Small, cozy and just right. Sometimes you don’t need a big place or plenty of choices. Sometimes all you want is a simple buffet that can satisfy your cravings. All for $10.80, you can enjoy some of the selected dishes from Kausar Cafe. The Bryani Rice, the Chicken Tandoori and the beef dishes are my favourites.

I’m amazed how Nizam, sole proprietor of Kausar Cafe, had made changes to the restaurant after he took over two years ago and the quality is very consistent. He now manages both Kafe Kausar and Tandoor Restaurant.

It’s a good idea to make reservations as well. It was full house last night and I’m sure they are the regular patrons of Kafe Kausar and they know what to expect.

I don’t mind dining here again and even at Tandoor. Easy to find parking and away from the traffic. Keep up the great work you have invested in Kafe Kausar, Nizam and thank you so much for your support these years. You can also follow them on instagram @kausarkafe. Location wise: Kiulap (saw row with Misato restaurant)

Channa Masala and Bhini Fry 😀

Fish

Crowd helping on the buffet

Pompudum

Bhindi Fry

Chicken Tandoori

Gulab Jamon

Garlic naan

My light meal 😀

Dessert and fruits

My awesome companions last night – talking about IT and cricket among other things

For catering purposes

 

 

Late post: Jason Ang Kok Khiong won himself a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. It was part of the “Register Your Interest” Raffle Draw organised by T.C.Y. Motors Sdn Bhd in conjunction with the launch of the SsangYong Tivoli. Jason received the prize from Anisson, T.C.Y. Motors Motor Marketing Manager.

Check out the latest SsangYong Tivoli. Click image to enter website.

BIBD recently participated in the 9th Muzakarah Cendekiawan Syariah Nusantara on the 10th and 11th of June at the Hotel Millennium, Jakarta. The dialogue’s organiser, The International Sharia Research Academy for Islamic Finance has chosen to partner with Universiti Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah to bring the theme, “Innovative Contemporary Islamic Financial Products for the Development of the Social-Economy of Muslims”. The discussions were focused on current financial issues pertaining to “Refinancing and Restructuring” and “Applications of Hajah (needs) in Innovative Products.”

BIBD Shariah Advisory Body member and Director of the Mazhab Shafi’i Research Centre at the Universiti Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani was involved in the first discussion regarding the concept of Hajah and its applications in Islamic finance.

On the second day, BIBD Product Manager Hjh Adinah binti Hj Jamudin was involved in the discussions on the applications of Shariah-compliant concepts in developing and offering products that will assist in generating socio-economic benefits to the Muslim community, especially the non-bankable segment. These products can be materialised by strengthening corporation between Islamic financial institutions and social finance institutions to utilise Wakaf, Zakat, Islamic wealth management, micro-finance and micro-Takaful. They also discussed equity-based financing products such as Musyarakah that can be applied in Islamic wealth management where both parties can benefit from a financial partnership.

BIBD Shariah Advisory Body Chairman and Deputy State Mufti, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin (3rd from left), BIBD Shariah Advisory Body member and Director of the Mazhab Shafi’i Research Centre at the Universiti Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani (4th from left) and other members from the Shariah body of BIBD. Image courtesy of BIBD.

The main objectives of the dialogue were to create general understanding between Shariah scholars in the region through academic discussions on multiple issues related to Islamic finance. The dialogue also serves as a regional platform for scholars, academics and practitioners of Islamic finance to share ideas, knowledge and experiences, and to share latest developments in the Islamic finance industry.

Also part of the BIBD representatives were BIBD Shariah Advisory Body Chairman and Deputy State Mufti, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin, along with its member, Yang Mulia Dr Awang Haji Mazanan bin Haji Yusof, Head of Research, State Mufti Department. BIBD was also represented by Head of its Shariah Department, Yang Mulia Dayang Hajah Hanifah binti Haji Jenan along with Shariah Assistant Manager, Muhammad Takzimallah bin Haji Ahmad Sanuddin.

The two-day event was launched by Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. The event was attended by around a hundred delegations ranging from scholars, academics and practitioners from Islamic financial institutions, from member ASEAN countries.

 

Izam Said, editor of CONFEX, during the press conference last Friday

Having another magazine in Brunei means there are things to showcase to the eyes of the public. I know Izam Said for quite some time and he is passionate about one thing – cars, cars and cars. He used to be feature writer on the automative section (On The Road) of The Brunei Times and I’ve always love his insights and opinions on the cars he test drove. Now it’s good to know he is venturing into something that he is passionate about and everyone has a story to share just like Izam.

Last week, I had the privilege to be invited to a press conference held at CONFEX. For your info, CONFEX is a local events management company which has run a series of team building workshops and only recently I found out that Izam Said is the editor of CONFEX. Under CONFEX, the team will be launching a new magazine on automotive which will be another platform for car enthusiasts to learn more about the cars especially in the Brunei market.

This will be the first of its kind that features an 80-paged automative magazine for the benefit of the readers. This is another avenue for car dealers or distributors to showcase their cars and even anything related to cars on Motoring BN.

Izam Said is confident that the magazine will be a success and despite the shift of information world through technology, he believes that having something “tangible” like a magazine is still trend. I do agree with him on that since I also collect and buy computer, film and wrestling magazines due to the tangibility factor.

