Friday, December 30, 2022

DIM SUM LUNCH BY APPOINTMENT ONLY AT LE SENSE

Le Sense is one of the few restaurants in the Klang Valley where dim sum is revered as an art form. Restaurateur Chris Chew is so discerning when it comes to the serving of these delicate morsels that patrons of Le Sense who wish to sample the restaurant’s lunch-tasting menu (starting from RM138++ per person) must make reservations at least two days in advance.



Before you scoff and think it's nonsensical, the request is more pragmatic in reality. The culinary team needs time to source and buy the necessary ingredients and to prepare the specialities for your lunch at Le Sense.



Understated and elegant, the interior of Le Sense is accentuated with inlaid wood panels, beautiful oversized Chinese paintings, modern pendant lights, and strategically placed side tables -- setting a befitting stage to further enhance your dining experience.


In line with Chew’s exacting standards, every dim sum item served bears testament to the resident chef’s skills and techniques, as well as his meticulous attention to detail. Market-fresh, premium ingredients such as amaebi (sweet shrimp) and kurobuta (pork from Japanese black pig from the Berkshire breed), coupled with artfully made ‘produce’ such as dumpling skins and house sauces result in some second-to-none creations.
A fine example of this is the curtain-raiser of Truffled Dumpling: a steamed charcoal-skin Xiaolongbao brushed with edible gold, placed atop a wafer-thin slice of yuba.

Bite into the dumpling’s delicate pleated folds and you'd get a delicate whiff of the musky scent of truffle. Take care as you attempt to slurp up the deliciously sweet broth encased within - you won't want to waste a single drop of that precious liquid. For the final flourish, savour the juicy kurobuta filling with the tender dumpling skin.

The bar of excellence rises further with Kagoshima Pork Dumpling & Fish Maw Bouillon. Stuffed with delectable Kagoshima pork, the divine dumpling is nestled amidst slippery smooth braised fish maw and the sweetest-tasting fish bouillon. An ensemble made in culinary heaven.


The pace rolls nicely along with Yuba Skin Roulade and Collagen Demi-Glace – a delightfully crispy fried Japanese beancurd skin roll stuffed with chopped amaebi and Kurobuta. 
Rich, glossy pork bone sauce and crunchy snow peas ensure this offering underscore deliciously distinct contrasts, taste and texture-wise from the earlier speciality.

Marinated in a sake-shoyu concoction then cooked to meltingly tender perfection, the Spanish Iberian Jowl with Seasonal Organic Vegetables cuts quite a swathe with us. 
The enticing umami accent blooms on our palate the longer we chew on the meat. Even the supporting cast of green mustard stems, lotus root, ginkgo, wood fungus and dried scallop threads, exudes ample appeal of their own.


Dried sakura ebi and fried onion atop the Daikon Radish cake (which has jamon and Kurobuta incorporated in it) lend beguiling depth of flavours to this familiar homey treat. Little pieces of pickled green mustard that’s mutedly spicy-sweet help to offset its richness. 

IMHO, the Crystal Prawn Wonton with Smoked Dover Sole and Egg Noodles is possibly the closest replication of a good Hong Kong-style wantan meen in Klang Valley.
Made with a mixture of sweet shrimp and sea prawn, and smoked Dover sole for the elusive combination of sweetness and desirable mouthfeel, the prawn wonton is scrumptious.

Made in-house and cooked to the right toothsome texture, the fine egg noodles in a nice clear broth and blanched greens are so soul-satisfying good you'd wish the serving is somewhat a tad bigger.


To finish, the savoury dessert of Yam Croquette is a show-stopper. Golden brown with a lacy-wispy exterior, the powdery-soft Japanese mountain yam mash is filled with savoury-sweet Iberico char siu.
A crisp, buttery and mildly sweet Egg Tart serves as the finale to the lunch-tasting menu. You can’t fault this on-point classic creation to wrap up your meal.

Diners are welcome to bring their own wine for their culinary sojourn at Le Sense as there won’t be any corkage charged. For bespoke dinner menus, prices will be slightly higher so kindly call the restaurant for more information.
For reservations, call Le Sense Restaurant, hp no: 018-268 2333. Address: 8, Jalan SS 20/10 Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

 


Wednesday, December 28, 2022

SELANGOR HOSTS STATE LEVEL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION


Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Amirudin bin Shari, the Chief Minister of Selangor handed over a mock cheque amounting to RM 593,460.00 as donation to the Selangor Christian House of Worship, the Executive Body of the religious section in the LIMAS group (Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh & Taoist) and 55 Christian NGOs during the 2022 Selangor State Christmas Celebration and Open House.


