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The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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Michelin to launch restaurant and hotel guide for Brazil Posted: 27 May 2014 09:43 PM PDT May 28, 2014 Hallowed restaurant guide Michelin has announced plans to launch its first red book for Brazil next spring – the first Michelin guide to cover South America. Capitalising on the fact that the world is poised to turn its sights towards Brazil for the World Cup next month, one of the world's most authoritative restaurant guides has dispatched a team of inspectors who are currently on a gastronomic reconnaissance mission, exploring the fine dining scenes of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. When it's released in March 2015, the Brazil guide will mark the publication's 25th volume. "The Brazilian gourmet dining scene has been developing steadily in recent years, led by particularly creative chefs," said Michelin director Michael Ellis. "The country has also become a very attractive destination for foreign chefs who are curious to discover products, traditions and cooking styles unlike any other in the world." One of the most anticipated star rankings will, no doubt, be D.O.M. in Sao Paulo, headed by chef Alex Atala, a regular on the gastronomic festival circuit who belongs to the tight-knit fraternity of international chefs like René Redzepi and David Chang. Atala has received no small mountain of praise in the international food community for spotlighting the local, indigenous flavours of Brazilian cuisine and reviving the country's epicurean heritage. One of his menu ingredients, for example, is wild Amazonian ants, which impart the flavours of lemongrass and ginger. D.O.M. is also a regular on The World's 50 Best Restaurants ranking, and this year was named the best restaurant in South America. It landed in seventh spot overall. Likewise, Mani is also a hot ticket in Sao Paulo, and scored a coup when its chef, Helena Rizzo, took the title of World's Best Female Chef by the same organiser. "Spearheading this development, the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo today rank among the world's leading fine dining centres. Both share a creativity, curiosity and cultural openness that constantly nurture one of the world's most dynamic gourmet dining scenes. What's more, the two cities have become 'must' visits in the international culinary landscape," Ellis said. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 28, 2014.

Asia’s largest wine expo opens in Hong Kong Posted: 27 May 2014 09:32 PM PDT May 28, 2014 Asia's biggest wine and spirits fair opened in Hong Kong yesterday, drawing the world's top producers from France to Chile despite China reporting the first decline in wine consumption for a decade. According to a survey by Vinexpo Asia Pacific, mainland China's wine consumption fell by 2.5% last year, after ten years of uninterrupted growth at a rate of 25% per year. The drop comes as Beijng reins in luxury spending and extravagant banquets, against the backdrop of a slower economy, and an anti-graft campaign backed by President Xi Jinping to root out official corruption. However, show organisers, who expanded the trade fair by 50% in floor space from its last edition in 2012, are adamant there are still strong opportunities for the wine and spirits markets in the region, because of increased demand from a growing middle class. Winemakers and industry executives also say that the economic slowdown will not prevent people from drinking, but the focus may now shift to mid-range wine and spirits. "This is the largest Vinexpo Asia Pacific ever. The markets of South East Asia and China are still booming," Vinexpo chief executive officer Guillaume Deglise said. "There are many markets in Asia where the middle class is expanding and this represents a great potential for the wine and spirits industry," he said. Xavier de Eizaguirre, chairman of Vinexpo, added: "Little did we know two decades ago, Asia led by China and Japan would reach 63% of world's spirits consumption." In 2013, China overtook France as the world's largest consumer of red wine, guzzling more than 155 million 9-litre cases or 1.865 billion bottles that year, according to Vinexpo. But the official austerity drive in China has meant that people are increasingly turning to cheaper wines. "Cheaper wines are selling better because of the anti-corruption campaign. The government did not say you shouldn't drink," said Angel Lee, director of Hong Kong-based wine trading company MBL. Pier Luigi Calcagnile, marketing director of Italian winemaker Caviro, said: "We consider good value for money very important for Asia. Premium wines are important to promote quality but if you want to expand, you need to approach also the middle class." Some 1,300 exhibitors from 31 countries attended the event packed with wine tasting sessions as well as discussion forums for sommeliers, distributors and importers. This year Chinese wine tastings are also a feature, along with a bar showcasing innovative cocktails for the first time, organisers say. French exhibitors make up more than 500 booths, while producers from Italy to New World countries such as the United States are also vying to gain market share. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 28, 2014.

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Taylor Swift cancels Thai gig after coup Posted: 27 May 2014 08:55 AM PDT May 27, 2014 Taylor Swift will tour several Asian countries including Malaysia in May and June. – Reuters pic, May 27, 2014.Country-pop star Taylor Swift has cancelled an upcoming sold-out concert in politically turbulent Thailand, the singer confirmed Tuesday, after the army took control of the country and imposed a curfew and martial law. Swift was due to play at the Impact Arena on the outskirts of the capital Bangkok on June 9, but organisers announced it had been cancelled "due to recent events in Thailand", according to a post on the Thai Ticket Major website. "I'm sending my love to the fans in Thailand. I'm so sad about the concert being canceled," Swift said in a post on Twitter. The 24-year-old pop diva is due to tour the region as part of her "Red Tour" in the coming weeks. Thailand's powerful military ousted the civilian government of former premier Yingluck Shinawatra Thursday following months of street protests. The kingdom has been repeatedly rocked by rival demonstrations from enemies of Yingluck's divisive brother Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, as well as his "Red Shirt" supporters. Thailand's junta has curbed civil liberties and restricted the media, imposed a nightly curfew and abrogated most of the constitution. Swift has other concerts in Shanghai, Tokyo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore in May and June. – AFP, May 27, 2014.