For your info, every quarter, Motoring BN will print 15,000 copies and it will be sold on news stand at a price of BND 6.80. The pre-order subscriptions have been overwhelming for the first issue and he hopes there will be enough for the 1st edition to be sold in local book stores.

So what can you expect from Motoring BN magazine? They have a mixture of local and foreign writers who will contribute to the magazine. One segment that will catch the interest of the ladies will be “Heels on Wheels” by Tracy Ramantan.

The magazine is said to be launched sometime in July. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the magazine and I believe Izam Said is the right man to lead the show. I’m proud that he has taken a new adventure on his passion to another new level. Keep it up, buddy!!

For those who are interested to advertise for the next issue, you can contact 8282 212. For those who want to subscribe, you can click here for the pre-orders. You can also follow them on IG @motoringbn

Waleed Pehin Dato Mahdini, Izam Said and Tracy Ramantan

This will be the cover of the first edition of Motoring BN

 

Belluno Cafe is located at Kiarong Complex

What started off as a gelato kochi kiosk three years ago, the co-owners ventured into a cafe business last year at the heart of Kiarong. Those working around the area will be familiar with Belluno Cafe. I have paid a few visits to Belluno Cafe and my favourite dish has been the spicy spaghetti bolognese. Yummm…

Belluno Cafe during Ramadhan is not providing any buffet or set meals. Instead they are offering 20% off all menu which is a great steal. You can call 242 9010 for reservation.

Another gimmick Belluno Cafe offers are bento sets such as Chicken Schnitzel with pasta and ice lemon tea drink to go or Chicken Fajitas with mediterranean rice and an ice lemon tea to go. Or if you feel like Nasi Kerabu or the one that caught my eye is the Nasi Lemak 2.0 Ayam Rendang. All of these are served in a bento set, ready to go for take away. You will need to pre-order the bento sets and subject to availability. Just whatsapp 873 3608 for bookings and each bento sets is $8.90 and comes with a drink.

Belluno’s signature dish is the Chicken Waffle with egg on top. Must try. My friends and I also love the Milo Sizzling Pan for dessert. I was kinda addicted to it and couldn’t stop helping myself to it.

Belluno Cafe is also having special discounts for Baiduri Cardholders – 5% discount (classic credit card), 10% discount (gold credit card) and 15% discount (infinite & platinum card) for the period of Ramadhan.

One of the latest new dishes is the Lamb Shank which is a chef’s special. If you are aiming for a simple meal, you can give Belluno Cafe a try. You can follow them on Facebook page and also on instagram @bellunocafebn

Caesar salad

Lamb burger with coriander sauce

Beef

Another tasty burger

Their signature dish – Chicken Waffle

My guests for the night

Cheese sticks

Lamb Shank with rice

The newly introduced dessert – Milo Sizzling Pan

Nasi Lemak 2.0 Ayam Rendang for take away and comes with a drink

Chicken Schnitzel with pasta for take away and comes with a drink

Nasi Kerabu for take away and comes with a drink

 

One third of Ramadhan has just passed and this is the prime period where Bruneians tend to dine out and plus pay day was just a few days ago. Another great recommendation by my photographer was at Momo Restaurant (formerly known as All Stars Cafe) before a new management took over the premise. The restaurant has been around for a year and a bit and only recently the locals are frequenting the restaurant especially during Ramadhan. One reason – the wide selection of dishes from soup to main course to desserts for a very reasonable price.

I will give a thumbs up to the new management for being creative and managed to attract a strong crowd for the past few days. Yesterday also was pretty packed because of the BIBD 30% discount promotion for BIBD Credit Cardholders.

They have three menu cycles throughout Ramadhan and thank you for sharing some of the menus so I could post this up on my blog for the benefit of the readers and those who wants to patronize at Momo Restaurant.

They serve two types of soup (Asian and Western) every buffet. Their condiments and dips are always the same but plentiful enough to satisfy your cravings. The main courses have at least 8 dishes to choose from and they have a 3 cycle menu for this. As for the action station, you will enjoy the live grill section, noodle section, pasta section and bread section which will always be served every Sungkai hours. The one I find interesting is the Ramadhan corner which is the real deal. That section is always served every Sungkai and it has the main attraction such as the Nasi Briyani Kambing served with Seruding Kelapa, Serunding Ayam, Beef Rendang and Pulut Kuning to name a few.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Gadong or Kiulap, then I highly recommend to pay Momo Restaurant a visit. A different ambience with a great variety of cuisine at your disposal. What else can you ask for a price valued at $22.80 for adult? 😀 You can also read more detailed article on Thanis’ article on Momo Sungkai Buffet.

You can follow them on instagram (pretty active) @momo.restaurant or their Facebook page.

