MIGF 2012 Grand Finale at Sunway Lagoon Sizzled with Tasting, Twirling and Trophy Giving

A savoury stew of fabulous food, enchanting entertainment, and an awe-inspiring atmosphere, the Grand Finale of the 12th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF) at the Sunway Lagoon Surf Beach proved to be the piece de resistance of the month-long epicurean extravaganza.

For the Grand Finale, hundreds of guests – attired in fetching holiday/beach wear - gathered at Sunway Lagoon’s Surf Beach at 7.30pm, where a tide of cocktails was served. As the excited attendees nibbled finger-food and sipped a waterfall-supply of Carlsberg beer, troupes of fire-eaters emerged and openly wolfed-down flames, sparks and embers – making the event all the ‘hotter’.

The aroma of fragrant cuisine wafting from food stations resembling bazaar hawker stalls was too much for guests to resist, and they soon began tucking in to the wide range of ‘superstar’ Malaysian street food on offer. The mouthwatering meals included appetizers, mains and desserts, and featured Fabulous Food 1Malaysia’s signature dishes of Rojak Pasembor, Mee Rebus and Yong Tau Foo. The feasting was fast and furious, and a lip-smackingly good time was had by all.

At 8pm, the Guest of Honour, Acting Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, YBhg Dato' Haji Azizan Noordin, arrived and was duly escorted to the very special VIP area, comprising two exotic ‘islands’ parallel to the Surf Beach.

This was the cue for UK boy band The London Boys to storm the concert stage and captivate the audience with an arsenal of foot-tapping pop numbers. The British boppers soon surrendered the spotlight to a dazzling, multi-media opening gambit featuring an ingenious video parody and professional dancers, a renowned magician and the 28 sporting MIGF Master Chefs busting moves to Psy’s inescapable “Oppa Gangnam-style” uber-hit.

Welcome speech by Dato’ Steve Day, MIGF Organising Chairman. Followed by Acting Director-General of Tourism Malaysia honouring MIGF’s Master Chefs (who were each awarded with medals), as well as members of the MIGF Festival Advisory Committee (who were each presented with special plaques) – to the audible approval of the audience.

The highlight of the evening commenced without further ado – the presentation of 144 gold and silver MIGF chef statuettes – and many a chef and restaurant teams were feted for their masterly performance during the Festival. But the ultimate prize of the MIGF Golden Cauldron for Best All-round Restaurant was bagged by The Olive, whose charismatic chef, Australian Daniel Sheen, also snagged the Chef Congeniality title.

After the last accolade was awarded, it was ‘surf’s up’ – with the MIGF Surf Party. Taking their cue from the electrifying Alma Latina’s Band, the audience figuratively kicked off their shoes, let their hair down and danced their hawker food calories off. Bopping, bumping and boogieing to thumping Latin music beats, guests gleefully set their trapped ‘inner dancers’ free.

Revelers’ dancing feet soon led them to Sunway Lagoon’s The Lighthouse for MIGF’s after party, where more great cuisine, music and dance allowed guests and the Master Chefs to continue celebrating into the wee hours of the morning  – and doubtless, marking their calendars, and making room in their stomachs, for the start of MIGF 2013.

The complete list of 12th Malaysia International Gourmet Festival Award Winners:-

Genting Group – The Olive & Imperial Rama (Combined)

Overall Winner

1. Judges’ Choice:  Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice:  Best Marketed Restaurants

3. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Cuisine

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience 

The Olive

Overall Winner

1. Golden Cauldron: Most Outstanding Restaurant of The Festival   

Overall Winner

1. Judges’ Choice:  Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice:  Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Judges’ Choice:  Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

4. People’s Choice: Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

5. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival

Overall Winner

1. Chef Congeniality - Chef Daniel Sheen

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice:  Most Creative Menu

2. People’s Choice: Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Starter of the Festival

Imperial Rama

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Appetiser of the Festival

2. Taste MIGF: The Most Popular Restaurant

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. People’s Choice: Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

2. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

Mandarin Oriental KL – Lai Po Heen & Mandarin Grill (Combined)

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice:  Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

Lai Po Heen

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of the

Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

Mandarin Grill

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice :  Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

Renaissance KL – Dynasty & Sagano (Combined)

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice:  Best Marketed Restaurants of the Festival 

2. People’s Choice:  Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

Dynasty

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

Sagano

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

The Westin KL - Qba, Five Sen5es & Prego (Combined)

Overall Winner

1. People’s Choice:  Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice: Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice : Best Marketed Restaurants of the Festival

Five Sen5es

Overall Winner

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. People’s Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine At the Gala Launch

