Go Makan! Sure ah?

NEWSFLASHMEDIA has posted earlier today an introduction to our readers on GoMakan.com, probably Malaysia’s first online food portal directory. The launch took place this recent Friday night at the Neverland Club on Jalan Kia Peng. I’ve been so out of touch with KL’s night scene so I’m not sure if that spot used to be the Orange Club, just next to Borneo Baruk, which is currently undergoing renovation. Not sure as well if Borneo Baruk is still operating under that same name.

The invite was fairly simple and to-the-point; media registration at 6pm and Makan (yes, that’s exactly how it was written) at 7pm. The press release states “... there will be NO lengthy speeches; no ribbon cutting ceremony; just good times to be had. Be prepared TO EAT, DRINK & LAUGH throughout the evening...”

Joanne Kam and the mini paparazzi.

And true, there were no speeches or ribbon cutting. But good times, eat, drink and laugh I wasn’t too sure of. Yes, we drank a lot but drinking on an empty stomach is no fun. Bear in mind that the launch was slated for 7pm, which is dinner hour for many of us. And knowing you’ve been invited to a food event means you don’t want to turn up on a full stomach. This is especially true for the Press who keeps a hectic work schedule and a regular eating pattern isn’t the norm.

The crowd, which included special guests as well as the media, were already at the venue by 6.30pm. And that’s a good sign and a sure welcome from most organisers of food events. It means guests will sample their servings when they are still nice, hot and fresh. Most of the booths of participating members of GoMakan.com were ready to tackle the crowd and tantalise their tastebuds. So naturally the hungry guests zoomed in on the food. A Mat Salleh friend of mine had a plateful of spread and polished his plate off.

Teh Tarik for the star!

Some guests were still at the booths making their selections when suddenly an announcement was made on the microphone, asking guests to refrain from sampling the food until they are invited to do so at the ‘launch’ hour – 7pm. YIKES! There were some red faces and those who already had food on their plates just didn’t know what to do; continue eating or drop everything and hide.

Wow! Wasn’t that ‘tactful’? I wonder how a more professional ‘emcee’ would have tackled the situation?

So the guests shied away from the booths and the operators stopped serving their food. Several minutes into 7pm Joanne Kam appeared and so the event was ‘officiated’. It seemed 30 of the portal’s members took part on the night but it didn’t appear so. Judging from the stalls, there appeared to be less than 30.

The ice-cream boys hard at work. The ice-creams are delicious.

Most of my friends tried most of the selections featured. I only stopped at the ice-cream counter, which I think was called Vedablu (Phileo Damansara 1) and Wrapstarzz (Wangsa Walk Mall). I have to say the offerings at these two outlets were worth a try as I did enjoy the Beef Wrap although a friend of mine said the filling was too dry. And everyone agreed that the yoghurt ice-creams were good.

Good food = Good fun?

I came with a friend and we had initially planned to hang out at the club and do some catching up with our media friends. But a majority were just trapped in KL’s Friday traffic madness; changed plans and ended up going elsewhere. So we left very early, about half an hour or so after Joanne’s appearance.

If the event was aimed towards a great fun night eating and drinking, it turned out to be, what the Malays would say a night of curi curi makan (trying bits and pieces here and there). Having spent most of our time in the publishing world at food reviews, launches and events, my friends and I were not impressed with this particular 'eat and be merry’ invite. It was just the wrong venue, the wrong ambiance and the wrong night.

Plenty of choices?

However, creating the portal and the purpose it serves is a great idea. Now no one needs to call the media in the middle of the night asking where can they get great food as they are traveling all the way from Ipoh to eat in KL.

Oh, by the way, while watching the GoMakan.com videos included in the press package, did the host Debbie Chien say “sh.t”when she fell to the floor? If she did, there goes all the chic and class and the beautifully made face and stunning figure hugging dress.

This lady's stall got rave reviews for the curry puffs but for the life of me can't remember the name of the company.

And oops! Just as I was finishing this post and checking facts, I called one of the GoMakan members on her handphone listed in the press release and she wasn't happy her mobile number is in there. YIKES again!

