Showing posts with label performance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label performance. Show all posts

Thursday, February 21, 2019

CLASSICAL AFTERNOON TEA AT THE SHANGRI-LA KL


Arch Quartet — a string quartet will perform a stirring repertoire of classical favourites to feed the soul from 3pm to 6pm every Sunday, while you savour a fine cream tea in the plush Lobby Lounge of the Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
From now until 28 February, the Afternoon Tea theme remains Chinese New Year-centric. Served on a circular-shaped, Oriental-inspired and multi-tier display stand, the dainty selection of savoury and sweet morsels including a miniature KL Tower in chocolate is a sight to behold. Come March, expect a floral theme to burst forth.
 
In their bid to evoke the current festive mood, the culinary team proffers delicious Peking Duck in Crispy Wonton Skin, Grilled Chicken Jerky in Mantou, Pickled Onion and Chicken Floss, and Seared Chicken & Chives Dumpling. While the wonton and mantou hit the spot, the dumpling tends to be a little soggy after sitting in its vinegar dip.


Deliciously crisp Sesame Prawn Toast helps to dial up the nostalgic feel alongside evergreen CNY trad treats of Ninko & Sweet Potato Spring Roll and Steamed Ninko with Grated Coconut. These go marvellously well with our freshly brewed tea.
Since mandarin oranges, tangerines and pineapples are ubiquitous in local CNY celebration, we find the chefs have drawn plenty of inspiration from those fruits for the dessert creations. Besides Plain Scones, the light, buttery Red Dates & Five Spice Scones when smeared with Pineapple Jam & Clotted Cream and Chinese Style Lightly Sweetened Butter Cream got full ‘ayes’ from all present.


A subtle hint of citrus is discernible when I sample the lush filling of the mini Ivorie Mandarin Orange Cream Hornet. The Clementine Butter Cookie is equally on-point. Prefer a dessert treat with playful flavour contrasts? We recommend the delicate Tea, Lychee & Raspberry Tart — a tempting tartlet blending the bitter astringency of tea, the sweetness of lychee and the refreshing tartness of raspberry.
Slightly high on the decadence scale would be Pistachio & Rosella Opera Slice, Prosperous Macaron with Dark Soya & Bitter Chocolate Ganache and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie & Orange Tangerine Cream Frosting. Take comfort the irresistible offerings come in small, titillating portions.

Your walk down memory lane should be accompanied by nice retro-style nibbles like Classic Kampar Cookies, Pineapple Shortcake and Golden Good Luck Coin Chocolate.

The Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Lounge is priced at RM190 nett for 2 persons and at RM320 nett for 2 persons inclusive of 2 glasses of Prosecco.  

For reservations, call Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03-2074 3900 or visit https://www.shangri-la-specials.com/web/home.aspx

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

CULINARY CHARMS OF CHINA HOUSE



Gluttony should be a virtue for those who enter the threshold of China House. Go on, cut yourself some slack and simply succumb to the siren’s call of this unique F&B haven. A brainchild of Narelle McMurtrie who founded the now defunct Bon Ton restaurant in KL then the restaurant and resort in Langkawi, China House spans 3 heritage buildings linked by an open-air courtyard in Penang.




First-timers are encouraged to enter through the 155 Beach Street entrance where the Kopi C Espresso Café & Bar is decked with a long table laden with an eye-opening parade of cakes and sweet temptations.

Stroll further in and you’d find BTB & Restaurant and Bon Ton the Shop II. The Reading Room is popular with bookworms and families − the bookcases are filled with mags and reading materials including children’s books. In addition, a small colouring and painting space here keeps the young ones occupied.

Off to the side is Vine & Single, a cosy wine and single malt whisky bar. Also onsite is 14 Chairs, a private dining space for small groups, guest chefs’ pop-up events and cooking classes.




Stepping out into the Courtyard Café & Burger Bar, this al fresco space with a pond and leafy mango trees is an oasis of calm amidst interesting wall murals. Right at the end of the outbuilding walk is the Canteen & Bar, a hot spot for music and drinks at dusk. Ascend upstairs beyond the Beach St Bakery and you’d find art galleries and a multi-purpose performance space.


 


Such a colourful and intriguing cornucopia makes China House a popular outpost with foreign and domestic visitors to Penang. When we visited on a weekday, the place was buzzing and occasionally, customers even had to wait for tables to be vacated.
 
Friends in the know already warned us ahead of time China House is a cake haven prior to our visit. A double decked bakery table beckons with no less than 30 cakes daily. Of course, it was hard for sweet-toothed peeps like us to decide so finally, we settled on two distinctly different choices: Lemon & Raspberry 3 Milk Cake (RM18+) and Pineapple Chocolate Upside Down Cake (RM12+).




Happily, my maiden encounter with this famous Mexican tres leches cake, so-called because whole milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are used to make it, was a pleasurable experience. Despite the cake’s somewhat dry appearance, we found it nice and moist. Also the lemon-raspberry accent worked like a charm and served lightly sauced, we devoured the hefty wedge down to the last crumb.




Pineapple upside down cake has always been an evergreen fave of mine but eating a chocolatey version was another first. It was agreeable taste-wise but the purist in me believes the classic recipe takes the cake anytime.

Consciously trying to fit in more greens into our meal, we then picked on a healthy serving of Avocado, Cashewnuts & Feta Salad (RM40+) as our meal opener. It proved a great choice as the substantial serving also has grapes, cranberries and peppery rocket leaves in the equation. Tossed in pomegranate dressing and crowned with a crisp slice of savoury parmesan biscotti, it was a munch-worthy speciality we’d gladly return for.




Another inspired option was Laos Chicken & Pumpkin Curry (RM40+). Similar to nasi lemak minus the unabashedly lemak-richness, the delicious platter paired a banana leaf cone of coconut rice with piquant pumpkin-chicken curry studded with pumpkin seeds. Sidelines of green mango-coconut kerabu, zesty acar, small dishes of sambal and chilli jam with fried crackers added to the homespun flavours of the meal.




I was flummoxed by the house speciality of Hokkien Spaghetti Bolognese (RM37+). The al dente spaghetti Bolognese was agreeable but I found it underwhelming for my palate, in spite of the textural and taste dimensions provided by cucumber ribbons with minced chicken, eggplant ginger bud sambal, and caramelised peanuts. Still, we were told this was a big hit with customers so you should be the best judge on whether it’s a hit or a miss.



If you have reached the tipping point with local hawker fare, find comfort in familiar Western offerings such as a decent Beef Burger (RM23+). Few can fault the decent 150g beef patty topped with melted cheese, Japanese mustard aioli, caramelised onion, and pickled Japanese cucumber with the serving of chunky fries on the side.

Non-alcoholic drinks are given ample attention here. Besides the usual gamut of canned carbonated drinks and fruit juices, it pays to peruse the lengthy beverage menu for inspiring thirst-quenchers like Gula Melaka Shake (RM20.80+), reputedly the most ordered drink in the house; a sublime, slightly nutty milkshake whipped with almonds and gooey, caramel-thick palm sugar syrup.

Other viable family-friendly options range from Oreo Milkshake (RM20.80+) to the bohemian-sounding Rainbow Juice (RM14.80+) with pineapple, strawberry and mango or freshly made Mint Lime with Cranberry (RM12.80+).
 Note:  Prices quoted inclusive 6% GST & subject to 10% service charge


For reservations, call China House, tel: 04-263 7299. Address: 153 & 155, Beach Street and 183B Victoria Street, George Town, Penang. www.chinahouse.com.my


 


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