MOTORINO PIZZERIA, SKY AVENUE RESORTS WORLD GENTING

Sky Avenue Resorts World Genting has many restaurants and offers visitors different types of delicious food. You will never go hungry when you visit Sky Avenue. Last week my children and I had our lunch at Motorino Pizzeria. We had the privilege to meet the Belgian-Italian born chef Mathieu Palombino who is the owner of this restaurant. This Brooklyn and East Village pizza place has New York Times food writers hailing it as the best authentic Neopolitan Italian pizza restaurant in New York. These delicious pizzas are made from the Neapoliton-style pizzas from wood ovens imported from Italy. Motorino has three outlets in New York, two in Hong Kong and Manila, one in Singapore and one at Sky Avenue, Malaysia. 

The oven that was imported from Italy is very hot, about 800 - 900 degrees Fahrenheit and pizzas are cooked in 60 - 90 seconds. There is a glass window for visitors to see how the pizzas were being made.

Mathieu Palombino, the owner of Motorino Pizza

Mathieu Palombino explained that all the Motorino pizzas were freshly baked on wood and used the same main ingredients such as tomato paste and olive oil which was flown in from Italy. These Neapolitan pizzas are not crispy pizza crust, they are soft and chewy due to a specific finely milled pure wheat flour with no additives.

These Neapolitan pizzas are 12 inches in diameter, just nice for 1 person. If you are a light eater, you can share it with another person. 

My children and I tried Motorino's Antipasti and pizzas. We loved all the delicious food here. The first dish we tried was the Roasted Chicken Wings.

Roasted Chicken Wings had lemon, mint, chilli flakes and onions - 3 chicken wings for RM 20. These chicken wings were very delicious with the lemon and mint taste. This was my daughter's favorite dish. The chicken wings were nicely marinated and very delicious. I would definitely come back for more.

Motorino Meatballs braised in tomato sauce, pecorino cheese and basil leaves - 3 chicken meatballs for RM 25.  These meatballs were very soft and delicious. 

 Margherita Pizza is made with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, pecorino cheese and extra virgin olive oil. This is suitable for those who love their pizzas without meat - RM 52.

Pepperoni Pizza  is beef pepperoni with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, extra virgin olive oil, fresh chillis, sea salt and pecorino cheese. This was my son's favorite pizza because he loves pepperoni. I had to take away the fresh chillis before giving it to him because the chillis was really hot and spicy - RM 63.

Amatriciana Pizza is also very delicious , made with chicken sausage (which tasted more like minced meat), scallion, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pecorino cheese and fresh chillis - RM 53. 

Motorino also sells Dolci, Gelato for dessert. Different types of drinks such as wine,beer, soft drinks, fresh juice, coffee, tea and smoothies are available.

For more information, visit  their Facebook or Website. 

Glitz and Glamour Fashion Show at Resorts World Genting

Sky Avenue at Resorts World Genting is a stylish lifestyle mall and has lots of exciting events happening here since its opening. Sky Avenue is among Resorts World Genting's newest offerings that reflect its new phase of growth—other developments including the opening of the state-of-the-art Awana Skyway cable car system. These new attractions are part of the Genting Integrated Tourism Plan to transform itself and solidify its position in the global hospitality and tourism market. The developments bear testimony to the resort's ability to evolve and to create new and exciting attractions. With SkyAvenue in place, the resort now delivers more options than ever before in terms of lifestyle shopping, entertainment and F&B.

The retail tenants that have opened for business at the mall include such brands as Uniqlo, Sephora, H&M, Padini Concept Store, Giordano, Swarovski, Kiehl's, Timberland, Adidas Originals, Austin Reed, Lovisa, Esprit, DC Comics Super Heroes, Mood Board, L'Occitane, Bonia, Muse by Watson, Puma, and Samsung.

My children and I had the privilege to see the latest fashion show of jewellery and timepiece last Saturday.

Featuring the latest collections of all the jewellery and timepiece tenants at SkyAvenue, today's fashion show at Level 3 of the mall, is the perfect platform for beautiful people to mingle and be seen.

Celebrities, renowned brands, cocktail session and lucky draw prizes all come into play at this event that sees former Miss Malaysia Nadia Heng emceeing. The participating brands are Thomas Sabo, Tissot, Lazo Diamond, Calvin Klein and Timekeeper, while makeup is by Shizens, and apparels are by Esprit and G2000.

There are lots of lucky draw prizes for guests to be won including hotel stay at Resorts World Langkawi and Hotel on the Park, Starbucks tumbler and food vouchers from Coffee Terrace and Motorino. Motorino is among SkyAvenue's latest list of tenants which is also a famous international F&B brand. My daughter and I were very lucky to win the lucky draw prizes.

Thomas Ng, Resorts World Genting's Senior Vice President of Theme Park & Tenancy says, “The resort sees the beginning of a new chapter with SkyAvenue, its first full-fledged lifestyle mall—and this new era is one that is filled with many exciting programmes and events. Today's fashion show is a just a glimpse of more to come.”

