The new BMW 740Le (All photos: Mohd Izwan Mohd Nazam/The Edge)
It says a lot about the confidence of a marque when the event is touted as a collaborative dinner with an automotive brand but there is nary a car in sight, save for two beauties parked at the porte-cochère. Certainly, this was the case at BMW’s recent dinner with Options at The RuMa Hotel & Residences.
But when it comes to luxury, the Bavarian brand has never had to shout. After all, its impressive stable of machines scarcely needs introduction, especially not the superlative 7 Series. As the new generation of the premium automaker’s prestigious flagship model, it boasted a number of pluses, including an impressive facelift, local assembly and added power from both a petrol engine as well as an electric motor.
All that, however, was saved for later. The evening was all about quiet luxury, subtlety and discreet elegance — all characteristics the carmaker is familiar with. Instead, it let its reputation do the talking, leaving the night for a handpicked assembly of guests to indulge in the finer things in life, namely convivial company and conversation, the finest whiskies by The Macallan and inventive cuisine by The RuMa’s executive chef, Tyson Gee. Confidence? Yes. Class? Even more so.
A handpicked assembly of guests convened at The RuMa Hotel & Residence
The elements:
The Hosts:
Harald Hoelzl, managing director of BMW Malaysia, and Datuk Ho Kay Tat, publisher and group CEO of The Edge Media Group
The Guests:
The select group included Jim Tan, managing director of Boon Edam South East Asia; Christian Nannucci, general manager of Traders Hotel; Datuk Chua Sai Men, executive director of CMY Capital Group; Effendy Shahul Hamid, head of CIMB Investment Bank;
Kang Tae Koo, managing director of Philip Morris Malaysia; Datuk Ng Yih Pyng, group managing director of Tomei Consolidated; Liza Karim, head of communications for PNB Merdeka Ventures; and Yong Yoon Li, executive director of Royal Selangor
The Venue:
The Pavilion at The RuMa Hotel & Residences
The Menu:
Cured king mackerel with coconut, chili, puffed rice, crispy garlic and ulam raja; mushroom soup with braised mushroom dumplings, roasted king mushrooms, cultured cream, chervil and hazelnuts; grilled Black Angus sirloin steak, BBQ onions, pickled onions and smokey sauce; and sea bass with chili jam, basil dressing and Chinese celery
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The Libations:
The Macallan 12YO Double Cask, The Macallan 15YO Triple Cask, The Macallan Rare Cask and The Macallan Reflexion
The Flowers:
Posies of red roses
The Party Favours:
Guests went home with 50ml of Eau Rose, Doson, Eau Duelle or L’Ombre Dans L’Eau from celebrated Parisian label Diptyque
This article first appeared on Nov 18, 2019 in The Edge Malaysia.