‘Frozen’ becomes fifth highest-grossing film in box office history Posted: 26 May 2014 09:51 PM PDT May 27, 2014 Since its release in November 2013, Disney's seasonal animated feature has brought in over $1.2 billion (RM3.9 billion) in theatres worldwide, placing it ahead of "Iron Man 3" in the ranking of the most lucrative blockbusters at the global box office. Thanks to its popularity with Japanese moviegoers, "Frozen" is still putting money in Disney's coffers six months after its premiere. As of Sunday, May 25, the movie had earned a cumulative total of $1,219,179,972 in theatres. This impressive result makes "Frozen" the fifth highest grossing feature in the history of the box office. The story of Anna and her sister Elsa overtook "Iron Man 3," which grossed $1.215 billion during its run in theatres. At the top of the podium are "Avatar" ($2.7 billion), "Titanic" ($1.8 billion), "The Avengers" ($1.5 billion) and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" ($1.3 billion). "Frozen" has also become Disney's highest-grossing feature – another title taken from "Iron Man 3" – and the only animated feature among the top 10 highest-grossing films at the worldwide box office. However, "Frozen" is not the only animated movie to break the symbolic $1 billion barrier at the box office: "Toy Story 3," in 12th place overall, grossed $1.063 billion in theatres. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 27, 2014.

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Japan toil to beat Cyprus in World Cup warm-up Posted: 27 May 2014 07:31 AM PDT May 27, 2014 Japan's Hotaru Yamaguchi (right) fights for the ball against Cyprus's Constantinos Makrides (centre) and Marios Nicolaou during their international friendly soccer match. – Reuters pic, May 27, 2014.Defender Atsuto Uchida spared Japan's blushes with a 43rd-minute winner as the Asian champions beat Cyprus 1-0 in their final home World Cup warm-up on Tuesday. Japan, who looked heavy-legged after a punishing training camp last week, face Ivory Coast in their opening game at the World Cup in Brazil on June 14. Right-back Uchida broke the deadlock in Saitama when he stabbed home the loose ball after Shinji Kagawa's close-range effort had been blocked, registering only his second goal in 66 internationals. "It was nice to score coming back from injury," said Uchida, who celebrated his strike by sprinting to the touchline to hug Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni. "I didn't know if I would be fit in time," added Uchida, returning from a lengthy spell out with a thigh problem. "I wanted to get on the scoresheet tonight." With Cyprus defending resolutely, a clever step-over from Kagawa brought the crowd of 58,000 to their feet, only for Keisuke Honda to waste Japan's only other chance of a scrappy first half. Kagawa and captain Makoto Hasebe, himself working his way back to fitness after a knee problem, went close as Japan showed more urgency after the break. Ultimately, the home side lacked the cutting edge Zaccheroni had demanded before the match. "We weren't as sharp as we can be, but the players kept probing," said the Italian, who has stubbornly refused to make any World Cup predictions. "I'm not the sort of person to make promises about results. I demand the players put in the effort required to get results. We will be 100% for June 14." Japan, who also play Greece and Colombia in Group C, have further friendlies against Costa Rica on June 2 and Zambia on June 6 in Tampa before flying to Brazil. The 'Blue Samurai' reached the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Japan stormed through Asian qualifying to secure a fifth successive World Cup appearance, finishing four points clear of Australia at the top of their final-round group. – AFP, May 27, 2014.

