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EDITOR’S NOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM Hello Breeze readers, Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a good start of the year as we enter 2021 with determination to make it a better one than last year. In this issue, we are back with the theme Food. This time we focus a bit more on food delivery apps; specifically on our local food delivery app FoodNextDoor. The running of FoodNextDoor is spearheaded by Sharkis Hussin, our Cover & Personality for this issue.
More than meets the eye, FoodNextDoor is not just a simple food delivery app that is available in Sabah. With the coordination of Sharkis and his vision of the future, it is already looking at expanding nationwide with more features coming soon. Read about Sharkis in Personality and FoodNextDoor in Feature. Our Restaurant Review spread is always a favourite among readers as we feature interesting food outlets to try out. We kick off 2021 by featuring Mamasita, a Mexican restaurant and tapas bar that has gained much popularity. We love their food and drinks here coupled with a great atmosphere that kicks up the mood for customers. Must try restaurant especially if you haven’t experience Mexican food. Browse through the issue for other interesting reads and don’t forget to get our exclusive centre page pullout calendar! Be safe, be healthy and I wish you all a good January. Take care out there.
Editor in Chief – Dinoza Mahruf Assistant Editor – Noel Jinguli Writer – Khaleedah Jailani Writer – Thanis Lim Writer – Eilvane Chieng Writer – Andro A. Sandor Writer – Devyne Koh Writer – Adelina Adna Writer – Cherelle Lim Writer – Iffah Hazirah Copy writer – Iliana A.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director – Dinoza Mahruf Head Graphic Designer – Clarinda Peters Graphic Designer – Nuratiqah Aqilah Fashion – Glam Squad Photographer – Jofanna Bridal Studio Photographer – Aznan Johary Photographer – Vance Tan Photographer – Alex Fell Photographer – Srap
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Managing Partner – Sonny Ali Finance – Zainaba S Administrator – Florence Masri Administrator – Athina Padua Events & Promotions – Shana K IT Head – Eddie Bee Public & Gov. Relations – Noor F. Z. Advisor – James S.E. Quek
SALES & MARKETING TEAM
Marketing Head – Mohammad Iskandar Shah Senior Marketing Manager – Alina Lim Marketing – Labuan – Leonie Peter Marketing – Labuan – PRO LVY Ent Marketing – KL – Kahan Singh Gill Marketing – KL – Mimi Khan Magazine Sales – Robert Tham
CONTACT INFO
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Cover featuring Sharkis Hussin Cover photoshoot by Srap Hairdo 25th October Barber Cabin Venue FoodNextDoor
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The views and opinions expressed in Breeze are those of authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of MB Managers & Consultants (45857 T), its directors or editorial staff. While every reasonable care is taken in compiling the magazine, the publisher shall not be held responsible for any omission, error, or inaccuracy. Please notify the publisher in writing of any such omission, error or inaccuracy. Editorial contributions are welcome but unsolicited materials are submitted on sender’s risk. The publisher cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage. ® All rights reserved by MB Managers & Consultants (45857 T). No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s permission in writing. KDN PPH 308/10/2013 (033079)
content FOOD issue #150 18 Tech 08 FLASH
The Fellow Ode Grinder
38 RANT & RAVES
December 2020
New year new recipe
11 Kami Labuan
39 POP CULTURE
#Inicarakita
12 Feature
foodnextdoor: the next food delivery app
20 DESTINATION
30 WELLNESS
the rise of food delivery apps
Why is coffee good for you?
ded’sa’an beach village
36 FITNESS
16 Music
The Food Workout
Siuk Bah: be a part of the movement
22 PERSONALITY Sharkis Hussin: The Start-Up Mogul
46 RESTAURANT REVIEW
Mamasita: Let’s Taco Bout It
FLASH
December 2020 AVERY FOS NEW SINGLE DESOLATE Kota Kinabalu, 9 December 2020 - Avery Fos’ latest single, Desolate, marks the Borneon duo’s first bilingual single. An ode to isolation and loneliness with a hint of grief and loss, the song’s lush arrangement and atmospheric vocals mimic a wanderer’s journey in losing a sense of purpose when stripped away from a dear one. The duo fused elements of electronic sounds with epic string movements and also sampled traditional local instruments such as the Sape and Sompoton, creating a unique sonic texture to the song. The new single sees the return of illustrator Fish Dayu for the cover art since the duo’s single, Child, was released in early 2020. Determined to push beyond the travel ban due to the ongoing pandemic, Avery Fos teamed up with KK based EMVEE Productions as well as Brunei based The Sequence in an attempt to shoot the music video in 2 locations. The duo also partnered with the stylists and designer at Qrated Store KK to create custom design garments for the music video. Desolate will also be a featured soundtrack in the upcoming Sabahan film Craze Below The Wind. Watch Desolate’s music video on YouTube: Avery Fos - Desolate. LIGHT IN THE CITY: A QUARANTINE CHRISTMAS SHOW Kota Kinabalu, 18 December 2020 - The Christmas cheer was brought to people’s homes and hearts when Light In The City was screened live online. Light In The City is a virtual Christmas show and fundraiser featuring a collective of Sabahan musicians, artists, writers, filmmakers, stage managers, sound engineers and more who enchanted viewers with the beautiful visuals and sounds of Christmas. The show was organised to bring some light to the festive season and raise some funds for our local heroes. A total amount of RM5000 was raised. Funds raised were transferred to Malaysian Medical Association Sabah Branch, Gender & Sexuality Alliance Kota Kinabalu and Bantu Sabah to provide food aid and frontliner support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Light In The City is still viewable at www.facebook.com/mknkmusic BLOOD DONATION 2020 Kota Kinabalu, 18-20 December 2020 - Persatuan Kebajikan Cina Sabah together with Lions Club Ranau, Lions Club Inanam and Lions Club Sutera has joined forces to organize Blood Donation 2020 at Kompleks Karamunsing Exhibition Hall. Donors who came received goodie bags and some won lucky draw items. A total of 401 pints of blood was donated. Blood Donation 2020 is supported by Crest Megaway Sdn Bhd, Hospital Queen Elizabeth II, Hospital Wanita & Kanak-Kanak Sabah, Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, Pertubuhan Mencegah Pengabaian Keluarga Sabah (CEGAH) dan Majlis Perkhidmatan Masyarakat Sabah (MPMS). For more information, go to web.facebook.com/PKCSBH. WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE OUR OCEANS Kota Kinabalu, 30 December 2020 - Armed with only heavy duty kitchen scissors and dive knives, 22 local and international divers joined forces with Downbelow’s team of PADI Professionals to remove a massive fishing net that had become entangled on the coral reef in the ocean here. This mission took a whopping 3 days to complete as the eco-warriors painstakingly removed the net carefully to avoid further damage to the delicate corals and helped released numerous marine life that had been trapped. The whole effort is part of Downbelow’s Conservation Dive Days with Downbelow Marine Wildlife; which is an ongoing programme to save our ocean together with local divers. For more information, please visit www.facebook. com/downbelowmarinewildlifeadventure
