MIGF MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL GASTRONOMY FESTIVAL 2018 IS BACK WITH A BAG THIS YEAR WITH SLAP-UP DINNER AT NULNU THE HOT NEW ALL IN ONE BEAUTY CENTRE AT TROPICANA MALL NOW FOOLISHLY CHANGED TO 3 DAMANSARA MALL!

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Dining at Nulnu - MIGF2018 A Brand New You “I wanted to create a brand that is sexy and elegant, and which offers a holistic beauty experience second to none,” said Prof. Dr. CocoAlex Yeoh as he welcomed guests recently to his sprawling one-stop-beauty centre at 3Damansara. This latest in the series of MIGF menu reviews saw everything from pre-dinner pampering sessions to private mini-concerts and of course a menu par excellence – all adding up to a fabulous evening. Prof. Dr. CocoAlex Yeoh – the Founder of Nulnu Lifestyle Mall A well-known figure in the cosmetics industry, Dr. CocoAlex’s overwhelming passion and pride for his profession is infectious. Not content with the Empro cosmetics empire he built, he opened Nulnu Lifestyle Mall earlier this year and in its short lifespan it has proved a roaring success. Dato’ Steve Day, Michael Hutt, H.E. Manuel Balaguer Salas, Madame Guadalupe Cernusco Cornejo, Che Puan Claire Louise Rania and Tunku Danny Nasaifuddin bin Tunku Mudzaffar Following pre-dinner drinks and introductions by MIGF Organising Chairman Dato’ Steve Day, guests were given a personal tour of the 25,000 square foot premises by Dr. CocoAlex. Boasting over 300 services across nine distinct zones, Nulnu covers every beauty base from head-to-toe. Dr. CocoAlex plans to open Nulnu outlets across the nation and overseas Be it a manicure, massage, makeup, nails, eyebrows or hairstyling, Nulnu’s offerings are exhaustive. Dr. CocoAlex led the diners around the centre, proudly explaining each zone before reaching the restaurant area where an extravagantly decked table awaited. Strewn with flowers, candles, antiques and other eye-catching items, it was an impressive showpiece. Highly stylised design elements carry through to each zone in Nulnu As guests were seated, it was Chef James Chai’s turn to shine. The humble chef oversees a menu that merges fine-dining and fusion with an MSG-free, health-conscious approach in line with the Nulnu philosophy. His amuse-bouche of melon, blue cheese, smoked salmon and sweet basil showcased this perfectly. A clean tasting, bold and bright-flavoured start to the menu, it was presented on a small skewer and quickly finished. Melon, Blue Cheese, Smoked Salmon and Sweet Basil As plates were cleared away, the next item to arrive was a cobalt blue mocktail, made with lavender, lime and sparkling water. This was the beverage paired with the first appetiser, a lychee and salmon tartare with salmon caviar. The salty pops of salmon roe and fizz of the drink proved a winning combination. Blue Frozen Lavender Mocktail Lychee and Salmon Tartare with Caviar Appetiser two featured a chargrilled tiger prawn with punchy garlic mashed potato, paired with a full bodied Shiraz that held up well to the spice. This well-rounded course led into the asparagus soup with saffron croutons – a creamy and wholesome dish with earthy undertones. Chargrilled Tiger Prawn with Garlic Mashed Potato Asparagus Soup with Saffron Croutons Next came a shot of melon mint lillet to cleanse the palate, paving the way for the two main courses: the first being a pan-seared tenderloin with crispy rice and chilli flakes served with peppercorn sauce. Pan-seared Tenderloin with Crispy Rice and Chilli Flakes served with Peppercorn Sauce Following this was the pan-fried salmon with spinach and mashed potato, served with shallot salsa. A moist, medium-rare centre with crisp skin, the salmon went well with the intensely flavoured salsa. Pan-fried Salmon with Spinach and Mashed Potato served with Shallot Salsa Rounding out the menu was a trio puree of kiwi, mango and dragon fruit, served together with marshmallow and deluxe gelato – a mélange of sweet and sour flavours, with a velvety ice cream to top it off. Trio Puree (Kiwi, Mango and Dragon Fruit) served with Marshmallow and Deluxe Gelato Tunku Dara and H.E. Manuel Balaguer Salas both gave rousing thank you speeches at the end of the evening, noting the creative combination of flavours and impressive presentation of each dish. The ambassador in particular was impressed with the tenderloin, which he said was fully up to premium Argentine standards! The Ambassador extended a hearty congratulations to the restaurant on behalf of the group The evening ended on a musical note as the mic was passed around to the vocalists among the group, including Festival Advisory Committee member Dato’ Johari Abas, songbird Datin Maylene Yong and singer-turned-designer Jeslina Hashim. They each belted out classics in Italian, English and Malay, earning rounds of applause from the appreciative guests. Dato’ Johari Abas belting out Luciano Pavarotti’s O Sole Mio Click here to read more about the restaurant, Chef James and the Festival menu. Sponsored by Vision KL, Festival Publicity Dinners help create and sustain the MIGF buzz throughout the Festival month. These dinners provide an excellent way for the organisers to individually recognise the professionals in each Festival Restaurant and to thank everyone involved, from the restaurant managers and service teams, to the Master Chefs and their kitchen staff. FOLLOW OUR FESTIVAL SOCIAL NETWORKS