Rice to the occasion: Kimchi Lai mixes her way to global cocktail glory

Rice cooker, an everyday kitchen appliance, inspired Kuala Lumpur's Kimchi Lai to create two prize-winning cocktails, "Grain Potential" and "You'll Be All Rice", at the prestigious Giffard West Cup 2026 held in France. Faced with a theme of "Sip the Moments", the competition required contestants to craft two drinks representing sunrise and moonlight.

Lai, who has only been bartending for a year, found inspiration in local flavors and a Chinese proverb, "the rice has already been cooked", drawing parallels to the Malay saying, "nasi sudah menjadi bubur". Despite challenges, including a last-minute sobbing fit and a chilly hotel room, Lai's emotional composure proved beneficial, helping her emerge victorious over contestants from Croatia, Poland, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The Giffard West Cup, established in 1997, celebrates bartenders' creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation. Lai, the second Malaysian to win the international title after David Hans in 2017, now works at Reka Bar in Kuala Lumpur, sharing her award-winning cocktails with locals.