Eat and Cook in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the 2022 recipient of the American Express One To Watch Award. The American Express One To Watch Award recognises a restaurant considered to be a rising star of the region and aims to celebrate gastronomic excellence, innovation and potential.

Eat and Cook was born out of adversity. During the COVID pandemic, chefs Lee Zhe Xi and Soh Yong Zhi lost their respective jobs as hotel chefs. Turning misfortune into a moment of opportunity, the pair pursued their passion project: to create an omakase-style restaurant serving modern interpretations of classic Malaysian dishes.

At Eat and Cook, Lee and Soh present ingredient-driven tasting menus that expand the possibilities of Malaysian cooking. In keeping with the omakase tradition, the menu changes daily according to the availability and quality of local produce. While honouring authentic Malaysian flavours, each dish is distinguished by the chefs' technical mastery, creative ambition and deep respect for their culinary heritage.

William Drew, Director of Content for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "As the winner of the American Express One To Watch Award 2022, Eat and Cook is recognised for its refined cooking techniques, surprising combinations and creative execution. Its owners are creating a new identity for modern Malaysian cuisine."

Acknowledging the award, Chef Lee says: "On behalf of the Eat and Cook team, we are honoured to receive this award. It's a validation of the hard work we've put in over the last year and of our commitment to elevating Malaysian cuisine. This award will inspire us to continue our mission to bring the Malaysian dining experience to the next level."

Hannah Kelly, Vice President of Strategic Dining Partnerships and Benefits for American Express, says: "The success of Eat and Cook embodies the ingenuity and tenacity of those in the restaurant industry and American Express is proud to stand behind this international community."

The achievements of Eat and Cook's inspiring chefs will be celebrated as part of the ceremony for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2022 on 29th March, which will be broadcast to a global audience via Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Facebook and the 50 Best Restaurants TV YouTube channel.

Jasmine Food Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Jasmine Food), Malaysia's leading rice brand and 17th time Reader's Digest's Trusted Brand award holder, recently took part in MAGGI Sah Malaysia campaign that successfully raised 50,000 MAGGI meal kits for B40 communities across Malaysia. The meal kits include essential food items distributed to vulnerable households, as part of Nestlé Malaysia's ongoing commitment to support Malaysians throughout the ongoing pandemic.

Jasmine Food contributed 33,000 packs of rice supplies to complement part of the 50,000 MAGGI meal kits distributed. Each MAGGI meal kit contains Jasmine rice, MAGGI 2-Minute Noodles and MAGGI recipe mixes. Through this initiative, both Jasmine Food and NESTLE hope to help the B40 community to prepare affordable, tasty, and balanced homecooked meals.

Food insecurity has been rising for B40 households due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and economic hardship, even more so after the recent floods in December making this initiative crucial.

The MAGGI meal kits were distributed in partnership with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Empire Project, a non-governmental organisation that aids the homeless, and Uncle Kentang, who runs various community initiatives – assisting the poor and needy through food aid and transport service.

According to Lim Swee Keat, Chief Executive Officer of Jasmine Food Corporation Sdn. Bhd., "Supporting initiatives like the MAGGI meal kit distribution is synonymous with the company's commitment as one of Asia's most Trusted Brands. At Jasmine Food, we know how important it is to be a reliable community partner. Our customers trust our brand for the quality of our products, as well as our integrity and social responsibility. Therefore, we are committed to supporting initiatives that can make a difference for those in need, especially after the sudden floods."

As the market leader in Malaysia's rice industry, Jasmine Food has delivered high-grade, premium varieties of white and fragrant rice for decades. The brand also partners regularly with organizations to improve lives in the community, such as the National Blood Donation Centre, National Diabetic Association, Institute Jantung Negara, Tung Shin Hospital, and recently, MAGGI Sah Malaysia meal kits distribution.

