Blogging has given me the chance to try many new things – from travelling to different cities, to meeting many amazing people. Albeit one of the things that I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the chance is to bring people on a food tour.

When I was in Resorts World Genting in April, I discussed it with the folks in charge. They were quite excited about the idea of bringing my readers to try the best restaurants in Genting, but it was only when they confirmed the news a month ago – then it struck me that the food tour was finally happening.

Last month, I brought a group of 33 people to Genting for the food tour and I am happy to report that it was a very fruitful trip. Genting, to me, is my second home, and I was really excited to show everyone around. Read more to find out what we did!

Also, we might be doing a second food marathon to Genting in September. For those of you who are keen to join me, please leave a comment (using a valid email address) at the end of the post so that I can contact you when we have more details.

3D2N Genting Food Tour, here we go!

After arriving in Genting, we had a few hours to spare before our dinner at Genting Palace. Some of us took a quick nap in the room, while others decided to explore the area near First World Hotel, where we were staying.

When it was time for dinner, it was my first test for being a tour guide. To sum it up: it was not an easy task. One of the challenges was to make sure that everyone was present (and on time). Not to mention that I had to remember so many new names and faces. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it became easier along the way.

Our first “official” meal was at Genting Palace (2nd Floor, Maxims Genting Hotel Tel: +603 6101 1118) – one of my favourite restaurants in Genting. The chef prepared a scrumptious eight-course dinner, which began with a special four variety Jiang Nan platter and ended with a toothsome mango mochi. In between came double-boiled chicken soup with ginseng, crispy village chicken, steamed red snapper, and pan-fried prawns braised baby abalone.

The next day, we went to Resort Hotel for breakfast. The best thing about eating here is having the luxury of savouring two distinctly different cuisines under one roof – you can have the international feast at Resort Cafe where they serve a wide selection of cold and hot dishes; and at Kampong Cafe, there is a good mix of muslim and Indian food. One thing you cannot miss though, is the signature teh tarik.

Even though this was a food tour, it was impossible to eat nonstop for the whole day, so after a heavy brunch at Resort Cafe – where we had international brunch buffet – it was time for us to play! Some of the folks spent a day at the magical theme park, while the rest went to visit the strawberry farm near the lower skyway.

I am sure many of you are familiar with the strawberry farm since I have blogged about it during my previous visit.

But do you know that they have recently opened a new lavender garden just beside the strawberry farm?

To be surrounded by lush greenery, the accessibility of fresh berries and the scent of aromatic lavender lingering in the air is enough reason for you to make a day trip down to this beautiful garden. Everyone had so much fun taking photos, and of course, you must try the chicken wings coated in strawberry sauce when you are there.

After an adventurous day, we had international buffet dinner at Coffee Terrace (Lobby Flour Maxims Genting Tel: +603 6101 1118 Ext. 58267). During the previous trip, we were there for breakfast, so I was looking forward to sampling the sumptuous spread for dinner.

Coffee Terrace is one of my favourite to-go places whenever I am in Genting. Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they have a huge variety of food. Trust me, you would be spoilt for choices – char kway teow, dim sum, roasted meat, sushi, sashimi, and desserts. YUM!

Catching Fang Da Tong’s concert was another highlight of our trip. Everyone was really excited to head to the Arena of Stars to listen to Khalil Fong.

This was my first time to the Arena of Stars and I am really impressed; it is an amazing venue for world-class concerts. Before this, I’ve always wondered how it looked like inside, and when I stepped into the arena, I was blown away by the atmosphere.

Besides Khalil Fong, big names like Fish Leong and The Twins also held their concerts here earlier in the year. And if you are a fan of Jam Hsiao, you must catch his ‘World Tour 2012 Live Concert’ at Arena of Stars on 1st Sep 2012. I heard that the tickets are selling fast, so make sure you apply for leave and spend a weekend with Jam Hsiao.