Ng says the mall is family-oriented and caters to people from all walks of life. “Whether you are here for business or leisure, you will find many things that meet your needs and fulfil your desires. There is variety and vibrancy; this is where you get to follow the latest lifestyle trends, engage in networking, indulge in amazing F&B, and enjoy a sense of togetherness with family and friends,” he adds.

Latest collections in the limelight

Among the latest collections are G2000's Autumn collection and Esprit's Winter collection. The main highlights is Thomas Sabo's new jewellery statement for Autumn/Winter 2017 that connects two central themes: yearning for the faraway and love of the familiar. Avant garde looks, filigree diamond jewellery, elegant sterling silver essentials, and items of jewellery that can be personalised with engravings. The pretty and handsome professional models walked down the runway showing the latest jewellery and timepiece collections.

The collections for 2017 are namely Together, Essentials, Royalty, Mini Chakras, Tree of Love, and Rebel at Heart. There are also Power necklaces and bracelets inspired by Buddhist Mala prayer beads.

The new designs from Calvin Klein are equally impressive, from CK Boost to CK Chic to CK City—the last comprising two distinctive sets. CK Boost is spiritual, bold, symmetric and masculine; the timepiece of stainless steel and black PVD combination comprising a pendant, three bracelets, cufflinks and ring.

CK Chic is a sublime eye-catcher and a beauty in simplicity; finished with a mirror, black or white dial, and satin strap or stainless steel bangle. CK City for men, on the other hand, is timeless and iconic. Available in black, silver or grey dial, it is paired with stainless steel, pink gold PVD, brushed PVD grey or PVD coffee face—coupled with a classic black leather strap.

Tissot's new designs are breathtakingly lovely as well. There's Tissot Chrono XL Quartz with stainless steel bracelet; it is characterised by a big case that has a diametre of 45mm. For a sporty look, opt for Tissot's T-Touch Expert Solar, a water-resistant timepiece that comes complete with titanium, PVD coating and sapphire crystal.

For ladies, Tissot's T-Wave offers the simplicity of a pure dial with a satin effect. Or they can opt for a touch of design with a discreet yet elegant ribbon complete with a mother-of-pearl or satin face. There are also two designs for the Chemin des Tourelles collection—for him and her.

Charriol's new collections for Baselworld 2017 are as impressive as the other timepieces, jewellery and accessories by the Swiss brand. Two models with gemstones take St Tropez glamour to new heights—a green Tsavorite variant and an opulent piece set with white sapphire.

The greenlight variant is set with lovely Tsavorite stones on the bezel and lugs. In 35mm size, the stones certainly make a luxurious statement, offset by the silvery tones of the stainless steel twisted cable strap that makes up Charriol's signature motif. The St Tropez collection is a glamorous feminine collection inspired by the chic city of Paris.

  
The world of Pandora continues to woo us—this time with its breathtaking designs like the Cascading Glamour Chandelier earrings that highlight sterling silver and zirconic stones. Inspired by Pandora Heart, a new Hearts of Pandora series has been introduced, featuring new band rings in sterling silver, Pandora rose and 14K gold. There's also Pandora's Moment Open Bangle, a versatile carrier in a contemporary form in a choice of interchangeable caps—minimalist polished or glittering pave.

A photo of RWG influencers posing like models.

For more information, call +603 2718 1118 or visit www.rwgenting.com

Awana Bio Park Nature Trails At Resorts World Genting

This year marks the 47th birthday of Resorts World Genting, reaching back to the time when the original Highlands Hotel opened in 1971. That might seem like a long time ago, but the mountain top that Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong fashioned into a world-class entertainment city is far, far older. About 130 million years old, to be exact; a rainforest that still holds memories from when dinosaurs ruled the earth and remains a pristine cauldron of unique flora and fauna. This rich biodiversity is rightfully treasured and nurtured by Resorts World Genting, and now guests can explore even more of this ecological wonder with the introduction of three new trails at the Awana Bio Park.

If you ever feel like wanting to go back to nature, you can consider going to Awana Bio Park at Resorts World Genting. Nature lovers can explore even more of this ecological wonder with the introduction of three new trails as well as pitcher plants and bamboo conservation projects at the Awana Bio Park, a mere 15 minutes walk from Awana Hotel, the five-star hotel which boasts a sprawling 18-hole golf course, views of a breathtaking mountain range, a heated swimming pool and various sports facilities. My children and I had a great adventure doing some bird watching activity, playing games and walking at the trails to see beautiful plants, birds and animals.

This was the first time my children and I went bird watching. A few months back, my son asked for a binoculars and he was so happy he could use it here. We saw about 4 different species of birds that day.