The appetizer side

Dried fish

Looks like telur belado 😀

More appetizers

Fish

My favourite vege – Pakis

Some of the guests at Momo Restaurant

The pasta section

The noodle section

Soup station

Menu 1

Sup Soto Ayam
Malaysian Spicy Chicken Broth

Sup Sayur Sayuran Berkrim
Vegetables Cream Soup

Menu 2

Sup Kambing ‘Mydin’
Spicy Creamy Lamb Broth

Sup Labu Kuning Berkrim
Cream Pumpkin Soup

Menu 3

Sup Tangkapan Nelayan
Spicy Seafood Broth

Sup Sayuran Bertomato
Minestrone Soup
Ramadhan Corner (available for all three menus)

Pulut Kuning, Nasi Himpit, Nasi Briyani KambingServe with Serunding Kelapa, Serunding Ayam, Acar Timun dgn Nenas, Cucumber Raita, Daging Rendang and Kuah Kacang

Main Course where you can find local Asian dishes and Western Style dishes

Menu 1

Ikan Tenggiri Gulai Kampung / Traditional Fish Curry
Gulai Ayam Lemak / Chicken Coconut Milk
Sambal Sotong Emak / Dried Squid in Chili Sauce
Udang Masak Hitam/ Prawn Black Spices
Beef Lasagna
Sayur Kacang Goreng Keynote
Umbut Kelapa Masak Lemak
Steamed Rice
Menu 2

Daging Kari Kentang/ Beef Curry Potato
Sambal Ikan Kembung / Tuna Fish Chili
Ketam Lemak Nenas / Crab in Spicy Coconut Gravy with Pineapple
Ayam Goreng Berempah/ Deep Fry Spices Chicken
Pasta Macaroni Bakar/Baked Macaroni Pasta
Labu Kuning Masak Lemak Putih/ Yellow Pumpkin Coconut Milk
Tauhu Rebus Isi Ayam/Braised Tofu Minced Chicken
Nasi PutihThai/Steamed Rice

Menu 3

Gulai Ikan Cabai Rawit / Spicy Tenggiri Fish Curry
Sambal Telur / Eggs in Sambal Sauce
Ayam Panggang Padang / Spicy Grilled Chicken Padang Style
Shepard Pie
Udang Goreng Mentega /Buttered Prawns Curry Leaf
Pakis Goreng Belachan/ Fern Shoot Prawn Paste
Sayur Campur /Chinese Stir Fried Vegetables
Steamed Rice

Action station (available for all three menus)

Live grill. Our chefs are preparing the food that you are going to eat right in front of you.
Whole Fish, Prawn Skewers, Chicken Wings,
Air assam, Sambal kicap, Tomato sauce, Chili sauce

Noodle Section

Nyonya Mee Kari / Curry Laksa with Condiments
Braised Wantan Noodles with Chicken Mince
Pasta Section
Spaghetti, Linguini, Penne with tomato sauce or cream sauce
And condiments plus choices of chicken or meat

Bread Section

Roti canai/Indian Pancake, Murtabak/Stuffed Indian Pancake
With condiments and vegetables dhal

Drinks (available for all three menus)
Teh O Limau Ais/ Ice Lemon Tea
Air Sarsi/ Sarsaparilla Cordial
Air Buah Buahan/ Fruit Cordial
Air Pisang Hijau/ Banana Cordial
Air Bandung / Chilled Rose Syrup with Milk
Air Jagung/ Corn Cordial
Teh Tarik / Warm Malaysian Foamy Milk Tea
Buah Kurma / Fresh Arabian Dates
Coffee and Tea

Japanese corner (available for all three menus)

Assorted Maki Rolls with Condiments and Dips

Bread Corner (available for all three menus)

Assorted Bread Roll with Butter

Dessert section

Dessert section

The grilled section. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

Image courtesy of Momo Restaurant

Live grill. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

Available at the pasta section. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

Laksa. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

Roti prata. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

Nasi Briyani. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

There’s a prayer room. Image courtesy of Thanis Lim.

Something to plan for Hari Raya or outside catering

 

Ramadhan promotion from Burger King. Good for families and groups. Click image to enlarge.

 

KFC Brunei is bringing in a very unique yet familiar taste with a local twist for customers to enjoy this coming festive season, introducing the new KFC Ayam Kicap Meletup featuring KFC’s so good chicken with a touch of Brunei’s favourite condiments – a combination of ‘meletup’ spices and unique soy sauce.

“The new product is all about a ‘unique taste with a local twist’ that customers can indulge in this upcoming Ramadan and Raya festivities. At the affordable starting price of just $6.20, you’ll get a complete meal good to be had during buka puasa with friends and family. We would like our customers to share the awesome taste of KFC Ayam Kicap Meletup with everyone!” said Jaymee Lau, marketing executive of KFC Brunei.

With the tagline “So Meletup Sure Must Share”, the KFC Ayam Kicap Meletup features a delicious unique flavour which is too good to keep to yourself. It is KFC’s chicken fried to perfection with a meletup combination of unique soy sauce, chili flakes, and delectable spices. The outcome is a fusion of flavours that adds real kick to the fried chicken.

Try out the KFC Ayam Kicap Meletup

KFC is offering the Ayam Kicap Meletup in a variety of combos at such an affordable price. For a two piece combo, customers can choose between the Oriental Combo (rice with original recipe gravy) and the Western combo (with fries) both priced at $6.20 each. If you’re dining big, the KFC Ayam Kicap Meletup also comes in a Family Feast which consists of nine pieces of chicken, a large whipped potato along with a FREE 1.5 litre Pepsi and large fries all for the price of only $25.90.

