“Flavours of the World” with The Manhattan FISH MARKET’s Feisty Arabic Ikan Bakar this Ramadan & Raya

It has been more than a year where we are having restrictions on travel due to the pandemic. Many of us had vacation being canceled and we don't know when will it be safe to travel again. Hey, that doesn't mean that we can't embrace the spirit of travel to enjoy the food and place we love.

This Ramadan & Raya festive season, the chefs at The Manhattan FISH MARKET has been hard at work and has brought out the first flavour in their “Flavours of the World” series - Feisty Arabic Ikan Bakar.

Available from 13 April 2021 onwards in all The Manhattan FISH MARKET outlets, all guests are able to enjoy exclusive meal sets that brings out a localized Middle East flavour - a spicy tomato sauce which is generously spread across every Malaysian’s favourite Ikan Bakar. This is a spicy savoury dish that would delight the taste of all who craves for a wonderful Buka Puasa or even a Raya gathering meal.

We all love the Ikan Bakar a lot. The whole seabass was grilled to perfection, the meat is fresh and juicy inside while crispy outside. It is cooked with a generous amount of homemade paste which is perfect to pair with the garlic herb rice.

Raising Money Savvy Kids with Digital Banking Technology

As a parent, we want the best for our children. This doesn’t necessarily mean to give them the best clothes, or the latest gadgets. Most likely, it means we want them to be safe and secure. And we want to lay a foundation that they can build upon to do well in life. Hence, I have been teaching my kids about money because I believe the earlier we start a child’s financial education process, the better.

In fact, the topic of financial literacy and education has long been a challenging proposition and perhaps even a difficult topic to broach for many Malaysians. The Malaysian Insolvency Department reported a startling data that youth bankruptcy - involving those aged below 35 - made up 25.2% of bankruptcy cases from 2017 to 2019 in the country. This shows an urgent need to make financial literacy and education a key life skill to be taught to all Malaysians.

Just like charity begins at home, forming a life-long healthy relationship with money should begin at home, as early as possible. In the age of everything digital, parents can now leverage on digital tools to help them educate and engage their digital native children effectively to be financially-conscious and responsible.

With HLB Pocket Connect, a digital banking platform that I discovered from Hong Leong Bank's “Raising DuitSmart Kids in a Digital Era” webinar not long ago, kids can Earn, Save and Spend in one account.

CHAMPS® & NASOM Champions Autism Awareness Fundraiser Featuring Art Crafted by Autism Children

This year, in conjunction with World Autism Month, Malaysia’s largest vitamin brand for children, CHAMPS® - Mother’s Choice for Champions, together with the charitable non-governmental organisation The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), marks their fifth year in collaboration to augment nationwide awareness towards the acceptance of Autism in Malaysia.

CHAMPS is the established child health supplement brand from the Consumer Healthcare (CHC) arm of leading pharmaceutical company Duopharma Biotech Berhad (Duopharma Biotech).

The launch of the 2021 CHAMPS®-NASOM Autism Awareness campaign, themed ‘Kasihi Autisme Bersama CHAMPS®’, was graced by YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Over 150 pieces of hand painted art by the autistic children were also showcased to be part of the fundraiser in support NASOM’s services and programmes.

4th from left: YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation

Khairy highlighted “My wife and I are personally invested in the cause to promote autism awareness and providing them access to therapy, especially helping families who cannot afford the fees. We believe that every autistic child should be acknowledged as well as nurtured to their fullest potential and lead a meaningful life”.

French MEDI-COSMETIQUE Brand, FILORGA is Now Available in South East Asia

Established in 1978 by French aesthetic doctor Michel Tordjman, Laboratoires FILORGA is now available online via its official flagship stores on Lazada in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. With a fascination and passion for cell biology, after years of research into skin physiology, Dr Michel Tordjman invented a unique polyrevitalising injectable solution capable of acting on the key parameters of skin health. This discovery led to the development of Laboratoires FILORGA, which flourished by designing injectables used by the greatest aesthetic medicine specialists across the world. In order to make their expertise in aesthetic medicine accessible to everyone, Laboratoires FILORGA created MEDI-COSMETIQUE, with the goal to develop a range of cosmetic products formulated with hyaluronic acid and extending the active ingredients used in injections to new topical applications in the formulation of revolutionary and cutting-edge cosmetics.

