Tuesday, May 08, 2018

A MELTING POT OF 'SEMARAK RASA'



The simplest things in life are best. This holds true the minute we tried pucuk manis & keledek. Also known as cekur manis (souropus androgynous), the humble green cooked in coconut milk with sweet potatoes turned out to be a delicious showstopper at the Concorde KL’s ‘Semarak Rasa’ buka puasa buffet preview.

Most of the kampong-style dishes showcased are perennial crowd-pullers; unsurprising as nobody ever tire of eating comfort food. The nostalgic setting, from the rows of oversized glass jars filled with fried crackers and old-fashioned decorative fans to the traditionally attired service team, the Concorde KL is on-point for the impending breaking of fast season.

Available between May 17 and June 14, 2018 at Melting Pot Café, a staple temptation added to the line-up is a la minute seafood. Those with a penchant for deep-sea denizens won’t want to miss out on delectable ketam goreng berempah, udang galah goreng berempah, lala goreng tiga rasa and lala kam heong style.


While most diners will make a beeline for the ubiquitous whole roast lamb, I urge you to sample the sublime ikan bakar percik. Doused in aromatically spiced coconut milk-based sauce, the fish’s natural sweetness comes through nicely.



Udang sambal tempoyak, siput sedut lemak cili api, asam pedas ekor lembu bunga kantan, murtabak ayam, ikan patin masak tempoyak and ayam lemak pucuk ubi are some of the surefire winners we can vouch for. Depending on the day of your visit, remember Melting Pot will feature three rotational buffet menus throughout the month.




Mainstays that remain in demand include fish head curry, sup gearbox, sup tulang rawan or sup ekor; made to order so the broth is served hot. A selection of kerabu, ulam, chilled seafood and international dishes (think dim sum, salads, mutton curry, etc) forms part and parcel of the lavish spread.

 

To complete the vast parade of savoury mains, assorted sweet kuih, fruits, dainty cakes and dessert broth beckon. Throwback tidbits and snacks: banana fritters, glutinous rice with coconut milk and old-school Malay kuih make their presence felt.
 


Concorde KL’s Semarak Rasa buffet is priced as follows:
May 17 – 20 & June 11 – 14 :     15% Discount off RM148 nett per person
May 21 – June 10                :     RM148 nett per person


‘Sahur’ Supper Buffet (Sun – Thurs, 3am – 5.30am; RM55 nett per person)
A special ‘sahur’ (pre-dawn meal) will be served buffet-style with choice options like bubur lambuk, mee mamak, nasi lemak, teochew porridge, assorted sandwiches and more.


For reservations, call Melting Pot Cafe, direct line: 2717 223. Address: Concorde Hotel KL, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.


Tuesday, May 01, 2018

FANTASTIC FOUR AT THE EMPEROR


A chef’s work is never done. Just ask Executive Chinese Chef Bryan Teh from The Emperor. As we hurtle into the second quarter of 2018, the affable chef has continued to cook up new temptations to entice diners back to the restaurant.

Our recent lunch gathering reveals the chef has four fabulous specialities up his sleeve. We had to restrain ourselves from over-indulging on the perennially delicious dim sum in order to ensure ample stomach space for Chef Bryan’s latest culinary gems.

Nicely smoky and mouth-wateringly tender, the Smoked Farm Village Chicken (茶香煙焗菜園雞) priced at RM128 is a dish fit for royalty. The chicken is first blanched then smoked with Ti Guan Yin tea leaves, sugar and rice grains for 15 minutes to render it superbly succulent to the bite with the smoky aroma clearly discernible.

Inspired by Hong Kong’s famed dish of ‘bei foong thong’ (typhoon shelter), Chef Bryan reinteprets it into Wok-fried Lamb with Crispy Garlic and Dry Chilies (避風塘炒羊架). Priced at RM25 per piece, the meaty egg-coated, fried lamb cutlets come smothered under a generous heap of fried dried chillies and aromatic fried minced garlic. Zingy with hints of Sichuanese peppercorns, every mouthful is a flavour bomb of strong, robust accents. Top notch!

Priced at RM58.30 per 100gm, the hefty serving of Poached Pearl Grouper with Taro, Radish and Superior Stock (上湯香芋浸珍珠斑) is a surefire palate-pleaser that transcends generational barrier. Imagine savouring the fish’s natural sweet essence; a superior stock bearing traces of wolfberries, ginger and tong gwai amidst pieces of taro, enoki, beancurd and wolfberries. Such soulful succour is rare and good to the last drop.

Completing the quartet of new offerings is Double-boiled Peach Resin with Snow Fungus in Young Coconut (椰盅雪耳燉桃膠) at RM42 per bowl. A wholesome, nutritious dessert broth to tease the tastebuds with a myriad of interesting textures; it serves as a delightful conclusion to a heartily satisfying meal.

For reservations at The Emperor, please call tel: 03-5033 7400. Address: Level 1, Dorsett Grand Subang, Jalan SS12 /1, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor.





Featured Post

EXPLOSIVE SURPRISE FROM CAKE RUSH

Whimsical. Fun. Impactful. Imagine a flock of butterflies fluttering up once you open Cake Rush’s latest Explosion Gift Box. We were thrille...