Attended by over 1,000 VIPs including royalty, 23 foreign Ambassadors, celebrities,captains of industry and international food writers, the MIGF Awards and Celebration Party signaling the finale of the 14th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival MIGF 2014 was an explosive affair with smoke, flame, red hot dancers, magical tricks and glittering awards ceremonies at the Royale Chulan Hotel Kuala Lumpur last Thursday evening.
After a hectic month of dining and spectacular Festival events – set to the theme of ‘Red Hot Chefs!’ – it was time for the hard working 28 premier restaurants to let their hair down, enjoy the camaraderieof their peers and be feted at the traditionalMIGF Awards and Celebration Party.
The event began with fearless fire-breathers entering the atrium twirling flaming batons and swallowing flames whole. The Festival Chefs then arrived on the stage with much fanfare presenting a picture of happy camaraderie until suddenly eight ‘chefs’ broke forward, threw off their chefs’ garbs and transformed into red hot dancers. The crowd burst into excited applause!
Master magician Moudini – also disguised as a chef – then burst forth, setting the Festival Magazine on fire before turning the flames into a shower of red chillies and doves. A black curtained box was wheeled onto the stage, the curtain pulled and then, with a huge bang and burst of flames, MIGF Organising Chairman Dato’ Steve Day made his appearance.
After more tricks from the mischievous Moudini (including two ducks making a cameo appearance!) Dato’ Steve was cajoled back into the box where he was shrunk until his head and feet were less than an arm’s length apart!
Once restored to full height, Dato’ Steve thanked the Red Hot Chefs, fire eaters, dancers and the magical Moudini before going on to praise the ‘collective effort’ of all the Festival Restaurants, Festival Sponsors, Media Partners and Festival diners in making MIGF 2014 such a success.
“Let the party begin!” he enthusiastically concluded, and so it did – with good food, drink, and friends. It was the restaurants’ night off and courtesy of the Vision Four Media Group, Festival restaurants and guests enjoyed the best of traditional cuisine from each state of Malaysia. A lively Latin band, energetic salsa dancers and free-flowing drinks made sure it was a long night of continuous revelry.
It was soon time for the MIGF Awards Ceremony. Accompanied by Dato’ Steve, Festival Royal Patron Tunku Naquiyuddinibni Tunku Ja’afar presented medals to the Festival Chefs followed by golden statuettes which the winners jubilantly thrust into the air to raucous cheers from their supporters. All aspects of the Festival Restaurants’ participation, from the menu and marketing down to the quality of service and the best value offers were honoured.
Six restaurants made the final cut for the Golden Cauldron Award – given to the best all round restaurant of the Festival – but at the end of the evening it was Chef Nathalie Arbefeuille of Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie who raised the gleaming trophy high, setting a new record by being the first female chef and the first non-hotel based restaurant to claim the Festival’s ultimate prize.
Four Special MIGF Awards were also presented: The prestigious award for ‘Most Popular Restaurant at the VIP Gala Launch’ was won by Cuisine Gourmet by Nathaliebased on portions and value sold. ‘The Most Popular Overall Restaurant at Taste MIGF’,this time by public response, was won by Ten Japanese Fine Dining.The award for ‘The Most Outstanding Marketing of the Festival’was won by Resorts World Genting;while Westin Langkawi’s Seasonal Tastes won the award for ‘The Most Outstanding Overall Festival Experience’;Chef ValmuruganSubramaniam of Samplings on the Fourteenth was voted by his fellow chefs as‘Chef Congeniality’ – the most popular chef of MIGF 2014.