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Report
pillars of sabah 3.0 exciting second edition in conjunction with Earth Hour 2019. The renewal of the pillar artwork featured the various threatened animal species found in Sabah. After a longer hiatus, this third edition aims to reignite the project with added emphasis on much-needed community-building during our nation’s postlockdown recovery period. While the project’s primary focus is always to support and to promote the artists involved and the broader arts community, this edition of the project channeled the artists’ works to also promote a message of hope to the broader communities of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and, of course, the nation as a whole. This year, the project expands its horizon with the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA) as its strategic partner. CENDANA is a government initiative and advocacy for the arts to reach and improve the cultural sector and creative economy by channelling aid where it is needed. Through its efforts, CENDANA aims to transform Malaysia into a cultural destination. Another key partner in the project is Sabah Human Development and Empowerment Association (SAHDEA).
Kota Kinabalu, 20 December 2020 - Pillars of Sabah is a community art project founded by Red Hong Yi and Jared Abdul Rahman. It is supported by Sabah Art Gallery, Sabah Cultural Board, Sabah Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Environment Sabah, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, and Nippon Paint. This third edition is a revival of an existing project, originally established by the project founders and collaborating artists in 2018. This year, a total of 31 different artists came together under a different curatorial theme. State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jaffry Ariffin launched the Pillars of Sabah 3.0 and took time to mingle with local artists to understand their masterpiece. The Pillars of Sabah community art project was originally established with the aim to bring together the local arts community in Kota Kinabalu and its surrounding, providing a vital platform for both established and emerging artists, of varying art styles and media. In doing so, this initiative serves to celebrate both the individual artist, as well as their separate sub communities and subcultures, shedding light on their uniqueness as well as commonalities, which in turn has boosted the overarching local arts scene with strengthened interconnectedness and a more unified community spirit. Following the monumental success of the first edition, which celebrated inspiring individuals of the community, the project collaborated with WWF-Malaysia to produce an even more Image | Noel Jinguli 10
The project is sponsored by Nippon Paint (Sabah), with the support of Sabah Art Gallery under the Sabah Cultural Board, Sabah Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment as well as Kota Kinabalu City Hall. If you haven’t, check out Pillars of Sabah 3.0 which is located just across Suria Sabah.
KAMI LABUAN
#IniCaraKita
2
020 has certainly been a tough year for everyone. The Covid-19 pandemic has made a huge difference in how we take care of ourselves and also the people around us. That’s why Labuan based Asian Supply Base (ASB) has recently launched a short Covid-19 awareness film titled Kami Labuan. The focus of the film is to spread awareness of the disease, foster unity among the people, plus showcasing the vast talents of musical artists from Labuan. Kami Labuan starts off with a dramatic recap of how the pandemic has impacted the daily activities of everyone’s lives in Labuan. It then features the Head Corporate QHSE, Mr Mashkuri Harun, giving a heartfelt speech regarding his thoughts on the pandemic. With the hashtags #IniCaraKita and #KitaMestiMenang, Kami Labuan continues with awareness messages on how we can take care of ourselves and how ASB has implemented crucial Standard Operating Procedures in their workplace to protect their workers from spreading and contracting the disease. Local Labuan artists made their appearance in the film as well by performing songs especially composed for Kami Labuan. Among them are Sidi Gambus Trio, Si Kuii, MC Salleh, Jonathan Tse, Jacelyn Yeo, and Yus & Adriyan. The film culminated with all the artists performing together for their own rendition of Kita Mesti Menang. Overall, the film is a fantastic effort by the production team and everyone involved. Check out the film on Kami Labuan’s Facebook page. 11
feature
foodnextdoor: the next food delivery app
H
ave you ever noticed the boom in online food delivery apps in the past year? Not only are more people preferring to order food online, but more job opportunities have been created as a result of this. Also, more home based businesses are popping up in the food industry while the delivery services need more runners and riders to meet the demands. This is where FoodNextDoor comes in, the new kid on the block in the food delivery business. FoodNextDoor is a Sabah based food delivery service that was established in June of 2020. With home based businesses in mind, they’re focused on helping home based businesses advertise and sell their products through the app. As technology progresses, businesses need to actively find new ways to attract
