www.ipohecho.com.my HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIENDS IPOH IN IPOH echoechoYour Community Newspaper Serving the people of Ipoh, Chemor, Sg.Siput,Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Gopeng, ISSUE Kampar, Batu Gajah, Air Tawar, Sitiawan, Lumut and Teluk Intan. JERRY VANDERBILT FREE for collection from our office and selected outlets, on 1st & 16th of the month. 30 sen for delivery to your house by news 65 vendors within Perak. RM 1 prepaid postage for mailing within Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. JANUARY 1-15, 2009 PP 14252/10/2009(022651) INDULGENT DELIGHTS 2009 WISHING ALL READERS A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR MISS ECHO JANUARY Name: One of six delectable suites in Indulgence Boutique Hotel Amanda Fong Occupation: Julie Song has single-handedly put Ipoh on the culinary Student lifestyle map, winning yet another international Hobbies: recognition for Most Innovative F&B Personality from Travelling HAPA, Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2008-2010 Reading The quality I Regional Series. This will be the fourth international admire most: recognition for excellence that has made her passion, Loyalty Indulgence Restaurant and Living synonymous with fine dining and living not only in Ipoh but throughout Malaysia. (More on page 2). 2 IPOH ECHO January 1 - 15, 2009 Your Community Newspaper INDULGENCE RESTAURANT AND LIVING - IPOH’S VERY OWN Hobby turned Passion or Julie, it all began as Julie’s passion for fine to Sunday, Julie tested the Budaya, Julie brought her Fa hobby for cooking cuisine continued una- market. magic touch in decorating that turned into an all- bated while in University When the response to the fore and created a consuming passion, a love in London where she was positive, Julie reno- whimsical ambiance com- affair of thirteen years would use every opportu- vated the whole shop in bining eclectic touches that has seen her small nity to dine in exclusive August that year and a new with comfort and luxury. cafe in Canning Gardens restaurants and observing fuller menu with proper Nooks and corners lend in- evolve into the “grande the highly synchronised main courses was created. timacy to cosy tete a tetes dame” holding court on dance of food service and The restaurant has since while curtains delineate Jalan Raja DiHilir, that fine dining. “Never in my gone from strength to spaces for some measure of is Indulgence today. wildest dreams then did I strength. In February 2000, privacy. “It started with day imagine that I would end it expanded into two shop Numerous editorials in trips to KL with close up as chef and owner of lots with the addition of a Millionaire Asia, Flavours, girlfriends to sample the a precious jewel that is Jazz Room and three pri- Cuisine, The New Straits top restaurants and trips Indulgence today.” vate dining rooms. Private Times, The Star, and The abroad to taste the best parties and big functions Edge lauded Indulgence that the West had to offer,” CAFE IN CANNING became the mainstay of and its food. And so began Julie said as she looked GARDENS the business and soon Julie Julie’s journey towards in- back with nostalgia. “Then was catering for some very ternational stardom, bring- we moved from tasting After a long and futile important functions in- ing recognition and visitors other chefs’ cooking to do- search for decent west- deed. to Ipoh. ing it ourselves and began ern food in Ipoh, the kind sharing pot-luck lunches in of wholesome, honest, CATERING FOR ENTREPRENEUR OF one another’s houses. My “unMalaysianised” fine SPECIAL FUNCTIONS THE YEAR All dressed up for a banquet mother was a great cook cusine that she had been and loved baking and it exposed to, Julie opened Some functions of October, 30, 2003 Thailand), Best Innovative but at certain peak seasons became a natural for me Indulgence Cafe in May note included the occa- marked a very important F&B Personality and 7 there is a waiting list. It has to follow in her footsteps. 1996. Utilising half the sion when the ambassa- day in Julie’s life when she Finalist Awards 2008- a small but growing fan Even in my school days I shop and serving only dors of European countries was awarded a Platinum 2010. club of its own with people was baking cakes and shar- cakes, good coffee, sand- had an audience with the award from World Asia coming from Europe and ing them with my class- wiches and some snacks, Sultan at the Royal Palace. Publishing for Excellence in BOUTIQUE HOTEL the USA, guests who come mates regularly”. opening from Thursday Indulgence catered a five- Hospitality: Entrepreneur INDULGENCE to explore Ipoh and its sur- course lunch after the of the Year 2003-2004. rounds. ambassadors presented This award recognises ded- Julie is one hospital- Indulgence Restaurant