At the core of FILORGA is an unparalleled formula, NCEF [New Cellular Encapsulated Factors]. This unique polyrevitalising complex encapsulates active ingredients used in injectables. The advanced formula led to the development of creams that offers real anti-ageing performance, with visible results after 7 days**. More than fifty cosmetics products have become available over time, all of which share the same principle: to combine optimal and clinically proven effectiveness visible in 7 days** with sensorial textures and premium packaging. Each product derives from a unique creation process based on a selection of active ingredients inspired by aesthetic medicine techniques. Filorga is present in more than 70 countries throughout the world today.

NCEF-INTENSIVE

NCEF is a cutting-edge technique that delivers hyaluronic acid and 50 other active ingredients deep into the skin, ensuring effective absorption that renews the youth and quality of the skin.

These ingredients are the same ingredients that make up aesthetic injections and are encapsulated in chronospheres, which are multi-layered microscopic vectors in affinity with the skin. NCEF is unique to FILORGA and one of the best selling products from the line, NCEF-INTENSIVE, is a supreme multi-correction serum to renew skin completely. With the help of NCEF combined with retinol, vitamin C and plant DNA, it targets wrinkles, firmness and radiance all at the same time.

TIME-FILLER

Containing active ingredients such as peptides and hyaluronic acid, FILORGA’s TIME-FILLER range is skincare directly inspired by aesthetic medicine techniques such as peels and filler injections to visibly correct all types of wrinkles and fight effectively against the passing effects of time.

Be it surface wrinkles, dryness wrinkles, contraction wrinkles, or deep wrinkles, FILORGA’s TIME-FILLER range aims to resurface, revitalise, relax, and plump. The result? Depth of wrinkles will be halved in 2 months.***

MESO-MASK

A mask that aims to combat wrinkles and a dull complexion, FILORGA’s top selling MESO-MASK is an enhancing cream mask that illuminates the complexion, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and reduces the signs of fatigue on the skin.

A Perfect Hotel Staycation

We have been staying at home most of the time for the past 1 year. While we used to travel at least once or twice each year, my kids have been getting really bored and I know it's time to plan for a family staycation at a hotel now. What my family likes about a hotel staycation is that we can enjoy every facility within the hotel boundaries and enjoy an intimate bonding time together. It’s a relaxation time to destress and receive more positive energy.

With the upcoming long weekend holiday in May, it's the best time to go for a staycation with our close family. We don’t have to go far, and I have chosen Hotel in Singapore for their good services, safety and cleanliness.

I have recently been attracted by Raffles Hotel, a luxury Colonial-style hotel located in the middle of downtown Singapore. The hotel is strategically located near to many Singapore spots like the Esplanade, City Hall and National Library. Built in the early 1830s, Raffles Hotel is one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the World. It has recently been restored and expanded to provide prestige services to its guests.

All the 115 suites in Raffles Hotel exudes elegance and timeless style. No wonder this lavish hotel has been the shooting location for a few films. From Crazy Rich Asians, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun to many other films. I always like to stay at heritage hotel like this because every corner of the building is a great spot to shoot beautiful pictures. I can transform myself from modern day to the olden day here in the hotel, and share my awesome pictures and video on my social media platform.

Apart from the beautiful architecture and decoration in the hotel, guests can also enjoy themselves at the newly opened bars, restaurants and boutiques at Raffles Business District. It’s all within a walking distance.

Oh, do you know that the famous Singapore Sling was first created in 1915 at Raffles Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon? It makes me even more excited to visit and stay here to enjoy my beloved cocktails - Singapore Sling at the Long Bar with my loved ones.