more customers, and FoodNextDoor aims to be the obvious choice for all businesses. For them, being able to help improve customer reviews of the business partnered with them, would be a huge achievement. Currently, they cover a few districts in Sabah. Among them are Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Kota Belud, which was recently launched. For their next launch, the next district is in Tawau. Beyond Sabah, they’re also operating in Johor Bahru and Penang. With that said, FoodNextDoor aims to be a major player nationwide in the food delivery business in 2021. Their focus on supporting home based businesses has attracted many to register and partner through the app. Among them are Piece of Kekk, Manuk: The Hot Chick In Town, and Cemah Kitchen. However, FoodNextDoor is also partnered with some of the bigger names in Kota Kinabalu like BTC, Pezzo, Santino’s Pizza, Grill Patio, and even Kopi Ping and 700 other food outlets in town. This gives users a broader choice of restaurants to choose from. With that said, it should be obvious that the service wouldn’t take off without the riders delivering the food. As of writing this article, FoodNextDoor boasts more than 190 riders registered to
12
Food Next Door launching. them. They also have more than 50,000 downloads since launching the app in June, both from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. They hope to create an additional 5,000 job opportunities and 3,000 businesses to increase their sales. In the future, other than expanding throughout the country, they are also planning to partner with grocery and convenience stores. Besides ordering food from restaurants, users can also order their groceries from the app as well. So, if you need to buy fruits, vegetables, or even fresh fish and meat, you’ll be delighted to have the ease of ordering them all with just a click of a button. Apart from that, they’re also planning to launch Sabah’s first E-Kitchen where they provide a place complete with a commercial kitchen for businesses to rent just for doing food delivery. It just goes to show FoodNextDoor isn’t merely a food delivery service. They have a passion to help and support those in need, no matter if it’s the business, chef, riders, or even their users. Download FoodNextDoor now and give our very own Sabahan food delivery app a try. Download on the
App Store
Available on the
Google Pla y
by Noel Jinguli Image | Srap & FoodNextDoor
13
movies
January NETFLIX MOVIES
PIECES OF A WOMAN
OUTSIDE THE WIRE
Release date: 7 January 2021 Genre: Drama Director: Kornél Mundruczó Cast: Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn
Release date: 15 January 2021 Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Director: Mikael Håfström Cast: Anthony Mackie, Pilou Asbæk, Emily Beecham
When a young mother’s home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.
THE WHITE TIGER
PENGUIN BLOOM
Release date: 22 January 2021 Genre: Crime, Drama Director: Ramin Bahrani Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Rajkummar Rao, Priyanka Chopra
Release date: 27 January 2021 Genre: Drama Director: Glendyn Ivin Cast: Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln, Jacki Weaver
The epic journey of a poor Indian driver who uses his wit and cunning to break free from servitude to his rich masters and rise to the top of the heap. The White Tiger is based on the New York Times bestseller and 2008 Man Booker Prizewinning novel: written by Aravind Adiga.
FINDING ‘OHANA Release date: 29 January 2021 Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy Director: Jude Weng Cast: Kelly Hu, Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono Two Brooklyn siblings’ summer retreat in a rural Oahu town takes an exciting turn when a journal pointing to longlost treasure sets them on an adventure, leading them to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage.
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Set in the future, Harp (Damson Idris), a drone pilot, is sent into a deadly militarized zone where he finds himself working for Leo (Anthony Mackie), an android officer, tasked to locate a doomsday device before the insurgents do.
True story of Sam Bloom, a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a near-fatal accident leaves her paralyzed. When an injured baby magpie enters into the lives of Sam’s family, the bird unexpectedly makes a profound difference in the family’s life.
THE DIG Release date: 29 January 2021 Genre: Biography, Drama, History Director: Simon Stone Cast: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James As WWII looms, a wealthy widow (Carey Mulligan) hires an amateur archaeologist (Ralph Fiennes) to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain’s past resonate in the face of its uncertain future.
MUSIC
Siuk Bah: be a part of the movement
I
t’s always fun and exciting when musicians collaborate and produce songs together. Each giving their own twist in the final product. Well, Siuk Bah takes it to a whole other level, with 6 artists collaborating to produce 5 songs. The album was released on 27 December 2020, commemorated by a live launch on Imago Shopping Mall’s centre stage for both live and online audiences. The Siuk Bah album is presented by Macam Macam Music and Talent Shop Co., while being supported by the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA). The goal of Siuk Bah is to provide a platform for known and emerging local artists and songwriters to express themselves and increase their presence in Malaysia’s music industry. It aims to elevate and grow the Malay Pop industry in Sabah and introducing it nationally to be part of Malaysian music Pop culture, especially when Sabah is wellknown for its ethnic music. At the end of the day, producing a high quality EP from Sabah raises the bar for Malay Pop music. As mentioned, the album features 6 artists. Jonathan Tse, Emma Suhaimi, Elvin Romeo, Aidyl Hr, Kim Azizd, and Santiana Ramli have all worked hard to make the album possible. Although most songs are very smooth sounding acoustic pop songs, they all have distinct characteristics to them made possible by how each artist presents them. Emma Suhaimi’s broad vocal range is on show in “Rindu”, starting off softly and transitioning to her
by Noel Jinguli Image | Talent Shop Team 16
powerful and energetic voice to cap things off. Also, a notable difference from the list of songs is “Ranau” by Elvin Romeo and Aidyl Hr, where the duo presents a fun head bopping hiphop number, showing off their rapping skills to the world. The launch of Siuk Bah in front of live and online audiences was also a momentous occasion. Each artist performed their respective songs and took the time to explain the thought process behind the song for the audience. Apart from that, behind the scenes videos of music video filming were also presented. Siuk Bah merchandise were given away to lucky winners as well. Sabah’s music industry is an ever changing and growing industry. Thanks to Siuk Bah, we are certainly going on the right track to becoming a music power house in Malaysia. With everyone’s support, that dream would become a reality in no time. Siuk Bah is available on all major music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer.
