Venezuela Celebrity Chef - Adrian Yanez

Chef Adrian Yanez is a graduate of the Centre of Gastronomic Studies (CEGA), where he served as a professor and head of the kitchen when he was barely 26 years old, becoming one of the prominent voices in the Venezuelan gastronomic events. 

Today his name is associated with the creole cuisine, which has always been very close to him. While growing up with his grandmother, an excellent Andean cook, he had begun learning the secrets of the kitchen without realizing it. 

Growing up he was forced to improve this ability due to his responsibilities. His mother was a doctor and he was in charge of preparing her meals, although back then he never thought that one day he will be able to expand his skill 

After completing his studies in sociology in the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB), he decided to switched his career path and embark in a new endeavour to work as a cook. He began as an Assistant and after four years, decided to academically transfer what he had learned into practice, and enrolled in CEGA. After classes, he would work in various establishments between Venezuela and Peru. Then, he was contacted by CEGA to work as a temporary replacement, where he eventually stayed as a pastry chef and then went on to be the head chef.

In addition to his work there, Chef Adrian also manages a catering company called Ceviche 2.0, which offers food based around the famous Peruvian dish. He also took part in the Sazón group Tour, who travels through Venezuela to boost the regional cuisines and local talent of each zone. 

He is currently the chef of the restaurant La Rumba, located in Hua Hin, Thailand. It is the single Venezuelan restaurant in Southeast Asia, which he has escaped for 10 days; just to delight Malaysians with his creole cuisine.

He will be at hand to offer his expertise at the Hotel Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur through the gastronomic festival “Malaysia tastes like Venezuela”. Chef Adrian will present a range of typical Venezuelan food such as Lamb Tarkarí (Spicy Lamb Stew), Mere Corbullon, Fosforera and Asado Negro, a delicious staple food of Venezuelan cuisine made with beef requiring slow cooking in order for the meat to be very juicy and tender, coated with a sweet dark sauce filled with flavour and irresistible aroma.

Nila Palacios - Venezuelan Fashion Designer

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Hailing from Maracaibo, Venezuela, Nila Palacios grew up spending long hours in her room designing and sewing dresses for her dolls. Despite having a strong interest in fashion and beauty at a young age, Nila is a civil engineering graduate. After working in the construction industry for 3 years, she then migrated to Malaysia in 2001. Her passion for fashion reignited when she recognized a gap in the market for authentic Latin American fashion every time she went Salsa dancing.

With her passion reignited, she decided to start her own brand with casual, cocktail and evening dresses inspired by Latin music. To Nila, sound creates both ideas and emotions through the elements of rhythm, melody and harmony. Her design expresses creativity through the sounds and beats of Latin music like Flamenco, Salsa, Merengue, Tango, Lambada, Paso Doble, Rumba, Samba and others.

The 'Nila Palacios' brand is all about women who want to look and feel both different and confident through unique Latin inspired designs. Her designs are sexy, elegant and unique while maintaining exclusivity as each gown or dress is designed based on Latin American inspiration. Now, Nila designs not only dresses for dance wear but also a wide range of Casual, Evening and Office wear for the everyday women and ladies from the corporate world.

Nila's collection is adorned with lots of draped dresses, sexy cuts, flowing dresses, bikinis and beach wears. The designs are full of bright colours and movement that gives the wearer the feel of the music. This collection focuses on four categories – Bikini, Casual Wear, Office Wear (for women looking for the chic factor while working) and Cocktail Dresses

This year, Nila Palacios is paying a special tribute to the Joropo Venezolano.  Joropo Venezolano is a musical style resembling the waltz with an accompanying dance, having African and European influences and originating in Venezuela. Nila is creating amazing gowns, which are more elaborate and sophisticated; the collection comprises of pret-a-porter pieces or made to order designs. Catch Nila Palacios’ Fashion Show at White Box, Publika on 12^th October 2014, Sunday at 7 pm.