New CERELAC® Citarasa Ibu™ for Toddlers' Culinary Journey into Savoury Food with More Texture

NESTLÉ launches its latest addition, CERELAC® Citarasa Ibu™, allowing the Little Ones to transition into their next culinary experience, from pureed food to firmer texture and savoury taste — just like the family meal. Specially made for children aged 12 months old and above, this savoury food option provides a porridge-like texture with actual "rice crispies", enabling the Little Ones to feel as though they are eating solid foods that are similar to adult meals enjoyed by their parents.

The latest offering by CERELAC® comes in two delicious variants — Chicken Porridge (Bubur Ayam) and Vegetable Porridge (Bubur Sayur-Sayuran). With inspiration from mom’s kitchen, CERELAC® Citarasa Ibu™ is made with natural ingredients such as carrot crunchies and flakes, onion flakes, and vegetable blend flakes specially selected for a Little One’s consumption.

Launched virtually via Facebook live, eager members of the public were also able to get insights from fellow moms — Ika Nabella, celebrity mompreneur and proud mother of a one-year-old, and Dahlia Shazwan, fellow mom-influencer and host. Both shared their tips and tricks on elevating their Little Ones’ family dining experience with CERELAC® Citarasa Ibu™ throughout the session.

With the theme A Bowl of Nutrition, Full of Goodness (Semangkuk Nutrisi, Penuh Kebaikan), NESTLÉ CERELAC® Citarasa Ibu™ is a savoury porridge high in protein, calcium, and iron as well as containing 15 vitamins and minerals. These nutrients support the Little One’s growth and development into the next phase. As a young one grows, these key nutrients are crucial to ensure proper development, both physically and mentally.

Natural Health Supplements by Vingz

Now that we are back to hectic lifestyle, everyday we are busy from stuck in the traffic to work to rushing to fetch our kids from school. Many of us has neglected our health due to lack of time for exercise and proper diet. In fact, we should start take charge of our health before it's too late.

I am happy to find out a way to juggle among staying up late for work, to rushing for meetings recently. Introducing the nutritional supplements by Vingz. I am honored to be invited to Vingz's office (Vingz Hub) located at Bukit Jalil last Saturday morning.

There, I learnt that Ving Voiz Sdn Bhd is an organization run by a team of well-versed entrepreneurs who are passionate about enhancing the quality of life through holistic wellness and lifestyle solution. It has been established with the aim to improve the quality of human's life from the inside out.

Founders of Ving Voiz Sdn Bhd; from left Agnes Seow, LiSun Liong and Sharon Koay

It all began when the Founder and President of Vingz, LiSun Liong was suffering from many sleepless nights in her early years. Her condition worsened despite numerous medications and consulted many experts. Years of research and exploration paid off when she lucked into a scientific formulation that helped her slept soundly through the night for the first time in a decade. As LiSun had suffered from the damaging effects of years of sleep deprivation, she was determined to help others struggling with the same issue. Thus, Vingz was born in 2020, with the help of the two Co-Founders, namely Agnes Seow and Sharon Koay.

OGAWA Malaysia Collaborated with Universiti Malaya Research Shows OGAWA Master Drive AI 2.0 Improves Blood Circulation & Sleep Quality

After a long day, there’s nothing like the luxury of your tired body sinking into the soft cushion of a massage chair, and spoiling yourself with a relaxing massage. Even better, improve blood circulation and sleep quality with the New OGAWA Master Drive AI 2.0 massage chair.

Global wellness innovator, OGAWA Malaysia announced its research findings effort done in collaboration with Universiti Malaya that efficient massages can also be found in the form of an advanced massage chair - by evaluating the efficiency of a massage chair therapy and to examine the potential improvement of blood circulation and sleep quality when a recent research study was conducted with OGAWA’s flagship product, OGAWA Master Drive AI 2.0.

Committed to bring wellness to the forefront with innovation of products to improve the lifestyle of people globally, OGAWA Malaysia together with Universiti Malaya conducted a research titled ‘Investigating the Effects of OGAWA Master Drive AI Automated Massage on Blood Circulation and Sleep Quality’ to further raise awareness on the importance of massage to reconnect with your body while giving the individual the needed comfortable sleep that is needed.

