FAVSTYLE Media | Gastronomy Experience An Evening of Italian Indulgence, Industry Conversations & Culinary Inspiration at Damo Italian Restaurant @Market88 Kepayan
Some dining experiences are measured by the flavours on the plate. Others are remembered for the conversations shared around the table.
FAVSTYLE Media, together with MY KKCity, Alfred Allen, The Food Fest Guy, Delicious Borneo, and the Sabah KOL Media Alliance, recently came together for an exclusive gastronomy experience at Damo Italian Restaurant, creating an afternoon where exceptional cuisine met meaningful dialogue and future collaborations.
The gathering extended beyond a restaurant review. It became an intimate platform where media professionals, content creators, and industry leaders exchanged perspectives on Sabah's rapidly evolving food and hospitality landscape while celebrating the passion that continues to shape the state's culinary identity.
Following the dining experience, the delegation was warmly welcomed into an engaging discussion with Royal Salon Managing Director, Royal Lionel Liew, where conversations centred on industry developments, branding, lifestyle trends, hospitality excellence, and the growing importance of authentic media storytelling in today's digital era.
As Malaysia's First Lifestyle Sensory Magazine, FAVSTYLE continues to redefine lifestyle journalism by going beyond traditional food reviews. Every gastronomic journey is carefully curated to capture not only flavours, but also the emotions, craftsmanship, atmosphere, personalities, and stories that bring each destination to life. This editorial philosophy has positioned FAVSTYLE as a trusted platform that values authenticity, publication integrity, meaningful partnerships, and immersive storytelling.
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A Celebration of Italian Craftsmanship
The culinary showcase at Damo Italian Restaurant presented a carefully curated selection of signature creations and chef-recommended favourites, each reflecting authentic Italian techniques with refined contemporary presentation.
The experience featured:
• Pollo Al Pesto Pizza
A beautifully balanced creation layered with tender chicken, fragrant basil pesto, premium cheeses, and a perfectly crisp handcrafted crust.
• Diavola Pizza
Bold, smoky, and full of character, this classic Italian favourite delivered a delightful balance of spicy salami, rich tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella.
• Squid Ink Tortellini Stuffed with Crabmeat
One of the evening's standout creations, these delicate squid ink tortellini parcels concealed a luxurious crabmeat filling that offered both elegance and depth in every bite.
• Squid Ink Spaghetti with Kahanga Clam
A striking seafood pasta showcasing Sabah's local Kahanga clams alongside perfectly cooked squid ink spaghetti, creating an umami-rich dish that beautifully married local ingredients with Italian culinary traditions.
• Hand-Rolled Agnolotti Al Mascarpone
Freshly handcrafted pasta filled with creamy mascarpone, delivering remarkable texture and refined simplicity that highlighted traditional Italian craftsmanship.
• Tiramisu with Rum
The evening concluded with an indulgent dessert featuring layers of delicate mascarpone, espresso-soaked sponge, and a subtle touch of premium rum, providing a sophisticated finale to the gastronomic journey.
Every course reflected Damo Italian Restaurant's commitment to authenticity, premium ingredients, and meticulous execution, creating a dining experience that was both comforting and memorable.
Beyond the Table
More than simply experiencing remarkable cuisine, the gathering became an opportunity to strengthen relationships within Sabah's growing food, tourism, hospitality, and lifestyle industries. Discussions explored current market trends, evolving consumer expectations, collaborative opportunities, and the role of credible media in supporting local businesses through quality editorial content.
The session also provided an opportunity to introduce FAVSTYLE's upcoming editorial initiatives, including the highly anticipated Meja Rasa Signature Guide, an exclusive dining guide dedicated to recognising outstanding restaurants, signature dishes, culinary excellence, and exceptional hospitality experiences throughout Sabah.
As FAVSTYLE continues expanding its editorial footprint across food, travel, luxury, lifestyle, and hospitality, experiences such as these reaffirm the magazine's commitment to connecting passionate industry players while celebrating the people behind every remarkable dining destination.
This is only the beginning.
Readers can look forward to more exclusive feature articles, behind-the-scenes coverage, chef interviews, restaurant highlights, and curated gastronomic discoveries as FAVSTYLE Media continues its journey in documenting Sabah's vibrant culinary landscape, one unforgettable experience at a time.
About Chef Koon
Sabahan Roots, Italian Soul: Chef Koon Brings World-Class Italian Cuisine Home to Kota Kinabalu
Every remarkable restaurant has a story, but at Damo Italian Restaurant, the most inspiring ingredient is the journey of its chef.
Behind every handcrafted pizza and every carefully plated pasta is Chef Koon, a proud Sabahan whose culinary path has crossed some of the world's most demanding kitchens before returning home to Kota Kinabalu.
His story began not in Italy, but in Sabah, driven by a dream to master the culinary arts. In 2010, Chef Koon embarked on his professional journey at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore, where discipline, resilience, and the fundamentals of professional cooking shaped his early career.
A year later, he joined The Tanglin Club Singapore, immersing himself in the refined world of fine dining. Precision, consistency, and respect for ingredients became the foundation of his culinary philosophy. By 2012, his expertise expanded across both Western and Asian cuisines, creating the versatility that would later define his cooking style.
His pursuit of excellence continued at Marina Bay Sands Singapore in 2015, where he thrived in the fast-paced environment of large-scale banquet operations. By 2017, his focus shifted towards Italian cuisine, igniting a lifelong passion for the traditions and craftsmanship of Italy.
The journey then extended beyond Southeast Asia. In 2018, Chef Koon joined international Caribbean cruise lines, gaining invaluable experience in Michelin-level culinary environments while refining his techniques to international standards.
His dedication to authentic Italian cuisine reached another milestone in 2020, when he became part of one of Southeast Asia's Top 30 Pizzerias. There, he immersed himself in the artistry of authentic Neapolitan pizza, mastering dough fermentation, wood-fired techniques, simplicity, and balance.
Perhaps the most defining chapter came during his time with Cicheti Group Singapore, where he trained under renowned chefs Dylan Chong and Lim Yew Aun. It was here that Chef Koon discovered that Italian cuisine is more than recipes. It is about family, heritage, emotion, and storytelling shared around the dining table.
In 2026, after years of international experience, Chef Koon made the heartfelt decision to return home to Sabah.
Today, Damo Italian Restaurant stands as the culmination of that remarkable journey.
Every pizza emerging from the oven and every bowl of pasta served reflects years of dedication, international exposure, and an unwavering respect for authentic Italian traditions, all presented with the warmth and hospitality that define Sabah.
His achievements speak for themselves:
- Featured among Top Italian Restaurants by Gambero Rosso (2023 & 2024)
- 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific 2022 (30th Place)
For FAVSTYLE Media, Chef Koon represents more than culinary excellence. He embodies the growing confidence of Sabah's hospitality industry, proving that local talent can compete on the international stage before bringing that expertise back to enrich the local dining scene.
At Damo Italian Restaurant, every dish tells two stories: one of authentic Italian craftsmanship and another of a Sabahan chef whose passion has come full circle.
Italian Soul. Sabahan Heart.
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