Yikes, It's Christmas Already?? Christmas at Traders Hotel....

In the blink of an eye, the year has passed, and the advent month is upon us.  Whilst for the believers it is a celebration of a special birth, to most, it's a time for merriment and goodwill towards men, and of course, a time of feasting.

The first of a series of Christmas previews was at Traders Hotel, starting with cocktails at the sky bar.  Nothing like cocktails at happy hour to kickstart a great evening.

And of course, the stunning vistas from the Sky Bar make it a treat to come here every single time.

We were ushered downstairs to Gobo Chit Chat, wine glass in hand, in the elevator.

Beef wellington, lamb leg, and the quintessential Christmas turkey in a lavish meat spread at the Buffet.  As we were doing a "Food tour" of the hotel, we had to pace ourselves, and not get full on these delectable meats, which took a lot of willpower.

The succulent roast lamb.....

I didn't try the turkey though...but it looked interesting.

Apart from the Xmas themed goodies, there is the usual wide spread variety to choose from, and I particularly like the salad bar and array of roasted vegetables.

For the sweet toothed, you'll be spoilt for choice,  with the cakes and puddings.

We then moved to Gobo Upstairs, which is where the ala carte dining is.

A deconstructed Seafood tartare, paired with prosecco,...

Blue Swimmer Crab with Ahi tuna, fish cracker (keropok), caviar and honeydew... a delicious combination that is so unique.

Black Angus Fillet, aged 150 days.  Splendid cut of meat, with brussel sprouts, pomme puree and sauteed vegetables.

I LURVED this soup, I think it was chestnut soup...so rich and creamy and tasty.  Fortunately they were in dainty portions.

Turkey Breast with Mascarpone, brussel sprouts and apple stuffing with cranberry sauce.  Personally, I'm not really a fan of turkey, let alone breast.  But the embellishments to an otherwise boring piece of meat made this dish a real treat.

Chocolate indulgence, with gold leaf and crumbed cookies soil, pistachio coated cherries, and raspberry sauce.  Certainly was a very indulgent dessert.

Smoking Santa with a blueberry almond tart, beautifully presented, and a fabulous combination of sweet and tart (no pun intended)...

The last few remaining...

Thanks for a lovely evening, Theresa and Zhen.

For more information on the Christmas Menu, check out the hotel website, www.tradershotel.com

TRADERS HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2332-9888
Fax: 03-2332-2666
email: thkl@tradershotels.com
website: www.tradershotels.com

Great Britain Superbrunch At KL Hilton

A few Sundays back, the entire lobby of Hilton Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding areas looked like we were still the jewel in Crown of the British Empire.  Oh, hangon, wait, we were NEVER the "Jewel" per se, ...I guess.  But the Union Jack adorned the area, with the quintessential red phone booth, and the mini cooper.. All for one day  of SUPERBRUNCH, featuring arguably the best of British fare.

Whilst actually, real traditional British fare, like Sunday roasts and yorkshire pudding, toad in hole, etc aren't particularly stellar in the culinary spectrum, there's always a homey feel about it, more so than ladida French food, which one is less inclined to try to replicate in one's own kitchen, as opposed to say, a roast.

The wail of bagpipes resounded cacophonously through the hallowed halls of Hilton, (would have been better if it was Hallowed Halls of Hogwarts), played by kids, which begs the question, WHO sends their kids for bagpipe lessons?  Is it even on the ABRSM music repertoire?  I can imagine some chinky mother proudly declaring, "ooh, my daughter just passed her Grade 8 in bagpipes".

The section in the lobby area was the desserts and breads area, the highlight of which to me were the british crumpets.  A cross between a scone and an english muffin, it was delicious served with cream and jam.

Come to daddy my little crumpet.

The goats cheese and the blue stilton were really good as well...

Gorgeous selection of breads, but really, who comes to a buffet to get filled on bread... that's as bad as getting full on fried rice.

I was surprised the candy floss guy had customers who were adults...as is evidenced by the pic below...

The main area in Vascos had the usual buffet spread in addition to some specifically British items, like a gianormous Wagyu leg roast, accompanied with Yorkshire puddings on steroids.  Huge mothers with an assorted accompaniment of roasted vegetables like potatoes, carrots, etc.

Wagyu no less, I might add.  Unfortunately, I must gotten the inner bits of the leg, which was way too well done for my liking, and was drier than British humour.   Dousing it with brown gravy helped, but what a travesty for Wagyu.

Of course, who'd have thought that Fish and Chips are actually a British invention.  Afterall, aren't French fries ..err...French?

Assoorted roast fowl and bangers...  I actually liked the simple roast chicken, thigh meat of course.  Breast meat from a roasted chook to me is like eating blotting paper.

To break the monotony of meat, (land based meat), the usual Asian section with sashimi was a welcome break after my meatings.

Unfortunately the Superbrunch isn't a regular feature, although the usual buffet fare at Vasco's is not very different anyway, and is bound to be just as satisfying.  Oh, a highly recommended item from the buffet is the Peking Duck, very yummy, crispy skin melt in the mouth ...

Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 22642264

Whisky Pairing Dinner At Imperial China (Tai Thong Group)

Ever since I attended the launch of 56 Degrees , I've been wondering how they were doing, so when Eddy of Tai Thong group told me he was organising a whisky pairing dinner with the aforementioned tipple, I was rather intrigued.

The diners were in a small ball room, all decked up, very boudoir like, with dim lighting, to set the mood.  At RM1,888 nett per table, you get a chinese banquet and TWO bottle of 56 Degrees.  Our table managed to finish one bottle, which makes me wonder what happened the second bottle which disappeared mysteriously, so much so the handful of us who wanted the "one for the road" didn't manage to get it.

Paired with a whiskey cocktail, either the 56 Escape or the Scottish Lass, (both of which I found too sweet, and therefore just stuck to the old man style of whisky on the rocks), crispy crab dumpling with Wasabi Dressing, with deep fried pumpkin and lotus root with salted egg.

Doesn't get  any more obvious than this....

Lobster with fresh fruit salad with Italian Vanilla dressing,...an impressive platter by any standard, and the lobster meat was firm and fresh, although a bit drowned in the fruit salad. ..

Sliced chicken with foie gras and almond, very yummy indeed, although I could not taste any foie gras, but the lovely crispy skin was a winner..

Crab With Roasted Sesame Sauce wrapped in egg roll topped with shredded coconut and fish roe.

My favourite dish of the night, Double Boiled Village Chicken soup with apricot kernels and snow pear. A cleansing feeling permeated the palate with the chicken soup for the heart and soul kind of goodness.  I love the crunchy apricot kernels too.  Wonder if they're laced with arsenic.  I recall watching an episode of CSI I think it was, where the villain had painstakingly accumulated sizeable amounts of arsenic from peach pit.

The quintessential dish in banquets that make it a banquet, at least a Chinese one, Spice Roast Suckling Pig, ...gorgeous crispy skin that melts in the mouth together with that layer of lard beneath.

A lovely palate cleanser...Chilled Ambarella Juice Shooter...(actually I am sure there is no such word in English, it's the "kedondong" in Malay, or the "amballa" or "umpala" in some chinese dialect, and is widely served in Penang)..

Yin Yang Estuary Tiger Grouper Grilled with Caremlised Onion & Sauteed with XO sauce, Celery and Apple...I was hoping to try the crispy bits of the dish, but the waiter took it away to chop up and never brought it back...either that or it was lost in translation.

For the grand finale, Braised Abalone (14 head), Sea Cucumber Stuffed with Tuna and Wanton.

I loved the abalone, it was succulent, and well braised, and tender,  Didn't think  very much of the wanton, but the sea cucumber was interesting,

Leo's (Chasing Food Dreams other half) sea cucumber was the spikiest and most photogenic of the lot....

Dessert was chilled layered dessert of black sesame, mango and fresh milk, mini pumpkin dumpling with sweet potato and cheese sweet corn bun sprinkled with cocoa powder.

Quite a clever photo caption I have to say....

The promotion is on going, and is pretty good value considering you get two bottles of whisky.

For more info or reservations:
Address:
3rd Floor, Jaya Square,
No. 7343, Jalan SS17/2,
47500 Subang Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Tel: +603-5636 1266