This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 18, 2016.

3 ways to celebrate easter weekend

French gourmet

Treat the family to a lovely meal at Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio with its special Good France Event tomorrow. Together with 999 other restaurants across the world, Nathalie’s will be bringing you the true taste of French cuisine with a special dinner menu. It includes pan-seared foie gras in a truffled brioche with roasted apples and apple cider emulsion, slow cooked revised French veal blanquette, porcinis and sweetbread as well as a selection of cheese such as gorgonzola crispy cromesqui. The meal will also include Nathalie’s signature macarons for a sweet finish. The menu is priced at RM225, available for dinner from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio is located at Unit A4-01-5, Publika Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur.  To make a reservation, call (03) 6207 9572. 

Chocolate indulgence

Indulge in Godiva’s limited-edition Spring Easter Collection this Easter Sunday. The series will feature a range of delightful chocolates ranging from the Spring Chocolate Carré Tin or the luxurious box of Godiva Easter Eggs, which are perfect for an Easter egg hunt. Made from Belgian chocolates, Godiva’s range of sweet treats are best enjoyed with loved ones. Prices for the Easter collection start from RM45. The collection is available at Godiva stores nationwide. 

Seafood delight 

Tuck in to a delectable spread at Shangri-La Hotel’s Lemon Garden Café, which is serving up its Norwegian Sustainable Seafood promotion this weekend. Guest chef Markus Dybwad will present various styles of cold-water Norwegian seafood dishes over the three days, including Norwegian steamed mussels, yellowtail tataki with grilled lemon mayonnaise and snow crab salad with pomelo. The seafood dinner buffet is priced at RM230 nett per person. Shangri-La Hotel is located at 11 Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Call (03) 2074 3900 for reservations. 

2 film screenings to catch 

Lao New Cinema 

Don’t miss out on Kelab Seni Filem Malaysia’s Lao New Cinema film screening tonight. This week, it is bringing the best of Laos cinema with the help of Vietianale International Film Festival. Films featured at the screening are Pai Tang (At the Horizon) and Vao Yung Koc? (Say What?). The two films will be in Lao and will include English subtitles. The screening starts at 8pm; doors open at 7.30pm at Content Malaysia Pitching Centre, Platinum Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur. Keep updated by visiting www.facebook.com/kelabsenifilemmalaysia.

The Kid from the Big Apple

Watch The Kid from the Big Apple, out now in cinemas. It’s a heart-warming tale that follows a young girl, Sarah, who was raised in New York and visits Malaysia for the first time. Living with her conservative grandfather, Sarah has to learn why he and her mother care so much about their cultural traditions. The local film recently won four awards at the seventh Macau International Movie Festival. Log on to www.gsc.com.my to find out more. 

1 food fair to check out

Enjoy a day out sampling a cornucopia of flavours from around Asean at the Sama-Sama Fair tomorrow at Dataran Medan Pasar. The fair will feature a range of cuisine including that of the Peranakan, Kelantanese and Melanau communities as well as from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal and Indonesia. From 11am to 9pm, there will be activities such as a community dance and cultural performances. The one-day event is organised by Think City and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall in partnership with Lab DNA. Sama-Sama Fair will be held at Dataran Medan Pasar, Jalan Leboh Pasar, Kuala Lumpur. 

1 theatre performance to watch 

Watch Teater Home this weekend, a play which explores how an intelligent Malaysian deals with having to choose between working abroad or living at home. As a great debater at university and a high achiever in law school, Syafiq has a bright future ahead of him, but he needs to decide where the greater opportunity lies for him. Teater Home runs from tonight until Sunday at Damansara Performing Arts Centre, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya. Showtime is 8.30pm and 3pm. Tickets are priced at RM35. See www.dpac.com.my for more details. 

3 live music acts to groove to

Tropic Green 

Tomorrow night, unwind to the sounds of Tropic Green at No Black Tie. Hailing from Singapore, Tropic Green is an eclectic group that plays a combination of music that ranges from energetic funk to powerful ballads with pianist Susan Harmer Lauw as the bandleader. The diverse band is unique in the fact that it does not play one single cover tune in its repertoire, playing only originals composed by Lauw. There will be a cover charge of RM50. No Black Tie is located at 17 Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari, Kuala Lumpur. For more information visit www.noblacktie.com.my.

Friends on the Other Side

Join Charlene Meng at Theatre Lounge Café for her performance themed Friends on the Other Side, where she will perform a selection of Disney songs sung by villains in the films. The performance intends to highlight how villains are the true characters that make Disney films interesting and why Disney created such good villains. Friends on the Other Side is on from tonight until Sunday. Showtime is 9pm. Tickets are priced at RM65 and RM117. Theatre Lounge Café is located at B1-3A Plaza Damas 3, 63 Jalan Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Reserve your seats by emailing [email protected].

Poppy Love

Catch Fayse Goh this weekend at Alexis Bistro as he delivers Poppy Love, an evening filled with popular songs from the yesteryears. Goh is a multitalented singer-songwriter, music producer, host and actor. Raised in Penang, his musical career took off after winning the Astro Talent Quest 2004 and International New Chinese Talent Quest in Hong Kong. He recently impressed the local Chinese music industry after releasing his debut album Fayse The Music through online crowdfunding in 2014. Poppy Love starts at 10pm, tonight and tomorrow at 10pm. Admission is free. Alexis Bistro is located at Great Eastern Mall, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Call (03) 4260 2288 for more details. 

1 awe-inspiring magic show 

If you are in Genting this weekend don’t miss out on the Aaron Crow: Fearless show. The must-watch spectacular features magician Aaron Crow who brings the world of magic, stunts and mystery together in one evening. Crow is known for his “Supravision” act, where he does the most amazing blindfold act in the world and “The Final Bullet”, where he attempts to catch a bullet from a paintball machine gun. Aaron Crow: Fearless runs until May 11 at Resorts World Genting. Tickets are priced at RM78, RM98 and RM118. Book your tickets online at www.rwgenting.com.