A limited edition KFC Candy Crush Cutlery set will be up for grabs when you purchase the premium Ayam Kicap Meletup bucket. The good quality stainless steel cutlery set comes with a porcelain handle in four different colorful designs. The premium Ayam Kicap Meletup buckets are priced at $32.80 and $41.00 respectively. The Candy Crush Cutlery set can also be purchased separately at $3.80 per set.
So make your visit to the nearest KFC today and enjoy the Ayam Kicap Meletup which is now available while stocks last. For more updates, you can visit their Facebook Page.

 

A mixture of western and Asian dishes. Five brands under one roof and you know you are in for a good buffet. They have Modesto Bistro & Grill, Dapur Penyet (Indonesian cuisine), Lof Bakery, Twinkle Pan (pretzels) and Hippo & Bees (soft served ice cream) at the Food Arena. So far, this is also served quite a variety of food and they have the capacity to accommodate a big crowd. The location of the eatery is at Seri Q-Lap Mall. You may be familiar with Giant Supermarket and now that area has been replaced with Dapur Penyet, Twinkle Pan, Lof Bakery and Hippos & Bees since earlier this year.

Modesto Bistro & Grill is a popular eatery at Batu Bersurat and quite popular during Ramadhan as well. This time they have combined with other brands to give a better variety for the benefit of the customers. They already have been successful with their Sungkai buffet on previous years and this year, the management have upped their game to compete with other Sungkai promotions.

They have plenty of variety as I have mentioned – appetizer, soup, salad and vege, pasta, carving station (roasted chicken and lamb), even middle eastern cuisine, Indonesian and local dishes, nasi lemak section, noodle section and last of all, the wide variety of desserts from Lof Bakery, Twinkleplan and Hippo&Bees. Now that’s what I call a Jumbo experience.

Food Arena is also having a Shop, Dine & Fly contest. The promotion is happening until 30th September 2015. You will have a chance to fly to either Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu or you can be one of the 10 consolation winners. The announcement of the lucky draw will be on 1st November 2015. So this is another good reason to dine at Food Arena.

Please call 715 1177 • 720 9777 • 888 2100 • 223 7771 for reservations. You can check out their Facebook page for updated menus on a daily basis.

The visiting patrons at Food Arena located at Seri Q-Lap Mall

Nasi Beryani

Cold cuts appetizer

Beef strips

Mussels and scallops

Array of desserts to choose from

From the buffet line

Chicken pandan

Pretzels from Twinklepan

The beverage section

Pizza, anyone?

Nasi Lemak station

Tons of desserts to choose

Lucky draw for Food Arena diners

The menu for today (Sunday)

 

Formerly known as Hana Bakery, this home-made cakes have been household name for the past few years or so. Why do I say that? Because the orders just automatically comes in during Ramadhan. And due to the overwhelming response since I posted on my IG this afternoon, I’m happy to say that Izz Zara Bakery has extended the deadline for orders from 26th June to Sunday 28th June. So if you are reading it today (Sunday), then today is the DEADLINE. So make your final orders today.

The online bakery is seasonal and only active during Ramadhan to cater for Hari Raya orders. The reason for the early deadline is to ensure that all the cakes and orders are delivered on time especially during the festive season.

My favourite is still the original Tapak Kuda (nutella) and now they have introduced a few new flavours such as milo and maltesers. Yum yum 😀 The Cake Lapis Durian and Nutella will be a big hit as always. One of the interesting cake is the Crackers Cheese cake.

Do download the order form, you can click here or for more info, you can whatsapp at 8776 898 or 7102 138. Do follow their instagram at @izz_zara_bakery for updates too.

Vivo Cake

Cheese Cake

Cake Lapis White Durian

Cake Lapis Nutella

American Chocolate Cake

Tapak Kuda Twix and Tapak Kuda M&Ms

Tapak Kuda Maltesers

Just look at the different colours of Tapak Kuda

The milo based Tapak Kuda

Many choices to choose from

The Crackers Cheese Cake

Follow their IG

Click image to download form

 

Are you a fan of shabu-shabu? Yes, there are many of them in Brunei and we are always spoiled for choices. I’m proud to say i’m a big fan of Yugo BBQ & Shabu-Shabu Restaurant. My favourite is their spicy soup. Hopefully with this post, it will encourage those who haven’t try and give Yugo BBQ a shot.

Now Yugo BBQ introduces all-you-can-eat buffet to the delight of their loyal patrons and selection is quite intensive too. For $24.80, you are getting more value than you can ask for and I would recommend you to try the grilled meats. There are the Australian lamb, Australian beef, short ribs, seafood, snacks and many more. If you are tired of those huge buffets, this is just a perfect place to break your fast.

You can also mix your food with their home made spices and sauces. Personally I like their dips and sauces. It feels as if you are dining with home made food.

Yugo BBQ is located at Gadong Central on the 2nd building at the end and you can make your reservations by calling 242 7790. You can also follow them on IG @yugobbq

The friendly staff from Yugo BBQ

Ready to be steamed and grilled

Tons of spices to choose from

Fazizul and his parents dining at Yugo BBQ

Meat, meat, meat

Hungry, anyone?

Mussels

Always nice to put some eggs inside

Grilled meat

These were my guests last year for Sungkai

Yugo BBQ

 

It was full house as usual. The first night of the Charcoal Ramadhan Skewer Buffet was last Thursday. Just at the right time. A week into Ramadhan and also coinciding with pay day. The one thing I always target for the Charcoal buffet are the ribs and the nachos. Yes, just dip that ribs into the spicy sauce and that’s already enough to satisfy my cravings and I had two rounds of it that night.