TECH
The Fellow Ode Grinder
I
’m not much of a coffee enthusiast but I do appreciate a nice hot cup of coffee or the occasional cold brew. What I do understand is that coffee enthusiasts prefer drinking coffee from self-ground beans compared to pre-packed consumer coffee powder. However, finding an automated coffee grinder that fits in your kitchen and does the job really well is a tough job. Well, at least until the Fellow Ode Grinder came along. The Fellow Ode Grinder is a powerful and precise home grinder that’s really compact as well. Typically, when grinders try to tackle both brewed and espresso coffee, the result isn’t quite on par with what enthusiasts need. This is where the Ode comes in, focusing on your daily brewed coffee. It makes your AeroPress, pour-over, and cold brew even easier to make and enjoy. As mentioned, the compact design of the Ode ensures it fits in all types of kitchen cabinets. It’s designed for single dose loading for maximum bean freshness, fitting 80 grams of beans at once. With 11 grind settings and 31 steps in between, grind adjustments are easy to do thanks to the cafe-sized flat burrs. It’s also quicker and quieter compared to most grinders out there. You’ll also have no more worries of when to turn off your grinder as the Ode has an automatic stop function. With the PID feedback-controlled motor, it exposes every bean to the same force and speed consistently, while knowing if every bean has
by Noel Jinguli Image | Fellow 18
been ground to shut itself off. Using it would also be a pleasant and clean experience, as Fellow has also included a grind knocker to knock any extra grinds and chaff into the coffee catch for less mess and low grind retention. If you’re looking for a coffee grinder that’s small and able to do a good job with brewed coffee, the Fellow Ode Grinder should definitely be on your radar. Grinders like this don’t come up every day.
DESTINATION
ded’sa’an beach village
D
o you find yourself in need of some rest and relaxation? Well, look no further as we’ve got just the place for you. Located just an hour’s drive from Kota Kinabalu, Ded’sa’an Beach Village is the perfect place for a beach getaway for you and your friends and family. Located in Rampayan Village, Kota Belud, it’s the perfect place for your day trip and weekend vacation.
Presidential Suite. What separates Ded’sa’an Beach Village from most beach resorts is the availability of a Tree House you can actually stay in. However, whichever room you stay in, you’ll be glad to hear you can enjoy air-conditioned rooms and hot & cold showers. Do take note though, that non in-house guests are required to pay a RM5 entrance fee for every adult.
The name Ded’sa’an comes from the local word meaning “wind beneath the waves”. The sandy beach and clear waters of the beach resort is just amazing to behold as you take your first steps onto the sand. Parked along the beach are the beach huts, chalets, cafe, and spots for you to kick your feet up and relax. You’ll be chilling in no special time as you enjoy your stay at Ded’Sa’an Beach Village.
So, whether you’re enjoying the beautiful sunset or riding into it on horseback, you can’t deny that Ded’sa’an Beach Village is the perfect place to relax. It has surely brought an abundance of recreational activities and entertainment, along with the warm Sabahan hospitality and environmentally friendly ambience.
If you’re wondering what to do there, well, this beach resort offers a lot of recreational activities for everyone. Fancy something exciting? Go for a ride along the sandy beach on their ATVs (All Terrain Vehicle) or their majestic horses. Have a swim in the ocean or take a banana boat ride along the coast line. They also have an in-house game room that features a pool table and fooseball, just in case you wanted to kill some time before your next chill session. For those of you who’ve decided to stay the night there, their room rates start from RM50 to RM275. You can choose from their Honeymoon Chalets, VIP Family Rooms, and even a
by Noel Jinguli Image | Ded’sa’an Beach Village 20
@dedsaanbeachvillage
@dedsaanbeachvillage
stop wasting food
D
o you eat to live or live to eat? The answer to this question may vary depending on who you ask. Though one thing we all agree on is that food wastage shouldn’t be an issue, well at least that’s what I like to think. Sadly, I still see food being wasted not only in private settings but also in public ones as well. So, let’s discuss this issue and find out what we can do to minimize the problem. Food wastage is a big problem even in Malaysia. Based on a report made by the Food Aid Foundation, in 2016 alone, Malaysians wasted almost 15,000 tonnes of food daily. To put that to scale, an African elephant weighs roughly 6 tonnes. That means we’re wasting almost 2,500 elephants worth of food each day.
ECO NEWS
Why does it happen? Well, the first thing we need to talk about is our daily practices in eating. In Sabah, there’s a saying that goes “biar lebih jangan kurang”, meaning “take extra, so we don’t run out”. On the part of the food provider, they don’t want others to judge them if they run out. Then comes the question of how much is enough, which goes back to our practice, where we usually overcompensate. This not only affects us but also commercial establishments such as supermarkets and restaurants. Overbuying food and allowing it to spoil because of misjudging our demand from consumers; this is one of the main culprits for food wastage. So, how do we solve this issue? Things are always easier said than done, but changing our attitude and habits is a good start. Don’t worry about what people say, just take enough food and make sure we can finish it. If you think you can’t finish it, then don’t take too much in the first place. Supermarkets and restaurants should also have better planning when it comes to meeting the demands of the consumers. Lastly, extra food can be distributed to people. Why not give some to your neighbours? Donate it to someone who really needs them or even to animal shelters. At the end of the day, we should try our hardest to eliminate food wastage. Keep in mind that there are those out there who can’t even feed themselves and we’re out here throwing away extra food. It’s not only unfair, but we’re also creating a terrible wasteful future for ourselves in the long run.