their credentials. Another ication in the hospitality ity entrepreneur who does and Living, Ipoh, was fea- grand affair was the field and attainment of the not rest on her laurels. In tured recently in a half hour Cartier special dinner at highest standards in which- November 2007 Boutique show on Astro Awani in a private mansion in Ipoh ever category nominated. Hotel – Indulgence Living October 2008 as “Destinasi where Julie provided a World Asia Publishing opened its doors to much Malaysia’. Further inter- special four-course menu. embarked on a Hospitality local curiosity and scepti- national publicity is on In April 2002, Oxbridge Asia’s Personalities Book – cism. “How will she sur- the cards, bringing with it held their annual dinner a coffee table book named vive with the rates she’s more exposure for Ipoh, a at the Casuarina Hotel ‘The Pinnacle’ which fea- charging? The Ipoh market welcome development for and Indulgence provided tured the industry’s se- will never support such ex- what has always been con- the catering at the banquet lected creme de la creme of travagance!” the naysay- sidered a sleepy backwater room. These are just some hospitality who have made ers were whispering with between the vibrant attrac- of the special outside ca- significant contributions in malice. With two themed tions of KL and Penang. tering that Julie excels in. their respective fields. Julie suites and four themed Tourism officials need was nominated as one of deluxe rooms, another of to take note of the contri- NEW PREMISES the most outstanding indi- Julie’s dreams turned into bution being made by Julie viduals and was featured in reality. A lot of thought Song as she has single- As the demand for this inaugural edition. and pleasure went into cre- handedly put Ipoh on the her catering grew, more ating her rooms, each one international culinary and and more companies were OTHER AWARDS a different mood and am- lifestyle map. Ipohites too clamouring for space to biance, reflecting not just should be proud of their host their events and Julie Soon after, recognition the hospitality aspect but own home-grown talent. began looking for bigger came fast and furiously also creating a lifestyle for Her strap-line in advertise- and better premises. The for Julie: Best Western her guests. ments and her web site says new Indulgence Restaurant Cuisine Chef Personality Now a year later, she is it all: and Living opened in 2005-2006, Best Western proving her critics wrong. “Indulgence Restaurant November, 17, 2005. Cuisine Restaurant 2006- Not only does Indulgence and Living will always be Taking over an old 2007, culminating in Boutique Hotel get the Ipoh’s very own”. mansion on Jalan Raja Regional Series (Malaysia, room rates of RM420++ SFCK Julie with latest award DiHilir opposite the Taman Singapore, Indonesia and and RM620++ it charges Your Community Newspaper IPOH ECHO January 1 - 15, 2009 3 www.ipohecho.com.my IPOH From the Editor’s Desk echoYour Community Newspaper HOW WILL IPOH FARE IN 2009 What some industrial players have to say about Ipoh’s economy ince September 2008 time of uncertainty? A major consumer on a 6-day week when it for use in the paper in- It is located at Kg Acheh, Sthe world has been Ipoh Echo did a sur- electronic factory is as was all-year-round previ- dustry. Business Manager Lumut. trying hard to gauge vey of the local industrial pessimistic. Sales of their ously. (Operations), Lam Cheong “A survey done by the the extent of the credit sector to better appreciate products during this fes- Despite the gloom Fatt, confirmed that work FMM in November has crunch in America and the problem. Needless to tive season will determine there is a silver lining. The on the new factory is cur- changed rather drastically how it has affected the say, the first to suffer the its future. If sales drop, the General Manager of Top rently underway. “Voith’s in December. Hence we American public. The aftershocks are those in the forecast beyond the next Glove, Tasek, K.Nagapen, operations are semi-auto- will be monitoring the sit- United States is the larg- electrical and electronic six months will be revised said that their order book mated. We’ll require an uation closely” added Gan. est market economy in the sub-sectors. by between 30 to 50 per was “normal for the next additional 100 workers for His sentiment is shared by world and is Malaysia’s cent. Although year-end 12 months” and their Meru the expansion,” he said. David Ho of Hovid Bhd biggest trading part- BUSINESS DOWN orders are traditionally Klang facility was “ex- and Carotech Bhd. “The ner. Whenever America slow, one of its sub-con- panding”. O & G SECTOR next two quarters will be sneezes other nations will A quick check with tractors in Bercham has Top Glove manufac- tough and demand for jump, literally.