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 camaraderie of their peers and be feted at the traditional MIGF Awards and Celebration Party.
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.
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!
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.
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.
In addition to Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie, the finalists for the Golden Cauldron Award were La Scala, Marini’s on 57, Tanzini, Ten Japanese Fine Dining and The Olive.
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 Nathalie based 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 Valmurugan Subramaniam 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.
The MIGF Awards and Celebration Party is a rare time, not only for the Festival Chefs, but also for the restaurant management, kitchen, and service staff to enjoy the limelight due to their traditional behind-the-scenes roles. “Everyone involved in MIGF is a winner. Everyone deserves a medal. It has been a privilege to work with all of you!” declared the Organising Chairman, Dato’ Steve Day.
Awards were given for creativity, innovation, presentation and value of the Festival Menu, quality of service, effective marketing strategies, best use of the Festival theme, best restaurant station designs and the number of Taste Sovereigns and Gourmet Dollars collected and portions sold during the Gala Launch and Taste MIGF.
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 Valmurugan Subramaniam
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 the 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, Bunga Emas/ L’Heritage (The Royale Chulan KL)
Best Value Menu of the Festival
Winners: Aliyaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Bunga Emas, Charcoal, Chynna, Dynasty, L’Heritage
Most Creative Menu of the Festival
Winners: Bunga Emas, 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: Bunga Emas, 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: Bunga Emas, 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: Bunga Emas, 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