by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash 21
personality
Sharkis Hussin: The Start-Up Mogul
I
n the last several years, our lives have been largely shifted from a physical dimension to the digital spectrum where most transactions are completed online. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, online food deliveries in Malaysia were an up-andcoming trend within urban areas, led by technology companies such as foodpanda and GrabFood. However, the industry has ballooned with the introduction of the movement control order (MCO). Economically it has forced many companies to think out of the box, and this included Sharkis Hussin, who is the founder of an oil and gas company here in the heart of Kota Kinabalu. Hailing from the island of Labuan, Sharkis left for West Malaysia after finishing secondary school to pursue his studies. Eventually, he ended up getting his first job in Terengganu for an oil and gas project. He never looked back since and have worked in Egypt for several years before returning to Malaysia where he founded his own oil and gas company. When the movement control order took place in March, everything had to shut down including all on-going oil and gas projects. Sharkis jumped at the chance and had a brainstorming session with his team on their next course of action. Within two-months, Sharkis and his team developed a home-grown food delivery application called FoodNextDoor (FND); that is quite a feat to achieve considering everyone in the team had only oil and gas background. The application was established after a research done on how to undertake challenges faced in product marketing by micro or home-based business people in order to help them excel. “We did our homework, did tonnes of research and brainstormed every day and worked late nights; liaising with developers on how we wanted our application to look like”, said Sharkis. Every single person on his team, including Sharkis himself had to re-educate themselves with this new found knowledge. He explained that he didn’t want anyone to lose their income and to be left out, so from their operators, technicians to the engineers and marketing team, they all did their part. As a family, they decided to educate themselves and keep fighting to feed their families.
facing challenging times and with other strong competitors, he is pretty confident that they can convince more Sabahans to download and use the application be it a registered consumer or as a merchant. Sharkis wants to aspire local businesses to support this home grown food delivery platform. FoodNextDoor not only aims at bridging the people with their favourite restaurants or cafes but also to micro and homebased businesses, wherever they are located in Sabah. The goal is to support and encourage these businesses to be licensed and certified in order to grow and have a better outreach to consumers. Majority of the micro or home-based businesses in Sabah are located in the rural districts where consumers based are smaller. With a platform like FoodNextDoor, these businesses will be able to reach to consumers not only in Sabah but in urban cities like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Penang and the likes. Sharkis and his team hopes to partner with Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sabah to ensure they meet their mission. According to Sharkis, the state and federal government have always provided assistance to micro and home-based businesses in terms of funding but with this platform, he foresees that they can go further and be prosperous. Sharkis is keen to collaborate with the government to certify and license these enterprises. It is the team’s dream to meet the welfare of the Sabahan businesses, to have a competitive nature and get better income. To date, FoodNextDoor has 190 riders throughout Malaysia and 720 registered merchants on their application. Sharkis believes as a leader, he should always be thinking for the future of the next generation. He aspires to help guide and nurture Sabahans to start up new brands and become successful. “I don’t sleep very much, so whenever I’m awake, I tend to think about our future generations. What we do today is for the generation of tomorrow”, he claims.
The FoodNextDoor team created this platform to show to not only the world but also local Sabahans that they too can be internationally competitive. The team’s hard work paid off when they finally soft launched the application in June 2020. FoodNextDoor isn’t only launched in Kota Kinabalu but also in Kota Belud, Sandakan and Johor as well. Their mission is to establish more branches in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Tawau and Lahad Datu by the end of 2020; and in eight more cities in 2021. According to Sharkis, food delivery has grown tremendously in Sabah especially during the MCO. People are
by Devyne Koh Image | Srap
Fun fact: Sharkis is an avid chess player and golfer.
AUtomotive
The wonders of food trucks
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few issues ago, I talked about the van life. It’s really interesting how people can modify a van to make it into their home. One thing’s for sure, they’re not the only ones tricking out their vehicles for purposes other than driving. Businesses have also been busy converting trucks into food selling machines, becoming what we now know as food trucks. For those of you who don’t know, food trucks are trucks that have been converted into mobile kitchens. Depending on the size of the truck, the kitchens and countertops are fitted into them to make it easier to cook and sell food on the go. Food trucks have a surprising history, with the first one being recorded in the 1800’s and taking the shape as we know it today in the 1950’s. Though, with the rising popularity of street food in the United States, they became widespread in the 2000’s. Here in Sabah, they’ve been gaining a lot of attention within the past few years. We usually see them at big events or gatherings, the local night markets, and even outside of malls or supermarkets. Just like their western counterparts, food trucks here mainly focus on serving patrons the classic street food. However, there are some outliers that serve western favourites such as pasta, fish n’ chips, or even pizza. In Kota Kinabalu, we can even see big names such as Hyatt and Starbucks get into the food truck game, serving street food with a twist. Historically, our food trucks used to serve bread, buns, snacks and cold drinks in plastic bags. I’m sure many of you remember the “breadman” who used to come by our houses in the evening.
by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash 28
The sizes of food trucks also differ. Of course, if it’s a bigger brand or the brand needs to cater to more patrons, then a food truck would definitely be bigger. However, there’s always a charm that attracts people to smaller food trucks. Apart from the size, the way brands decorate their trucks are also fun to observe. They always seem to stand out more than the average truck. Though, no matter the size and colour of the food truck, the taste of the food is what will always keep patrons coming back for more. Food trucks have had a surprisingly long history and they come in many different shapes and sizes. The food served is also different as well. Their popularity among patrons and consumers certainly justify how the food industry is evolving to provide the best experience for all the food lovers out there.
WELLNESS
Why IS coffee good for you?