Datuk Lim Mee Ling, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of OGAWA Malaysia shared that the cumulative effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders are causing increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke. Additionally, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey, the number of Malaysians with depression and anxiety disorder rose from 12% in 2011 to 29% in 2017.

“Through this Joint Research Hub, we hope that the studies being carried out can provide deeper insights that will further improve our product development process, at the same time we are able to educate the general public in regards to the health benefits that OGAWA’s massage chair is able to provide,” said Datuk Lim at the press conference held at The Grand Ballroom, The Gardens Hotel & Residences not long ago.

Your 1-Stop Fresh Fruits Hub - MBG Selayang Fruits Hub

Everyone knows that fresh fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, especially with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that everyone pay attention to improving their health both mental & physical and body immunity level during this challenging time.

One of the easy and effective ways to achieve healthy body and lifestyle is through good nutrition intake and healthy food choices. Eating clean and back to basics are the best way to start taking care of our body and one of the best way to do that is by increasing our fruits and vegetables intake.

Fruits are an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, and they are high in fiber. Fruits also provide a wide range of health-boosting antioxidants, including flavonoids. Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce a person's risk of developing heart disease, cancer, inflammation, and diabetes.

There is no single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy. Hence we should eat plenty of variety every day. Best news for us, MBG Selayang Fruits Hub has it all for us. There are many varieties of fruits here, from International to local fruits.

4 Staple Baking Ingredients to Have in Your Pantry

If you’re a fan of baking and foresee yourself baking quite a few more times in the near future, there are a few staple ingredients you should always have in your pantry in case you feel the sudden urge to bake spontaneously. The baking ingredients that we’re about to share with you can easily be purchased at a supermarket or online websites that sell baking supplies online. One such website that offers tons of high-quality baking supplies at an affordable cost is Essentials Malaysia.

Without further ado, here are the list of staple ingredients that every baker should have in his or her pantry:

1) Flour

One of the most important ingredients you should have at all times is definitely flour. Flour is commonly used in many types of baking goods such as cakes, pastries, cookies and more. There are a variety of flour that can be used depending on what you want to bake. Some of the popular types of flours in the market are cake flour, self-rising flour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour and more. If you’re looking for a diverse flour to keep in your pantry that can be used for a large variety of baking products, all-purpose flour is definitely the go-to choice. Besides all-purpose flour, corn starch is also a recommended addition to your pantry as it is perfect for mixing with all-purpose flour to create pastry flour.

2) Sweeteners

Without any sweeteners, baking goods as we know it may not taste as nice as they currently do. Most baking recipes usually contain some form of sweeteners such as sugar, maple sugar, high fructose corn syrup and more. However, there are exceptions. For example, if you’re an adventurous baker and like experimenting with ingredients that already have a sweet taste such as oreo crumbs, lotus biscoff spread, ovomaltine crunchy cream spread, chocolate and fruits, then sweeteners may not be required unless you really enjoy super sweet baking products!

In general though, common sweeteners that you should have in your pantry are granulated sugar or brown sugar. They can be used in a diverse range of baking goods such as cakes, cookies, pastries and more. If you prefer an ingredient that is more on the healthier side, honey is an excellent substitute as a sweetener. Although the taste of your baking goods may differ, if used correctly, honey can actually make them taste better!

3) Leaveners

Other staple ingredients that should always be present in your pantry are baking powder and baking soda. Although it can be tempting to keep things simple and just stick with one leavener, this can be quite tough due to the fact that baking powder and baking soda provide different effects and functions. For example, baking soda does not have its own acid and usually needs to be mixed with an acidic component like sour cream or citrus. In contrast, baking powder already contains acid which is why it is commonly used in recipes that have no acidic components. Another essential leavener are eggs. Yes, they have short shelf life but since eggs are so diverse you can just cook them as one of your meals!