An Online Food Directory

GoMakan.com is an online food-based portal that serves as a directory facilitating the search for eateries in Malaysia.

Owned and operated by Monhan Holdings Sdn Bhd, GoMakan.com sees the support of Malaysia’s F&B outlet owners searching for a bigger, better and faster way of reaching their audience. Anyone who has Internet access would be able to tap into this food site.

Shin Kajiwara, Chief Executive Officer of Monhan Holdngs Sdn Bhd, said the portal serves as a venue for food outlet owners and food fans to interact over their one big love – food. He said the portal will draw everyone, local and international, together.

Every outlet owner is given a platform to highlight their menu through images displayed online and their full menu listing. To help customers in making their choice on which eatery they would like to visit, each operator provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on their outlet.

Part of GoMakan's homepage.

As with most portals, GoMakan.com also has features such as the search engine, user-driven dining reviews as well as a web TV channel that runs food shows produced by the GoMakan team. GoMakan has also partnered with the soon-to-be-launched IPTV’s Emagine to enable their contents to be viewed in hotels, private homes and hospitals.

Currently, GoMakan is concentrated only on food outlets in the Klang Valley. However, it has already prepared its business expansion to include the entire country.

Businesses interested in being featured on the portal pay a yearly subscription to be listed as a commercial member. They are then given access to information such as traffic flow, source assessment, search trends and demographic breakdown. All these information allow them to drive traffic to their outlets.

Shin Jaiwara, whose real name is Chong Yu Hsin has worked and lived in Japan for 15 years. He is from the IT industry and has worked in some of Japan’s prestigious companies. In 2011, Shin decided to return to his homeland, Malaysia with the desire to shape and change the world of the web and the Internet not only for Malaysia but also Southeast Asia. And that was how Monhan Holdings Sdn Bhd came about.

First Impression Counts

M. Ismail is one of NewsFlashMedia’s team members. She's home again in Kuala Lumpur after her six months stay in the UK. So what's life about since she got home?

WHILE I was in UK for six months I did not really miss our local Malaysian food. I think it’s because I don’t eat a lot and I only eat things that I like. Some friends say I’m not adventurous despite having helmed the F&B Desk in my past job.

About the only thing I missed while abroad were our local fruits, the durian and rambutan. And thanks to the hot weather I had to wait a month before I could indulge once I got home. While I’m not  a terrific cook, the few dishes that I love, I excel in cooking them. So no complaints there.

Being in the UK showed me one thing: Malaysians do not take pride in their local cuisine. This is reflected in the quality of the Malaysian dishes served in some of the Malaysian-owned food outlets found in the UK. I feel adapting the local recipes to the taste buds of the world is understandable but adapting does not mean sacrificing quality.

So, of course, it is understandable that I just couldn’t wait to sit myself at a typical Malaysian cafe that serves local favourites like Lontong and some kuih muih (local cakes).

The outlet has a corner showcasing some traditional kuih.

Once in a while when I have more time in my hands I’d pop by at Giant hypermarket in Kota Damansara as it’s very close to where I live. I’d take my breakfast at some of the little cafes in there; simple servings of Nasi Lemak accompanied with Teh Tarik or Nescafe kurang manis (less milk/sugar). I had a bit of time in my hands today and off I went to Giant to try the food served at a newly opened cafe. It serves a more traditional selection such as Ubi Rebus served with sambal (spicy chilli dish) and ikan masin (salted dried fish). I’ve tried a few of their kuih before and I am not very impressed. But, I believe every outlet deserves several tries before I make a final conclusion so there I was at the outlet again for an eat-in.

There was quite an impressive selection on the menu – noodle and rice dishes as well as servings of breads and kuih muih. The Nasi Empit (pressed boiled white rice cake) served with Rendang Daging or Ayam (A traditional meat dish) and Kuah Kacang (thick sauce made of roasted groundnuts and chilli)  caught my attention. I love Nasi Empit and Kuah Kacang in the mornings and not many outlets serve them. The one place I know that did was Cheechah also in Kota Damansara but they have since wrapped up.