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rinking coffee can be good for you! As a barista and cafe owner, my morning routine for every working day would be to have myself a cup of coffee to start my day. One may think that I developed this due to my job requirements but truthfully, this routine started ages ago since my university and corporate job days.
antioxidant though? In layman’s terms, antioxidants are a bunch of molecules who act like tiny soldiers in our body, fighting against the effects of free radicals, who can be seen as intruders causing heart diseases and cancer if the levels are too high in your body. Antioxidants are in charge of neutralising the effects of these free radicals, so that the safety of our cells are in check.
I started off drinking instant coffees as a student to keep myself awake during classes and most notably pre-examination period. Over the years, my patterns of drinking coffee have evolved into taking coffee without sugar and eventually freshly brewed coffees, just because they taste better! However, my knowledge and understanding on the subject matter have also increased concurrently following my personal interests and research.
As for the caffeine in coffee, the effects are often debatable as a lot may agree that caffeine aids in short term memory boosts by providing a surge to stimulate our brain activities, but for some people, that effect might be minimal or even detrimental. However, what we collectively understand about caffeine is that each and every single individual would have varying tolerance levels for caffeine. Hence, it is very important for us to understand our level of caffeine tolerance before we go ahead and drink coffee.
Growing up in an Asian household, we were always taught that kids should avoid drinking coffee, and that too much coffee is harmful for you without us ever understanding why. However, I have learnt over the years that by drinking coffee in moderation, there are significantly more health benefits than harm, and these are based on countless factual research done on a global scale. Antioxidants - The most commonly heard word when people talk about the benefits of green teas and cocoas. In fact, coffee has been proven to show as much, if not more antioxidant activities than both of the aforementioned products. What exactly is an
by Eugene Chiu Image | Unsplash
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For every food or beverage out there, there would always be both healthy and harmful benefits depending on your intake, the key word is always to consume in moderation! Now where is my cup of freshly brewed Colombian coffee?
DENTAL
brace yourself for braces
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ou’ve seen them on TV and in movies, but have you ever wondered what braces actually are and how they work? This month, we’re going to go into detail on braces with Dr. Sylvia Lim of Phi Dental. Read on to find out more on the process of getting braces and even the dangers of getting fake braces.
get braces on, starting off with a consultation. Orthodontists will design a specific treatment for you. Then comes the placement of the braces and wire insertion. Along the way, the orthodontist will discuss the oral, make adjustments, and explain dietary restrictions.
Dental braces are a way to straighten or move our teeth to improve how they look and work. Braces also help you look after the long-term health of your teeth and gums, plus making eating more comfortable by spreading the biting pressure across all your teeth. Braces work by putting pressure on the teeth, slowly moving them in the right direction. The bone in the jaw changes to allow the teeth and their roots to move as the pressure takes effect.
Notice how I mentioned professional dentists and orthodontists? Well, along the years, fashionable braces have become a big trend and more non-dental professionals and beauticians have popped up offering fake braces treatments. Getting these types of braces risks your health and safety in the long run, causing tooth decay, tooth lost, and even choking and consuming toxic materials used. Contagious diseases such as Hepatitis B, HIV, and even Covid-19, have been known to spread through the unsterilized conditions and instruments used.
There are a few types of braces for you to consider from. Traditional braces are the ones we typically imagine when thinking of braces. There are also ceramic braces, which are less visible compared to others, and the clear & removable aligners. These resemble mouth guards that are actually custom made for you and are usually recommended for ongoing use even after you complete the treatment. There’s also the Myofunctional Appliances for children as young as 3 years old.
Therefore, make sure you get the proper treatment from the proper dental professionals if you’re ever thinking of getting braces some day. If you are a victim of these illegal braces services, Phi Dental is here to help you to salvage your teeth for reasonable charges, advicing readers to bravely undo the wrong and seek help early.
To determine whether you need them, professional dentists or orthodontists evaluate your teeth in 3 aspects: function, hygiene, and aesthetics. After that, patients will undergo a procedure to
by Noel Jinguli Image | Phi Dental 32
Consequence of braces done wrong.
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fitness
The Food Workout
he theme of this month’s workout is FOOD! But don’t get too excited, there will not be any food involved in this workout plan. However, here are 3 compound exercises that can help burn more calories so that you can enjoy more food during the new year. Perform 15 reps of each exercise for 4 sets with a 30 second rest interval in between.
FULL BODYWEIGHT SQUAT SETUP • • •
Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Toes turned out slightly. Keep your core tight & spine neutral.
EXECUTION • • • • • • •
Before going down, perform a hip hinge by. As you go down, push your butt back and lead your knee forward at the same. Align your knees to the 2nd/3rd toe of your feet. Make sure that your spine is parallel to the shin. Try to go down as low as you can without compensation of form. Come back up to starting position by moving the hip and knee joints together. As you come up, squeeze your glutes at the top.
THREAD THE NEEDLE SIDE PLANK SETUP • • •
Come to a side lying position. Place your elbows under your shoulders and push your body up to a side plank position. Align your elbow, hip, knee and heel in a straight line .
EXECUTION • •
Keeping your core stable, slightly rotate your thoracic spine and thread your top arm into the hanging gap between your supporting elbow and ribcage. With control, slowly thread the arm out and stretch it up overhead.
CROSSOVER LUNGE / CURTSEY LUNGE SETUP • •
Stand shoulder width apart. Toes turned slightly out.