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of the

Festival

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

Prego

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diner’s Choice : Best Use of Festival Theme

Qba Latin Bar & Grill

Overall Winner

1. People’s Choice: Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

The Royale Chulan KL - Bunga Emas & L’Heritage (Combined)

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice : Best Marketed Restaurant of the Festival

Bunga Emas               

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch2. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Festival Menu

3. Judges’ Choice : Best Value Menu of the Festival

4. Judges’ Choice : Best Festival Offers

5. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the Festival

6. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

7. Festival Diners’ Choice : Best Use of Festival Theme

8. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of the

Festival

L’Heritage

Overall Winner

1. Judges’ Choice : Best Festival Offers

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Golden Cauldron : Most Outstanding Restaurant of the Festival

2. Judges’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Festival Menu

4. Judges’ Choice : Best Value Menu of the Festival

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience

of the Festival

6. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

7. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Starters of the Festival

8. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Appetizers of the Festival

9. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

10. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

Sunway Group

The Most Outstanding Festival Achievement Award

Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa – New Orleans Bar & Grill and West Lake Garden (Combined)

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice: Most Creative Dining Experience of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience of

the Festival

3. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Outstanding Cuisine of the Festival 4. Festival Diners’ Choice: Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Best Use of Festival Theme

New Orleans Bar & Grill

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice Most Outstanding Appetiser of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Mains of the Festival

West Lake Garden

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of the

Festival

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Taste MIGF : The Most Popular Restaurant

The Pomelo

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience

of the Festival

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine of the Festival

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

The Eatertainment Group – Al Amar & Circus (Combined)

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Station of the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice : Best Marketed Restaurants of the Festival

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience

of the Festival 4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine of the Festival

Al-Amar

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Judges’ Choice : Best Value Menu of the Festival

4. People’s Choice : Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of the

Festival

Circus

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. People’s Choice : Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

2. Festival Diner’s Choice : Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival

3. Festival Diner’s Choice : Most Outstanding Starter of the Festival

Grill 582

Overall Winner

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Best Festival Offers

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Starter of the Festival

Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie

Overall Winner

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Festival Menu

2. People’s Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Starter of the Festival

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Golden Cauldron : Most Outstanding Restaurant of The Festival

2. Judges’ Choice :  Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. People’s Choice : Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch 

4. People’s Choice : Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival

6. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

7. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine

Enak KL

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. People’s Choice : Most Creative Station at the Gala Launch

2. People’s Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. People’s Choice : Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Starter of the Festival

5. Taste MIGF : The Most Popular Restaurant

Kofuku

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience

2. Judges’ Choice : Best Festival Offers

3. People’s Choice : Most Creative Station at the Gala Launch

4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience

of the Festival

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

6. Festival Diners’ Choice : Best Use of Festival Theme

7. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of the

Festival

8. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

Makan Kitchen

Overall Winner

1. Judges’ Choice : Best Value Menu

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice : Best Festival Offers

3. Taste MIGF : The Most Popular RestaurantOnsemiro

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice: Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

2. Judges’ Choice: Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

3. People’s Choice: Most Creative Food Presentation at the Gala Launch

Nerovivo

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Best Value Menu

2. People’s Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine of the Festival

4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Starter of the Festival

6. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Appetizers of the Festival

Samplings On The Fourteenth

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Soup of the Festival

3. Taste MIGF : Most Popular Restaurant

Senja

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Appetizer of the Festival

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Best Use of the Festival Theme

Ten Japanese

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Judges’ Choice : Most Innovative Cuisine

2. People’s Choice : Most Innovative Cuisine

3. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Food Presentation

4. Judges’ Choice : Most Creative Festival Menu

5. Taste MIGF : Most Popular RestaurantThe Emperor

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. People’s Choice : Most Creative Restaurant Station at the Gala Launch

2. Festival Diners’ Choice : Best Use of the Festival Theme

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Appetisers of the Festival

The Restaurant

Winner of Award of Excellence

1. Golden Cauldron : Most Outstanding Restaurant of The Festival

2. Judges’ Choice : Most Innovative Cuisine at the Gala Launch

3. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Overall Dining Experience

of the Festival

4. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Cuisine of the Festival

5. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Creative Dining Experience of the

Festival

6. Festival Diners’ Choice : Best Use of the Festival Theme

7. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Main Course of the Festival

8. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Dessert of the Festival

9. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Entrée of the Festival

10. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Appetiser of the Festival

11. Festival Diners’ Choice : Most Outstanding Canapes/Pre-Dinner of

the Festival

12. Taste MIGF – Most Popular Restaurant