BUT look at what I got!

Something is clearly wrong with the outlet's food presentation.

Isn’t this the most horrible way of serving food to a customer? They use plastic plates that you normally get in low-end office canteens and the food seemed to have just been plonked onto the plate. It made me wonder if they thought I was a stray cat or something.

The Nescafe Tarik was worth my time.

The wait staff had my Nescafe Panas (hot Nescafe drink with milk) with her as well and with the bottom of the cup all wet from the overflowing drink, she just placed it on the table, minus a saucer. I took the only piece of serviette she gave me and used it as a place mat. She didn’t even blink an eye, even when I said to her to bring me a few more serviettes. I hate my drink served in a cup. I prefer a mug and if it is served in a cup I expect a saucer to come with it as well. The saucer is clearly missing here.

The Kuih Lapis is okay though not the best one would have tasted.

On top of the Nasi Empit Kuah Kacang I also ordered the Cucur Badak (local savoury) and Kuih Lapis (traditional dessert) to take home. And because of my disappointment over the way the food was served, I didn’t bother ordering my second dish, the Ubi Rebus with Ikan Masin.

My conclusion over the quality of food is that the Kuah Kacang is delicious enough. It has the right consistency and a good balance of flavours. The Nasi Empit though is a bit too hard and using rice of better quality or using the correct amount of water when boiling would help make the difference. The Nescafe Panas is good, so is the Kuih Lapis although it’s a little bit sweet for my liking but the Cucur Badak isn’t worth the money paid.

All in the bill came to RM12.18sen with RM5 going to Nasi Empit, RM2.20sen for two pieces of Kuih Lapis and RM1.80sen for two pieces of Cucur Badak. The drink cost me RM2.80sen. Worth it? No. The food can be of better quality and the drink can be slightly cheaper.

Presentation of food is lacking attention but the Kuah Kacang and drink get half a thumbs-up.

Kwemwe Enterprise is at:
Lot G19, Giant Kota Damansara
No. 16 Jalan PJU 5/1
Kota Damansara PJU 5
47810 PETALING JAYA

Recommendation to owner:
You need to rethink your art of food presentation, no matter how simple.

Recommendations to customers:
•    Don’t eat there if you are particular on how you are served.
•    Don’t expect great food as the quality differs from one dish to the other.
•    Go if you crave for a good hot Nescafe Panas.

Album Review: THE SHINS

Album reviews by ACID
Artiste: The Shins
Album: Port of Morrow
Label: Aural Apothecary/Columbia/Sony Music

I’VE been listening to too much crap on the radio. That’s about the only thought that ran through my head after I had a first listen to Port of Morrow, the latest album by the Albuerquerque, New Mexico band The Shins.

Fronted by vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter James Mercer, The Shins has had a nine year history that is sometimes meandering but has never failed to dull. The details of all that are plonked onto reference sites, but for this album itself was released through the talented Mercer’s Aural Apothecary label.

The Shins’ history has seen the entry and exits of various musicians, and this time around Port of Morrow features Jessica Dobson, Richard Swift as fellow songwriters, drummer Joe Plummer (formerly of Modest Mouse) and the Crystal Skulls’ Yuuki Mathews. Yet through it all, you still have the funniest, faintest idea that sometimes, The Shins should’ve just been called Jimmy Mercer & The Band – he dominates through the entire 10-track album that much.

Jaded and autumnal at times, wistful but never earnest, Port Morrow’s songs contain well-crafted lyrics and simple though impressionable melodies that linger with you long after the song has ended, right from the dirty-bass’ed opener The Rifle’s Spiral itself.

Together with the dark honey of Mercer’s vocals, the lyrics however, are pointed, mildly galling, which makes an interesting juxtaposition between melody and words. Here’s an example: in No Way Down, Mercer sings “Out beyond the western squalls in an alien land they work for nothing at all, they don’t know the mall or the lay-away plan”.