Li Na exits the French Open in the first round Posted: 27 May 2014 04:45 AM PDT May 27, 2014 Australian Open champion Li Na (pic), of China, was knocked out of the French Open in the first round when she suffered an embarrassing 7-5 3-6 6-1 defeat by France's Kristina Mladenovic on Tuesday. Second seed Li, who won at Roland Garros in 2011, looked impotent on another chilly day in Paris, following men's Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka to the Roland Garros exit door. World number 103 Mladenovic, who won the juniors' title in Paris in 2009, will next face American Alison Riske, looking to make it past the second round on home clay for the first time. "I don't think I had a bad day," Li told a news conference. "The problem is myself. I don't think I'm doing well on the court. Also, during the match, I don't think I followed the game plan. I didn't have any idea how to play the match." Once dubbed the next big thing of French women's tennis, Mladenovic saved two set points in the opener, lost focus in the second but stepped up a gear again in the decider to wrap it up on her second match point. "It's incredible, without you I would not have done it," a tearful Mladenovic told the crowd. "When such a player comes back in the match, you will have to seize every opportunity. I have been working hard." She later told a news conference that her task now was to capitalise on her first-round success. "If you beat Li Na, you don't think about losing in the next round. I'll have big expectations for the next round," she said. "It can be tough sometimes for us French players to play in front of our crowd, but when you're playing a close game, it can be good for us to have the crowd with us. I could feel the atmosphere make the difference." The 21-year-old Mladenovic, who has two mixed-doubles grand-slam titles to her name with Canadian Daniel Nestor, traded breaks twice with Li early on, and after saving two set points at 5-4, she went on to break again and clinch the set when her opponent's forehand sailed long after just over an hour's play. She could not sustain the rhythm in the second set, which Li comfortably bagged following an early break. Mladenovic broke Li to love in the fourth game of the decider and never looked back, raising her arms in celebration after just over two hours on court, when the Chinese's forehand went long once again. In the men's draw, 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov, one of the young players expected to challenge the likes of champion Rafa Nadal in Paris, found the service of giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic too hot to handle. The 11th seed was beaten 6-4 7-5 7-6(4). Simona Halep, seeded fourth, narrowly missed inflicting the first double bagel of the tournament after serving for the match when leading Alisa Kleybanova of Russia 6-0 5-0. But the Romanian lost concentration and gave up two games, before winning on her first match point. The diminutive Halep won the juniors' title at Roland Garros in 2008 and her power and accuracy from the baseline will trouble all but the best here. She was the most improved player on the women's tour in 2013 after winning six WTA titles, and carried her form into the new year, reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm, the older stateswoman of the WTA Tour at 43, saved four match points, but still went down 6-3 0-6 6-2 to 24th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Russian 27th seed and 2009 French Open champion, eased through 6-3 6-1 against Georgia's Sofia Shapatava. Romanian 26th seed Sorana Cirstea beat Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-7(3) 7-5 6-2. – Reuters, May 27, 2014.

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Malaysians pay price of sweet tooth… Type 2 diabetes Posted: 26 May 2014 09:48 PM PDT May 27, 2014 The Malaysian diet is high in sugar and many are not aware they are suffering from the silent disease – diabetes. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, May 27, 2014.Many people think diabetes won't hit them. Type 2 diabetes, which is a metabolic disorder that is characterised by high blood sugar, is becoming prevalent among Malaysians and their sweet tooth. Many are ignorant about the complications arising from diabetes, which is incurable. They also brush it off because they think they are healthy. But I'm healthy! "Big mistake. People can have diabetes without even realising it," said Universiti Sains Malaysia's senior consultant endocrinologist, Prof Datuk Dr Mafauzy Mohamed. It is estimated that half of those who have the condition are not aware of it. This is because there are no visible early symptoms, causing people to continue with their cavalier attitude towards the disease. They will feel as healthy as a non-diabetic until the symptoms manifest themselves, such as lethargy, thirst, frequent urination and weight loss. Diabetes is akin to a silent killer that only manifests itself when the situation gets out of control. "A patient will normally have had diabetes for five years before they realise it. They have to understand that even without symptoms, they run the risk of complications from diabetes if their blood glucose is high. "It is better to manage the condition early to prevent complications that could lead to fatalities," he added. Diabetes is the condition where the level of sugar in the blood exceeds the normal level, which is 6mmol/L at the fasting state. This is because of the reduced amount of insulin produced by the pancreas. Among the reasons the pancreas does not produce enough insulin is because of genetics (hereditary), old age, obesity and the destruction of insulin-making cells. Worrying trend Type 1 diabetes is when insulin is absent in the body, while Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not produce not enough insulin is produced to control the level of blood glucose. Type 1 diabetes, also known as "juvenile diabetes", is hereditary and it is usually diagnosed during childhood. The number of people afflicted with Type 1 diabetes is about 10% of the global population. The number of people with Type 2 diabetes in Malaysia, however, is a cause for concern. The figure is spiralling even though the disease is completely preventable. "The main trigger of Type 2 diabetes is the modern lifestyle, which is often linked to unhealthy environment and an inactive lifestyle. "Type 2 diabetes is the most common type afflicting people, making up 90% of diabetes cases worldwide," Dr Mafauzy said. Worldwide concern The number of people afflicted with diabetes has increased worldwide. A study by the International Diabetes Federation 2013 revealed that 382 million people are living with the disease and the number is expected to reach 592 million by 2035. In Malaysia, the figure is as worrying. The Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam was quoted as saying that in 2013, the number of diabetics in Malaysia was 2.6 million, making up 15% of the population. Frightening complications Obesity is one of the factors leading to diabetes. In Malaysia, 82% of Type 2 diabetics are either overweight or obese. "Many are aware of the link but do not take measures to control their diet or increase physical activities to prevent or manage diabetes," said Dr Mafauzy. Weight management is crucial for Type 2 diabetics as being overweight or obese makes controlling the level of blood glucose more difficult. Uncontrolled diabetes can potentially lead to the silent attack of other bodily organs. The result can be serious health complications and eventually, death. "Complications from diabetes depend on how high the level of blood glucose is and how long it has remained there. The longer a patient lives with high blood glucose, the higher the risk of complications. "Unmanaged diabetes can lead to damage in blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and feet. It can also lead to heart attack, stroke, compromised vision or blindness, loss of sense of taste and leg amputation," Dr Mafauzy said. No cure There is no cure for diabetes but it can be prevented or managed with regular health screenings. The current treatment for diabetes, aside from diet and increasing physical activities, was medication and injection, he said. "Type 1 diabetics need insulin injections as their pancreas do not at all produce insulin. Type 2 diabetics, meanwhile, can be treated with medication that help insulin manage the level of blood glucose." Nonetheless, prevention is better than cure. So it is time for Malaysians to take stock of their sugar consumption. – Bernama, May 27, 2014.

