MICHELIN-STARRED GUEST CHEF XABI AT SABAYON

 

Savour stellar Basque cuisine by Executive Chef Xabier Goikoetxea (Chef Xabi) of Barcelona’s Michelin-starred Oria Restaurant at EQ Kuala Lumpur’s Sabayon now until 9 August 2025.

A protégé of the legendary Martín Berasategui—Spain’s most Michelin-decorated chef—Chef Xabi brings with him over 15 years of refined expertise. His culinary signature at Oria lies in the seamless interplay between time-honoured Basque traditions and vivid, contemporary Catalan and Mediterranean flavours.

 
His distinctive tasting menu opens with a quartet of exquisitely crafted amuse-bouches:

 

• Leaf-shaped Comté crisps crowned with smoked eel and Cantabrian anchovy
  
  
  
  

• Salt-cured prawn on savoury seaweed tempura crisp
  
  
  
  

• A bright tomato emulsion macaron with trout tartare and calamansi-ginger gel

• Cured then sous vide scallop with smoked hollandaise, mussel broth, orange, and chervil.

A luxurious San Sebastián seafood broth, enriched with prawns and cured egg yolk follows, reels us in with its soul-warming and deeply umami nuances. Spanish olive oil and crusty bread amp up the irresistible offering.

 
That sets the stage for an impeccably executed turbot, glazed in pil-pil sauce (a rich emulsion of gelatinous fish collagen, oil and garlic) resulting in buttery-tender fish, wrapped in a sheen of silky, flavourful sauce. Accentuated by celery cream and caper gel, fried quinoa and caviar levels up its textural interest.

 
Mains offer a choice between roasted sirloin and boneless lamb rack, cooked with precise finesse. The masterstroke comes from the inclusion of medjool date jus and delicate date chutney, bestowing the dish with an understated touch of sophisticated sweetness.

 
Desserts surprise and delight, beginning with a basil water and raw almond cream, whimsically augmented by lemon peel frozen pearls. This is a refreshing prelude to the finale of of chocolate and tonka bean textures; a subtly indulgent finish to the gastronomic affair.

 
Chef Xabi’s limited-time residency promises a culinary journey of finesse and discovery, available nightly from 6.30pm to 11pm. The exclusive dinner menu is priced at RM888+ per person.

Reservation for the Sabayon X Oria dinner at Sabayon, EQ Kuala Lumpur is recommended by calling tel: 03-2789 7839, email: dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com or WhatsApp: +6 012 583 5319.
 

CHEF NAT’S FLAVOURS OF THAILAND AT NIPAH

Thailand’s foremost lady butcher and meat maestro, Natsasi Noo-in – better known as Chef Nat – wields anatomical precision with gastronomic flair, bringing invigorating Thai flavours to Nipah and Étoile, EQ Kuala Lumpur.
 
From 25 to 28 June, the tour de force of The Lady Butcher restaurant and Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) ambassador will thrill carnivores alike. Equal parts meat master, sustainability champion and culinary innovator, Chef Nat is famed for elevating secondary Aussie beef cuts and often-overlooked offal to rarefied heights. Her mantra? "Choosing ingredients is like choosing a partner and Australian beef is my perfect match."

 
EQ guests will find the chef’s custom menu a study in balance and bravado — part technical precision, part homespun Thai soul. Her Tom Saap is a fine example in which Australian beef osso buco bestows meaty essence into a muted herbal-accented broth, punctuated with wild mushrooms.

Her bright, zingy Thai Beef Salad is almost symphonic with fresh coriander, chillies, lemongrass and lime. Unmissable Young Mango, Glass Noodles and Thai Seafood Salad tango invitingly on the palate; the profusion of tantalising nuances priming tastebuds for the mains to come.

Robust, soul-warming Beef Topside Gaeng Om coaxes deep, layered complexity from humble cuts of beef and exotic Thai herbs. Underpinning her Thai background is Braised Beef Short Rib Salad with Pomelo and Mint.

She cannily banks on nam jim jeaw – the go-to Thai sauce for grilled meat to enhance the allure of her Beef Rump Carpaccio with Jaew Dressing. More fusion in approach is the Smoked Beef Brisket with Cherry Tomatoes & Burrata Cheese.

 
Seared to smoky perfection, we relish the tender Banana Leaf Grilled Australian Ribeye, complemented by a punchy roasted rice and black pepper sauce.

 
The standout Grain Fed Picanha Steak, dressed in makwaen (prickly ash, a star-anise shape spice similar to Sichuan peppercorn) spiked jaew, tastes superb paired with sticky rice. Likewise, Braised Beef Brisket with Rice Noodles piques interest with stimulating flavours.

 
Lamb lovers will find much to love with the moreish Lamb Loin Larb with Organic Greens (crisp outer crumb yielding to scrumptious lamb mince inside) and fall-off-the-bone tender Braised Australian Lamb Shank in Soy Sauce with Salted Egg Yolk.

 
The chef culminates her showcase with Mango Sticky Rice Trio and Bua Loy in Coconut Milk. These dessert treats deliver a warm, sweet ending to the meat-dominated affair.

 
Priced at RM198+ per adult and RM99+ per child (6–12 years),
Chef Nat’s specialities are available at Nipah from 25–28 June 2025, served buffet-style from 6.30pm – 10.30pm. The Étoile semi-buffet brunch on 29 June is priced at RM158+ per adult and RM79 per child.