Over and all, this is not the kind of album that grabs you immediately but lures you and lulls you into loving them – but loving them for the long term. And why did I write  I’d been listening to too much crap on the radio? Well, when you come across material like Port of Morrow, the difference is as stark as it can be, and is a truly sweet reminder of what else is out there. This is actually my first introduction to The Shins but I think the acquaintance will be a long one.

Album Review - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Album reviews by ACID
Artiste: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Album: Wrecking Ball
Label: Columbia/Sony Music

WHAT do we say next of America’s favourite working class hero, Bruce Springsteen? He’s sung all the gritty tales of hard knocks, rough living, gruffer emotions for so long. Even more so in the shadow of the fading of the American dream for so many living there, Springsteen’s songs become all the more touching, all the more poignant.

Wrecking Ball opens with the unapologetic-ally jangly, prideful We Take Care of Our Own. But upon listening closely, you get the feeling that a grim layer of strength and fortitude runs through the entire album like a fine underlying thread (as they do for many of his efforts). The second track is truly the one that opens to a wonderful panoply matching lyrics of the hardy, working man and some unexpected pairings – a hearty fiddle in Easy Money and a rather down-home foot stomp-er Shackled and Drawn.

Jack of All Trades is sorrowful, moving – and all beautiful. Springsteen’s vocals lose no power and retains the full gamut of masculine emotion. “We stood the drought, now we’ll stand the flood”,” he sings, and the listener bears the weight of the full honesty of his delivery. Death to my Hometown, again, is another interesting juxtaposition – all the woes of the grittiest of the hoi polloi but put in a gruff, brave (oh, how brave) delivery that is rousing and inspiring.

The late Clarence Clemmons, the saxophonist of the E Street Band is specially featured in a heartfelt Land of Hope and Dreams as well. Springsteen also pays fond tribute to his old friend and fellow musician at the end.

Look out for two bonus tracks, Swallowed up (In the Belly of the Whale), which is not a pseudo-Jonah-esque paean but rather, almost part dirge and part hymn, of the loss of innocence and confidence, even as it clings on to the faintest of hopes.

Wrecking Ball is another winner,  and perhaps one of Springsteen’s strongest albums about modern urban Americana ever.  It’s unapologetic, grim, tough, honest. And completely gorgeous.

Keeping My Hands Busy

M. Ismail is one of NewsFlashMedia’s team members. She's home again in Kuala Lumpur after her six months stay in the UK. So what's life about for her once on home-ground again?

WELL…it was down to serious hours of fun for me today! I planned to make the most of my hands and using them outdoors too! A friend commented on Facebook:  “Wah! Getting busy with your hands.” Yerp, serious busy.

First, out with the goggles. There! Don’t I look like a pro? Well, semi-pro at least. It's basic but good enough for safety purposes.

Here it comes! The first tool for the day.

I got this a few years back. It’s still in good condition although I use it often. It’s not so hip and trendy but it covers well. And no, girlfriends, I don’t take it out shopping. This is a handyman’s safety goggles, which I make sure I put on especially when I’m doing a lot of drilling. Yes, this drilling business can be very messy and dusty, I tell you.

So what was the project for today? My two-seater teak garden chair bought from furniture store Barang Barang. Cost me more than RM600 during a sale but it was money worth spending on. But looking at the picture now, it does look a poor sight, doesn’t it? Believe me, it has seen better days.

My garden chairs. Yes, the plants in the hanging pots are dead.

No one will believe me when I said it is teak. But teak it is and it has been sitting out in the garden, outdoors, under the sun and gone through many hours of storm and rain. And I love it, dearly because that’s where I propped myself in at the wake of dawn, in the early evenings, during sunset, after dinner and at 2am in the morning while I take a break from work sipping coffee, or a chocolate drink. Sometimes I’m there just to look up at the night skies covered in bright stars, and a plane or two flying by. There were moments when my chair and I shared a story or two; my happiness and sadness; some laughter and tears.

I propped it just under my bedroom window because there’s a natural concrete beam that juts out from the ceiling. It gives me and my chair shade when we don’t want too much sun. It has a special place in the garden. It is always by the jasmine tree. When the weather is cooler the jasmine tree bears a lot of flowers and they smell heavenly and a few will softly fall onto my lap whenever there is a cool breeze.