According to Geetha Balakrishna, Business Executive Officer, FOOD, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, "We appreciate Jasmine Food's contribution to the MAGGI meal kits and we are grateful to be able to continue with this meaningful initiative that we kickstarted last year – to support families in need, in creating affordable, tasty homecooked meals – with the right portion of protein and vegetables added to achieve a balanced serving. Whilst we know that the road to recovery from the ongoing pandemic will not be easy, we remain committed to lending a helping hand – with more families and households needing assistance from prolonged lockdowns and the re-emergence of COVID-19 cases."

Founded in 1960, Jasmine Food Corporation, a subsidiary of Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS), is a leader in the distribution and marketing of the rice industry in Malaysia with numerous accolades under the belt. Jasmine Food distributes imported and local rice products through a network of dealers, hypermarkets, supermarkets, minimarkets, and sundry shops.

Although Malaysia is a relatively small country, it's renowned as the hometown of many highly talented professional actors. You probably wonder who appears in the list of the most famous male actors from this country. Well, here's a ranking of some of Malaysia's best-known male kings of the silver screen.

Generally, some of Malaysia's best actors are picked from the entertainment. Others are better known for their superb skills on the stage. Many are famous on the world stage. Yes, not only have they captured the hearts of fans locally, but they have also taken the hearts of lovers of films worldwide.

First on the list of top Malaysian actors is Henry Ewan Golding (in photo). The renowned actor was born on 5th February 1987. He was born in Betong, Sarawak area, Malaysia. This is a vastly talented actor, as well as a model, traveler, and TV host. Golding first stepped onto the major world stage courtesy of the blockbuster movie filmCrazy Rich Asians. The film's runaway success catapulted Golding onto the spot as one of Malaysia's most famous film stars. Golding later went on to do other terrific projects, including The Gentleman, Last Christmas, and A Simple Favour.

Aeril Zafrel: Aeril Zafrel was born Batu Pahat on 2nd December 1988. The actor's real name is Suhairil bin Sunari. Zafrel is a renowned actor and movie director who became famous in the industry simply by excelling in local projects. Zafrel's first-ever moie was known as Birkan Cinta Tersenyum Lagi. Zafrel became part of the cast in the 2010 movie Aku Tak Bodoh, which was a remake of the successful film Not Stupid Too. Later on, the actor had more significant projects coming along; he did many TV shows and directed several movies. He even received the most coveted role in Holywood's Budak Pailang movie in 2013. These exploits certainly made Zafrel earn accolades as one of Malaysia's best of the best film personalities.

Fattah Amin: Fattah Amin was born in September, 1990 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The talented artist is not merely an actor; he's a renowned singer, model, and TV host. Among the singer-actor's first singles was Cinta Padamu Sumpah Aku. Amin's debut movie was known as Maninsya Cinta Di Cappadoccia. Amin eventually proved to be among the most talented Malaysian male actors. He achieved this distinction after appearing on several TV shows. Among these shows was the successful Her Seorang Cinderella; while preparing this movie, Amin met his beautiful wife, Fazura.

Awal Ashaari: Awal Ashaari was born on 6th August 1981 in the Kampung Baru area of the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Awal kicked off his career as a fledgling anchor starring in the news broadcasting field. He also graced the Malaysian idol competition. In retrospect, Awal's decision to attend the audition for the Malaysian Idol Competition turned out to be the most brilliant move that hoisted his fortune to great heights. Awal went on to do several mega projects touching on various TV shows and films. He also became a successful model and reality TV host. He made his premiere film appearance in the movie Diva (2007) and the successful drama series Seribu Erti. Awal earned the praises of his audience, becoming one of the most sought-after male actors.

Syafiq Kyle: Syafiq Kyle is well-known as one of the most prominent Malaysian actors of the recent decades. Kyle was born on 24th June 1992 in Kuala Lumpur. When he earned the second spot in the Hero Remaja competition, Kyle's kicked off a successful career in the TV and film industries. Some of Kyle's first ever projects in these fields were Tasbih Putih, Langsuir, Pusaka and Ipaku Diva. Kyle received many nominations for his excellent acting prowess; indeed, some of these nominations won him various awards and titles.

