Hoo boy. We've just come into the second week of November and it already feels like the end of it. Expecting a mad rush of parties and events towards the end of 2015 (to meet sales targets or to use up the allocated A&P budget I suspect, hehe). Here are 5 to start with:
Congratulations on the opening of the second outlet in Hartamas (just next to Old Town Coffee)!
If you're familiar with their first outlet in Kota Damansara, then expect the same menu & quality, fresh cuts of meat. What was unexpected to me was how the available wines also pair well with yakiniku which whetted my appetite for more. If you're not familiar with their work then you should definitely check them out soon because in conjunction with their opening, you'll get a 10% off your total bill and a free ice cream until 31 Jan 2016 when you quote "Angeltini". :)
Before my post is out, have a look at the website first to get you in the mood: www.gyukingu.com
Oh, the wines that were paired with our dinner that night was provided by The Straits Wine Company, the same guys behind the annual Wine Fiesta at Publika & KK. We had a rose and a red, which were both various degrees of smooth, light & fruity (my type of wines!) that complemented the subtle flavours of the lightly marinated bbq meats. It was love at first bite & sip. More on them: www.straitswine.com.my
#CocktailTrailKL
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| Clockwise from top left: hyde at 53M, Hexa lounge, Lou Shang & 44 Bar. 4 down 2 to go! |
If you are unfortunate enough to follow my multiple postings on FB and instagram on this, then you'll know everything there is to know about this event. Just skip the following paragraph and go head to the next one. :)
#CocktailTrailKL is an initiative by 6 Klang Valley independent bars who decided to get together to instil an awareness of the many types of cocktails and bar concepts our little Valley has to offer. For the whole month of November, hop from bar to bar collecting stamps and you'll earn yourself a free drink courtesy of the first bar you visited.
Briefly, the 6 participating bars are:
Hyde at 53M, Damansara Uptown : Likely the first "speakeasy" concept bar in PJ, its plush, classy interior transports you back to the feel of the glamorous 20s. Try their beautiful-looking signature cocktails, or not - they also have a myriad of whiskies (ranging from entry level to stuff that are made of collectors' dreams) to try too.
44 Bar, Bangsar : A pop-up concept bar, it nomads from location to location and currently resides in Dr Inc. Signature cocktails mainly feature special, uncommon craft spirits from Liberty Spirits Asia which you can't find anywhere else. Try their bottle-aged cocktails or start with their bespoked Gin & Tonic featuring 8 types of gins when they are on a buy 2 free 1 happy hour offer.
P&C Cocktail Bar, Hartamas : This cozy little "speakeasy" concept bar is for the highly experimental. Why? There are no menus here. Only a sheet of paper to mark your flavour preferences then you leave it to the bartender who will surprise you with lots of bells and whistles to boot. With a very intimate & wild wild west setting, it's located just behind Naughty Nuri's.
Hexa Lounge, Sunway Pinnacle : Helmed by resident bartender Kelvin Lee, the bar is owned by the same fellows from the Grand Imperial chain of Chinese restaurants (crispy duck!). Don't shy away from his experimental cocktail world of fat infused spirits, absinthe concoctions, creative flavour pairings and interesting use of food (smoked bacon! tobiko!) in cocktails.
Lou Shang Bar & Cafe, Damansara Uptown: Relatively the newest kid of the 6, this cozy, laid back Sydney small bar concept features quirky, playful, easy-to-drink signature cocktails. There's a handful of bottled beers and quite an extensive entry-level to mid range whiskies/whiskeys. Most awesome: Nothing on the menu is above RM40.
The Bar by Sam Kinugawa, Empire Damansara: Being in here feels like you've stepped into a classic bar in Japan or the Bartender manga. Signatures seem to be a crowd favourite but ask for something off-menu which could surprise you. Enough of cocktails? Sam (the Japanese owner and head bartender ) has a fondness for good whisky so don't be surprised to see some prized bottlings there too.Well, it's no Singapore Cocktail Week in terms of magnitude and budget, but it's a great start to something more in the future, perhaps. So go support your independent bars this November! :)
Crackhouse Comedy Club @TTDI
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| Ohai Jonathan Antherton! |
I never knew there was an ACTUAL comedy club in Malaysia - all these while I've always thought it was just a name for a gathering of comedians, but I couldn't be more wrong and pleasantly surprised. Door fee starts at RM15 and up, depending on the theme of the night. Technically has a bar with plain vanilla offering of spirits, beer wine ("red" or "white" only) and a handful of cocktails at a price which you will be more than happy to pay (ie, you will definitely not feel ripped off) with set promos. Even offers non-alcoholic stuff and light snacks. It's quite a good alternative to spending 2 hours at the bar.
#MyTigerBites Finale - street food festival
Tiger Beer marked the end of the extensive #MyTigerBites campaign (to, putting it very crudely, cultivate imbibers to have a Tiger with their street food) with an enormous street food festival atop Avenue K's rooftop. One of the more interesting beer parties I've been to this year, I must say. Kudos you guys! Post-event report with lots of pics to annoy you coming up.
NewMan's Creative Pioneer Awards 2015 presented by Absolut (#cpa2015)
In conjunction with the NewMan magazine's 12 anniversary, 40 Malaysians were selected across 8 categories to be crowned "Creative Pioneer" of the year. Obviously I wasn't one of the nominees, but I'm almost always there for a good party, haha! Everyone who was someone (or trying to be a someone) was there and being totally fashionable - but I have to say, my favourite dress was worn by the Absolut girls. I mean, how can anything beat twinkly lighted skirts? :P
Until next week, drink safe!
#MyTigerBites Finale - street food festival
Tiger Beer marked the end of the extensive #MyTigerBites campaign (to, putting it very crudely, cultivate imbibers to have a Tiger with their street food) with an enormous street food festival atop Avenue K's rooftop. One of the more interesting beer parties I've been to this year, I must say. Kudos you guys! Post-event report with lots of pics to annoy you coming up.
NewMan's Creative Pioneer Awards 2015 presented by Absolut (#cpa2015)
In conjunction with the NewMan magazine's 12 anniversary, 40 Malaysians were selected across 8 categories to be crowned "Creative Pioneer" of the year. Obviously I wasn't one of the nominees, but I'm almost always there for a good party, haha! Everyone who was someone (or trying to be a someone) was there and being totally fashionable - but I have to say, my favourite dress was worn by the Absolut girls. I mean, how can anything beat twinkly lighted skirts? :P
Until next week, drink safe!
Insta Weekly is a weekly summary of boozy updates from my Instagram.com/fireangel80 with the hashtag #angeltini. Feel free to follow me if you enjoy daily updates on booze, food and other random stuff by a girl from Malaysia. Cheers!