Now to get the tough screws out!

However, after five years I’ve decided to redecorate the garden…soon, but it has to start with the garden chair because it takes up the most space. And because it is slightly arch-shaped, I have to compromise with the other plants.

I look at my chair today and told it that I’m removing one half of it because I’ve only been using one side of the chair all this while. So, there is no point in having a large chair that takes up all the space, which I can use for something else. Now out came my drill. It was not used as a drill today but as a screwdriver. I needed to remove the well-embedded screws in the corners of the little table that joined the seats together. And boy! That was hard work because some of the screws just wouldn't budge.  But I’m a determined handy-woman, alternating the job between the electric drill and a sturdy, long screwdriver.

Notice the old red paint? Need to scrape that out.

You know they say, in every ‘work’ the tools are most important. Having the right tools, lighten the work. But in this case, it just didn’t happen. But I managed fine. And at every successful attempt at removing a part, I raised both my arms up into the air and cried: “I am the CHAMPION!” None of my show of jubilance was caught on camera because I totally forgot about taking a few snaps. Well, I wouldn’t be such a pleasant sight though, tiny tight shorts and a skimpy spaghetti strapped T-shirt. I bet if a nosy neighbour had been spying on me he or she might have thought it was a joke that this scrawny woman was doing all the work. Oh yes, you’d better bet every sen you have on me because I am the DIY expert in my family, ever since I was a teenager.

What once was the little table.

I collect most of the important DIY gadget and I store them in the top cupboard of my kitchen where there is a huge space for them, specifically made for the purpose. There’s a Hammer Drill, a standard drill, two battery-operated hand-drills and complete sets of drill heads, spanners of varying sizes, two handsaws, hammers from lightweight to medium to heavy, high-pressure washer (jet spray that can do the painting for huge walls or stripping old paint and other general DIY jobs). In short I have a cupboard-full of various gadgets and I would love to get more screwdrivers and smaller hand tools that make work light. In fact I’d love to buy one of those sturdy work benches so I can easily prop my projects there when I need to cut and saw. In fact, I am currently planning on getting a handy electric saw. I’ve not found the right one as yet.

Okay, back to my garden chair. Look! After a few knocks here and there the table has come off! Now you see two single garden chairs instead of one. Voila!

I have two single garden chairs now.

There are a few minor damages caused by some of the bent screws embedded in parts of the wood so I will need to do some restoration first. Next up is cleaning the chairs, drying them out, stripping the old pain, filling up the tiny cracks and holes with wood filler and finally sandpapering it. And when all these are done, I will have a spanking new garden chair.

I love deep reds on my wood but would just using varnish be better for my teak? That’s something to think about.

What would the colour be, now?

Flattened they may be

M. Ismail is one of NewsFlashMedia’s team members. She's home again in Kuala Lumpur after her six months stay in the UK. So what's life about for her once on homeground again?

AFTER a week and a half of being home, I managed a visit to Waroeng Penyet at The Curve shopping mall. That’s my frequent spot for delicious Ayam Penyet dish. It’s not so much the chicken that I like but the Fried Tempe (fried soya bean) and the fresh and crispy raw cabbage. Dipped in the outlet’s chilli sauce, they taste just remarkable.

My favourite Ayam Penyet at The Curve's Waroeng Penyet.

Ayam is ‘chicken and Penyet is to ‘flatten’. Ayam Penyet is a traditional Indonesian dish originating from East Java. The name of the dish refers to the cooking process where the meats are smashed flat after deep frying. This loosens the meat from the bone.

A basic serving comprising several pieces of fried chicken wings, a few pieces of Fried Tempe and Tauhu and a small helping of raw cabbage served with Sambal Cili will cost about RM13. The price includes a drink and my favourite is the Jus Jeruk Limau. If you have a big appetite you might want to order bigger portions.

The outlet also has a fish version of penyet dishes. At times I do takeaways to enjoy at home.

