The Chinese New Year was celebrated in style when three lions performed on the 1st of February 2022 which was the first day of Chinese New Year. The local lion dance troupe performed acrobatic stunts by leaping and jumping off the poles at an area near the Lagoon pool. The lion dance is traditionally held to usher in good fortune and to chase away evil spirits. Its fundamental movements can be found in Chinese martial arts steps and it is commonly performed to a vigorous drum beat. The current style of lion dancing is high in entertainment value and visual appeal.
Guests of Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas especially children were thrilled by the stunts and the appearance of the God of Fortune was another highlight as he handed out fortune cookies. The lion dance troupe went around the entire resort giving everyone an up-close and personal view of their performances.
Meanwhile, the Resort also welcomes fine-dining veteran Fahdrul Abd Malek who has joined as the property’s new Executive Chef. In his new role, Chef Fahdrul will handle all culinary operations for the seaside property’s two dining venues, as well as contributing to the resort’s sustainability credentials by celebrating local produce and indigenous flavours.
Chef Fahdrul joins the resort with a wealth of experience in luxury hospitality. Most recently, he was Executive Head Chef at the Grand Dame of Penang, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, with previous roles at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur and Hilton Hanoi Opera in Vietnam. Passionate about traditional Malay cuisine (his personal favourites include Malaysian chicken curry and compressed rice with peanut sauce), he also specialises in Asian and continental cuisines, as well as fine dining.
At Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas Chef Fahdrul will be tasked with shaping the food philosophy and delivering a new menu strategy for the restaurant and bars to reflect the unique character of each outlet whilst bringing sustainability and seasonality to the fore. “Sourcing products from local fishermen and farmers are key to making delicious, seasonal food,” commented Chef Fahdrul. “I look forward to working with the rich bounty of the Desaru Coast as well as drawing on my 20 years in the industry to put my own distinctive culinary mark on the hotel’s menus.”
Christian Gerart, General Manager at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, said, “It is the perfect time to bring Chef Fahdrul on board. He understands the resort’s vision and our commitment to sustainability, and so is well placed to take our food offering to the next level. From dining at our signature seafood and grill Sea.Fire.Salt. to experiencing Turmeric and Observatory Bar, Anantara guests and residents can look forward to the most flavourful experience in every bite.”
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is located along a pristine 17-kilometre beachfront facing the South China Sea, in a new high-end resort development that offers a range of luxury accommodation nestled in lush tropical gardens. Desaru Coast is located in Johor and spans over 16 square kilometres. It is near Iskandar Malaysia and is easily accessible via a 45-minute drive from Malaysia’s Senai International Airport (JHB) and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally, visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru Coast by ferry, followed by a short drive.
