KK & Sabah News-Flash

2017 Signature Food Fest Winners

This year’s Signature Food Fest came to a close with its awards night at the Grandis Hotels and Resorts in Kota Kinabalu.  It was officiated by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun who gave out the awards.

The following are the nine main awards and their winners:

• Best Signature Menu – Sukiyaki with Special Wagyu by the Sakagura Japanese Restaurant
• Best Plate Presentation – Nasi Briyani Chicken Set (with Cendol and Sirap Bandung
• Best Customer Service – Sakagura Japanese Restaurant and the Oceanus Waterfront Mall in Kota Kinabalu
• Best Ambiance – Tanjung Ria Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Kinabalu
• Outstanding Chef (with two recipients) – Chef Shone Majimbun (of Shoney’s Dining and Bar) for his 13” Giant Burger, and Chef Tunku Farazil (of Tanjung Tia Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Kinabalu for his Oxtail Asam Pedas and Naan Bread
• Blogger’s Choice Award (with three recipients) – Borenos Fried Chicken, Little Melaka Alamesra and Sakagura Japanese Restaurant
• Facebook Most Popular (with three recipients also) – Garlic Prawn Spaghetti by Rosea Cafe, Grandis Hotels & Resorts Kota Kinabalu, 13’ Giant Burger By Shoney’s Dining & Bar, and Asam Pedas 7 Fish Head Curry By Little Melaka Alamesra
• MoreFun Best Award – Rosea Cafe at Grandis Hotela & Resorts Kota Kinabalu
• Consistent Quality Awards – Shoney’s Dining & Bar and Sakagura Japanese Restaurant.

Video of Adventurer with Monkey Seen by Millions

The video taken by Irish adventurer, animal whisperer and king of animal selfie Allan Dixon Vid was seen by at least five million people in @9 GAG within three days.  Dixon can “talk” to animals and can even get selfies with wildlife that he makes available online.

Sabah Tourism was with Dixon when he went to Sandakan and also during his visit to see the proboscis monkey.  Dixon was also with Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun during high tea where announced his plan to make a video of his visit to Sabah.

Dixon is originally from Wicklow, Ireland, and has traveled to many parts of the world.  Prior to Sabah, he had been to Canada, Norway, Australia and other parts of Asia.

Road Network Completed by 2030

Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman announced that Sabah will have a complete road network by the year 2030 with the Pan Borneo Highway acting as the network spine to connect the different districts in the state.  Development in these places is expected to grow as investors will be lured to participate in projects to be implemented there. The full potential of the hinterland will be harnessed which will be contributory to its development.

Musa made this speech, read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, at the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) Roadshow 2017.  He also identified activities that need engineering services, namely:  (1) connectivity through construction of roads and bridges; (2) upgrading of sanitary systems and water supply; (3) infrastructure and facilities for tourism; and (4) agriculture development.