‘Home-made’ electricity creating buzz in Germany Posted: 26 May 2014 09:42 PM PDT May 27, 2014 A growing number of small businesses, home owners, schools, hospitals and industrial plants in Germany have opted for energy self-sufficiency by generating their own electricity. – Reuters pic, May 27, 2014.Klaus Meier lists three reasons for generating his own electricity in his family hotel in Germany's southern city of Freiburg – "cost savings, energy efficiency, and climate protection". Like a growing number of German small businesses, home-owners, schools, hospitals and industrial plants, Meier has opted for energy self-sufficiency. Of the about 600 terawatt hours Germany consumes each year, 50 TWh are self-produced – about 8%  of the total – in a trend that has seen solar panels installed on home roofs and gas plants set up in factories. In industry, the share is around 20%, according to business and energy consumers groups. Their main goal: cost savings. Home-made power in Germany, which has among Europe's highest electricity bills, is not taxed unlike conventional electricity where one third of the customer's bill goes into the public coffers. And neither are the do-it-yourselfers subject to the duties used to subsidise the country's wider "energy transition" away from fossil fuels and nuclear power and toward clean energy. Ten years ago Meier fitted his four-star hotel, the 45-room Park Hotel Post, set in a 19th century building, with a gas-fuelled power-and-heat cogeneration unit. It cost him nearly 50,000 euros (RM319, 366), but Meier said "the investment paid for itself even faster than I had expected". Big business It's a trend adopted long ago by German big business, who value both the self-sufficiency and the lower cost. "If the power we produce ourselves in Ludwigshafen was taxed, it would cost half a million euros," said Kurt Bock, head of chemical giant BASF, which runs three gas power plants on its site in south-western Germany. The automaker Daimler has invested over 40 million euros in a new gas turbine for its plant in Sindelfingen, its largest production site. The investment will allow it to increase its power output there by 44%. "This reduces our dependence on external suppliers and allows us to increase security of supply and predictability of our costs," plant manager Willi Reiss said last year. According to a survey of some 2,400 companies conducted last year by the German Chamber of Commerce, nearly half have either made, initiated or are planning measures to provide themselves with electricity. Besides the financial argument, security of supply is an oft-cited reason. Renewables such as wind and solar represent an ever increasing share of German electricity production, but the output is fickle, depending on weather conditions. Although the lights haven't gone out yet in Germany despite the most dire warnings, the grid is becoming less stable. Decentralisation The "self-producers" are helping decentralise power production – a key aspect of Germany's ambitious energy transition, which was accelerated with a decision to shutter nuclear plants after Japan's 2011 Fukushima disaster. On a much smaller scale, many families have placed solar panels on their roofs, especially in the country's more sun-blessed south. The share of self-generated electricity in households more than doubled between 2011 and 2012, although it still makes up for only half a percent of total domestic consumption. For the traditional power companies, they represent new competition but also offer them an opportunity "to become a service provider" by passing on advice and technical solutions, said Thomas Kusterer, chief financial officer of Germany's third biggest energy company, EnBW. Not everyone likes the trend of power-users going off the grid. "I understand those who do it, as long as the laws are as they are," said Hildegard Mueller of BDEW, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries, which represents producers' interests and calls for fewer incentives for self-production. But she said that self-producers "are detached from the community, leaving it to others to bear the costs of the energy transition". – AFP, May 27, 2014.