For more information on how to buy her designs please visit www.nilapalacios.com and now her exclusive new online shop www.vivapalacios.com.

You can also follow her Facebook page Nila Palacios Latin Fashion the following address: https://www.facebook.com/NilaPalaciosLF 

9th Venezuelan Week Activities

The 9th Venezuelan Week this year will be held from 10th to 19th October 2014 with an array of activities such as a Fashion Show, a Gastronomic Festival, an Art Exhibition and an academic Conference. The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela would like to welcome all and be a part of the following activities;

‘FACES’ Venezuelan Art Exhibition
The exhibition entitled ‘Faces’ is composed by the collections of young Venezuelan artists, graduated from the Limkokwing University in various fields. This collective of artistic works encourage observers to think and to reflect. They have a high content of rebellion and self-determination.

Date: Friday 10th till Sunday 12th October 2014
Time: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Venue: White Box at Publika
Information: +603 216 33 444 / 45 (Embassy)
Free admission

Nila Palacios’ Fashion Show
Hailing from Maracaibo, Venezuela, Nila Palacios first designed costumes for dancers in Malaysia. But it

was not only dancers who wanted to look good in the Latin American-inspired dresses, which has then led her to design clothes, for housewives and ladies from the corporate scene alike. The fashion show will showcase a wide range of Casual, Evening and Office wear – all inspired by Latin American music.

Date: Sunday 12th October 2014
Time: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Venue: White Box at Publika
Information: +603 2163 3444/45 (Embassy)
Free admission

FOOD

Malaysia tastes like Venezuela
The Flavours and aromas of Venezuela will showcase incredible food diversity and cultural richness whit age-old recipes that give each dish its distinctive flavour and quality. This gastronomic festival will display great Venezuelan classics like the typical Venezuelan food such as Lamb Tarkarí (Spicy Lamb Stew), Mere Corbullon, Fosforera and Asado Negro, a delicious staple food of Venezuelan cuisine made with beef requiring slow cooking in order for the meat to be very juicy and tender, coated with a sweet dark sauce filled with flavour and irresistible aroma.

Date: Monday 13th till Sunday 18th October 2014
Time: 6:30 pm - 10:30pm.
Venue: Serena Brasserie, Hotel Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur. 165, Jalan Ampang, KL.
Reservation: +603 2782 6228 or www.kualalumpurdining.com
Price: RM108++ per adult / RM54++ per child aged from 3 years to 11 years.


Cooking workshop
With his vast experience in the culinary world, chef Adrian Yanez will conduct the workshop to teach students to cook signature dishes related to Venezuelan festivals, different celebrations and customs. Due to space constrain, there will be room for only 40 people so it’s necessary to book ahead.

Date: Wednesday 15th October
Time: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Venue: Serena Brasserie, Hotel Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur. 165, Jalan Ampang, KL.
Reservation: +603 2782 6228 (Hotel) Only 40 places available!
Price: RM TBA


Venezuelan Party
Once again, Malaysians will have fun in the Venezuelan way by enjoying the best of live música latina and the signature “Hora Loca!” (Crazy Hour). The night will make your “Caribbean spirit” come to live with popular Venezuelan rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue and many more. There will be exciting games and lucky draws as well as free Venezuelan drinks until 10pm.

Date: Saturday, 18th October
Time: 8:00 pm till late
Venue: Bentley's Pub, Hotel Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur. 165, Jalan Ampang, KL.
Information: +603 216 33 444 / 45 (Embassy)
Free admission

FILM

Zamora, Land and the Free Men
This historic film conveys of the story of the Venezuelan soldier and politician, Ezequiel Zamora who fought in one of the most violent period of the country’s history. This film screening will presents its writer, Professor Luis Britto García who will talk about how this movie reflects a society persistently exploring its past.