Held at the Civic Hall, Petaling Jaya City Council, the annual initiative is one of the Selangor State Government’s efforts to accommodate the various religions and races in the State of Selangor; to increase harmony between races and religions.


Violinist Dr Joanne Yeoh, FGT Church Choir, GA611 Church, Roman Catholic Church and Kaya Band performed at the community event as invitees were treated to complimentary buffet.


Honourable Mr. Hee Loy Sian, Tourism and Environment Exco said "the uniqueness of this Open House celebration in the State of Selangor symbolises our multi-racial identity and culture. Such events can also attract tourists to come and visit Selangor, and highlight Selangor as a harmonious state with close cooperation from various races and religions.”

Friday, December 23, 2022

‘TUAN YUAN’ THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR AT LE MERIDIEN PUTRAJAYA

The savouriness of mentaiko (salted mullet roe) lends a distinctive dimension to the Yee Sang at Le Mei Restaurant this year. Together with sliced salmon, assorted crispy treasures and blackcurrant-plum dressing, this refreshing salad adds great cheer to our preview of
Le Meridien Putrajaya’s Tuan Yuan celebration menus with a bang.


Available from
8 January to 5 February 2023, Chef Lim Kian Meng and his team deftly tickle our tastebuds with the inventive Mentaiko and Salmon Yee Sang. Other variants will include Salmon and Crispy Noodle Yee Sang, Four Seasons Prosperity Yee Sang, and Whole Abalone Yee Sang during the celebratory period.

Warming up hearts and minds is a salubrious Double Boiled Silkie Fowl Soup with Abalone, Porcini Mushroom and Dried Scallops. 
Sweet and clear, the wholesome broth includes red dates and wai san (Chinese yam) in addition to the premium and nutritious ingredients mentioned.

Synonymous with laughter and happiness, prawns are much favoured during Chinese New Year. Lightly covered in a creamy sauce, the springy tenderness of the Poached River Prawns with Cheese and Roasted Garlic in Superior Broth will leave you smiling from ear to ear once you sample this delicious speciality.

Juicy, plump and succulent, the Hong Kong Style Poached Free-range Chicken with Sand Ginger looks set to rule the roost among CNY celebrants. 
The marble-smooth skin coupled with the juicy meat – enhanced with the warm spiciness of the coarsely chopped sand ginger topping – is something to crow about.

To ensure more prosperity and good fortune for the Year of the Rabbit, feast on the ubiquitous and much cherished Braised Sea Cucumber with Dried Oysters and Fatt Choy in Oyster Sauce. 
Blanched broccoli florets are perfect for soaking up the glossy sauce brimming with deep-seated musky, shellfish flavours. A myriad of textural contrasts converges amidst the tumult of key ingredients: the sea cucumber’s slippery sponginess, the soft crumbliness of dried oysters, and the slick fine threads of sea moss.

A wedge of sautéed foie gras lends a touch of luxury to the penultimate dish of Fried Organic Brown Rice with Sakura Shrimp, Seafood and Foie Gras. The richness of the liver melds nicely with the nutty brown rice and amplifies the delicate seafood sweetness.

Somehow you will find room to fit in the serving of Double Boiled Snow Fungus with Honey Locust Fruit and Peach Resin. As sweet dessert broths go, it’s mildly sweet with the different ingredients added to stimulate greater mouth feel. Crispy Sesame Balls and Pandan Glutinous Rice Cakes round off the celebratory dinner on a cheery note.

The Chinese New Year Dinner will be held on 21st and 22nd January 2022, at RM188nett (adult) and RM94nett (child), while the Chinese New Year Brunch will be held on 22nd and 23rd   January 2023, at RM168nett (adult) and RM84nett (child).

Set menus are priced from RM1,440 nett per table of 5 diners (inclusive of a bottle of wine) and RM2,588 nett per table of 10 (inclusive of a bottle of Martell).

For more information or to place your order, please call Le Mei Restaurant, tel: 03-8689 6888 ext. 6868 or email:  dining.lmputrajaya@lemeridien.com

 

 

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