30/05/2026

LYFE SATURDAY | MAY 30, 2026

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French, Siam flavours tastefully collide O VER two evenings, “Fire & Finesse: A French-Siam Dialogue” brought together award-winning Malaysian o Malaysian chef joins hands with Thai counterpart to create hybrid cuisine

standout dishes including scallop with nam-prik kee-ga , ma-uek , poached coral trout with Chartreuse and white asparagus, line-caught fish of the day with jade fungus and fermented chili beurre blanc , as well as Japanese wagyu with morel Tomme de Savoie and makwaen pepper jus. Each course reflected a balance of precision and boldness by the chefs. The collaboration culminated in a dessert, the crispy mor kaeng , reimagined by Chef Nick and executive pastry chef Nico Ooi, offering a refined tribute to Thai heritage. Served alongside each course, Evian natural mineral water

Chef Darren Chin and Evian chef ambassador Chef Nick (Nutthapol Pavapaiboon) of Wang Hing Hoi in a four-hands dining experience that explored the interplay between French haute cuisine and the expressive depth of Northern Thai flavours. At the heart of the experience was “Alpine–Lanna Dialogue: A Savoie Interpretation”, a menu that moved seamlessly between refinement and intensity. From intricate amuse bouches such as fish larb with makwaen and crab kaeng ka-ree to

A delicious dish too pretty to eat.

enhanced the nuanced flavours without overshadowing them. Chin, founder of DC Restaurant, Bref and Gai by Darren Chin, has become one of the defining voices in Malaysia’s fine dining landscape. Trained at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and refined in some of France’s most demanding kitchens, Chin is known for seamlessly weaving French gastronomic tradition with Asian influences – particularly the flavours and food cultures of Northern Thailand inspired by his Chiang Mai family roots. “Great cuisine, like great water, begins at the source. This menu was about clarity. It allowed each ingredient and influence to express itself fully, yet exist in balance,” said Chin. Joining him was Pavapaiboon, whose cuisine is celebrated for its bold Thai expression elevated through contemporary refinement.

The two chefs worked together to combine French and Thai flavours together.

Known for his mastery of spice, fermentation, smoke and aromatic layering, Pavapaiboon brings a deeply rooted understanding of Thai culinary identity while embracing precision and elegance in execution. Presented in collaboration with

Even the sauces are made in-house.

Evian, “Fire & Finesse: A French Siam Dialogue” leaves behind more than a memorable dining experience. It underscores a shared philosophy between chefs and partner alike: That true excellence lies in balance, respect for origin and the seamless integration of craft and nature.

Pavapaiboon (left) and Chin pose for a photo.

Little bite-sized snacks.

EVENTS LISTINGS

Disney Dream Travel Date: Until June 7 Time: 10am Venue: Centre Court, Mid Valley Megamall Entry fee: Free entry; RM50 minimum spend for Dream Explorer Club workshop entry Mid Valley Megamall presents Disney Dream Travel, a pop-up inspired by a “City in the Clouds” with hot air balloon-themed installations, Disney merchandise, stamping activities and family workshops. The event includes meet-and-greet sessions, Explorer Map Challenge activities, cloud white popcorn giveaways and a contest where shoppers can win a family trip for four to Hong Kong Disneyland.

1 Utama Volleyball Championship 2026 Date: June 2–7 Time: 10am Venue: GF Promenade, 1 Utama Shopping Centre Entry fee: Free 1 Utama Shopping Centre presents the 1 Utama Volleyball Championship 2026 in partnership with the Kuala Lumpur Volleyball Association and Selangor Volleyball Association. The tournament features Under-15 boys, Under-15 girls, open men’s and open women’s categories, with matches held in the mall’s open viewing space and a Haikyu!! pop-up store offering merchandise, themed displays, collectibles and photo opportunities.

Jazz, Classical & B eyond With The MPO Date: June 13 Time: 8pm Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC Entry fee: RM199–RM449 The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra presents Jazz, Classical & Beyond With The MPO , a concert led by music director Junichi Hirokami with pianist Frank Dupree. The programme features Haydn’s Symphony No. 100 , Duke Ellington’s Caravan , Kapustin’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 , bringing together classical works and jazz influences in one evening.

Tokyo x S eoul: Icons & Idols Date: June 11–14 Time: 8pm (June 11–13), 3pm (June 14) Venue: Pentas 1, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Sentul Park Entry fee: RM68–RM150 The Young KL Singers present Tokyo x Seoul: Icons & Idols , a J-pop and K-pop tribute concert featuring an almost 40-strong choir, beatboxer JP and dancers from the Kenny Shim Dance Collective. Directed by Ian Chow, the concert covers songs from Japan and South Korea across four decades, including music linked to Hikaru Utada, Radwimps, Exo, IU, Rose and Bruno Mars.

Hungry Date: June 18–21 Time: 8pm (June 18–20), 3pm (June 20–21) Venue: Pentas 2, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Sentul Park Entry fee: RM48–RM100 The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat presents Hungry , a family drama by Singapore playwright Desmond Sim, directed by Christopher Ling. Set against the backdrop of the Hungry Ghost Festival, the play follows a family of four confronting love, loss, memory and the longing for connection, with a cast featuring Mark Beau de Silva, Anrie Too, Grabriel Tham and Virtuoes Romana.