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Book Review – The big fix: the hunt for the match-fixers bringing down soccer Posted: 26 May 2014 06:23 PM PDT BY EMMANUEL SURENDRA May 27, 2014 Brett Forrest's 'The big fix: the hunt for the match-fixers bringing down soccer' is published by HarperCollins and is available at select bookstores. – The Malaysian Insider pic, May 27, 2014. By the time Pele released his 1977 autobiography and called soccer "The Beautiful Game" – etymology tells us he was not the first to coin the phrase but one of the more famous personalities to use it – match-fixing had already hit the mainstream. Just a few years earlier, Hungarian Dezso Solti grabbed headlines for being the "fixer" behind Inter Milan's victories in the 1964 and 1965 European Cups. He is not the only one; neither will he be the last. The game is indeed "beautiful", on and beyond the field. Such is the context of Brett Forrest's "The big fix: the hunt for the match-fixers bringing down soccer". Forrest speaks of match-fixing as a transnational epidemic that has its claws buried deep within the sport, and he tells the story through two of the fixing world's most prolific characters: Singaporean fixer Wilson Raj Perumal and his nemesis Chris Eaton, director of sports integrity at the International Centre for Sport Security, an international non-profit organisation based in Doha, Qatar. Forrest starts his expose with the infamous 2011 Kuwait-Jordan match at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, "a never before had Fifa conducted a counter-fixing operation in real time" account. Then it's a biographical construct of Perumal – the man for whom "the Chinese stood out most of all" in the betting arena – and Eaton, the Australian who's "a determined cop… a disinclined politician". Then a plot is laid out, setting these two characters on a chase scene a la "Catch Me If You Can", the 2002 film biopic of Frank W. Abagnale, the prolific con artist. Pit stops come in bits of exposition on match-fixing, covering topics from hang cheng, the Asian betting system, to the role of Fifa in curbing the epidemic on a transnational scale. There are also the locations for these events, many of them ranging from Finland to Malaysia, which of course would pique the curiosity of readers. It goes without saying that Forrest's choice of Eaton and Perumal are on the money. He is, after all, a contributing writer at ESPN's The Magazine. And the way Forrest weaves these two characters into the bigger picture of match-fixing makes it a page-turner, better than that of Declan Hill's "The Insider's Guide to Match-Fixing in Football", which is a good book by the way. How much Eaton loathes Perumal can be seen in YouTube video "Who is Wilson Raj Perumal", where he speaks of the Singaporean as "the most notorious match-fixer today… who shows a lack of fear". In the "The big fix", his quotes are much stronger. As for Perumal, not only has he been convicted of match-fixing, he has embarked on a crusade to inform the world of his role behind key matches in various leagues. Then there's that newly-released autobiography by him and Alessandro Righi, "Kelong Kings: Confessions of the world's most prolific match-fixer". And also allegations that he was fixing matches while under detention, ironically, in Hungary. Continuing on Perumal, Forrest provides a decent amount of room for him to develop through the plot of "The big fix". There are even exchanges between Eaton and Perumal, where Perumal questions Eaton on the logic of Fifa organising the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – this space to the book's black hat in providing thought-provoking questions is credit to Forrest's ability as an author. The only issue with the "The big fix", certainly beyond the control of the author, is its hefty price tag. Coming at RM112.22, sport aficionados may not be willing to burn a hole in their pocket for a 280-page hardcover. So here's to wishing for a paperback version and a much lighter price tag. It's an enjoyable read, and it would be a bummer if it all boiled down to pricing, really. Brett Forrest's "The big fix: the hunt for the match-fixers bringing down soccer" is published by HarperCollins and is available at select bookstores. – May 27, 2014.

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Knowledge of nutrition vital to avoid unhealthy food Posted: 27 May 2014 08:37 AM PDT May 27, 2014 An employee at a store in Shah Alam checks the serial number of two Cadbury products which were found to have traces of pork DNA. – Reuters pic, May 27, 2014.The public should have a more holistic understanding of nutrition to avoid being tricked into eating food products which could affect their health. Kuala Lumpur Hospital's (HKL) Department of Catering and Dietetics head, Ridzoni Sulaiman said consumers should also equip themselves with knowledge and awareness of food intake to stay healthy and active. "We should not jump when there is an issue about food products on the market, what is important is that we be careful before buying a product. "Consumers need to read and get information about the codes of ingredients used," he told Bernama today. On the two samples of Cadbury chocolates, the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and the Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond which were reportedly detected to contain procine DNA, Ridzoni said the issue of non-halal ingredients frequently emerged and it was time that the local authorities tightened enforcement of the laws. Last Saturday, the health ministry revealed that two samples of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and the Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond were detected to contain porcine DNA. Jakim has since suspended the halal certification of the two products, with immediate effect. – Bernama, May 27, 2014.

The biggest pet peeves for restaurant goers Posted: 26 May 2014 08:54 PM PDT May 27, 2014 Screaming babies topped a list of the top 15 pet peeves for restaurant goers. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, May 27, 2014.Noisy, unruly children; servers who go missing in action and restaurants that take plates away mid-bite before diners have a chance to finish are among some of America's top dining pet peeves. That's according to online restaurant guide Urbanspoon, which looked at the most common complaints posted on user reviews and solicited "expert" feedback to compile a list of the top 15 restaurant pet peeves. Topping the list is "unsupervised kids", a recurring topic that generates no small amount of heated debate. Earlier this year, Michelin-starred Chicago chef Grant Achatz kicked off an online ruckus when he took to Twitter to complain about a crying baby that was disturbing the service and his patrons at his restaurant Alinea. In what was promptly dubbed "Babygate", parents and childless diners weighed in on the touchy subject, with one camp defending the right to dine with kids, another camp defending the right to dine in quiet, and yet another camp deriding the controversy altogether for being "bourgeois". Rounding out the top three pet peeves was slow service, and, on the flip side, rushed service. Here are the top 15 dining pet peeves: 1. Screaming babies and unruly children 2. Slow service and servers who go missing in action throughout the meal 3. Fast service, defined as restaurants that take plates away before diners have had a chance to finish eating 4.  No substitutions or accommodation for food allergies 5. Unexplained wait times for tables that are readily available 6. Menu typos 7. Couples who engage in excessive PDA 8. Talking on the phone 9. Dirty silverware or glasses. 10. The refusal to seat diners until the last person has arrived 11. Nosy neighbours who blatantly eavesdrop 12. Rowdy diners 13. Indecipherable menu descriptions that require culinary dictionaries 14. Watered down, weak drinks 15. Having to ask for items that should be staples such as cutlery, salt and pepper, water and bread. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 27, 2014.

