Hilton Malaysia Commemorates 50 Years of the Iconic Jungle Bird Cocktail

Hilton Malaysia Commemorates 50 Years of the Iconic Jungle Bird Cocktail

By Author

Published on August 10, 2023

In a spirited celebration, Hilton Properties across Malaysia are raising their glasses to honour the 50th anniversary of the renowned Jungle Bird cocktail. This iconic concoction, born at Hilton Kuala Lumpur half a century ago, has captured the hearts and palates of cocktail enthusiasts globally. To mark this milestone, Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton outlets across Malaysia are launching the "Sip, Soar and Celebrate" campaign. Throughout the entire month, patrons will have the pleasure of savouring the Jungle Bird cocktail, a testament to the enduring legacy of this vibrant creation.

The Jungle Bird cocktail's roots trace back to the early 1970s, when Jeffrey Ong Swee Teik, the beverage manager at Hilton Kuala Lumpur's Aviary Bar, masterminded its creation. Inspired by the lush ambience, exotic surroundings, and vibrant birdlife visible from the bar's windows, Ong set out to craft a cocktail that embodied the essence of the jungle while offering a delightful experience for patrons.

While the Jungle Bird found favour among hotel guests and locals in Kuala Lumpur, its true ascent came through the pages of 'The New America Bartender's Guide,' authored by John J. Poister in the late 1980s. The Jungle Bird cocktail was spotlighted as a featured recipe in the guide, catapulting its popularity to a broader audience. The global bartending community embraced the Jungle Bird, incorporating it into their menus and cementing its status as a modern classic.

Linda Pecoraro, General Manager at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, extolled the cocktail's journey, stating, "The Jungle Bird's journey from its creation at Hilton Kuala Lumpur to its status as a globally recognized cocktail is a testament to the power of inspired craftsmanship and the ability of a drink to capture the imagination. Its blend of flavours, combined with its unique bird-shaped presentation, has made it an icon in the world of mixology. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with the 50th-anniversary special edition box that comes with an elegant bird-shaped glass as well as the Jungle Bird cocktail served at Aviary Bar."

In addition to honouring the original Jungle Bird, the participating hotels are adding their creative twists, resulting in captivating variations that pay homage to Malaysian culture. These variations range from mocktail renditions to infusing the cocktail with local ingredients such as rice wine and pandan, providing an authentic reflection of the region's diverse flavours.

Indulge in the Jungle Bird cocktail at these participating outlets:

Aviary Bar, Hilton Kuala Lumpur (+603 2264 2264)

The Club Bar & Lounge and The Rooftop Bar & Grill, Hilton Kota Kinabalu (+6088 356 000)

Caffe Cino, Hilton Petaling Jaya (+603 7955 9122)

Cellar Door, DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur (+603 2172 7272)

Tosca, DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru (+607 268 6868)

Axis Lounge, DoubleTree by Hilton Damai Laut Resort (+60 5684 3333)

THE KOFFEE & Makan Kitchen, DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside Resort (+603 8890 0000)

The Garden Grille, Hilton Garden Inn Puchong (+603 8084 1299)

For a deeper dive into the intriguing history of the Jungle Bird cocktail at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, explore eatdrinkhilton.com/jungle-bird-cocktail/.


Sweet Truth Celebrates Mother’s Day with ‘Sweet Mom of Mine’ Campaign

Sweet Truth Celebrates Mother’s Day with ‘Sweet Mom of Mine’ Campaign

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 7, 2026

Sweet Truth, a desserts brand from Rebel Foods, is celebrating Mother’s Day with its heartfelt campaign ‘Sweet Mom of Mine’. The initiative focuses on the small, everyday acts of love that often go unnoticed but play a big role in shaping our lives.

Built around the idea that the most meaningful memories come from simple and consistent gestures, the campaign highlights moments like packing tiffins, staying up late, or remembering little preferences. These everyday actions form the emotional core of the campaign, bringing attention to the quiet ways in which mothers care for their families.

At the centre of the campaign is the ‘Receipt of Love’ Mother’s Day card, a creative take on a retail bill. The card lists familiar gestures, each marked at ₹0, symbolising that a mother’s love has no price. It ends with the word ‘Priceless’, capturing the message in a simple yet powerful way. This card will be included with every order from Sweet Truth across its 380+ locations PAN India, turning each delivery into a thoughtful experience during the campaign period.

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Commenting on the campaign, Nishant Kedia, CMO at Rebel Foods said, “At Sweet Truth, we believe that the most meaningful expressions of love often lie in the smallest, everyday moments. With ‘Sweet Mom of Mine’, we wanted to celebrate these quiet gestures that shape our lives in profound ways, even if we don’t always recognise them at the time. The ‘Receipt of Love’ is a simple yet powerful reminder that a mother’s care is truly priceless, and we hope it inspires people to pause, reflect, and express their gratitude this Mother’s Day.”

Along with the campaign, the brand is also encouraging customers to celebrate with its range of desserts. From specially curated Mother’s Day cakes to dessert boxes, the idea is to create a complete “sweet + sentiment” gifting experience, suitable for both at-home celebrations and surprise moments.

