Welcome back readers! Its been a very long while isn't it? My apologies as I've been quite pack lately. As some of you might know, I've started with my studies with Open University earlier this year and balancing work, my lifestyle,assignments and studies at the same time is not an easy task. Due to that also, my home based garage is closed as I can no longer commit to it. 

Alright, back to the main topic! last week, on the 27th April 2017, I was fortunate enough to be invited by Pullman Miri Waterfront under Sarawak Bloggers to attend a masterclass with Chef Desmond Chia together with a few bloggers and members of the press at Pullman Private Kitchen area.

When I first arrived at Pullman Miri Waterfront that day, I didn't know what to expect. I was thinking is this like the TV shows I usually watched? Gordon Ramsey Pullman Edition? I have no clue what was about to happen. But thank goodness not long after that, some familiar faces arrived at the hotel lobby. None other than my fellow bloggers, LadyBird, Pei Pei, Judith and Elena. Not long after that, the man behind all this invitation, Abang Joe photobombed us.

We then proceed to the private kitchen are, where we were given a media kit, a hat and a apron. Chef Gabriel did a brief introduction about what was about to happen before Chef Desmond took over. Not too long after that, all the participants started to gather around the kitchen island and soon after that we started our session with the making of Xiao Loong Bao. 

p/s: i think almost all the photo used does not belong to me as i was busy making some food.. :D

After all that fun dim sum making session, we were asked to sit down while waiting for our Xiao Loong Bao to be steamed cooked and of course after that is the eating session.  Our dumpling might not look as good but it was definitely delicious and juicy.

The second lesson was on how to make hand pulled noodles. I had the honor to be asked to "pull and stretched " the noodle and i kid you not, it was hard work. Chef Desmond demonstrated on how to stretched the noodle and when i did mine, instead of bouncing up and down, mine went in circles.

According to Chef Desmond, its best to use a marble top table during the making of the noodle as the marble top table helps maintaining the ideal temperature for the noodle and it is also important to use alkaline water during the making of the dough.

Hand Pulled Noodles
Hong Kong Flour - 600gm
Ice Water - 300gm
Salt - 5gm
Alkaline Water - 50gm

Xiao Loong Bao Skin
High Protein flour - 600gm
Low Protein flour - 600gm
Ice Water - 600gm

Chicken Stock Jelly
Chicken Stock - 600gm
Agar Agar Powder - 10gm
Salt - 11gm
Chicken Seasoning - 16gm
Sugar - 12gm

Filling
Chicken meat - 600gm
Salt - 7gm
Chicken Seasoning - 11gm
Sugar - 16gm
Potato Starch - 11gm
Ginger - 10gm
Spring Onion - 10gm
Chicken Stock Jelly - 600gm

Seems like a lot of fun yah? If you are intrested to join any of the masterclass, Chef Desmond will be in Pullman Miri Waterfront for about a month. Gather your friends, give Pullman Miri Waterfront a call at  +6085323888 to secure a spot. Price will range from Rm80++/pax.

Do checkout what my fellow bloggers have to say and their experience during the masterclass

http://www.awomandiary.com/

https://elenaaradia.wordpress.com/

http://peipei87.blogspot.my/

​After another good outing this year, Miri Country Music Fest is heading towards being bigger next year. The festival will be held for two days next year and this is to accommodate the request from festival goers.

​Since introducing the festival in 2014, Planet Conventions and Events Sdn Bhd had been organizing the event for one day. However, as the festival entered into it’s forth year, Miri Country Music Fest will be held for two days from February 25 to 26 next year.
 
The decision was because of the overwhelming response this year. The festival which was held on February 27 this year recorded a total of 2,740 festival goers, an increased of 30 per cent as compared to last year.  Last year’s crowd was at 2,100. Next year Planet Conventions and Events is targeting to attract more than 3,500 festival goers to the event.

​The venue will remain at Parkcity Everly Hotel Miri, which is also the official hotel and the main sponsor for the event.
 
To cater for the two days and increasing festival goers number, the organizer will also be bringing in more international bands to entertain the crowd. Among those already short listed include from USA, Australia, Germany, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. There will also be more local Malaysian bands taking the centre stage as well.
 
The festival concept also remain as in previous years, starting with the festival bazaar and followed with music workshop before the concert begin in the evening. On Sunday, the concert will begin earlier so that the finale can end earlier as well. This is in consideration for the festival goers who have to work the next day.

​Planet Conventions and Events is also planning to include more activities in the program to further enhance the festival goers’ experience at the event. This will include more stalls offering wide variety of food and beverages, arts and crafts, apparels and souvenirs and to organize competitions like burger eating contest, arm wrestling and many more.
 
There is also plan to hold a Sunday-cook-out session on the second day of the festival, to encourage more visitors especially those with young children to spend the afternoon at the festival.
 
Next year’s event will have something for everyone, be they country music fans or anyone wanting to chill out with family and friends.

Tickets to the festival are now available online at www.miricountrymusic.com and tickets are priced at RM80 for one day and RM150 for two days for adult. For children between three to 12 years old, their ticket is priced at RM40 for one day and RM70 for two days. All the tickets include one drink.
 
At the moment Planet Conventions and Events is offering the Big Bang Sale and the tickets are priced at RM55 per day and RM100 for two days for adult and RM35 and RM60 respectively for a child. The Big Bang Sale will last until September 30. After that date the ticket will be on sale at normal price.
 
The forth edition of Miri Country Music Fest is endorsed by Miri City Council and supported by Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts Sarawak and Malaysia Conventiona and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). Rentak Sejuta is the online media partner.
 
For more detail on the festival, either logon to www.miricountrymusic.com, email to info@placeborneo.com or call +6 082 250400.

Welcome back dear readers! Apologies for the no update as I was occupied with some other stuffs lately. This was suppose to be posted last week but unfortunately, TMNUT Screamyx has been giving me issues for almost 2 weeks.

Alright! back to the main agenda. Most of us (Mirians) are aware that TGV Cinemas has recently opened in Permaisuri Imperial City Mall(PICM) and on the 12th March 2015, I was invited, together with a few more fellow bloggers, to the official grand opening ceremony. This historic opening marks TGV Cinemas' first cinema in East Malaysia.








The official launch was officiated by Yang Berhormat Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Sports and Communications Sarawak, Yang Berbahagia Lawrence Lai, Mayor of Miri City Council, Mr Ling Chiong Sing, Chief Executive Director of Boulevard Group of Companies, Mr Don Yew Hoon, Chief Executive Officer of Boulevard Group of Companies and Mr Gerald V. Dibbayawan, Chief Executive Officer of TGV Cinemas.

TGV Cinema in PICM has eight cinema halls with a total of 1263 Seats. All halls are fitted with the state-of-the art Dolby Digital sound system and Christie® CP2220 digital cinema projector system that generates sharper and brighter 2D and 3D images. It is also capable of playing high-frame-rate(HFR) which is also suitable of action packed movies. 

Shortly after the press conference, we were invited for the premiere of Disney Animation blockbuster "Cinderella" which coincides with the grand opening.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Miss Nandini, PR Executive of TGV Cinemas and Sarawak Bloggers for this opportunity and it was a wonderful experience (That was my first time going to TGV Cinema-car too low had to park at Imperial Mall >.<)

Before I end this post, do check out what my fellow bloggers have to say about the grand opening of TGV Cinema Permaisuri Imperial City Mall.

* Fabian

* *Elena Aradia

** *Pei Pei

****Ladybird