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Nama Mah tidak ada dalam senarai calon senator, kata timbalan presiden Gerakan Posted: 27 May 2014 05:21 AM PDT May 27, 2014 Calon Barisan Nasional Datuk Mah Siew Keong bercakap dengan pihak media di kawasan pengundian awal PRK Teluk Intan hari ini. – Gambar The Malaysian Insider oleh Afif Abd Halim, 27 Mei, 2014.Dakwaan bahawa Datuk Mah Siew Keong akan dilantik sebagai senator jika kalah pada pilihan raya kecil (PRK) Parlimen Teluk Intan adalah tidak benar kerana nama calon Barisan Nasional (BN) itu tidak disenaraikan untuk mengisi jawatan itu. Timbalan Presiden Gerakan, Dr Cheah Soon Hai hari ini menjelaskan mesyuarat jawatankuasa pusat parti itu beberapa bulan lepas mencadang nama calon lain bagi mengisi jawatan itu. "Mah menolak untuk dicalonkan (sebagai senator), jadi persoalan bahawa Mah akan dilantik sebagai Senator tidak pernah timbul," katanya kepada pemberita di Ipoh hari ini. Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas kempen DAP yang mendakwa jika calon DAP menang, penduduk di kawasan Parlimen Teluk Intan tidak akan rugi kerana calon BN boleh dilantik menjadi senator dan mempunyai suara di Parlimen. Sementara itu, Mah dengan tegas mengulangi kenyataannya bahawa beliau tidak akan menjadi senator dan dua nama calon lain dicadangkan bagi mengisi jawatan itu. "Sebagai presiden (Gerakan), sekali lagi, saya mahu katakan jika saya kalah, saya tidak akan jadi senator. Tidak kemasukan ikut jalan belakang bagi saya. "Saya tidak mahu, saya sudah katakan, saya tidak mahu," tegasnya. Mah berkata beliau mahu menjadi ahli Parlimen Teluk Intan bagi memudahkannya membantu penduduk kawasan itu. "Saya mahu menjadi anggota Parlimen kerana saya rasa banyak yang saya boleh lakukan bagi membantu penduduk Teluk Intan. Saya mahu mewujudkan tabung bagi membantu golongan miskin, ibu tunggal serta golongan kurang upaya. Itulah harapan saya untuk penduduk Teluk Intan," katanya. PRK Teluk Intan pada 31 Mei ini menyaksikan pertembungan satu lawan satu antara Mah dan calon DAP Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud. – Bernama, 27 Mei, 2014.

PRK Teluk Intan: 95.61% pengundi awal mengundi hari ini Posted: 27 May 2014 05:03 AM PDT May 27, 2014 Calon DAP Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud (tengah) berada di tempat pengundian awal PRK Teluk Intan hari ini. – Gambar The Malaysian Insider oleh Afif Abd Halim, 27 Mei, 2014.Sebanyak 95.61% atau 392 daripada 410 pengundi awal Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Parlimen Teluk Intan mengundi di Dewan Serbaguna Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Hilir Perak hari ini. Pengarah SPR Negeri Perak Ahmad Adli Abdullah berkata proses pengundian awal yang bermula sejak 8 pagi hingga 5 petang berjalan lancar. "Selain itu ejen calon, penyokong dan calon parti itu sendiri memberikan kerjasama yang baik," katanya kepada pemberita selepas pusat pengundian awal itu ditutup. Katanya peti undian awal yang dimeteri itu kemudiannya dibawa ke Majlis Perbandaran Teluk Intan untuk disimpan di dalam peti besi sebelum kiraan kertas undi dilakukan pada Sabtu ini bersama kertas undian pengundian biasa. Beliau menggesa penyokong dan parti politik yang bertanding serta calon yang bertanding supaya sentiasa mematuhi peraturan serta undang-undang pilihan raya bagi memastikan keseluruhan perjalanan PRK Teluk Intan berjalan dengan baik. "Sekali lagi saya ingatkan supaya parti politik tidak mewujudkan 'barung panas' di kesemua pusat pengundian pada Sabtu ini kerana ia tidak dibenarkan. Mereka juga diminta untuk mengawal penyokong mereka pada hari berkenaan," katanya. Ahmad Adli berkata SPR akan membuat persiapan terakhir bagi proses pengundian biasa pada Jumaat ini di SMK Abdul Rahman Talib bermula pukul 8 pagi. "Pada hari pengundian Sabtu ini, kita menjangkakan SPR akan mula menerima Borang 14 (yang mengandungi maklumat keputusan pengiraan undi) pada pukul 6.30 petang, selain itu bagi Parlimen Teluk Intan ini ada juga pusat pengundian yang jauh dari pusat penjumlahan rasmi undi yang dibuat di sekolah yang sama," katanya. PRK Teluk Intan menyaksikan pertandingan satu lawan satu antara calon Barisan Nasional Datuk Mah Siew Keong dan calon DAP Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud. – Bernama, 27 Mei, 2014.