Throughout the three hours concert, Khalil belted out many popular songs. And that’s not all. The kind folks at Genting even arranged for us to meet up with him backstage after the concert!

For our last meal, we went back to my favourite Genting Palace to sample their dim sum offerings.

Genting Palace serves dim sum during lunch from Monday to Saturday. And on Sunday, they start dim sum service during breakfast.

Their custard buns here are to-die-for, you must try it when you are there for dim sum.

The chef’s signature baked mini egg tarts are also excellent. Even though I was full, I still managed to eat a few of them.

Besides dim sum, we also had the chance to sample RWG’s mooncakes. This year, the chefs have added four new creations that put a twist on the traditional mooncake – Snow Skin with Kiwi Fruit Paste, White Lotus Paste with Black Sesame Yolk, Sweet Corn Paste with Chestnut and White Lotus Paste with Ginseng Red Dates. For those of you who prefer the traditional mooncakes, RWG also offers the usual favourites such as Lotus Paste with Double Yolk and Red Bean Paste.

Be sure to get them when you are in Genting. The mooncakes are available from 15 July until 30 September 2012 at the kiosks at the following locations: Genting Palace, Maxims Genting Hotel, Lao Di Fang Entrance, Maxims Genting Hotel, Good Friends Restaurant, Highlands Hotel, Resort Hotel Lobby, Hainan Express, Theme Park Hotel, Hainan Kitchen, First World Hotel, Coach Café, First World Bus Terminal, and One Hub Wisma Genting.

The 3D2N Genting food tour went really well, and I hope that everyone had a good time. Other than theme park and casino, Genting has a lot more to offer; I definitely recommend it if you are planning for a weekend getaway. If you have never been there before, you must make a trip soon.

Do visit Resorts World Genting’s website for more information, and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions. See you in Genting!

Updated: The 3D2N Genting giveaway has closed. The winner is comment #172, congrats Penny! I will be sending you an email in a bit.

I had the chance to visit Resorts World Genting – the most popular tourist destination in Malaysia – and it was an eye opening experience as I learned many new things about Genting that I never knew before.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip because I went with Beatrice and Selene, who are great travelling companions. But most importantly, I felt like I was visiting my second home – Genting would always hold a special place in my heart because my family goes there every year for a getaway.

I remember the first time I was in Genting, and how everything felt so magical; the first time that I fell down because I was too excited at the outdoor theme park; the first time I took the cable car up to the mountain resort; the first ice cream that I ate in the cool weather – all the first time experiences that I had in Genting.

For many people, Genting is about the exciting rides at the magical outdoor theme park; the cold and nice weather; and the gaming and entertainment in the casino. It was the same for me, until I spent a weekend there with the girls. We discovered that Genting has a lot more to offer. So here’s my Guide on Things to do in Genting Highlands.

We are also giving away a 3D2N stay at Maxims Genting, details are at the end of the post. Good luck you guys!

Before you read the rest of my post, here’s a video trailer that Beatrice did for our adventure in Genting.

Genting, here we come!

We were starving after a five hours journey on the luxurious Transtar First Class Coach, and our first stop in Genting was Imperial Rama Restaurant (Level 2 Highlands Hotel, Tel: +603 6101 1118). For those who always go to Genting, I’m sure you are familiar with Imperial Rama Restaurant – one of the fine dining restaurants in Genting that specialises in authentic Thai-Chinese cuisine.

The chef arranged a 8 course meal for us and we had Mushroom with Truffle Oil and Vegtable Salad; Thai Crispy Fish Paste Cracker; Shark’s Fin Bone Soup; Steamed Marble Goby Fish; Wasabi and Salted Egg Yolk Prawns; Abalone with Black Truffle; Green Curry Chicken Served with Fried Rice; and Durian Tempura with Soursop.

Beatrice went crazy when the Mushroom Salad with Truffle Oil arrived (she’s a fan of anything-truffle), while Selene thoroughly enjoyed her Durian Tempura. With yummy food and good company, our Genting adventure was off to a great start!