EXECUTION • • • • •
Crossover one leg to the back of the other leg. Keep the spine neutral and lean the body forward a little. Push the butt slightly back and lead the front leg’s knee forward to the 2nd/3rd toe of the front leg. Drop the back leg down by bending the knee. Drive your body back up by using the front leg.
by Hazli Bojili Image | Hazli Bojili 36
Rants & Raves
New year new recipe
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ould you look at that, time sure flies! As quick as the year 2020 came, it’s now coming to an end. 2020 was filled with unexpected events and surprises and hopefully this year, can be a new beginning. Now onwards! Anybody set up any goals for 2021? No? No New Year resolution or, “New year, New me?” Well, I’ve got some ideas you can try out and don’t worry - they don’t cost much and won’t leave you swimming in regret. Because we are going to be trying out some new recipes! 21 recipes for 2021. Doesn’t that sound great? Now you don’t have to be a professional chef to try out some recipes, who knows, you might just be the next Gordan Ramsay! There are plenty of easy recipes out there, like guacamole, chiffon cake, brownies or even muffins! If you want something that isn’t dessert, well here’s an easy recipe I tried. A classic casserole. I found this recipe on Preppy Kitchen but since I didn’t have all the ingredients, I improvised! You can make this with literally whatever you have in your fridge. Ingredients consist of: • • • • • • • •
Bacon, sausages, nuggets, etc (any type of meat) 1 onion 1 ¼ cups of milk 2 tbsp. butter 3 cups shredded cheese (any cheese is fine) 2 tbsp. flour ¾ cup sour cream Frozen veggies
by Cherelle Lim Image | Unsplash 38
When I was making this recipe, I literally tossed in every type of meat I had in my fridge and added maybe a quarter bag of frozen veggies. Now all you have to do is cook it all in a large pan or pot. Fry your bacon first so you can sprinkle them on top later. Then fry the onions and just slowly add everything else in, stir until combined and it’s time to transfer it to a baking dish! Lastly, bake it in a preheated oven at 180⁰ C for 35 minutes. Cooking and baking are such are fun ways to use your time! Cook with family and have fun in the kitchen. Maybe you’ll even whip up a whole new amazing recipe!
the rise of food delivery apps
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n this day and age, online food delivery apps are a must in all smartphones. It doesn’t matter which ones you use, as long as it gets your food from point A to where you are. Have you ever wondered though, how these apps started and became popular? Well, let’s talk about it in this issue’s Pop Culture. As the name suggests, online food delivery apps are applications that allow users to order food online. As long as you can place an order for it online, be it ready-to-eat or food that needs to be prepared. The earliest online food order was made in the United States in 1994. The order made was for a pizza from Pizza Hut. However, the first online food ordering service was founded in 1995. It was called World Wide Waiter and originally served in northern California only.
POP CULTURE
By the late 2000s, major pizza chains started to create their own mobile applications. With the rise of the smartphone and the rise of Uber, food delivery startups started to receive more attention. Globally, Uber Eats has earned more than $1.2 billion of revenue in the 2nd quarter of 2020. Other startups such as HelloFresh and Blue Apron have also made a huge splash over the years. These meal kit delivery services have 3 million and 350 thousand users respectively in 2019. Here in Malaysia, with the introduction of Grab and subsequently GrabFood, more people prefer ordering food online. In 2020 alone, there were 6.9 million users who were actively using food delivery apps, a 36% rise from 2019. The rise in users can be attributed to many reasons. Most obvious of all is the pandemic we’re going through. With people afraid of leaving their homes, having the food delivered to you is a much better option rather than risking going outside. In addition, the upgrades in terms of infrastructure and accessibility of the internet have also contributed to the boom in the usage of apps such as GrabFood, FoodPanda, and Morefun even before the pandemic. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the usage of food delivery apps keeps rising. The convenience of having them is a big positive for everyone. Let’s all appreciate it while waiting for the next big thing from the world of food. Who knows, food teleportation might even be a thing in the future.
by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash 39
Food Crispy Calamari Ingredients • 1kg Calamari (wash & clean) & Cut • 2 cups cooking oil Batter • Salt & pepper to taste • 1 cup of All purpose flour • 2 cups water • 1 tsp tumeric powder • 1 tsp curry powder • 1 Egg Method 1. Pre-heat oil in a pan 2. Mix batter until combined 3. Add calamari into the batter & into the frying pan 4. Cook until golden brown 5. Serve with chili or mayonnaise
by Beverley Chow www.quicktakesorder.blogspot.com Image | Beverley Chow
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Kedai kupi
of the month
CHOMP KK
orn from the memories of their university wanderlust, Melissa, Faith, and Wei decided to satisfy their cravings during the lockdowns. That’s when the idea for Chomp KK came up, to make and share the delights of Belgium Liege Waffles to the people of Kota Kinabalu. Made with premium imported ingredients and fresh local produce, the yeasted dough for the waffle is fermented overnight to give it a rich complex yet delicious flavour and texture. Belgian pearl sugars accompany the fluffy soft centred dough, ensuring a crunch in every bite from the caramelized little nuggets. Although Chomp KK only offers the classic flavour of Belgium Liege Waffles, they have seasonal flavours such as the Apple Cinnamon and Red Velvet Cream Cheese. So far, their latter has been their most popular flavour. With a generous serving of cream cheese wrapped inside a buttermilk cocoa dough, it’s the perfect combination of salty, sweet, and tangy, leaving you wanting for more. The waffles pair well with anything you like. From sunny side up eggs and avocado for breakfast, to ice cream for dessert. The only limit is your imagination. Chomp KK will be introducing new flavours in the coming month, so do give them a follow on their social media for the latest updates of their Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day seasonal flavours. Contact: 016-586 9117 @Chomp.kk @chomp.kk
Restaurant Review
Mamasita: Let’s Taco Bout It
of furniture and decoration has its place in this restaurant, seamlessly mixing modern high tables for the younger crowd with timeless booths for family meals. He wanted local talent, desiring for the restaurant to be as home-grown as possible. So all the wall art and some serving boards were specially made by local artist Cracko.