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Pertarungan dua generasi di Teluk Intan Posted: 26 May 2014 04:43 PM PDT May 27, 2014 Shukur mempunyai lebih 30 tahun pengalaman sebagai wartawan dan bekerja dengan pelbagai media. Beliau kini pencen tetapi menjadi pemerhati politik yang tegar. Tidak syak lagi Pilihan Raya Kecil Parlimen Teluk Intan pada 31 Mei ini akan menarik perhatian umum kerana ia amat mempunyai signifikan, terutama kerana ia ditandingi oleh seorang calon muda, professional, cerdas - Dyana Sofya daripada DAP. Lawannya ialah seorang ahli politik veteran daripada Gerakan, Datuk Mah Siew Keong. Mengapa pertarungan di Teluk Intan ini mempunyai makna yang besar dalam arena politik tanah air? Untuk pertama kali, DAP/Pakatan Rakyat mengemukakan seorang gadis Melayu profesional untuk bertanding di kawasan itu. Sekiranya dia menang, maka untuk pertama kali dalam sejarah kawasan itu akan diwakili seorang Melayu dalam Parlimen Malaysia. Kedua, calon DAP/Pakatan Rakyat ini adalah daripada kalangan ahli politik generasi baru, menentang calon generasi lama. Berdasarkan demikian ramai pengundi baru seperti yang dilihat dalam pilihan raya umum yang lalu, maka DAP/Pakatan Rakyat merasakan ada keperluan yang amat sangat untuk meletakkan calon muda untuk bertanding di situ. Maka, saya kira, Dyana Sofya dipilih untuk bertanding mewakili generasi baru, bukan kerana cantiknya, tetapi kerana melihat potensinya untuk menjadi ahli politik yang berjaya. Dia seorang profesional, seorang peguam, cerdas fikirannya, terbuka, sikapnya menentang perkauman dan mengetahui matlamat mengapa dia berjuang dalam politik; iaitu untuk memperjuangkan hak dan keadilan rakyat tanpa mengira kaum dan agama. Inilah sebenarnya aspirasi generasi muda yang mahu membetulkan pelbagai kepincangan yang berlaku dalam negara. Generasi muda yang diwakili oleh Dyana ini sangat perlu diberikan sokongan dari pelbagai bangsa. Kepada generasi muda inilah sebenarnya terletak masa depan negara, maka adalah sangat wajar pengundi Teluk Intan memberi sokongan kepadanya pada 31 Mei ini. Jika menang nanti, Dyana akan bersama rakan muda dalam Dewan Rakyat nanti, seperti Nurul Ezzah, Rafizi Ramli, Tony Phua, Zairil Khir Johari, Ramkarpal Singh yang baru menang di Bukit Gelugur dan lain-lain rakan muda mereka. Ini tidak bermakna kita menolak kalangan ahli politik veteran atau generasi lama dan tidak pula mereka ini dianggap tokoh politik kitar semula, justeru pengalaman dan perjuangan politik mereka masih berguna. Yang dimaksudkan di sini, biarlah ada perubahan dalam Parlimen Malaysia, ada suara baru yang mungkin mempunyai idea bernas untuk dikemukakan di Dewan Rakyat itu di samping suara lama yang bermutu. Bagaimanapun, terdapat ramai ahli Dewan Rakyat yang ada sekarang, terutamanya daripada Pakatan Rakyat yang memberikan hujah dan cadangan bernas. Sama ada pandangan mereka diterima oleh ahli Dewan Rakyat yang lain atau sebaliknya, itu adalah persoalan lain. Kita sudah melihat hujah bernas yang dikemukakan oleh, antara lain, Hanifa Maydin, Dato' Kamarudin Jaafar, Khalid Samad, Raja Bahrin, Dr Hatta Ramli dan ramai lagi dari PAS/Pakatan Rakyat. Mereka memenuhi hasrat rakyat yang sangat berkehendakkan perbahasan yang dynamik, bersifat intelektual, iaitu berbahasan yang bermutu. Bukan bercakap hal-hal yang remeh temeh, sentiment kaum dan seumpamanya. Rakyat mahukan perbahasan yang benar-benar memenuhi kehendak mereka, bukan pendapat yang dipaksa untuk diterima mereka. Kerana itu kita yakin calon DAP, Dyana Sofya mempunyai kemampuan untuk menyuarakan kepentingan rakyat dengan berkesan. Yang penting di sini ialah DAP/Pakatan Rakyat membuat pembaharuan dengan mengemukakan calon muda profesional. Sebab itu sangat wajar pengundi Teluk Intan memilih Dyana Sofya pada 31 Mei ini. Parlimen Teluk Intan mempunyai dua kawasan DUN, iaitu DUN Pasir Bedamar dan Changkat Jong, di mana DUN Changkat Jong pernah dimenangi oleh calon PAS dalam PRU ke-12, tetapi tewas dalam PRU ke-13 yang lalu. Manakala Dun Pasir Bedamar menjadi kubu kuat DAP sejak dulu lagi. Suatu ketika dulu DAP pernah meletakkan calon Melayu di situ, iaitu Fadzlan Yahya dan menang. Menurut pemerhati, pengundi Cina di Teluk Intan melebihi 40%, bermakna DAP hanya memerlukan lebih kurang 15% undi Melayu dan India untuk menang. Tetapi kalau dapat undi Melayu lebih daripada itu tentu lebih baik. Sementara itu, PAS mempunyai kekuatan di Teluk Intan sendiri, terutama di Changkat Jong. Sebab itu, jentera pilihan raya PAS/Pakatan Rakyat banyak memberi tumpuan di DUN Cangkat Jong ini, di samping menolong di tempat lain. Sangat menarik untuk diperhatikan bagaimana jentera PAS dan PKR bergerak serentak secara maksima, berkempen menolong calon DAP dan ini membuktikan kesepaduan Pakatan Rakyat yang tidak mungkin dapat digugat oleh musuh politiknya. Teluk Intan terletak di selatan negeri Perak, adalah pusat pentadbiran dan bandar terbesar di daerah Hilir Perak. Ia dilingkungi oleh aliran Sungai Perak dan Sungai Bidor dan ia adalah bandar terbesar di selatan Perak. Nama asal Teluk Intan ialah Teluk Mak Intan diambil dari seorang janda lawa bernama Mak Intan. Beliau seorang peniaga wanita yang berasal dari Mandahiling, Sumatera dan peneroka yang membuka Teluk Intan di sekitar awal abad ke-19. Pada waktu itu, kawasan yang diterokai oleh Mak Intan dikenali sebagai Pekan Mak Intan. Berikutan penerokaan ini, ramailah orang seberang keturunan Jawa, Rawa, Mandahiling, Minangkabau, Kampar dan kemudian India-Bombay datang mendiami kawasan yang baru diterokai itu. Mereka bertani dan berdagang barangan tradisi seperti rempah ratus, kain, inggu, kacip, parang dan sebagainya. Berkuatkuasa pada 1 Januari 1982, bandar ini bertukar nama dari Teluk Anson kepada Teluk Intan. Kesimpulannya, ramai yang menjangkakan kemenangan DAP di Bukit Gelugor Ahad lalu memberikan ransangan dan semangat kepada petugas Pakatan Rakyat untuk mencapai kemenangan di Teluk Intan pula. – 27 Mei, 2014. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