For $34.90, you are getting a super great deal for the popular dishes at Charcoal. On normal days, the ala carte would have cost you more if you were to try the dishes that you like. I was stuffed by the end and for the first time, I had quite a handful of dishes, simply because I love meat and Charcoal didn’t disappoint. Yes, the price has also dropped from previous year and this make it even affordable.

Both bandar and KB outlet are having the same promotion. So if you happen to be in KB, then do drop by Charcoal BBQ & Grill.

For regular patrons of Charcoal Ramadhan Skewer Buffet, the green and red flags are back! Green indicates that you are ready for the skewers and the stewards will bring them to you one by one until you have had enough. That is when you put up the red flag to indicate that you are done.

The restaurant advises customers to call 2221171 (Bandar) or 3342177 (Kuala Belait) for further information and make early reservations to avoid disappointment. I can tell you that you might have difficulty making reservations on the actual day or even a day in advance. This is one of my top choices to dine in for breaking your fast.

During the day, Charcoal is having a take away special for the whole of Ramadhan (From 11am to 4pm) and some of the ala carte will have a 20% on selected ala carte menu. Not bad, right?

You can follow them on Facebook Page and also on their social media @charcoalbrunei instagram for updates.

Take away during the day

One of my favourites – Nachos

Burgers galore.

The Satay and grilled area

Chicken fingers

Nice presentation

My favourite dish of the lot – ribs….

Kebab, anyone?

Appetizer area

Dessert area

Dessert area

Meat on skewers

Meat on skewers

I’m not a big eater

It was crowded last Thursday

Inside the private room

Pastry section

Pasta

The salmon

 

My guest for that night – Jody Lo 😀

I’ve blogged about King of Buffets previously on my blog and that was the Sungkai Mega Buffet of Freshco. Now, I’m introducing you the queen version of buffets and that is KB Sentral’s Grand Buffet. With the same shareholders, you will the same local and international brand under one roof and this is located at Kuala Belait. So now there are more choices for the residents of KB and also Seria and this means it’s gonna get competitive as well.

Just a note that don’t expect a humungous array of dishes compared to the one’s at Freshco (Bandar). The choices are still aplenty to say nonetheless and you are still getting your money’s worth too. I’m happy that they have the beef rendang that I craved for in the buffet 😀

The KB Sentral’s Grand Buffet uses all the restaurant’s space of Sushi Tei, All Seasons and Waroeng Penyet and it can accommodate more than 200 pax.

You can also enjoy pastries from Auntie Anne’s and the western dishes from Pastamania. So do make sure to take your time dining and don’t hurry yourself to fill up your tummy. There are just many choices to choose from and they are of good quality too.

By the way, you can also stay over at Garden Sentral Hotel which is also the same building sa KB Sentral Shopping Centre. They have a special promotion of BND 149 per night (Deluxe Balcony or Poolside Room) and it’s inclusive of two sungkai buffet and two sahur. Isn’t that a great promo deal? For reservations, you can call 333 8333 and you can also follow them on instagram @gardensentralhotel

 

Whether it is Ramadhan or not, I-Lotus serves plenty variety of scrumptious savoury and dishes.

The Sungkai buffet now is $21.80 for adults and $13.80 for children aged 4 – 10 years old. Only during this Ramadhan time. dine-in customers can enjoy local Malay cuisines, Chinese and Thai delicacies, appetizers and desserts.

Indulge yourself with the food served from the Hot Plate Grill corner (seafood of your choice) and they will grill it for you on the spot. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, you can feast on the Soup Noodles, Rojak, Desserts and more.

For I-Lotus VIP cardholders, you can enjoy up to 10% off of the Sungkai buffet while Baiduri credit card holders, 1 free additional pax when you dine-in 10 pax at once via Baiduri credit card (Terms & Conditions Apply). They also provide outside catering.

Please call I-Lotus at 2422466 | 2440171 | 8714222 or visit their website at www.ilotusrestaurant.com. I-Lotus is located at No. 20, Spg. 12-26, Kg Rimba Gadong, BE3119.

 

It’s good time to order now as it’s perfect timing of the festive season 😀 Do contact the bruneihalal sales team at 238 4533

 

Click image to enter website

I knew Dallas Lim during his years in Yellow Pages (Brunei) as a sales person. He then ventured into his own business by opening up a property portal for the convenience of real estate and the home seekers. Then five years later (which is the present), Dallas finally launched his new baby – Bruneibusiness.com – which acts as a business portal online directory. Well, haven’t we all seen this before? However, Dallas’ website has a different approach.

Do you know when there are times when you struggle to know of a location? or what is available at that particular location? This is ideal especially for those staying at different districts. For instance, if I happen to drive down to KB, I won’t be familiar with a lot of commercial buildings. This is where the portal comes in handy for me. It will give me an indication of commercial buildings around KB and what is available at that particular building. It’s sort of a reverse process and it somehow works.

I’ve checked out the website and it’s quite comprehensive and update to date in terms of the commercial buildings in Brunei Darussalam. In other words, this portal focuses nationwide.