 
For reservations, call EQ Kuala Lumpur, WhatsApp: +60 12-583 5319 or email: dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com

SUSTAINABLE FINE-DINING AWAITS AT EQ'S SABAYON X JAMPA DINNER

A four-hands, one-night only dinner partnering Sabayon’s Chef de Cuisine, Steve Ariffin at EQ with JAMPA’s Executive Chef, Rick Dingen from Phuket will be held on 26 April.
 
Billed as a sustainable seven-course menu (RM650 nett per person), the dinner will showcase T’lur – Malaysia’s own local caviar, the vaunted Harumanis mango and exotic ingredient like bael, known as the Bengal quince or wood apple.

The two culinary creatives hope to reframe diners’ perceptions of value, creativity and promote the advantages of sourcing and using local ingredients.
 
Chef and Netherlands native Dingen has chalked up stints at Michelin-starred Dutch restaurants: La Rive and De Heer Kocken. Dingen’s Chef de Cuisine phase at celebrated Bangkok restaurant Savelberg saw the restaurant awarded a Michelin star.
 
He then proceeded to the one Michelin starred and Michelin Green Star Haoma which espoused sustainable, seasonal, local ingredients sourced from farmers, breeders, fisherfolk and the restaurant’s own garden. A subsequent stint at Madison Steak Avenue, Anantara Bangkok prepared him for JAMPA in Phuket.
 
At this one-of-a-kind dining destination, Dingen assimilated his fine dining restaurant experience with the use of local produce and woodfire cooking skills, elevating JAMPA’s fame throughout Thailand where live-fire cooking and sustainable gastronomy result in sophisticated dishes that celebrate the ever-changing seasons of nature. JAMPA also owns an organic farm, reducing their environmental impact while enabling the culinary team to showcase the best from the land and sea.
 

Back on homeground, Chef Steve Ariffin’s three-year tenure at Sabayon has cemented his reputation as a technical innovator. Conceiving and curating menus for some of Malaysia’s most influential personalities, historic wineries and gastronomes, Chef Steve Ariffin will work hand-in-hand with JAMPA’s Dingen, bringing the exclusive dinner to stellar heights.

For reservations, please contact EQ Kuala Lumpur:

https://www.eqkualalumpur.equatorial.com/guest-chefs/

CITARASA NIPAH AT EQ KUALA LUMPUR

Food harking from the simple days of yore has evolved into compelling Ramadan must-haves at Citarasa Nipah, an annual Ramadan tradition at EQ Kuala Lumpur.

 

The hotel’s chefs take pride to recreate a splendid dinner buffet for the breaking of fast, ranging from fresh crudites and local salads to surefire crowd-pleasing dessert.

 

Notable curtain-raisers include savoury Bubur Lambuk, Kerabu Betik Muda, Pomelo Salad, Urap Pucuk Manis, Kerabu Jantung Pisang, and Kerabu Nangka among others.

Venturing to the mains, a dedicated salai counter serving Malay smoked meats: catfish, beef, duck and even udang galah (fresh water prawns) cooked in rich and spicy masak lemak chili api gravy beckons. Spice lovers should make a beeline for hearty Rendang Tulang Rusuk and Biryani Batu Pahat with Ayam Masak Merah.

 

Other drawcards to sample include Lamb Varuval, Indian Fish Curry, Ketam Goreng Berempah, Gulai Nangka Muda, Ayam Kuzi, Rendang Ayam, and Sayur Lodeh.

 

Enticing treats to wrap up the meal ranges from Malay Kuih, Cendol, Ais Kacang, Durian Crème Brulee, Kek Batik and Agar-agar to cite but a few examples.

Whether you aim to impress corporate guests, or gather friends and family over the Ramadan season, Citarasa Nipah dinner buffet is served from 6 to 28 March (6.30pm-10.30pm). Price: RM238+ per adult, and RM114+ per child (6 – 12 years old).

Early bird promo price of RM198+ per adult available 2 to 5 March and 29 to 30 March. Group bookings of minimum 10 persons can also enjoy the special price of RM198+ per adult.

EQ BAZAAR

Following last year’s successful debut of EQ Bazaar, the immersive concept allowing guests to browse and sample an array of street food stalls in the plush comfort of the hotel’s function rooms has returned.

Street food favourites such as Ayam Golek (Malay rotisserie chicken), Kambing Bakar, Satay, Ikan Bakar Garam, Grilled Lamb, Roti John, Murtabak, and Bakso (Indonesian meatballs in soup) await.

 

Also temptations of Daging Sambal Getuk (deep-fried beef in chilli), Ketam Masak Lemak (flower crabs in coconut milk), Chicken Rice, Fish Head Curry, and Prawn Fritters will add further variety to the spread.

 

The ever-popular air balang - beverages served in large drink containers: Sirap Bandung, Kalamansi Lime, Sweetcorn Juice, Soy Bean and Sugar Cane will quench your thirst.

Before calling it a night, feast on Malay desserts ranging from Bubur Pulut Hitam, Bubur Kacang Hijau), Ais Krim Potong, Cendol and Ais Kacang.

 

Early bird bookings from 3 to 5 March for EQ Bazaar will enjoy the special price of RM158+ per adult. Normal price (6 to 28 March) at RM178+ per adult, and RM89+ per child from 6 – 12 years old. Group bookings of a minimum of 20 persons will enjoy the special rate of RM158+ per adult.

For more information and reservations, contact EQ Kuala Lumpur:

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