After a scrumptious lunch, we went on a tour of the Maxims Hotel. Our host showed us all the different rooms in Maxims Genting, and guess what? We went to the Penthouse too!

“Wow! Thank you Genting for letting us stay in the Penthouse!” I said when we entered the apartment, which has five rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, gym, and a huge living room. Unfortunately, that trick didn’t work. But it wasn’t too bad as we got a very nice room for our 3D2N stay.

At the helipad where we got a bird’s eye view of the entire Genting.

The good people at Genting upgraded us to a suite and all we wanted to do was to stay in the hotel and enjoy all the facilities.

We stayed in the room until dinner. Beatrice and I were “working” on our blogs, while Selene was checking orders from her online shop Klarra.

After finishing our social media duties, it took us quite a while to prepare as we were going for a fine dining dinner at The Olive. Here’s a picture of Beatrice and Selene all dressed up! Heh.

The Olive – Genting’s fine dining Western restaurant – is definitely the place to go if you want a romantic dinner with your date. I was really looking forward to it because QiuQiu told me that she had a fantastic dinner there when she visited Genting last year.

On the menu, there’s a good selection of starters, main courses, and some delicious desserts to choose from. Luckily for us, we didn’t have to make the tough decision as our host ordered the signature items. Among the dishes that we tried at The Olive (Lobby Flour, Maxims Genting Tel: +603 6101 1118 Ext 59668), the highlights were the Mushroom Salad with Truffle, Steak, and Rack of Lamb.

When we were at The Olive for dinner, there was a special Whisky tasting event at the restaurant’s lounge. We were lucky to be there at the right time as we got a quick lesson on scotch by the Whisky Sommelier who flew in from Scotland. Genting organises a lot of such events, so there’s always something for you to do when you are up at the mountain resort.

Life is good when you get to see a show after a nice dinner. We had tickets to FREEZE – a magic show on ice at Genting International Showroom. What a spectacular show!

I’ll be honest. Initially I wasn’t keen to go for FREEZE as I thought it was just another boring show. Boy, was I wrong. I had a good time, and it was really awe-inspiring to see talented performers working hard for their trade.

Genting has always been known as a stage that hosts world-class shows and international artistes all year round. So make sure you catch one of the shows when you are there!

Even though I was really tired, I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about having breakfast at Coffee Terrace the next morning.

Coffee Terrace (Lobby Flour Maxims Genting Tel: +603 6101 1118 Ext. 58267) is my favourite breakfast spot in Genting. Their breakfast buffet is really awesome, and it’s only RM 36++! All you can eat for only less than SGD$20? Oh my god, how can anyone miss this?

During lunch and dinner dinner, they have six different concept kitchen serving Local, Baba Nyonya, Chinese, Western, Japanese, and Western Cuisines.

We were up early for the buffet breakfast not because I am a glutton, but because we were heading to Awana Genting for an adventure.

Located at mid-hill, Awana Genting is a premier 4-star golf resort surrounded by greenery. However, we were not there to play golf; our host from Genting had arranged for us to go hiking in the mountains. Yes, you read that right – hiking. Like most of you, I was surprised to know that you can actually go hiking at Genting.

While on the way to the start of the hiking trail, we passed by a long house and we were told that a lot of companies organise their retreats here.

There are lots of activities that are great for team building. So if your company is looking for a place to go for a retreat, do consider Awana Genting.

Halfway through the 1.8km hiking-trail, the girls were so terrified by the leeches that we had to turn back. It was really amusing because they were screaming non-stop while asking me to remove the leeches from their shoes.

After going back to Awana hotel, then I realised that there were two nasty leeches hiding inside my boots for a good twenty minutes. Ouch!

While the girls didn’t really enjoy it, I thought it was quite an experience. I mean, it’s not everyday that you get to go on a hike in Genting. As long as you are wearing the right gear, the hike should be a piece of cake.