Introduced in 2017 as the Fashion Forest, the Awana Bio Park is a collaboration between nature consultancy Treks and Resorts World Genting. It offers guests that chance to step into the fresh air and dappled shade of the Mount Ulu Kali’s rainforest, demystifying it through the integrated use of social media and digital technology. Propelled by Eddie Chan and Pat Ang from Treks, Awana Bio Park was introduced with five experiences designed to stimulate and invigorate, perfect for a journey of self-discovery or corporate team-building. The careful eyes and sharp ears of the Treks team will point out rare trees, exotic birds and unusual species tucked away in the shadows of the jungle, while incorporating modern technology to make the experience accessible and fun. This month, three new trails will join the list of experiences available at Awana Bio Park.

Mr. Eddie Chan gave bloggers a briefing before we explored Awana Bio Park.

Mr. Henry Goh explaining to my kids which bird they just saw flying in the sky.

The Awana Bio Park offers guests a chance to step into the fresh air and dappled shade of the Mount Ulu Kali’s rainforest, demystifying it through the integrated use of social media and digital technology. 

If you stay at the First World Hotel, you can take the cable car ride down to Awana Hotel. This was my second time taking this cable car ride at Resorts World Genting and my kids and I enjoyed the scenic view very much.

For dinner, we ate pizza and spaghetti at Motorino Pizzeria, Sky Avenue. To read more about Motorino Pizzeria, read my earlier review HERE.

After dinner, we went to RedTail Bar by Zouk to chill out and play games. This is a great place for leisure and to relax.

  

Early next morning, we took the cable car down to Awana Bio Park for more 'back to nature' adventures. 

Eddie explained that each trail has been designed to highlight the special aspects of the mountain forests of Genting Highlands – a unique ecosystem shaped by terrain and weather located between 3,000-6,000 feet (920-1,830 metres) above sea level. The first is the new Conservation Trail, a 800m loop that focuses on the flora of the Upper Dipterocarp Forest (750-1,200 metres above sea level), a biome rich in pitcher plants, montane bamboo, rattans, wild orchids and black bat lilies, all growing under the shade of towering Strangler Fig and montane timber trees. This particular trail will also highlight the conservation efforts dedicated to maintaining these primeval species, as well as the natural, cultural and practical usage of the plants.

The Herb Forest Trail and Biodiversity Trail also focus on the Upper Dipterocarp Forest biome, taking a longer route (1.8km and 2.7km, respectively) to see even more of Mount Ulu Kali’s ancient rainforests. While the trained guides will always point out spots of interest, specific specimens are now also highlighted with NFC tags that can be scanned with smart devices to glean additional information for the curious. In the Herb Forest Trail, that could include the thick walls of wild bamboo grooves or the medicinal properties of forest herbs scattered along the jungle floor. The longer Biodiversity Trail is the most picturesque, an undulating trek that descends into a valley and requires the crossing of a cascading stream, dominated by the skyward reach of towering montane timber trees.

The three new trails join the current selection of five adventures to be had in the jungles of Genting Highlands, all of which unveil different facets of the forest. Wifi Forest with Shinrin Yoku is an immersive experience combining the Shinrin Yoku concept of contemplative forest appreciation from Japan with strategic use of smartphone apps to reveal the rich biodiversity of the rainforest. The Treks Adventure Experience takes things a little more in the direction of courage – abseiling down a 24m boarded slope placed at a 55-degree angle to appreciate the jungle. As twilight descends, the brave and the inquisitive can venture out into the dark to encounter nocturnal animals with Trek’s Steven Wong over a Night Herping session. And for those who prefer the comfort of light, the Sunset Watch at The English Garden is a perfect compromise between day and night, indulging in the spectacle of the sun setting over the pristine rainforest of Genting Highlands. 

This is also a perfect place for team building and games. We played a game similar to Monopoly and Scrabbles. We were given cards with alphabets and each team needed to form words related to nature. If we need another alphabet, we would need to buy it with the money given. This was a fun and educational activity where we really had to think hard to win. 

In addition to the activities designed by Trek, Resorts World Genting is also introducing a Pitcher Plants Conservation Project and a Bamboo Conservation Project at Awana Bio Park. The project will include participation from other organisations like Universiti Malaya, Birdlife and the Malaysian Nature Society for the study of forest rodents and wildlife, as well as partnering with Semai Orang Asli to promote indigenous craftwork and raise awareness of the role of bamboo in traditional food making.

Pitcher plant 

This is the best place to get fresh air and go back to nature while learning more about the rainforest, plants, birds, insects, animals and more. Bring your family here to explore and be adventurous. 

All trails are conducted by specialist guides from Treks and are by appointment only, with the fees being RM75 per person for the Conservation Trail, RM95 per person for the Herb Forest and RM135 per person for the Biodiversity Trail. A minimum group of 3 is required for each trail. For bookings, please contact Trek Events at +6013 399 3667 or email info@treks.events. For enquiries on the Bamboo Conservation Project, please contact 013- 3993667 (TREKS Eddie).

A group photo with my blogger friends and family