Beat the Heat with Tiger Crystal

Been feeling the heat lately? Stepping out of the house makes us think twice, let alone doing some fun activities out in the hot sun. Be it a BBQ gathering or a fun day out in the sun, getting through the heat can be a real challenge. Add in Malaysians’ love for spicy food, and it’s clear we’re in need of a way to cool down! Tiger Crystal has just the way for you to Beat the Heat and carry on doing what you love!

Brewed at a crystal-cold temperature of -1 degree Celsius, Tiger Crystal is not only refreshing and less bitter, but absolutely perfect for the hot weather! With the amazing promotions ongoing from now until 31st May, now is the time to pick up some ice-cold Tiger Crystals for ultimate refreshment.

For starters, there will be 10,000 free cans of Tiger Crystal given away on the weekend of 10th and 11th April. All you have to do is check out the Tiger Crystal booths at any of the participating outlets listed here, complete the simple registration process and bring home a free can of Tiger Crystal, while stocks last!

That’s not all, from now until 30th April 2021, you can purchase two 6-can-packs of Tiger Crystal from Giant, Village Grocer, Ben's Independent Grocers, myNEWS, 99 Speedmart, 7Eleven as well as selected supermarkets in East Malaysia and get exclusive Tiger Crystal flask (available in two designs), Tiger Crystal multifunctional pen or Tiger Crystal 3-in-1 charging cable. Of course, if stepping out of the house to purchase is a chore in this hot weather, you can also opt to purchase them from online platforms such as Drinkies and Shopee without breaking a sweat!

To further cool you down, from 15th April until 31st May, you may check out even more participating hypermarkets and supermarkets nationwide, namely AEON, AEON Big, Jaya Grocer and Lotus’s to purchase two 6-can-packs of Tiger Crystal that are also accompanied with an exclusive Tiger Crystal flask!

Marrybrown Brings You Around The World, Starting with Korea's Gangjeong Chicken

Annyeong! It's time to travel around the World with our very own fast-food chain - Marrybrown Malaysia! This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Marrybrown, and it has goes the extra mile by bringing Malaysians Around the World to serve nothing but the best of the best delicacies catering to local taste buds.

Let's start off with Marrybrown’s latest sweet, spicy, and Korean-inspired meal, Gangjeong Chicken that has been crash landing at all Marrybrown outlets on 8 April 2021! There is nothing not to love about MB Crispy Chicken coated in a crispy, sweet and spicy batter and deep-fried to golden perfection.

Since its establishment, Marrybrown has ensured to never stray from their beliefs and to continuously progress to serve delectables tantalising to our local taste buds. As they enter another decade, Marrybrown is grateful for their memang best fans who have believe and supported them throughout. With that, Marrybrown has decided to bring Malaysians on an unfailingly gastronomic adventure around the world.

“To be able to reach another decade is truly a blessing for us especially with the current uncertainties. Every day, we count our blessings and is sincerely grateful to those who has allowed our meals be a part of the memories they create with their friends and family,” mentioned Dato’ Joshua Liew, Chief Executive Officer of Marrybrown.

‘Video Call Buy Car’ from Seng Cars World

Seng Cars World Sdn Bhd (“Seng Cars World”), a one-stop car ownership solution centre launched a new approach to buying used cars – ‘Video Call Buy Car’ (“VCBC”) at the Seng Cars World Video Call Buy Car Show recently. Through the new service, customers can view and purchase their desired used car via smartphone from the comfort and safety of their home.

Taking the used car buying experience a notch above during the current pandemic situation, ‘VCBC’ facilitates the car buying process by reducing the need for physical contact. The approach is simple; customers will first make an appointment with a Seng Cars World’s Sales Advisor (“SA”) to view the cars via video conference call. After the viewing and once the sale is confirmed, the SA will assist to process the booking. Finally, upon loan approval/ payment made, the car will then be delivered to their doorstep.

The Seng Cars Inspection Graded System provides customers with quality used cars. To top it off, Seng Cars World is offering all customers 48-hour money back guarantee*, giving customers a total peace of mind. Customers who buy from Seng Cars World will also enjoy one-year (“1”) warranty* underwritten by AmGeneral Insurance Berhad.