Will this portal be successful? Well, it is accessible on your portable phones or smart phones, then it surely will. The public are now gaining information online than on print media. This is definitely a substitute for print directories as online access is the way to go in this era.

Well done, Dallas, on your extended family business venture. I’m pretty sure that it will be a hit and hopefully be the local “google” version for commercial places in Brunei Darussalam.

 

Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer. Juicing has never been easier and natural.

I’ve always wonder how does the Kuvings work. I’ve seen it around in events, being used to serve to guests. I’m amazed that what this machine can actually do. Let me quickly give you a background about Kuvings. It’s actually a slow-juicer brand made from Korea. One mentality that I would like to share that this machine is not a blender because it doesn’t use any sharp blades. Instead of blending, it mash the fruits and vegetable together to give a smooth, soothing mixture.

The difference between a blender and a Kuvings slow-juicer is the final product. Sometimes when you order apple juice, after a few minutes, you will see two layers within the apple juice. The top part of the apple juice will be denser than the lower part and you will only able to taste the richness on the first few sips. Now, if you use a slow juicer, the texture of the apple juice will be consistent throughout. You will not get difference in layers even if you leave it for quite some time. Interesting, right?

This product has been endorsed by Sara Ding, an enthusiast health advocate, who have been using the slow juicer for her healthy consumption. She even has her own recipe book where she shared a hundred combination of juice you can make using Kuvings. The biggest reason for her for using Kuvings is because of convenience and the quality it produces. Imagine this. You don’t have time to cut or peel off the skin of an apple for instance or do the chop-chop on your vegetables. Let Kuvings do the job for you and all you have to do is wait. Easy peasy.

There are so many things that I can talk about the Kuvings but if you want an honest and thorough opinion, check out Sarah Ding’s review on it. You will be more convinced. Furthermore, the Kuvings create a healthy juice since the ingredients are raw vegetables and fruits. Hence you get the most of the nutrients from the combination of fruits and vegetable.

Now you can actually get hold of Kuvings in Brunei. Seng Hoe Huat is the sole distributor and they have been introducing to the local market since March 2015. They have managed to sell around 200 units of the Kuvings slow juicer and that will give you an indication that this machine gives you the best quality drink/juice.

Though the Kuvings slow juicer has a one warranty for its juicer, the main component which is the juicing screw (or Auger) and the motor have a 10 year warranty. That’s pretty cool too.

Popular restaurants such as Momo Restaurant and The Energy Kitchen have been serving the juices using Kuvings slow juicer. You may find the Kuvings quite pricey but this is a premium product that delivers. You won’t have to worry about any juice blenders or replacing one for a very, very, very long time. I kid you not.

For a special offer from the distributor, you can take advantage of their Hari Raya $50 discount and if you also purchase the Kuvings slow juicer, you will also be entitled to choose 1 serving tray and tea cup from Katie Alice, 2 mason jars, 1 Sara Ding recipe book and the juicer comes with a smoothie maker and a sorbet strainer.

You can follow them on their IG @kuvings_brunei or you can contact them at 8637575 or 8807353 if you are interested in one.

Check out Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer on Youtube

Comes with a smoothie maker and a sorbet strainer.

The juice screwer or auger has a 10 year warranty

For the Hari Raya promotion, for every purchase of the Kuvings, you will get two Mason jars

You will also get a 100 healthy recipe from Sara Ding

You will get to choose any of the Katie Alice cup and tray

You will get to choose any of the Katie Alice cup and tray

You will get to choose any of the Katie Alice cup and tray

You will get to choose any of the Katie Alice cup and tray

You will get to choose any of the Katie Alice cup and tray

You will get to choose any of the Katie Alice cup and tray

A highly recommended juice maker and it will give you a different experience. That I can guarantee

Kuvings Brunei Authorised Dealers

The Energy Kitchen

Address: Ground Floor, Fitness Zone, Kiulap

Contact Number: +673 223 3323

E-mail: theenergykitchen@gmail.com

Kitaro Japanese Restaurant

Address: Unit 5-7, Ground Floor, The Centerpoint Hotel, Gadong

Contact Number: +673 245 7373

E-mail: kitaro.restaurant@gmail.com

Kafe Toompee

Address: No. 15, Ground Floor, The Airport Mall,

    Simpang 13, Jalan Komersial Jaya Setia,

    Berakas, Bandar Seri Begawan,

    Brunei Darussalam.

Contact Number: +673 234 0568

E-mail: toompee@gmail.com

Juicefests

E-mail: juicefests@gmail.com

Website: http://www.juicefests.com

Fitwellnesscom

Contact Number (Whatsapp): +673 729 8833

 

It’s never easy making a movie itself. Money and budget will always be a factor and it’s never to get the most out of the resources especially in Brunei Darussalam. The local shows that I have caught in the local cinemas were Apa Ada Dengan Rina (2013) and Yasmine (2014), both winning accolades regionally and internationally respectively. Another thing is that both movies scored 7.6 on IMDB. Interesting fact!!

So this is the third local movie I will be catching in our local cinemas – Awang Semaun: Rise of the Warrior. There has been a lot of buzz on their social media accounts so I believe this is enough to garner interested from the public to support the locally made movie. I’m not sure how much was spent on the movie.