Aaron Aziz: Aaron Aziz was born on 23rd February 1976 in the Tampines region of Singapore. While Aziz may have started out as an actor, he later made a big name in the field of TV show-hosting and the Malaysian film industry as a whole. Aaron Aziz later received the highly coveted Darjah Kebesaran Mahkota award for his starring role in the Malay film industry in 2017. Aziz had many more awards nominations coming his way through the years. These made him earn a place as one of Malaysia's best male actors.

Whenever you visit Malaysia you'll likely feel as if you're home; it doesn't matter what nation or continent you come from- you can always count on Malaysian hospitality. But there's more; whenever you visit this Asian country, you can enjoy the country's rich heritage, visit many breathtaking places and enjoy delicious food. You won't find anything like this elsewhere- and the best is yet to come.

Have you ever enjoyed a virtual movie night with friends and family on the flanks? There's a long list of iconic Malaysian movies that will undoubtedly be worth your while. Many of these tackle historical events that most people can easily identify with. Let's find out:

Sergeant Hassan: This movie stars the iconic actor P Ramlee. The film is set back in the World War 2 era. In the plot, you'll follow one Hassan, a civilian who dreams of being a part of the Malay Regiment. But his father and brother have other plans. Undeterred, Hassan is determined to prove his close family wrong- the young man escapes and joins the army. He works extra hard and eventually earns the coveted title, becoming a Sergeant in the Malaysian army.

Pulang: The movie, Pulang is generally inspired by a true story. This is one movie that has gradually caught the attention of many fans. It's a film that carries fans to a heart-wrenching adventure featuring love, family, and sacrifice. We have to fast-forward and move to 61 years later. At this point, a certain young man happens to discover his grandfather's fate. The grandfather had earlier promised the grandmother that he would return home after sailing far away to seek a hidden fortune. As soon as the young man hears about the incredible nostalgic tales of great fortune, he decides to go on a relentless search for his grandfather. He doesn't rest until the mission is accomplished.

Hati Malaya (1957): In this movie, you can follow the adventure of four Malaysians who receive an assignment to curate a picture book; the book graphically depicts the momentous events of 1957. As they proceed, the young men soon find themselves thrust deep into these events; they plunge into the moments and experience of the characters; they do this while engrossed in discovering the true meaning of national independence.

Ola Bola: Many agree that soccer has its charm; it brings people together. Consider Ola Bola. The young man is intrigued by the Malaysia national football team's series of victories in the 1980's decades. Ola Bola, the inspiring movie, takes fans through a series of events marked by flashbacks. The story unfolds through a reporter's perspective and a series of flashbacks. The action depicts the events that characterized Malaysia's preparation for the 1980 Olympic games. The Olympics makes everyone set aside their differences. The momentous event reaches a climax when a single goal unites the entire team and nation.

The Big Durian (2003): This was the first-ever Malaysian movie to be shown at the famous Sundance Film Festival. The Big Durian, directed by Amir Muhammad, initially generated a mixture of controversy and acclaim. This is a most daring docudrama. The film documents the events that occurred on the night of 18th October 1987. At that time, a rifle-toting soldier went amok, running around the Kuala Lumpur capital city; it caused a considerable panic all over the city. The Big Durian, a film that was quite ambitious in scope, gave Amir Muhammad a golden opportunity to highlight the raging divisions in the 1980s Malaysia.

The Journey (2014): The film, the Journey, made in 2014, is regarded as Malaysia's most-engrossing film. In photo. The film is directed by Keng Guan Chiu. This movie features the clash that occurred between a traditional patriarch and one of his daughters. The daughter decides to get married to a Caucasian husband, and the father is greatly displeased.

Notwithstanding, the couple makes a long road trip in order to deliver the wedding invitations. It doesn't matter that the fiancé does this with a measure of reluctance. But while still on the way, the romantic couple discovers a much-surprising bond that helps them overcome the raging racial, social, cultural, and linguistic differences. The Journey is a film that promotes bonhomie and enhances mutual understanding and multiculturalism. It's an intimate movie that represents the uplifting celebration of both similarities and differences.