I like the food here as there are several other types of ‘penyek’ dishes available although my regular item of order is the chicken wings. The outlet’s clean, the wait staff aren’t remarkable but okay. However, what I don’t like is the noisy karaoke sing-along shown on the nasty big screen. That drives me nuts!

Waroeng Penyet is at:
Lot 131, 1st Floor, The Curve
No. 6 Jalan PJU 7/3
Mutiara Damansara
PETALING JAYA
Selangor
Malaysia

Recommendations to owner:
Lower the volume of the karaoke music.

Recommendations to customers:
Eat your heart out!

TWG Tea’s Fine Teas in Kuala Lumpur

Material: Courtesy of The Valiram Group

TWG Tea, the purveyor of exquisite teas, has unveiled its first TWG Tea Salon & Boutique in Malaysia on May 22.

Located in the Couture Pavilion, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, its newest 2,300 sq. ft. destination will mark the brand’s fourth international opening in two years, after Tokyo, London, Hong Kong and Dubai. The Valiram Group, will exclusively manage and operate TWG Tea in Malaysia.

Exquisite teas from TWG Tea.

A showcase of the illustrious heritage of tea traditions around the globe infused with a contemporary, epicurean sensibility, the TWG Tea Salon & Boutique boasts a timeless yet surprisingly modern grandeur.

Taha Bouqdib, President and Co-founder of TWG Tea, said, “Kuala Lumpur presents a phenomenal contrast of old and new, a city where fashion, flavours and cultures are constantly evolving, making it the perfect location to launch TWG Tea in Malaysia.”

TWG Tea Chairman and CEO Manoj M Murjani, added,“As a global luxury tea brand headquartered in Asia, we are proud to bring our tea connoisseurship to Malaysian customers, where there is already a long-standing tea appreciation and tea culture.”

Ashvin Valiram, Executive Director of Valiram Group, said, “We are excited to bring TWG Tea to Malaysia, where we are confident this luxury brand will be greatly appreciated by tea lovers, aficionados and gastronomes alike. Stepping into the TWG Tea Salon & Boutique will offer an unparalleled luxurious tea drinking experience with an exquisite tea range from all over the world.” 

The Tea Salon

TWG Tea Haute Couture Tea Collection - TWG Tea Design Glass Teapot, Saturn Tea Tins & Platinum Glamour Tea Bowls

The intimate 56-seat Tea Salon features TWG Tea’s signature rattan-backed black velvet chairs and crisp white linens. Featuring a tea-infused sweet and savoury menu, gastronomes will be delighted by an exceptional dining experience with dishes carefully developed with select TWG Teas, such as the Wagyu Burger accompanied by 1837 Green Tea infused vinaigrette, and TWG Tea Lasagna prepared with a handmade tomato and basil sauce infused with Moroccan Mint Tea.

TWG Tea-infused desserts are meticulously prepared daily and include delicacies such as the Chocolate Fondant served with a light custard cream and a scoop of homemade Vanilla Bourbon Tea ice cream, 8 vibrant flavours of tea-infused macarons – including the popular Napoleon, a jet-black macaron infused with salted caramel and Napoleon Tea – and a breath-taking selection of tea pastries served with TWG Tea jelly and whipped cream.

Tea offerings include unique harvests from the most prestigious gardens and renowned tea blends, prepared behind the bar according to TWG Tea’s exact specifications. They are meticulously served in characteristic Design Teapots plated in 18k gold, hand-blown glass French Teapots, or iced in tall crystal stemware.

The Tea Boutique

TWG Tea Chocolate Bonbons.

The TWG Tea Boutique captures the imagination with hard wood mahogany tea counters, brass weighing scales and walls of TWG Tea signature yellow artisan tea tins filled with more than 450 of the most celebrated fine harvest and exclusive tea blends in the world, all of which may be purchased by weight from 50 grams in sachets or perfectly accessorised in one of TWG Tea’s 45 bespoke tea tins.

Brightly coloured, whimsical packed teas are aplenty, such as the Haute Couture Teas, the brand’s most anticipated and celebrated tea collection, which features unique tea blends crafted by TWG Tea innovators according to the flavours of the season and packaged in designer hues that reflect the latest catwalk trends.