Note: There is a shutter bus at half an hour interval from Genting to Awana (the journey is 20 minutes). Alternatively, you can get a cab for around RM20-30. For more information, do approach your hotel’s reception.

After the hike, we proceeded to Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm (No.1, Lot 3707, Jalan Jati 2, Bandar Gohtong Jaya, Tel: 603-6100 1121).

In Singapore, we only get to buy strawberries from the supermarket. But at Genting Strawberry Farm, you get to pick fresh strawberries!

And we also had strawberry juice, mushroom tempura, strawberry ice cream, and fried chicken coated with strawberry sauce.

We headed back to our hotel to change, before going for a therapeutic massage at M Spa & Fitness (Lobby Floor, Maxims Genting Hotel, Tel :603 – 6105 2692).

I did a 90-minute Balinese massage and I felt so good after that. It probably explains why I ate so much during the dinner at Genting Palace.

During this trip, we ate our way around Genting, and my favourite meal was at Genting Palace. From the outside, Genting Palace (2nd Floor, Maxims Genting Hotel Tel: +603 6101 1118) doesn’t look like much. Before the meal, I was even telling Beatrice that we shouldn’t expect too much. I had to take back my words after having a fabulous dinner.

We had a variation of starters; a bowl of Double-boiled Chicken & Ginseng Soup; Crispy Scallop & Banana with Peak Nest; Braised Spare Ribs with Red Vinasse Sauce; Stewed Fresh Water Prawn with Glass Noodle; Steamed Cod Fish Fillet; and Durian Mochi.

Everything was good, but the best dish was the Steamed Cod Fish Fillet. It was easily one of the best Cod I’ve ever had.

Besides the signature Cantonese dishes, Genting Palace also serves a good selection of vegetarian dishes, and they are popular for their dim sum offerings. If you are in Genting, you must go to Genting Palace and say hi to the chef for me.

By the time we got to First World after dinner, most of the shops were closed, so we didn’t get to shop around. You guys should definitely go shopping when you are at First World! Like they say, shopping is cheaper than a psychologist. Since you are already on a holiday, I reckon some retail therapy won’t hurt.

Before the trip, the girls were telling me that they wanted to catch a movie at the First World Theatre; we had a tight schedule so we also didn’t manage to watch a movie.

Anyway, we went to The Patio Bar & Lounge at First World for drinks. It had a terrific atmosphere with the live band belting out pop favourites. We had a CRAZY NIGHT there. It was so, so fun! What happens in Genting stays in Genting.

Sadly, our adventure was coming to an end. But it wasn’t that bad as we had a good breakfast at The Bakery (Lobby level Maxims Genting) before leaving.

We had the pleasure of meeting the executive pastry chef of Resorts World Genting. It was fascinating to hear about his experience of working in Genting, and how his team actually works round the clock to ensure that all the guests get to eat freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes.

After tasting some of the signature bread, we had a table full of desserts. Cakes for breakfast, what’s there not to like?

That’s all for now folks! Hopefully I can do a more detailed guide on restaurants in Resorts World Genting, and the rides in the theme park during my next visit.

Do visit Resorts World Genting’s website for more information, and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions. See you in Genting!

How to enter ladyironchef’s Genting 3D2N Stay Giveaway

1. 3D2N stay at Maxims Hotel Premier room (includes breakfast buffet).

2. Winner gets to bring along +1 to enjoy the trip.

3. Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below: Why do you like Genting?

4. A random generator will be used, everyone has an equal chance of winning.

5. Giveaway ends on 24th Apr 2012 Thursday 2359. Winner will be notified by email.

6. Note that comments are moderated, they will only appear after I approve it. Please do not submit more than once.

7. The validity for the prize is from 1st May – 31st July.

Beatrice is also doing this Genting 3D2N stay giveaway, you can have another chance of winning by leaving a comment on her blog.