FESTIVE VARIETY FEASTS AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL KL

Suffused with aromatic spices, the deep-fried quail should be one of the first items to savour from the tantalising spread laid out for the Majestic Festive Banquet Dinner (13 June - 2 July). The meat simply bursts with mouth-watering flavours at first bite.

Other delectable options include crispy fried chicken, fried prawns, fried fish and fried bitter gourd, all well-seasoned with local spices, turmeric and shallots. 

Chef Zaidi and his team will be pulling out the stops, dishing up the best of Malaysia’s nine Royal states. Keep your eyes peeled for Perak’s highly sought-after udang galah sambal (fresh river prawns cooked with sweet and spicy chilli paste).

 

Few diners can resist the showpiece of a whole roast lamb. Not big on red meat? Grilled fish will reel you in. There's also a dedicated nasi kandar section with assorted mains: sotong kari, spiced flower crabs, rendang itik from Kedah, curried freshwater prawns and dalcha to complement fragrant, fluffy briyani rice.

 

It's a good idea to load up on greens for such a lavish dinner. Local ulam and assorted kerabu salads (shredded mango and beef tripe variants top the list) are both healthy and can easily be perked up with zingy sambal.

 

Held at the comfortably set-up Function Rooms on level 3, diners will find themselves spoiled for choice as the buffet also features several live action cooking stalls. Murtabak and roti canai are prepared on the spot as is laksa Penang to tease the tastebuds.

Soup up with a hearty beef broth (sup daging) perfumed with star anise, cloves and myriad other spices and chopped coriander. A perennial comfort food to satisfy those hankering for rustic kampung fare.

For that early Raya mood, nothing beats some hot-off-the-grill satay. Again these meaty skewers are raveworthy complemented by chunky peanut sauce, fresh cucumber pieces and cubes of nasi impit.

The dessert wonderland proffers plenty of familiar faves, ranging from bubur kacang hijau with durian, tapai ubi, serawa durian, kuih peneram, seri muka, buah Melaka, tapai pulut and assorted deep-fried fritters (banana, sweet potato, etc).

 

The Majestic Festive Banquet Dinner is priced at RM125 nett per person. For reservations, please call tel: 03-2785 8000.

Over at Contango, expect a feast of Festive Variety (4 June to 5 July). The luxurious, contemporary restaurant features an interactive dining concept with two open kitchens proffering a sheer variety of local and international cuisine; freshly prepared to order, including a special focus on local Malay cuisine.

Priced at RM145 nett per person, call Contango, tel: 03-2785 8062 for reservations.