MIGF 2014 was sponsored by Tourism Malaysia with The Vision Four Media Group as the Principal Festival Partner. The Official Imaging Partner was Fujifilm Malaysia and Official Beer, Kronenbourg 1664. The Festival Media Partners were Astro, Asian Food Channel, Astro Radio, Seni Jaya, Vision Four and Vision KL
Full List of Award Winners MIGF2014
Golden Cauldron Award for the Best All-Round Restaurant 2014
Overall Winner: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
Winners: La Scala, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Chef Congeniality 2014
Winner: Chef ValmuruganSubramaniam
Special MIGF Festival Awards
Most Popular Overall Restaurant at the VIP Gala Launch
Winner: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie
Most Popular Overall Restaurant at Taste MIGF
Award Winner: Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Outstanding Marketing of the Festival
Award Winner: Resorts World Genting
Most Outstanding Overall Festival Experience
Award Winner: Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Langkawi
Most Popular Restaurants
Most Popular Restaurant at the VIP Gala Launch Taste Sovereigns Collected
Winners: Chambers, Chynna, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Imperial Rama, Marble 8, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Popular Restaurant at the VIP Gala Launch Portions Sold
Winners: Charcoal, Chynna, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Imperial Rama, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Popular Restaurant at Taste MIGF Gourmet Dollars Collected
Winners: Chambers, Graze, Grill 582, La Scala, Minori, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Popular Restaurant at Taste MIGF Portions Sold
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Minori, Nerovivo, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Taste MIGF Awards – Judges’ Choice
Most Creative Restaurant Station at Taste MIGF
Winners: Hilton KL, NEO Tamarind, Resorts World Genting, Signature by the Hill, Tanzini, The Marini’s Group
Most Creative Food Presentation at Taste MIGF
Winners: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Marble 8, Nook, Seasonal Tastes, Signature by the Hill
Most Innovative Cuisine at Taste MIGF
Winners:Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Marini’s on 57, Nook, Tanzini
Taste MIGF Awards – People’s Choice
Most Creative Restaurant Station at Taste MIGF
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Hilton KL, Nook, Resorts World Genting, The Marini’s Group, Zender’s Bar & Grill
Most Creative Food Presentation at Taste MIGF
Winners: Graze, Marini’s on 57, NEO Tamarind, Nook, Seasonal Tastes, Tanzini
Most Innovative Cuisine at Taste MIGF
Winners: Imperial Rama, La Scala, NEO Tamarind, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Festival Awards – Judges’ Choice
Best Marketed Restaurant
Winners: Dynasty/Sagano (Renaissance KL Hotel), Imperial Rama/LTITUDE/The Olive (Resorts World Genting), Seasonal Tastes (Westin Langkawi), Signature by the Hill, Tanzini, BungaEmas/L’Heritage (The Royale Chulan KL)
Best Value Menu of the Festival
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, BungaEmas, Charcoal, Chynna, Dynasty, L’Heritage
Most Creative Menu of the Festival
Winners: BungaEmas, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Best Festival Offers
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Charcoal, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Dynasty, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Festival Awards – Diners’ Choice
Best Festival Dining Experience
Winners: Hilton KL, La Scala, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Marble 8, Marini’s on 57, Seasonal Tastes, Tanzini, The Olive
Most Outstanding Service Team of the Festival
Winners: BungaEmas, Charcoal, Hilton KL, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Renaissance KL Hotel, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Seasonal Tastes, The Olive
Most Outstanding Canapés of the Festival
Winners: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, Grill 582, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Maison Francaise, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival
Winners: Dynasty, Imperial Rama, L’Heritage, Maison Francaise, Marble 8, Samplings on the Fourteenth
Most Outstanding Palate Cleanser of the Festival
Winners: BungaEmas, Graze, Grill 582, La Scala, L’Heritage, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Outstanding Starter/Appetiser (Warm) of the Festival
Winners: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Marini’s on 57, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Zender’s
Most Outstanding Starter/Appetiser (Cold) of the Festival
Winners: NEO Tamarind, Nook, Samplings on the Fourteenth, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining, The Olive
Most Outstanding Mains of the Festival – Meat
Winners: Chambers, Chynna, Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Marble 8, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Most Outstanding Mains of the Festival – Fish/Poultry
Winners: Charcoal, Dynasty, Imperial Rama, Marini’s on 57, Sagano, The Olive
Most outstanding Mains – Others
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Chynna, La Scala, Marble 8, Marini’s on 57, Nerovivo
Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival
Winners: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Marini’s on 57, L’Heritage, Minori
Most Outstanding Wine Pairing
Winners: Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, La Scala, Maison Française, Marini’s on 57, Seasonal Tastes, The Olive
Best Value Menu of the Festival
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Chynna, Dynasty, L’Heritage, Seasonal Tastes, Ten Japanese Fine Dining
Best Use of Festival Theme
Winners: BungaEmas, L’Heritage, Nerovivo, Seasonal Tastes, Samplings on the Fourteenth, The Olive
Best Restaurant Ambiance
Winners: Chambers Bar & Grill, Chynna, LTITUDE Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Marble 8, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini
