Have Your Cake and Eat It Too: 2015

Thursday, December 10, 2015

My MAJESTIC Finale For 2015 - Christmas At The Colonial Cafe, Majestic Hotel

It's always a bittersweet time, the yuletide season, another year passes, one looks back and retrospects upon the year that has been....It could always have been better, but it also could have been worse. At the end of the day, we must remember to be grateful for the many blessings we take for granted. My trip to Nepal in October reminded me how fortunate we are here, in terms of material comfort, despite the continuous griping and complaining....Forgive me if I sound melancholic.

Okay, change of tune, then again, nothing lifts the spirit like a great Christmas dinner with great company and great food at a great venue. I had finally received an invitation to Majestic Hotel, prompting me to quickly text Thamby aka AWhiffofLemongrass, retired food blogger extraordinaire, to tell her, "OH MY, I'VE FINALLY GOTTEN ONTO THE MAJESTIC bloggers guestlist...LIHATLAH DUNIA" to which she retorted, "oh, I've been invited countless times, even though I've retired..#dunjealousme". Mind you, I've been there quite a few times, to have dinner with friends etc, but this was my first invite, so I have to say, I was thrilled. The fact that there were 5 functions going on at the same time, and me having to park near the Islamic Arts Museum, only served to build up an appetite.

Talk about hosting in style, each table had their own host, made up from the various staff of the Majestic Hotel, from front desk to marcomm...We were privileged to have the company of Sean Crockford, British no less, with a hint of Malaysian blood...

Torralta Prosecco Superiore Di Conegilano Valdobbiadene, a lovely light bubbly to start with and to destress ...

Colonial Cafe’s Christmas Eve Dinner menu is priced at RM280 nett per person or RM 380 nett per
person with wine pairing and Christmas Day menu is priced at RM220 nett per person or RM320 nett
per person with wine pairing. The New Year’s Eve Dinner menu is priced at RM350 nett per person or RM480 nett per person with wine pairing.

Chicken Liver Croster Starter Wood Smoke. Morsels of elegance, this was wolfed down in a jiffy, ..the rich liver pate in a little "box" of bread, glided down the throat effortlessly, lubricated with more Prosecco..

Infused blue mussel, scallop and salmon avocado puree, micro cress and creamy honey mustard dressing. I usually don't care for mussels, but these blue mussels are different from your ordinary GREEN ones, and taste far more refined, and the entire combination of marine pleasures paired wonderfully with the crisp Dourthe No1 Bordeaux Blanc.

That avocado puree was so good, there wasn't a dollop left after I was done with it.

Cock a Leekie - Scottish chicken and leek soup. I first heard Leaky Cock... sounds like a great name for an English Pub. According to resident Scotsman, Craig aka Mr Baby Sumo, he's never heard of such a dish in bonnie Scotland. I loved the soup, absolutely hearty, with grains of barlay, (said barlay by the scot, but spelt barley), chunks of chicken, and creamy leeky broth.

All elegant meals have a palate cleanser between the starters and mains, and this was no exception. The refreshing Orange Sorbet certainly cleansed any lingering fishy flavours, but the star of this was that dried orange slice...which no one else ate...WHAT A TRAVESTY, that was really the best part. I saw trays of goblets removed, sorbet finished, with that orange intact.

For mains, a choice of Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill sauce, accompanied with seasonal vegetables, dauphinoise potatoes, paired with Bodega Norton Barrel Select Chardonnay Mendoza Argentina. I had a sliver of wife's salmon, but honestly, didn't think it was great. But I should qualify that I am so not a fan of anything salmon that is cooked.

or a choice of Trio's King Turkey Breast, Sausage in a blanket and herbs stuffing, creamy mash, minted pea and red wine gravy paired with Dorthe No1 Bordeaux Rouge. Now this dish was superb, moist breast of turkey, which I didn't know was possible (for breasts to be moist, I always assumed they took on the texture and humidity of blotting paper), and a whimsical sausage roll atop the meat, which was very delicious indeed. Buttery puff pastry encasing the stuffing... A "mystery" ingredient was that yellow "thing" in front, just behind the potato...The Chef told Scotsman that it was called a Turqini...despite his original guess of yellow beetroot. The skeptical Scotsman refused to believe it, and googled it, only to find images of turkeys in bikinis, etc etc...Clearly we had been taken for a ride, and it turned out, it really was yellow beetroot.

But this was a delicious mains, and very in keeping with the festive cheer.

You can't really go wrong with a Bordeaux, and meat....

Although generally I am not a sweet sweet dessert liker, Christmas Pudding, which inevitably is a recipe for diabetes, is an exception, for I love it. I shall be brutally honest and declare that Christmas Pudding without a brandy flambe is like Nasi Lemak without sambal....
The accompanying Vanilla Sauce and White Chocolate Ice Cream were nice complements and embellishment, but I'd have traded them in a jiffy for a peck of flaming cognac. But the pudding, notwithstanding it's virginal status, was rather good.

Petite Fours as the dessert to dessert....

A lovely evening, with all my favourite familiar faces, and a nice way to end my posts for the year....

My constant culinary buddies...CC Food Travel, alas, I couldnt post the pic that Ciki took of me and wifey, cos unlike MY gorgeous pic of them, hers of us made look fatter than Jabba the Hutt...

And my favouritest group of food bloggers, Kg Boy & City Gal, Ivy Aiwei, Brought Up to Share...all who endearingly call me "Ah Pa"....

Serenaded by the lovely Solianos...

Our wonderful host for the night, Sean Crockford, in charge of operations, I believe...

Larverly seeing everyone, and meeting new people, like the lovely Pei Leeng (with two Es)...

Feliz Navidad all...

OTHER OUTLETS IN THE MAJESTIC AT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Contango

Celebrate the festivities at Contango, an interactive dining experience featuring festive specials as well as Christmas dessert temptations. Contango’s Christmas Eve Dinner Special and Christmas Day Lunch and Dinner Special are priced at RM180 nett per person. New Year’s Eve Countdown Dinner and New Year’s Day Lunch and Dinner Special are priced at RM200 nett per person. An additional RM70 nett per person will get a free flow of beer and wine. (OOH, that sounds like really good value)

The Smoke House

Embodying the delicious decadence of the 1930’s, The Smoke House at The Majestic Hotel Kuala
Lumpur features facilities and services with a pool table, a lounge and cocktail bar, a cigar room, a
private dining room and even a card room for those who want to engage in a game of bridge or
cribbage. With your own personal chef on call, it’s a luxurious combination of a specially crafted 4-
course menu, accompanied by 2 bottles of the highly coveted Mondavi-Rothschild Oakville, California, 2010, from their stellar Opus Wince collection priced at RM 10,000 nett for 10 people. Johnnie The Barman at The Smoke House serves up an impeccable selection of vintage cocktails and a connoisseur’s collection of single malt whiskies. Smoking jackets are also provided upon request.

For more information and reservations, please call +603 2785 8000

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Cedar On 15, Impiana Hotel KL

Children, a long time ago, in the quiet streets of Kuala Lumpur, there was a hotel called Holiday Inn...but you won't find the Holiday Inn KL anymore, ....years have gone by, and the refurbished hotel is called Impiana KLCC. Thus endeth the history lesson of the day.

I was delighted to hear from Carol Chin, that lovely lass whom I met years ago before the Equatorial was torn down, demolished like a house of cards... And was even more delighted to be invited to dinner at Cedar on 15. Honestly, I've never heard of it. Talk about underrated. It has a spectacular view, and the most lovely ambience, so the only thing that I needed to find out was how the food rank. Drum roll....

Spectacular views from the open air patio area of Cedar on 15

Now, I was running late, and frantically texted Carol to please start without me.... But to my surprise, the dinner was not with other bloggers, which stressed me even more, to get there stat.

Nothing like a glass of house white to calm the frazzled nerves...

The House White is a very floral drinkable Sauvignon Blanc from Chile

An amuse bouche of sorts to get the juices flowing....

Cream of Topin Ambour (RM38)

Topin Ambour...now that's a new one...I guess they had to use the "scientific name" because the usual layman name involves some names that should not be mentioned.... in Malaysia anyway.

It's very rare to find artichoke soup on any menu, and ever since I first had it at celebrity chef Sapna Anand's house for thanksgiving last year, I've absolutely developed a crush on artichoke soup, not least because it's also known as Fartichoke, as it supposedly makes one more effervescent. A few drops of truffle infused virgin olive oil, and the soup was the epitome of decadence. Rich, thick, creamy, and that fabulous flavour of artichoke which is not easily replicable.

Gourmet Salad, sauteed artichoke with quail's eggs, semi dried tomato, parmesan, and a lovely balsamic raspberry reduction vinegar...

My eyes lit up when I saw the Wagyu ribeye Grade 7 on the menu, at a rather affordable RM53/ 100 gm. And it certainly didn't disappoint. A nice thickness, so that the cooking was easier to control, and nice doneness, ...I wanted medium, but Carol suggested ordering it medium rare, because it is served on a slab of hot himalayan rock salt which will provide some residual heat for cooking. The meat was so good, that I didn't bother with the accompanying porcini mushroom sauce.

We were given a choice of preferred weapon to attack that tender piece of meat.

Our accompanying sides, sauteed mushrooms and asparagus...the mushrooms were fine, but the asparagii looked a trite sad...

Pumpkin Seed Crusted Black Cod.. with mushroom tomato chutney, fennel mousse..love the simplicity of this dish, but the crust gives it that different dimension, albeit a bit salty. (RM78)

Although I was stuffed, Carol insisted we must try the signature Chocolate Molten Cake, (RM35) with strawberry lime liquor...In case you haven't realised, there's a prevailing theme, is, each dish is accompanied by a squirt of something or other...

I can see why this dessert appeals to so many, the visual thrill of seeing that molten lava ooze out of the crevice

They also have a 2 course business set lunch at RM29.90 nett with coffee, aor RM39.90 nett for a 3 course with coffee.

For more information,

Impiana KLCC Hotel
13 Jalan Pinang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2147 1111
Toll Free No : 1 800 88 3100
Email: info.klcc@impiana.com

Carol Chin - Marketing and Communications Manager
Email: carol.chin@impiana.com
DID: 03-21471080

Website : www.impiana.com

Monday, December 07, 2015

A Mezze-Ing Christmas And New Year Spread... At Mezze , Medan Damansara

After this A MEZZE ING Christmas spread, somehow the lyrics of this Christmas song reverberated through my head...
....Haul out the holly
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking (in this case, wine glass)...
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now
....We need a little Christmas

I always know when an invitation comes from Ann Lee, it will be a great night, and I normally prep by skipping lunch, and also attempt working out ...which proved not enough, for I really should have fasted for a week prior to this.

Nothing like bubbly to further effervesce my already bubbly disposition...LUNA ARGENTO PROSECCO as a welcome drink.

Duck Foie Gras Dumpling with Cappucino of Pumpkin soup with Roasted Cumin - XMAS
PAIRING WINE : PINOT GRIGIO RUSSIZ SUPERIORE - Elevating the humble pumpkin soup to heights of decadence, the foie gras dumpling melts in the mouth while the rest of the palate is treated to that wonderful thick creamy pumpkin soup. Superb, is all I can say. Ann described the pumpkin soup as lyrical warmth... whatever the heck that means.

Prawn Bisque, served with sides of rouille, cheese and infused croutons - NYE
PAIRING WINE : COTES DE PROVENCE ROSE LES DOMANIERS. I'm a rouille virgin, and have never tried this wonderrrrrful fish paste, that you eat with the croutons and cheese, which totally enhances the bisqueful experience. This is a New Year eve dish. And yes, Ann made us eat from BOTH the Christmas menu AND New Years Eve menu. How evil is that!

How to eat the Rouille...

Xmas Pork Sausage, stuffed with beetroot & kale, with side serving of house-made sourdough - XMAS, PAIRING WINE : RIESLING BIO EVIDENCE 2012. Well, if sausages are deemed to be unhealthy, here we go, stuffed with beetroot AND KALE!!!! The new wonderfood of the century.... I loved the texture and complexity of the sausage, with its myriad flavours.

House Spice-smoked Foie Gras, served with chutney and fig bread. (NYE) I always thought pan seared foie gras was the only way to eat foie gras, I mean, pates are nice and all, but pate is pate, and who knows what else goes in there...but this pure unadulterated slab of foie, has the best of the pan seared version and pate. You just have to go, FWAHHHHHH!!!!!!That's good.

Citrus-cured Salmon Gravalax, with sides of walnut raisin sourdough - XMAS... I'm not a fan of gravalax, or anything salmon related unfortunately, except perhaps for sashimi, and I found it a tad too salty for my liking....but I think that will be rectified by Xmas as that saltiness was a unanimous view.

Refreshing Tuna Tartare with Moroccan eggplants and Cumin Mayonnaise - NYE...Ah, this is more like it...raw tuna, with a wonderful combination of eggplant, though I can't really tell the difference between Moroccan or Malaysian eggplants...So it seems a waste for me if I needed to fly them all the way from Casablanca. A kiss is still a kiss in Casablanca, so likewise, an eggplant is still an eggplant as well... But I digress, a lovely combination.

Baked Atlantic Cod with a Clam Chowder reduction and topped with bacon bits - XMAS. A very tasty dish, but somehow I felt that the rich chowder totally upstaged the bride, in this case, the Cod, and there should be no other Cod before me, but a Cod which is plain and pure. However, that clam chowder reduction IS very good, and has a whole lot of things going on.

FESTIVE COCKTAIL : DIAMONDS + PEARLS
A delicious concoction of blackberries and coconut with Hendrick’s Gin & Lillet Branca, nicely shaken. I never knew or heard of Lillet before, but it's a sweet aromatised wine. A gal's drink for sure... It was way too sweet for me.

Crabmeat Lasagna with Lobster Cappucino and Champagne foam - NYE
PAIRING WINE : PINOT GRIGIO RUSSIZ SUPERIORE

Lamb Rump crusted with Black Olives, served on bed of Couscous with Christmas Chutney Rolls - XMAS, PAIRING WINE : BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR ILE DE PATIRAS 2011
Lamb, I find, as I get older, becomes less agreeable with me, and I can only take it in small doses, ...BUT, this lamb was beautifully done. And I loved the christmas chutney rolls.

The wines thus far had been all perfectly paired. I particularly liked the Alsace Riesling, which to me tasted almost like a Sauvignon Blanc.

Roasted Stuffed Turkey with traditional Pork & Chestnut stuffing, with side serving of maple-glazed carrots, roast potatoes, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce – XMAS
PAIRING WINE : ARTAZURI NAVARRA 2010. For turkey lovers who do not want the rigmarole of carving and risking a breast drier than the Sahara, this is the ultimated solution. Moist and delicious turkey meat, easy to eat, complete with stuffing.

Premium Australian 100% Angus Tenderloin with Foie Gras and Black Truffle - NYE, PAIRING WINE : BORDEAUX SUPERIEUR ILE DE PATIRAS 2011 - My kind of dish, simple, majestic and decadent... fantastic cut of meat, seared perfectly, enough blood to tantalize, but not to much that the beef was still mooing...

Sous vide Duck Breast with Porcini reduction - NYE - Okay, maybe on its own, it might have been rather good, sous vide-ed and all, but seriously, juxtaposed against that entire banquet we just had, this didn't quack me up.