The movie was directed by Azmi Matassan of Supasta Production and it’s amazing that the entire cast and the crew were volunteers. Sometimes this can be a good thing but can be unfavorable as well but just as long as their intentions are the same, there won’t be much challenges. I applaud the leadership of the producer to make this movie into a reality with the available limited resources.

The intention of the movie is simple – to remind the public that Brunei had its own legendary warriors in the past. Remember the first Sultan of Brunei? Awang Alak Betatar. In history, Awang Semaun himself was the younger brother of Awang Alak Betatar and he became the protector for the Sultan and his people from pirates and colonizers.

According to Azmi in the interview with The Brunei Times, the historically inspired movie is an experimental movie since it’s supported through volunteerism.

I shall be catching this movie tonight and I congratulate the team behind Awang Semaun: Rise of the Warrior. By the way, the movie is spoken in Malay language without any subtitles.

Azmi Matassan of Supasta Production (fourth from the right) during the press screening of Awang Semaun a few weeks’ ago. Image courtesy of Abdul Azim Kassim of The Brunei Times.

The official trailer for Awang Semaun: The Rise of the Warrior.

Still have time to buy tickets for the 24th July show

So any Brunei fans of BIGBANG? Guess what? BIGBANG returns to Malaysia as part of their new headlining world tour. BIGBANG 2015 World Tour [MADE] in Malaysia is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 25 (sold out show) at 6pm with an additional show on Friday, July 24 at 8.30pm, both happening at Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

The organiser, IME Productions said that the additional show was due to the fans’ overwhelming request as tickets for the show on July 25 was sold out in less than a week. This marks BIGBANG first time performing a total of 2 shows in Malaysia.

The world tour coincides with their upcoming album, MADE, which is their first album in 3 years. Supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, the popularity of the idol group is expected to draw a huge number of fans.

Formed in 2006, BIGBANG consists of members G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri. The five-member group is known for their chart-topping hits worldwide and has arguably the most international recognition and accolades to their name. They previously seized the “Best Asia and Pacific Act” and even beat Britney Spears to the “Best Worldwide Act” at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards. They were the only K-pop boy group to receive the “2015 YouTube Music Awards”.

Fans who wish to catch the most anticipated K-pop concert in Malaysia better act quickly before tickets run out! Tickets are available online via authorised ticket agent TicketCharge at www.ticketcharge.com.my or contact TicketCharge Hotline +603 92228811or IME Productions +603 21666166 to purchase the tickets.

Ticket prices for BIGBANG 2015 WORLD TOUR [MADE] IN MALAYSIA as below:

  Rock Zone A – RM798 (Free standing)

  Rock Zone B – RM698 (Free standing)

  VIP Cat 1 – RM698 (Numbered seat)

  Cat 2 – RM598 (Numbered seat)

  Cat 3 – RM498 (Numbered seat)

  Cat 4 – RM288 (Numbered seat)

** Ticket prices are inclusive of 6% Goods & Services Tax (GST) but exclusive of RM4 ticket processing fee.

Fans who purchased tickets for Rock Zone A, Rock Zone B or VIP Cat 1 are entitled to a lucky draw for the Sound Check Party.

For more concert information, please visit IME Productions official Facebook www.facebook.com/imepmy or BIGBANG official Facebook.

The seating arrangement

My favourite song of BIGBANG. Well, this song was 3 years old.

 

Alice Chan of Concepts Computer, Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer, Richard Soo, Acer Miri Branch Manager and Zul Abd Rahman, Marketing Executive of Concepts Computer

Acer has launched two models of portable projectors yesterday to meet their needs: Acer C205 and Acer C120 and now it’s available at Concepts Computer. Imagine if you want to do a presentation and this will come in handy rather than carry a normal size projector. Especially in a small meeting room.

The prices are quite reasonable – the Acer C205 and Acer C120 with introductory prices of $438 and $338 respectively. Quite affordable, right?

“Concepts Computer have always tried hard to be at the forefront of the IT industry in Brunei and with the help of Acer, we would like to introduce the latest portable projector technologies to the Bruneian IT consumers at an affordable price, with a reliable build, without sacrificing quality,” said the General Manager of Concepts Computer, Vincent Pao.

Customers are reminded that they are able to enjoy the store’s Ramadhan and Syawal promotion whereby every purchase of an Acer projector, laptop, PC or mobile phone will entitle them to a Kingston voucher, which can be used to redeem a carton of Pepsi, 7Up or Mirinda Orange.

Also present during the launch was Richard Soo, Acer Miri Branch Manager. For more information on the new products, call Concepts Computer at 2233551, 2233552 or 2233553.

The Acer C205 (has built in speakers and HDMI) and the Acer C120, the smaller of the two.

The new show area for Acer at Concepts Computer

 

Baiduri Capital located at Block A, Kiarong Complex

Baiduri Captial opened its doors to the public on last week, and allowing Bruneians  to trade stocks personally online in three major stocks exchanges. Located at Unit 9, Block A, Kiarong Complex, the company was set up with the objective to provide customers a wide range of investment products as well as securities trading services.

Baiduri Capital offers its customers opportunities to invest in international stock markets via its innovative online portal, the first in the Brunei Market to offer online securities trading at www.baiduri.com.bn/baiduricapital

Opening a trading is made simple with the online registration form, and prior to trading customers need to do a Risk Profile Assessment to ensure that their risk profile is suitable for securities trading. Customers will also need to have a current account in Baiduri Bank or in Baiduri Finance for ease of funding their trades.

