenders entertained us with his fire tricks. 

   Highly trained staff ensures an enjoyable dining experience every time. 

Creating gastronomical delights for all is the Head Chef - Mr Marcel Lomangkok. 

Nominated at the HAPA Awards 2010-2012 as the Best Western Cuisine Chef.

So don't worry about your meal, you are in good hands.

Be greeted by their extremely friendly waitress and be shown to your table. 

I was spoilt for choice with their extensive menu! They had so many different cuisines.
There is definitely something for everyone's palate.

Mango Tango RM12 and Coconut Mojito RM32

Spiced Pumpkin Soup RM14.90

Crispy Squid Ring Salad RM16.90

Black Spicy Chicken Wingies RM15.90

Soft Shell Crab Burger RM27.90

Premium Aussie Striploin Steak RM52

Sweet Teriyaki Salmon Steak with Tuhau Fried Rice RM36.90

Boom Boom Sizzling Brownie RM18.90

Zesty Lemon Tart RM13.80

PERSONAL VERDICT

Interior :  5 stars

Cleanliness :  5 stars 

Comfort : 4 stars 

Service : 5 stars 

Food :  4 stars 

Total : 23 out of 25 stars ( 92% Satisfaction) 

I fell in love with the lively nature of this restaurant. Never a dull moment and the well trained staff made sure of every comfort a diner should be provided with. Well rounded menu for every tastebud, so even the fussiest of diners would be happy here. Excellent portions and presentation, taste is somewhat consistent on several occasions. 

I was impressed that local ingredients were so well integrated into their dishes! Who would have thought of Tuhau in their fried rice?! Give it a go, guys! 

Soft Shell burger here is the best i've had in Malaysia. No kidding. Loved that they found such an amazing batter to dip the crab in, and the complementing vege gave this dish the right amount of oomph! I will come back for more.

Could improve on the timing of food orders, for example, I ordered 2 starters (soup and chicken wings) and oddly, the chicken wings arrived last, after the mains were served. However, that was a tiny mistake, one that was easily remedied once i notified their waiters. 

Did i tell you their desserts are to die for? Scrumptious. 

TAVERN KITCHEN & BAR
ADDRESS: Lot G-93, Aramaiti Street Walk, Imago Shopping Mall,
KK Times Square Phase 2, Jalan Coastal, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

EMAIL ADDRESS: contactus@tavern.com.my
TELEPHONE NO: +60-12-5860093

Alternatively, 
Book your table at Tavern via TABLEAPP 

Miri Marriott Resort & Spa : For A Peaceful Getaway

Entrance to the resort

Nestled in the quiet town of Miri, a coastal town of Sarawak, 

is the prestigious Miri Marriott Resort and Spa. 

Famous for its flawless service and amenities, spacious room 

and luxurious settings for a honeymoon, vacation and business trips.  

Poolside view of the Hotel 

Lobby and Reception 

Walk way overlooking the sea and pool 

Chefs preparing meals for buffet 

Famous Sarawak noodles is served here

Extremely large buffet area

cosy indoor dining area

Have your own private corner with the family 

Enjoy the pool and sea view with their outdoor dining area

Kiddy pool 

Pool Bar 

Our room for 2 nights! It was so comfy that i got out of bed late for breakfast! 

Good little spot for us girls to relax and chit chat

Ah... an outdoor balcony just for us! Here we enjoyed the morning breeze.

Who can say no to a bath tub? 

Yes, enough space for two girls's worth of toiletries. 

World famous spa right at your doorstep - Mandara Spa  

Mandara Spa - Enjoy a manicure/pedicure treat right here 

Mandara Spa - enjoy their floral foot soak and massage here

A must-try here is their Asian Head Massage - A Thai poultice filled with exotic leafs, flowers and lime essential oil is dipped in warm coconut oil and used on the scalp for complete relaxation.

An outdoor tub and shower is a special treat for you and your loved one.

Gym rats rejoice! You still can work out with their fully equipped gym 

A studio for yoga and dance fanatics. 

Unwind with friends at the bar, fully air conditioned. 

Special tip : Hotel staff promise the best sunset view from this balcony at the bar

Personally, I fell in love with this hotel the minute i got to the lobby. The very helpful staff came forward to welcome us by taking our luggage, served us a cool drink and check in was really quick. 

Our room was spotless. Although it was quite a walk from the main building, I was thankful as i quickly realized how peaceful it was as it was far from the pool and bar. I truly had quality time with my close friend, and most importantly, a really good sleep. 

Just 2 days of quiet time and a really good spa session at the top-notch Mandara Spa left me rejuvenated and energized for the real world in Kota Kinabalu city again. Coming back here soon as i hear they just upgraded their rooms to be more comfortable, spacious and trendy! YAY! 

Miri Marriott Resort and Spa

Location : Jalan Temenggong Datuk Oyong Lawai, Miri, Malaysia 98000

Facebook : Miri Marriott 

Phone: +60 85 421 121