TWG Tea Wagyu Burger.

With hundreds of exquisite tea accessories to complement the selection of teas, including exclusive TWG Tea designs such as hand-blown glass Mirage and Medina teapots, mirror-finish platinum Glamour Tea Bowls, and the much acclaimed Design Teapot, which keeps tea warm for over an hour, it is a pleasure to select the perfect gift or create a bespoke hamper for that special someone, whatever the occasion may be.

In addition to an astounding array of takeaway tea-infused patisseries of all varieties and sizes, the TWG Tea Boutique in Kuala Lumpur will also offer 12 chocolate bonbons composed of dark, milk and white chocolate infused with the brand’s iconic tea blends, including Earl Grey Fortune, 1837 Black and White Night Jasmine Tea, alongside an assortment of six gourmet chocolate bars encased in jewel-toned packaging.

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique
Level 2, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6 03 2142 9922
Mon-Sun:10am-10pm

About TWG Tea  

TWG Tea was established in Singapore in celebration of the island’s great history as a trading post for fine teas. TWG Tea, which stands for The Wellness Group, is an institution incorporating an international distribution network to professionals, unique and original retail boutiques and exquisite tea rooms. Committed to offering teas directly from source gardens, TWG Tea’s collection is the largest in the world, with fine harvests from every tea producing country and exclusive handcrafted tea blends. TWG Tea also offers exquisite signature modern tea accessories and delicate tea-infused sweets and savouries.

After launching its first Singapore tea salon & boutique at Republic Plaza in 2008, TWG Tea has opened in iconic destinations such as ION Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, DFS Galleria and Takashimaya Singapore. Expanding its presence internationally, 2010 heralded the opening of TWG Tea Jiyugaoka in Tokyo, Japan and TWG Tea Counters in Harrods Knightsbridge, London and Dean & DeLuca Madison Ave, New York.

The year 2011 saw the much-awaited opening of the first TWG Tea Salon & Boutique in Hong Kong. The premier tea supplier to the finest hotels, restaurants and international airlines, TWG Tea is retailed around the world in gourmet epiceries including El Corte Ingles in Portugal, Feinkost Kaefer in Germany and GUM in Moscow, Russia.

TWG Teas are available in Singapore, Australia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Fiji, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turks & Caicos, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Vietnam. European online orders can be made at www.Harrods.com; online orders within the USA can be made at www.DeanDeluca.com; worldwide online orders can be made directly from the TWG Tea e-Boutique at www.TWGTea.com.

Album Review – REBECCA FERGUSON

Album reviews by ACID
Artist: REBECCA FERGUSON
Album: Heaven
Label: RCA/Syco Music/Sony Music

WHEN the then-legal secretary Rebecca Ferguson first showed up on the television screens via the British singing competition The X Factor in 2004, her musical debut was relatively uneventful and cut short by a lack of confidence. Six years later, she went into the competition again, this time stronger,  refreshed and with guns blazing. She impressed the judges so much with her smoky, mildly gravelly voice that she became the first woman in the show’s history to be the runner-up, losing to Matt Cardle.

Shortly after, Ferguson signed with Cowell/Sony Music (why does it seem that Simon Cowell gets his claws on just anything that remotely seems to make money before anyone else does?) and Heaven is her first full-length album.

Heaven features songs Ferguson has co-written with a host of others. Fairly stylishly executed, the first praiseworthy note is that her voice, which has been described by UK’s The Telegraph as “somewhere between a less annoying Macy Grey and less squeaky Minnie Riperton”, takes true centrestage in all its soulful, heartfelt eagerness.  Frankly, I couldn’t find any Riperton in her vocals, but thought she compared more to a weaker, sandier and younger version of Aretha Franklin though perhaps with less sonorous power.

The content of her songs deal with nitty-gritty rather than gloss – of worry, unemployment lines, complicated emotional mixes and relationships that are special in all of their messed up tangles. The third track Shoulder to Shoulder, has Ferguson keening in earnestness, “So I’m gonna drag you down, whilst you drag me down / And I’m gonna shout at you, whilst you shout at me / Until we realize that real love is free, free.”