The campaign will also extend to digital platforms, where short films and social media content will highlight relatable “mom moments”, those small yet meaningful experiences that stay with us over time. Adding to this, influencers and content creators will share their personal stories, recreating memories and presenting the ‘Receipt of Love’ card along with desserts, inviting audiences to reflect on their own journeys with their mothers.

With this initiative, Sweet Truth brings together emotion and indulgence, making Mother’s Day celebrations more personal and memorable across the country.


Harajuku Bakehouse Celebrates Alphonso Mango Season with New Menu

Harajuku Bakehouse Celebrates Alphonso Mango Season with New Menu

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 7, 2026

Harajuku Bakehouse brings the joy of mango season to life with a thoughtfully curated menu that celebrates Alphonso in its most delightful form. This limited-time offering features seven desserts, each blending the finesse of Japanese pastry techniques with the richness of India’s most loved summer fruit. Made using fresh Alphonso mangoes, every creation reflects the signature detail and warmth the Bakehouse is known for.

The menu features a range of desserts that feel both comforting and exciting. The Hokkaido Mango Milk Cake stands out with its soft vanilla sponge soaked in mango-flavoured milk and topped with fresh Alphonso. The Mango Rose Tart pairs an almond sablé base with mango vanilla pastry cream, finished neatly with pistachios. Each dessert is crafted to bring out the natural sweetness and freshness of mango in a simple yet memorable way.

Other highlights include the Mango Mochi, where soft Japanese dough wraps around fresh mango and vanilla cream, and the Mango Roll Cake, made with light chiffon layers and smooth mango cream. The Puru Puru Pudding adds a playful touch with its delicate wobble, served alongside cookie crumbs and mango sauce. The Mango Fraisier and Mango Bento complete the menu with rich layers and satisfying textures that stay true to the season.

For those looking to try just one, the Mango Rose Tart comes highly recommended, bringing together pistachios, Alphonso mango, and a pastry cream that truly stands out.

This special menu captures mango at its best, fresh, vibrant, and full of summer character, making it a must-visit experience for dessert lovers.

  • What: Mango Seasonal Menu
  • Where: Harajuku Bakehouse, Mumbai
  • When: Limited time during the mango season


Dandy & Dandy Opens in Hyderabad, Blending Dining and Nightlife

Dandy & Dandy Opens in Hyderabad, Blending Dining and Nightlife

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 7, 2026

A new space in Hyderabad is rethinking how people experience dining and nightlife. Dandy & Dandy enters the city with a concept that blends both worlds into one fluid experience. Built on the idea of “Two Dandies. One Door. Same Room. Two Moods,” the space moves away from the usual divide between a restaurant and a bar, offering a setting that evolves naturally through the day.

Instead of separating occasions, Dandy & Dandy is designed around how people actually spend their time today. It creates a space where afternoons can flow into evenings without interruption, allowing guests to stay, unwind and shift with the mood without needing to move elsewhere.

At its core is a clear sense of duality. One side focuses on a more refined and ingredient-led approach to food, keeping things simple, seasonal and balanced. The other side brings in a more social and energetic vibe, where cocktails, music and interaction take the lead. Both identities exist together, complementing each other rather than competing.

The shift from day to night happens gradually. During the day, the space feels open and relaxed, making it ideal for long lunches and easy conversations. As the evening sets in, the mood changes subtly. Lighting, music and energy build up, turning the space into a more lively and immersive setting where the bar becomes the centre of attention.

Design plays an important role in this transition. A central bar anchors the space, while lighting and colours shift through the day to create different moods without changing the structure. Shades of deep red, black and warm tones give it a clean look during the day and a more dramatic feel at night.

The food and beverage experience follows a similar flow. The menu is globally inspired but easy to enjoy, with shareable dishes that suit different moods and timings. The cocktail programme is designed around a gradual progression, starting with lighter options and moving towards stronger, more layered drinks as the evening unfolds. Music is also curated to match this rhythm, beginning softly and building into high-energy sets later in the night.

Speaking on the concept, Kaushik Rachapudi, Managing Director, Dandy & Dandy shares, “Dandy & Dandy is built around how people actually live today. There’s no clear divide between work and social life anymore. We wanted to create a space that respects that fluidity where you can begin with intent and naturally move into something more expressive, without ever needing to change your environment.”

He adds, “The idea is deceptively simple: the same space, different energy. But delivering that seamlessly requires discipline. If you’re doing both day and night, you have to do both with equal conviction; there’s no halfway.”

With nearly three decades of experience, Rehan Guha brings a strong understanding of hospitality and evolving consumer preferences, helping shape a space that feels natural and easy to connect with.

Positioned as an accessible premium destination, Dandy & Dandy caters to a new generation that prefers thoughtful experiences over loud settings. It offers a balanced space that feels just as comfortable in the afternoon as it does late at night.

In a city where dining and nightlife have mostly remained separate, this new concept creates a middle ground that feels seamless and relevant. Here, the experience doesn’t ask you to choose between day and night , it invites you to stay for both.

Location: 5th Floor, THE LOFT, Nexity, HITEC City, Hyderabad, Telangana 500032.

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