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amasita. Fresh! Exciting! Inviting! This easy-to-say-andremember Mexican Spanish name can mean either ‘Dear little mother’ or ‘Babe/Real sweet chick’. This is a definite nod to the wide range of patrons Mamasita welcomes. When Mamasita’s owner, Brandon Young, greets you, it is clear that he is passionate about people. Though his roots are in engineering and doesn’t consider himself a “foodie”, what he loves most about his job is the people he meets through the food he serves. Because of that, the hospitality and service you receive at Mamasita is top notch, going above and beyond.
Let’s look at the menu… The first dish served to us was the Spaghetti Aglio Olio. Part of their International menu, it was easy to see why this dish was highlighted - it’s pasta was done al dente with perfectly balanced flavours. True pasta lovers will know how difficult this simple dish is to do well without it being too oily or leaving you feeling ‘jelat’ but I dare say Mamasita seems to have mastered it.
Then was the Enchiladas Carne - the beef Enchilada. This dish was generously topped with melted cheese and filled with beef so tender it melted in our mouths. Flavoured strongly with tomatoes and a hint of spice, this dish was definitely a highlight Much thought has gone into Mamasita from the beginning. A and a favourite for us. sister restaurant to Holy Guacamole in Penang, Mamasita brings a little more Spanish tapas choices and some local drinks delicacy Next up, the classic Tacos! We had the Al Pastor (Grilled into the menu. Chicken), Baja Fish Taco, and the Sinaloa (Grilled Prawn). The Al Pastor was topped with pineapples and a chef special sauce. From the moment the location was decided, Brandon’s mind While succeeding in hitting every flavour available on your pallet, raced with ideas on how everything should look. Every piece if you’re not a pineapple on pizza person, this may not be the dish for you. The Baja Fish Taco on the other hand, was praised to be the local favourite. That’s a no brainer. With battered fish cooked perfectly, complemented by a beautifully pickled salad base and lime crema, this taco is definitely at the top of my list to go back for. Finally, the grilled prawn taco had perfectly cooked fresh by Jessica Chen prawns and the same lime crema found in the fish taco - easy Images | Srap eating for anybody who is a lover of prawns. 46
Moving on to the Tostadas, we had the Mamasita Pollo (chicken). Served on a crispy corn tortilla and an assortment of vegetables, it is obvious that the star of the dish was the pulled chicken. Marinated in local dried chilis, fresh orange juice and a special imported Mexican paste, the chicken has a nice blend of local and Mexican flavours. However, after it sat for a while, the shell did become a little soft and chewy, and the chicken became a little dry so this is definitely one to eat fresh from the kitchen.
But what if you’re the designated driver or just not that into alcohol? Well, apart from the virgin margaritas mentioned above and a decent variety of other non-alcoholic drinks, Mamasita sells Jarritos - an all natural, fruit-flavoured soda brand from Mexico as well!
So, with almost every dish and drink being customisable to your meat/non-meat and fruit taste, its extremely high quality hospitality, and its unique while welcoming decor, it is obvious Finally, Nachos! This dish is loaded and can be shared among why Mamasita is the go-to place and it’s understandable why friends as an appetiser but is absolutely capable of being a full many patrons at Mamasita become regulars. meal for a single person. Ours had the chicken add-on but you can also choose to have beef, guacamole, or the nachos just the way they are, with melted cheese, pico de gallo, lettuce, jalapenos, frijoles, and salsa roja. All the dips served are Mamasita creations and carry their own distinct taste – there is a flavour for everyone. You can’t go to a Mexican restaurant without having churros as your dessert. Mamasita’s churros were perfect - fluffy on the SPAGHETTI AGLIO OLIO ENCHILADAS CARNE inside with a decent crisp to the outside, and coated in cinnamon sugar. The churros carry their own flavour and texture - I happily finished a whole churro plain even though I knew there was a dip. For an added dimension, they are served with a Hershey’s chocolate dip. To accompany our meal, we had a mixture of Mocktails and Cocktails. Starting with two different types of Traditional Virgin Margaritas - Frozen and Traditional. The Frozen Margarita is a slushie and comes in 7 flavours including traditional Lime. These Mocktails were refreshing and a great substitute for those not drinking alcohol. Their Traditional Classic Lime Margarita is rimmed with a lovely homemade combination of paprika, salt, and lime powder cuts through the sweet drink. Next was the Mojito. A definite minty classic. It appears that the drink is curated towards local taste without losing the essence and backbone of what a Mojito is. Finally, the Signature Sangria. Personally, I have a soft spot for Sangria’s as it takes me back to my time in the UK and while I cannot personally draw a comparison with the true Spanish Sangria, I would commend it to be on par with the UK version. Mamasita’s Signature Sangria is well balanced and has just the right amount of bitter flavour from the wine against the sweet and sour freshly squeezed juice. What else makes Mamasita special? They boast a wide range of tequila brands, and even certain Patron flavours that may not be found elsewhere in KK. The house wine is Argentinian with intentions to keep to the South American Mexican theme. The Mamasita Coronita - the house specialty - is a Margarita served with a Corona in it! All the usual margarita flavours are available.
MAMASITA CORONITA
NACHOS
AL PASTOR, BAJA FISH TACO & SINALOA
MAMASITA POLLO
TRADITIONAL MARGARITA
FROZEN MARGARITA
MOJITO
SIGNATURE SANGRIA
ADDRESS: 15, Lorong Dewan, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88800 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah BUSINESS HOURS: 12pm - 12am (Daily) CONTACT: 088-214 533 FB | @mamasitakk IG | @mamasita.kk
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