There are also more playful musical treatments, like the relaxed, semi-disco of Fairytale (Let me Live my Life This Way), and Mr Bright Eyes, whose whimsical tempo and cleanly innocent lyrics are all about pure, joyful yearning. Fighting Suspicions is a big favourite for me, with a strong melodic line with equally muscular lyrics, archly delivered with emotion and precision by her vocals.

But then the songs themselves clearly carry a weight of meaning for her, whether it’s the punchy R&B wisdom of Glitter & Gold, the fragile optimism driving the disco groove of Fairytale or the swirling melodic confusion of Shoulder to Shoulder’s gripping portrait of dysfunctional love.

Ferguson is credited on every song, most of which are co-written with Eg White, a collaborator who helped bring out the best in Adele and Duffy. Ferguson is in the same Brit-soul terrain, a retro sound made commercially viable by Amy Winehouse, but doesn’t really sound like any of them. She sounds like herself.

All in all, not a bad first album at all.

Back to Crazy

M. Ismail is one of NewsFlashMedia’s team members. She has been living in London since October 2011 and is now finally home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

I’M finally home, after six months of being away from crazy KL.

But it wasn’t the greatest feeling to step into the house to find everything broken, just dead and have stopped functioning – the fridge, the lights in my bedroom and the living room, the water heater in the guest toilet, the Jacuzzi in my bathroom, the Internet is down because the modem’s broken and the locks on the windows in the kitchen have also given way, which is a big security concern.

I feel like a dragon with a broken tail after seeing the condition of my house.

Alligator With A Broken Tail by Kelly

http://www.clker.com/profile-90718.html

On top of all these, the garden looks like a mini jungle. While the lovely huge creepers are rich in fresh blooms, the smaller ones are fighting for survival. Some have even died. The cacti are doing okay but the banana palms have succumbed to the heat. I have to tip toe on the small landing that divides the lanai and the garden because most the wood-boards have decayed, thanks to heavy rain. I’ve lost my footing there twice and I’m lucky I have not broken my ankle. That needs immediate fixing but what isn’t and where do I start? 

The wood-boards have decayed.

So out came the huge book of To Do List.

First I need to call the fridge technician. And I did only to hear the word ‘sorry’ coming from the other end of the telephone line. The brand of the fridge I bought has been taken over by some other company, which no one seems to know anything about. And so the mad search for clues to locate that almost non-existing number begins. Okay, if I managed to get hold of the technician tomorrow (and that’s a BIG if) there is still no guarantee I will see even the tip of the technician’s nose in the next two days. So here am I gathering all my hope in a prayer.

I often hear the saying “it’s as if time stood still”. Mine is at the moment. In fact, it appears to be completely frozen.

Feels like a dark, grey storm just burst above my head.

Cartoon Character by Ben http://www.clker.com/profile-90718.html

Several other phone calls followed – the electrician who said he will be at my place the next Monday, the vacuum cleaner companies who said I have to come personally to their office to place an order and return again on another day when the stock arrives, and the sales person at the local DIY store who said the locks I want can be bought ONLY from the hardware store (I wonder what DIY actually means). But he was polite so that was comforting. 

The good thing in all these is that I got the modem/Internet problem solved in just a day because the guy is a friend and he helped me out. He bought a new modem, reset everything and handed everything to me in one piece. All I had to do was fix it back at its station and change the password again. But my laptop requires a different expert and so the wait for him to come around and pick it up (you will know very soon why).

The garden is now a mini jungle.

On top of all these madness, I still need to have my hair done, my nails manicured, my body massaged, my friends to meet up with, interview request to be secured ASAP and project proposal meetings to arrange. Oops, I just remembered. I can’t do any of these. Guess what? The car is broken as well. The battery is dead, the air-conditioning isn’t working, and the road tax and insurance is expiring very soon. Tell you what, I think I will sit in my mini jungle and look up at the sky and ask: “Why, God, why did you make me come home?”

I will just continue drinking my coffee amidst this madness.