Hanya dengan sukan, rakyat Malaysia boleh jadi buta warna kaum Posted: 26 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT May 27, 2014 Md Izwan adalah wartawan The Malaysian Insider. ‎Beliau berkicau di @izwan_noborders. Kita mungkin masih kempunan untuk menang Piala Thomas, tapi sekurang-kurangnya rakyat Malaysia melupakan sebentar esktremis politik, kaum dan agama. Ahad lalu, rakyat berbilang bangsa mendapat "painkiller" paling terbaik, ketika ada ancaman bangunan hendak dibakar, ketika gambar palsu bikini Dyana Sofya diedarkan ke masjid dan surau, ketika menteri mengeluarkan kenyataan celupar, ketika Rela bakal mendapat pakaian seragam baru dan ketika ramai yang masih membezakan antara satu sama lain dengan warna kulit atau agama. Sifat universal sukan itu sendiri tidak perlu disuruh atau dikerah boleh menyatukan rakyat negara. Itulah keunikannya. Saya belum pernah dengar sebuah pasukan bola sepak atau pemain badminton itu akan dianggap itu adalah pasukan Islam, itu pasukan Kristian atau pemain itu mewakili Yahudi. Tidak juga semasa Hasbullah Awang semalam mengulas perlawanan badminton berkata, "Ya, Cina itu berjaya mengutip" atau "Ya, jurulatih Melayu itu sedang memberi nasihat". Itulah keunikan sebuah sukan, tidak seperti menteri atau ahli politik yang berlagak dalam kempen bercakap mengenai kaum atau agama. Pada 2010, saya menjadi wartawan sukan dan sempat membuat liputan bersama rakan semasa Piala Thomas diadakan di Malaysia. Tapi Malaysia kalah kepada China, saya masih teringat Lin Dan membuat tarian robotnya sebaik menewaskan Lee Chong Wei, tapi tindakan beliau menyebabkan semua penyokong negara  bersorak "boo" marah. Ketika itu, saya lihat semua rakyat Malaysia tidak kira Melayu, Cina dan India bersatu memperlihatkan kemarahan kepada Lin Dan. Ketika itu, tidak pula saya lihat penyokong kaum Melayu atau Cina tempatan yang memberikan sokongan kepada Lin Dan. Tapi hari ini, malangnya kita ada seorang individu asal Cina yang memeluk Islam bertanya "Kalau Lin Dan lawan Misbun, siapa Cina sokong?" Mungkin profesor ini tidak pernah menonton sukan ataupun tidak pernah ke stadium menonton bola sepak. Boleh jadi beliau tidak tahu bagaimana rakyat kita di Malaysia meraikan sukan tanpa perbezaan warna kulit. Anda mahu lihat rakyat Malaysia buta warna kaum, stadium ataupun acara sukan adalah tempat terbaik. Mungkin sudah tiba masanya rakyat kita berjuang cara lain untuk membetulkan sistem politik eksklusif negara. Jawapannya, mungkin caranya melalui sukan. Mungkin lebih ramai atlit bukan Melayu yang menyumbang pingat dapat mengajar tentang erti buta warna kaum kepada ahli politik negara. Sekurang-kurangnya, tiada lagi menteri akan menuduh kaum itu pendatang ataupun penceroboh. – 27 Mei, 2014. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

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