All of us have had a taste of being stuck at home during the Movement Control Order (MCO) and it's not always fun.

For Malaysians returning from overseas, the 14-day quarantine is an absolute must.

While it may seem pretty great to be stuck in a hotel room for 14 days, there is only so much you can do to keep yourself occupied in that small space.

Bringing some positivity into the mix

Being one of those “cannot stay put” kinds, 28-year-old cooking enthusiast Terry Kuan stumbled on a surprising creative outlet while on quarantine at the Ibis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The outdoor recreational guide and educator, who just returned from Australia, decided to put his creativity to good use and "makeover" some of the meals provided to him.


“It started out as a way to entertain a friend on Instagram.”

“I would rearrange the food sent to my room and just post a picture of it online. To my surprise, everyone loved it!” he said when contacted by Rojak Daily.

Sharing is caring

Terry also shared pictures of his creations on a WhatsApp group meant for people under quarantine at the hotel and it was an instant hit.

“It just turned everything around. I had fun making it and everyone loved it,” he said.

Terry, who has also worked in managerial roles in the F&B line, said that he did not have professional cooking experience, but he loved it as a hobby and also often used food to make friends and connect with people.

“The food that they served us was actually delicious. It’s just that the presentation was closer to cafeteria or jail food,” he laughed while explaining that he was lucky to have such a delicious selection of food to “makeover”.

Adding some freshness

The only addition to many of Terry’s creations were some fresh vegetable and fruits which were sent over to the hotel by his family.

“I had a lot of carrots and beetroots, and the rest was just what they sent to me,” he said.

Terry eventually posted videos of his creations on YouTube and Instagram, and the feedback has been positive so far.




“I'm out now but I’m going to continue making more videos. One user said something along the lines of 'humble food made gourmet' and that’s what I hope to do.”

“I’m also not going to limit myself to just that, I may post other food-related stuff in the future. Let’s see where this goes!” said an excited Terry.

We love your positive attitude and your creations Terry! All the best!