At the virtual launching ceremony via Facebook Live on Sat 3 Apr 2021, Seng Cars World Chief Executive Officer Tracy Nyan expressed her delight in being at the forefront of innovation in the Malaysian used car industry.

“We are pleased to introduce ‘VCBC’ as a new approach in car buying, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our customers. The process is simple, making it incredibly convenient for our customers to buy a car,” said Tracy.

How to Tackle Child Mental & Emotional Wellness During This Transitional Phase – Beaconhouse Malaysia

I believe that a child's early years are the foundation for his/her future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning and learning abilities. However, its sad to know that some children are suffering from anxiety disorders, hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder and depression while learning.

As a mother of 2 young children, I am delighted to attend the Beaconhouse Discuss: Tackling Mental and Emotional Wellness in Children with Sherlin Chang, Assistant Manager Early Years Education, Beaconhouse Malaysia and Rachel Khong, Deputy Principal, BNEY Ampang recently.

Beaconhouse Malaysia – The leading private and international school group has urged parents and teacher alike to increase their vigilance and cooperation during this period where students are transitioning back to school to combat rising incidence of mental and emotional issues amongst the students.

“Children are now just coming back to school after nearly one year of learning from home and while there have been plenty of conversations about their physical safety more must be said and done with regards to their mental and emotional wellness,” said Sherlin Chang, Assistant Manager, Early Years Education, Beaconhouse Malaysia during the media roundtable and discussion session.

Overall mental and emotional wellness of children has been directly corelated to their ability to learn and develop both academically and socially.

“Children have gone through a lot over the past year and this has had a detrimental effect on their mental and emotional state. The prolonged time at home coupled with the very sudden switch to being back at school full time can have a compounding effect on their state,” she continued.

Mission Mini Wraps - Malaysia’s First Kid-Friendly-Sized Wrap, Perfect for Little Fingers

Wraps are getting more popular here in Malaysia as it is much healthier alternative to traditional fast food. Wraps is fast and fresh to serve, hence my whole family loves it a lot. Good news for all parents, Mission Foods, everyone’s favourite tortilla wrap brand has launched the all-new Mission Mini Wraps which is Malaysia’s first kid-friendly-sized Wrap, perfect for little fingers!

Mission Mini Wraps is set to excite kids and parents alike with three great flavours and super fun illustrated monster packaging. The three flavours – Tomato, Wholemeal and Original come in resealable packs of eight, to keep them fresher for longer. The smaller 5.75 inches wraps are simply perfect for little fingers.

Randall Tan, Brand Manager South Asia, Mission Foods said the new range is just the right size to fill little bellies. “Kids need the right nutrition to grow and it’s sometimes a challenge to get them to eat the right foods. At Mission Foods, we’re parents too, and making healthy food exciting is what we do best,” he said, adding that the wraps contain less sugar and are a source of dietary fibre. “We’ve made the wraps smaller because little people have little hands and little appetites. They are easier for kids to handle and hold, and is the perfect canvas for all their favourite foods,” he added. The fun and colourful monster illustration on the packaging brings a sense of delight to mealtime. “When food is fun, it goes down much more easily as kids tend to eat with their eyes first. It’s a great way to add a sense of play and experimentation in getting them to make their own meals,” said Randall.

Mission Foods recently kicked off a fun and engaging campaign called #PerfectForLittleFingers, where the brand has engaged parenting and bento influencers to share great recipes and ideas on their social media using Mini Wraps. Abang Brian, Le Cordon Bleu alumni and celebrity Masterchef, was involved in bringing the campaign to life by sharing fun recipe ideas that parents and kids can try at home. The celebrity chef, who owns the well-known Young Chefs Academy Malaysia has created three exciting recipes, transforming Mini Wraps into fun kiddie meals with the cutesy Caterpillar Chicken Wrap using Tomato Mini Wraps, the teddy bear faced Bear Bear Pizza Wrap with Wholemeal Mini Wraps and Crouching Lion Hidden Veggies Japanese Curry Wrap made with Original Mini Wraps.