Date: Wednesday 15th October
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Venue: Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Malaysia. 20th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan. 207 Jalan Tun Razak, KL.
Information: +603 2163 3444/45 (Embassy)
Free admission

PUBLIC LECTURE

Public Lecture: Bolívar and the Latin American Integration
The second edition of the Simon Bolivar Public Lecture Series will introduce Professor Luis Britto García, one of the most reliable and prolific intellectuals of the continent. With dozens of published books in diverse genres such as novels, essays, poetry, drama, short stories, history and humour to his name, Prof. Britto Garcia will deliver a talk on Bolívar and the Union in Latin America as the root for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA)

Date: Thursday 15th October
Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Venue: Senate Meeting Room, Level 5, Chancellory Building, The National University of Malaysia (UKM). Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Information: +603 216 33 444 / 45 (Embassy)
Free admission

Forum: Venezuelan Mass Media
Television networks, radio and social media as well as the international press are playing a leading role on a media campaign against Venezuela. In addition to his novels and many other books on language, culture and politics, professor Luis Britto García has written extensively on the role of the media in Venezuelan politics.

Date: Saturday 18th October
Time: 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Venue: International Movement for a Just World (JUST), JKR, 1258, Jalan Telok Off Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Information: +603 216 33 444 / 45 (Embassy)
Free admission

PHOTOGRAPHY

ALBA Tourism Photographic Exhibition
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA) is a platform of integration of Latin America and the Caribbean, based upon solidarity, cooperation, complementarity and justice in defence of the independence, self-determination and the identity of its members. This exhibition will give a closer look of three ALBA countries based in Malaysia -Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela-, through its beautiful tourists’ destination.

Date: Thursday 16th October and Friday 17th October?
Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Venue: Chancellory Building, The National University of Malaysia (UKM). Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Information: +603 216 33 444 / 45 (Embassy)
Free admission

9th Venezuelan Week - To Be Together

To combine painting, photography, food, fashion, film, and conferences in a single programme is always a challenging endeavour. Each activity inspires interest in different audiences, with its individual characteristics of the Venezuelan culture which are all important to us.

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In this Ninth Venezuelan Week in Malaysia, we have put together a programme with new highlights as compared to previous editions. It opens with an art exhibition by young Venezuelan artists, who graduated from Limkokwing University through a cooperative agreement between the abovementioned institution and the Embassy. Apart from an exhibition of paintings and drawings, there are other displays, such as an audio-visual presentation with new technology components, as well as the dedication of a musician who fuses traditional Venezuelan rhythms with electronic music. This exhibition will be held in White Box Gallery, located at Publika Shopping Centre in Sri Hartamas.

It has become a tradition to have the gastronomic festival as one of the main highlights of the Venezuelan Week. This year, in partnership with the Hotel Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur, we are bringing renowned chef Adrián Yánez, who after developing his culinary career in Venezuela and perfection his technique in Europe, has settled in Thailand where Venezuelan cuisines are increasingly in demand. This festival will feature live music, Venezuelan fashion show and a display of photographs and handicrafts.

To continue with the Simón Bolívar Lecture Series which was launched last year, the Embassy in collaboration with the Institute of Latin American Studies of the National University of Malaysia (UKM) will present Prof. Luis Britto García who will be in charge of a conference on Bolívar and the union of Latin America. Britto García, one of the most reliable and prolific intellectuals of the continent, with dozens of published books in diverse genres such as novels, essays, poetry, drama, short stories, history and humour, will also be leading a forum to discuss the film Zamora, a key figure in the fight for equality and justice in Venezuela, of which he is the scriptwriter.

As we have mentioned many times before, cultural exchange is perhaps one of the best way to bring people together. The Ninth Venezuelan Week in Malaysia has this mission to take the tweenty thousand miles that separate us and make us meet face to face. It is an opportunity to recognise young Venezuelan artists, to see different faces and landscapes, to taste typical dishes and appreciate the attires worn by the women of our land, to know a little more about our history, and to dance together, to be together. That is the purpose of the events we present in this programme: ‘To be together’.

Manuel Antonio Guzmán Hernández

Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Malaysia

We are baaccckkkkk! Details will be updated soon... Stay tuned! Hasta pronto!