CHT Awards @ NIKKO Hotel

WHAT A GLITTERING EVENT the CHT Awards 2010 Dinner was on Saturday night. For the first time, it was held in KL, although it seemed like practically half of Penang was there ... actually half the people there were from Penang is more the way to describe it. We were there because we happened to be going down to pick up No2 Son who was arriving from Oz on Monday - he's been there nearly six months, so Mummy Dearest, who has missed him a fair bit, decided to kill two birds with one stone ... metaphorically speaking only, of course!I was invited because I am one of Essenze's writers, contributing but a humble short article once every quarter. Still, it was an honour to be there.

Anyway it was held at the Nikko Hotel's Grand Ballroom, with nearly 200 people attending, I think, although it seemed like a fair few didn't show up; many tables had a couple of seats empty, including our own which was the "Penang" table.

The theme was supposed to be "be wild and creative" but it's rather difficult to do that in a tuxedo which was the dress code! However a few, to give them their due, did get into the spirit of things (not moi of course, spoilsport that I am) and came almost in fancy dress. The evening started with a fashion parade from Just's Wardrobe although I wonder how many women really will wear such OTT stuff in their every day life, particularly in Penang!

Founder Ch'ng Huck Theng, he of the Ghee Hiang fame, was there of course, and Mark from Penang did the emceeing with HT's daughter. It's good exposure for her but I think she's still a bit young for it yet. There were several performances by violinist Joanne Yeoh, a blonde Chinese guy and a rather plump singer called Candy - a bit pitchy at times, dog (I sound like Randy).

Huck Theng himself conducted the auction which raised RM20 - RM30K for charity, which included some rather snazzy wine fridges and a sculpture donated by himself! The awards took most of the evening, going to an army of different personalities I'd never heard of.

The meal was a 5-course western with starter, soup, mains, dessert and coffee which was OK but not outstanding; difficult to be when this number of people are involved, but quite beautifully presented.

I think they tried really hard, and thought of everything - including a fantastic door gift of famed Ghee Hiang products: their sesame oil, almond biscuits (quite good) and white coffee - but on the whole I'd say it was slightly lacklustre but that may be because half the people there (the non-Penang half of course) weren't really sure what was happening! We of course are familiar with the procedure, as this is the 4th one of its kind and personally I've attended 3, and each of them has been really quite spectacular.

I'll say one thing for Huck Theng - a lot of people moan about Penang and its shortcomings etc etc etc but he DOES something for the state, and puts is all in doing it properly. And is prepared to bring it to KL even - must have cost him a fortune. I say well done to him.