A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE FEAST AT LE MERIDIEN PUTRAJAYA

Chicken Mushroom and Sweet Onion Pie. Norwegian Salmon with Apricot Gravlax. Whole Roasted Turkey with Bread Chestnut Stuffing. Christmas Mince Pie and Pudding. Gingerbread Men. Stollen. Chocolate Madeleines.

A fairy tale parade of festive food to leave year-end party revellers replete awaits at Le Meridien Putrajaya. The culinary team has gone and pulled out the stops, creating a mesmerising wonderland to please the eyes, tease the tastebuds and satisfy growling stomachs.

 

Get off to a fresh start with healthy and delicious salads such as Smoked Duck Cubes, Orange Segments and Pomegranate Salad, Microgreens with Roasted Garlic and Poached Pears, Mediterranean Couscous Salad, and Edamame with Seafood Salad. The multitude of textures and bright, tantalising flavours are light yet distinct; a splendid way to prime the palate for more substantial mains.

As with any buffet spread, it pays to be selective. Encased in buttery-rich pastry crust, the Chicken Mushroom and Sweet Onion Pie is delectable enough to warrant a second helping.

 

Tender with a hint of honey sweetness, the succulent slices of Norwegian Salmon with Apricot Gravlax hits the spot too. For finger-licking goodness, sample some Louisiana BBQ Short Ribs with Roast Vegetables.

 

Fans of ‘big bird’ will be ecstatic to know the Yuletide buffet won’t be complete without Whole Roasted Turkey with Bread Chestnut Stuffing. The meat is scrumptious; best savoured with giblet gravy, cranberry sauce and a hearty portion of herb-dusted bread chestnut stuffing.

Pastry Chef Hansraja Jayaraman and his team also step up to the plate with a cornucopia of cherished Christmas treats. One of the show-stealers is Poached Peach Buche De Noel – a luscious French yule log with a creamy filling of poached peach instead of chocolate ganache.

Another on-point favourite is Stollen – its bread-like texture studded with bits of dried fruit. Touched with spices and slightly nutty to taste, the Assorted Christmas Cookies make compelling nibbles to sweeten the celebratory meal.

 

 

 

Whimsical accents abound with little chocolate men adorning glasses of Chilled Berry Jellies, cute marzipan figurines perched atop a snow-white Gingered Christmas Fruit Cake, and mini gingerbread men flanking Gingerbread Houses.

 

 

A Christmas Mince Pie, Chocolate Madeleines, Mini Christmas Puddings, Macarons and an Eclair Tower complete the irresistible dessert parade.

The Christmas Eve dinner buffet is priced at RM168 nett per adult and RM84 nett per child. The Christmas Day brunch is priced at RM148 nett per adult and RM74 nett per child, while the Christmas Day buffet dinner is priced at RM138 nett per adult and RM69 nett per child.

For reservations, call LATEST RECIPE, tel: 03-8689 6888/6862. Address: Le Meridien Putrajaya, Lebuh IRC, IOI Resort City, Putrajaya, Sepang, Selangor.

SWEET CHRISTMAS BOUNTY AT LEMON GARDEN

Surrender to sweet temptations when you celebrate Christmas at Lemon Garden, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur this year. Festive dessert steals the limelight; from luscious Sicilian Cheesecake to sugar-dusted Cristollen, the sweet selection trumped even the main buffet bounty.

My personal fave is the fruity sweet and nutty Peach & Almond Crumble Pie. Lightly rich on the tongue, the peachy segments are almost sensuous in texture.  Also hitting the mark are Mince Pies, Classic Yule Log Chocolate, Almond Pound Cake and Chestnut Chocolate Layer Cake.

Laden with green tree-shaped frosting, Christmassy cupcakes beckon alongside berry-fruity cakes, gingerbread, spiced star cookies, mini shooters of fruit mousse and jars of berry compote with vanilla sauce.

When it comes to seafood, the surfeit of crabs, mussels, scallops, crayfish and prawns is unrivalled in town. My seafood loving friends take to the feast swimmingly and have nothing but praises for the bounty.

I’m happy to carve a generous slice of Roasted Duck marinated with orange as my main savoury option. The faintly gamey duck meat is delectable, bathed in zesty orange sauce and its own jus. Fat spears of asparagus also boosted the enticing appeal of Baked Duck Breast.

Salads come in different tantilising guises too. Keep your eyes peeled for juicy tomato halves topped with stretchy, creamy mozzarella slices, diced beetroot with bits of feta and mini salad jars of corn and mixed leaves.

Wander over to the Italian corner for oven-fresh, paper-thin and crisp pizza topped with wilted spinach, tomato slices, artichokes or pepperoni and appetisers like stuffed peppers with ricotta. Chefs are also on standby to rustle up pasta dishes of your choice on request.

Prices for the festive buffet are as follow:

Christmas Eve Lunch Buffet

24 December, 12noon – 3.00pm
Price: RM193 nett – adult / RM96.50 nett – child

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet

24 December, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Price: RM293nett – adult / RM146.50 nett – child

Christmas Day Lunch Buffet

25 December, 12noon – 3.00pm
Price: RM273 nett – adult / RM136.50 nett – child

Christmas Day Dinner Buffet

25 December, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Price: RM263nett – adult / RM131.50 nett – child

For reservations, please call Lemon Garden, tel: 03-2074 3900 or email: restaurantreservations.slkl@shangri-la.com or visit Shangri-La KL’s website: https://www.shangri-la-specials.com/promotions/promotions.aspx