The three stock exchanges available to customers are Singapore Exchange (SGX), the Hong Kong Exchange (HKeX) and Bursa Malaysia, with other markets to be added in the future, including the US Stock Market.

At the Baiduri Capital premises, trading booths are available and equipped with tablets for customers to trade. An in-house financial planner,and qualified and registered dealers will be onsite to provide investment guidance and assist with trades if required.

 

John Wright, Regus CEO for Asia-Pacific,YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources and Vijayakumar Tangarasan, country manager for Regus Malaysia cutting the ribbon to officiate the launch of Regus’ first centre in Brunei

Last week, Regus Plc – a global workplace provider, launched its first centre in Brunei at the Brunei Malay Teachers Association (PGGMB) building in the capital. Present to officiate the launch of the centre was YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, who was accompanied by John Wright, Regus CEO Asia Pacific.

In his speech, Wright said that “We believe that there’s serious untapped potential here and that’s why we chose Bandar Seri Begawan as our inaugural business centre in Brunei.”

” As the 106th country that Regus has established a presence, we see Brunei as a critical market for our customers and partners, especially in the developing regional oil and gas sector. Brunei enjoys a symbiotic relationship with Labuan and Kota Kinabalu, where the specialist talent supporting the oil and gas exploration sector are based. Companies and enterprises in this area are looking for flexible workplace solutions to meet their project based engagements,” explained Vijayakumar Tangarasan, Country Manager of Regus Malaysia.

Situated conveniently among other offices at the PGGMB Centre, small and medium sized enterprises are able to connect with other companies, increasing their networking and business opportunities. The new Regus centre is also able to assist multinational companies in setting up offices in Bandar Seri Begawan easily, veering away from the traditional practice of leasing.

Regus was founded in 1989 and currently operates about 2,300 business centres across 106 countries.

Group photo with the Minister

John Wright, Regus CEO for Asia-Pacific

The tour around Regus Brunei

Vijayakumar Tangarasan, country manager for Regus Malaysia, being interviewed by the media

Ideal for start ups and SMEs

Conference room

An office space

 

If there was a series related to Sungkai buffet in a Game of Thrones format, the Freshco Sungkai Mega Buffet rules the roast. My oh my… I actually never tried their Sungkai Mega Buffet before and wow, I was more than impressed. Ok, I would even say that the choices are more than Carousel and Straits Kitchen in Singapore. So it’s more than safe to say that it’s the biggest variety of dishes for a Sungkai buffet in Brunei. It’s like you can dine there the whole night if they allow :p But as usual, I’m very selective to my food choices unlike my friends who tried quite a lot of dishes.

My favourite dish is the Beef Rendang from Waerong Penyet and that’s enough to satisfy my crave for dinner. Do try the savoury crab especially the sauce (definitely a winner). The food choices are just aplenty that I have to find a way to edit the photos to make sure I don’t flood this post with food, food and more food. Well, you can check the whole archives of photos from Thanis Lim’s blog post and it’s pretty comprehensive.

This year’s set up is much better than last year’s and it’s for the better flow of traffic and logistics for the patrons throughout Ramadhan. Did you know that it can fit at least 400 pax? Last night’s count was in the mid 200s which is quite a number, considering it’s not even pay day. That says a lot about how great the Freshco Sungkai Mega Buffet is.

Another reason for their attraction is that they have a combo of restaurants involved under one roof – All Seasons Restaurant, Sushi Tei, Pastamania, Waroeng Penyet, Auntie Anne’s, I Love Yoo and Killeney’s. Now that’s just amazing and pretty smart to have all in one especially having different international franchise brands.

So which means the buffet this year is bigger than last year and this shows that the management have learnt a thing or two from previous Sungkai experience. Even the staff are aplenty to make sure the buffet dishes are refilled for the satisfaction of the patrons. Service is definitely there. I wonder how they can up their game for next year’s Sungkai. Ok, let’s focus on the present and be awe on how Freshco has grabbed the attention of buffet lovers. Anyway, tomorrow 25th June, Thursday, if you pay with your BIBD Credit Card, you will get 30%.

Guess what? They also have Mega Sungkai Buffet at KB Sentral and it’s called the KB Sentral Grand Buffet. You can read more of the details from Cyril’s entry. I shall be covering that perhaps next week or so. You can also check out Freshco Facebook Page for updates.

The entrance of Freshco Putra Banquet Hall

Maurina enjoying her sungkai last night

Fried stuff from I Love Yoo stall

Pretzel’s from Auntie Anne’s

Good idea to distribute spoons and forks

Gado-Gado, anyone?

Simply tons of dishes to choose from

My favourite dish among the lot. Yes, I’m a rendang lover.

Simply tons of dishes to choose from

I’m liking the set up so far

Century eggs, honey chicken, skew mai and had how

A packed crowd last night

They have two displays on the left and right.. Simply humungous

Great sauce this.. Highly recommended

My guests for last night

Yummmmy.. from Waroeng Penyet

The dessert area

You want to win prizes? Then pose at their backdrop and post it up on IG with the hashtag #freshcomegabuffet #freshcobrunei. Image courtesy of Thanislim.com