KUALA LUMPUR: Ekovest Bhd’s food and beverages (F&B) division and wholly-owned subsidiary Duke Dinings Sdn Bhd (DDSB), officially opened Xin Dau Ji (XDJ) restaurant, the first in South East Asia, in EkoCheras Mall today.
XDJ is one of Hong Kong’s most outstanding restaurant brands that specialises in seafood and traditional Chinese cuisine.
The launch of XDJ in EkoCheras Mall today also marks another major milestone for DDSB.
DDSB group director Jong Wei Wei the company is pleased to introduce the established brand to Malaysia.
"As Malaysia’s F&B sector is booming, it is our intention to fill the gap in the market for affordable lifestyle-driven dining concepts, and XDJ fits well to this objective.
"As a subsidiary of Ekovest, we hope to create synergistic benefits and complement the businesses of the Group. In this case, with the entry of XDJ to EkoCheras Mall, it will enhance the overall retail experience for our shoppers,” he said in a statement.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Special Envoy of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China Tan Kok Wai and the Member of Parliament of Malaysia for Kepong constituency Lim Lip Eng.
XDJ focuses on nostalgic Chinese dishes that are widely recognised by people from all walks of life.
In 2014, XDJ became the inflight caterer for Cathay Dragon, for flights to Beijing and Shanghai.
Furthermore, in 2016, XDJ cooperated with Royal Caribbean International Cruises to provide their signature dishes to the passengers.
“The appetite for quality dishes, especially those awarded based on the Michelin Guide, has been growing and become increasingly popular over the years.
"And as an F&B retailer, we wish to capitalise on this increasing demand. We are very confident this will be well-received by our customers,” Jong added.
XDJ representative Jonathan Chou said to be recognised by the prestigious Michelin Guide is a tremendous motivation and respected affirmation for the entire team in XDJ.
"My sincere gratitude for the hard work and passion of the culinary and service team at XDJ. It is our vision to make every dining experience at XDJ truly exceptional and memorable for our guests,” he said.
The Michelin Guide, established in 1900, awards restaurants based on a three-star model: the first star indicates a very good restaurant, a second star awarded would mean that it has 'excellent cooking, worth a detour', and the third star demonstrates that the food served has 'exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey'.
EkoCheras Mall, that has a gross development value (GDV) of RM2.11 billion is part of an integrated development with over 1,500 units of condominium and serviced apartments, hotels, and office building.
The 1 million sq ft of retail space will create a wealth of shopping, food, beverage, cineplexes, and entertainment outlets, which also provide job opportunities as well as improve the economic aspect of the surrounding area.