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Finally, there appears to be a place where the people of Klang Valley and beyond can congregate for a truly Signature gastronomy and entertainment experience!
When it comes down to it, you wonder why the idea hadn’t caught on in Malaysia sooner. After all, Malaysians are renowned for being a nation of food lovers, and most meetings and get-togethers are centred on food. Admittedly, we do have food courts, food corners, seafood squares and the likes but not one that has an upmarket, classy innovativeness to it. This is where SohoKL steps in to make ALL the difference to the gastronomic scene in Malaysia when the nation is at a point where they are screaming for something exciting, something entertaining and well, just something different!
Well, something exciting and entertaining is just what you get when you step into SohoKL. But what exactly is SohoKL and how did it come to be? The story begins 25 years ago when a young man by the name of Kenn Yam stepped unto the shores of England to pursue his tertiary education. While reading for his business law and accounting degree, Yam worked part-time as a second chef in a Chinese restaurant, a job that proved to be an eye-opener for him as this is where a love for the food and beverage (F& B) industry slowly took root.
However, upon graduation Yam decided that business law, accounting and the F&B industry had to play second fiddle as the filial calling to join in the family business of construction and housing development proved stronger. But no matter how much Yam immersed himself in the real estate industry, learning all he could about it in the process, his passion for F&B was not quenched. As he spent years walking the streets of London, observing the goings-on in Soho London and Covent Garden, an idea started forming in his mind - one that integrates the F&B and property industries together.
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“I returned to Malaysia in 1994 thinking we needed a Soho district here – a place where I could merge all elements like real estate, F&B, entertainment, workshops, and arts and culture into one. A place where people can display their creative talent all under one roof. If Hong Kong, London and New York could have their Soho’s, why couldn’t us, after all every Soho district around the world is also a tourist attraction.
“But to make my dream a reality, I needed to find the perfect location and that took time. Eventually I decided on Mont Kiara, not only for its easy accessibility but also because of the affluent neighbourhoods like Damansara Heights, Kenny Hills and Hartamas that have a hi-spending income. Mont Kiara also houses the highest number of expatriates in the country and SohoKL will be able to offer them the dining experience from their native countries just a stone throw away from their residence. With the perfect location in place, SohoKL was finally born,” beamed Yam, who is now the CEO of SohoKL.
However, to make SohoKL different and unique, Yam did not want just any F&B outlet to fill the L-shaped building of SohoKL. He wanted every single outlet to be a signature. A bench mark for every F&B brand which has a presence in SohoKL. As the only 100 percent dining destination in Malaysia and the largest F&B hub in South East Asia, the management has the full co-operation from all operators to uniquely present their outlets whether in their interior design or menu. The result is amazing.
Tenji, the largest restaurant in the country, sprawled across 35,000 square feet has taken house in SohoKL. As a contemporary Japanese buffet restaurant, it features more than 250 different dishes every day. Another outlet, Haagen-Dazs in SohoKL, is the first and only outlet ever in Asia to offer an exclusive menu of cocktail ice-creams. Michelangelo’s Signature outlet at SohoKL features Bar M, which is an alfresco oyster bar. Starbucks in SohoKL is totally lux and the most upscale Starbucks outlet of all with black marble flooring and homely curtains.
The list of unique outlets at SohoKL goes on. De Solvang, a Korean-fusion restaurant cum bistro, is the first in the country. Even Digi, the Telco, is having their signature-cum-flagship retail outlet here. This will be the one and only Digi outlet to offer food and drinks. The hub also has the country’s first and only Croatian Restaurant, Dubrovnik. There are also an interesting galore of after-dinner entertainment playing different genres of music and set in different ambiance. From Oriental to European designer inspired settings, the clubs and lounges of SohoKL are the new chic place for all party goers and scenesters. With approximately 40 operators all offering different services and different cuisines, this is a harmonious yet thrilling F&B community here whereby all the operators work hand-in-hand to complement each another.
The friendly and enterprising Yam is thrilled that this wholly-owned and managed F&B hub has already been recognised by the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Action Council (KLTAC) as a tourism destination. “We are promoting SohoKL as not just an F&B destination, but also an arts & crafts and cultural exchange destination. For the local market, we will organise workshops and cooking classes. We also plan to have international arts and music events.”
SohoKL is expected to be 60 percent complete by 1 August this year. Finally seeing that SohoKL is a reality, Yam is not ready to rest on his laurels. Much remains to be done in enhancing and improving SohoKL to make it a great success, he enthuses. With its emphasis on great service, great food and altogether a different dining experience, the structure of SohoKL seems rock solid. Finally, there appears to be a place where the people of Klang Valley and beyond can congregate for a truly Signature gastronomy and entertainment experience! |
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