CROISETTE'S CHRISTMAS SHOW-STOPPERS

Pix courtesy of Croisette Cafe

It's everything but the turkey this year as far as Chef Pierre MC of Croisette Cafe is concerned. Like the proverbial magician, the French chef has pulled out notable options from his oven: capon, pork loin, Aussie beef striploin and lamb leg in place of the big bird.

Fancy some out of the box Christmas eats? Call Croisette Cafe :)

There's also a set festive Christmas menu (RM118 per person) available for dine-in or takeaway (nicely packed in a convenient bento-type box) in the week leading to Christmas.

Dainty bites to set the Christmas spirit aglow

The set menu commences with a glass of red sangria with pear dices, to get diners into the proper celebratory spirit. Petite amuse bouche: quiche lorraine bites (with real bacon!) and crisp toast squares topped with olive caviar tapenade & semi dried tomato - aptly whet the appetite for other dishes to come.

Scallop to sweeten your festive dining experience

Chef's signature pan-fried scallops on a spicy leek fondue nest will be the curtain-raiser. The subtle heartwarming sweetness of the scallops is lush on the palate, emboldened by the creamy wilted leek.

Pig out on lean pork loin with roast potatoes & ratatouille

For your main course, you can select either roasted pork loin on a bed of young veges, wholegrain mustard and sage sauce, potato paysanne and mesclun salad; braised duck breast with raspberry sauce or seabass with sauce duglere, celeriac puree and vegetable tian (sliced grilled vegetable layered on top of one another).

Demure desserts that won't pile up on the guilt factor

A rousing Christmas platter of assorted fruit tartlets, vanilla mille feuilles, mini opera with Earl Grey cream and raspberry coulis brings the indulgent feast to sweet closure.

No need to get into a flap without turkey...capon will do just as well

Family feasts and home parties are made hassle-free by the Croisette Cafe team as they're offering festive roasts for dine-in as well as takeaways this year. Just give the chef advance notice and you can be the perfect host this Christmas.

In the pink...juicy roast striploin to sink your teeth into

Our top pick is the Aussie beef striploin (RM210/kg), best served medium rare. The mildly gamey roast Aussie lamb leg (RM160/kg) weighing in at about 2.5-3kg is ample for a party of 6-10 persons.

Great bites to be had out of this lean and muscly capon

Not into red meat? Then consider a 3kg capon (castrated male chook, RM95/kg) roasted whole as the alternative. The slightly muscly meat has a nice resistant springiness to it and tasty juiciness to it, the more you chew on it.

Go green with some Caesar salad topped with poached eggs and REAL bacon

You can complement these roasts with Caesar Salad with streaky bacon (or smoked salmon) at RM25/kg (yields 5-6 portions), Ratatouille (Mediterranean medley) at RM35/kg and Roast Potato (RM35/kg).

Aussie lamb leg that's just as ideal to kick-start your Yuletide celebrations

All the roasts are served with thick meat jus gravy except for the lamb which comes with pistou (sweet basil, garlic, rock salt and olive oil) flavoured with peppercorns.

Take away these pretty jars filled with rich sauces and desserts for an easy DIY festive dinner

Also available are pretty beribboned mason jars of country-style pork liver pate (RM48/kg) and prawn bisque with rouille and croutons (RM35/500g jar; 2 servings). House dessert such as Bavarois Mango/Raspberry, Trio Choc Cake and Passion Indulgence Cake are also available at RM28/half kg.

The Christmas Set Menu is available at Croisette Cafe, 28-0-3 (level 3), Cascadium Condominum, Jalan Penaga Bukit Bandaraya, Kuala Lumpur and

Croisette Villa & Cafe Penang: 546E, Medan Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Bungah, Penang. Please call 016-330 4477 for reservations.

HOOKED ON SERENA BRASSERIE'S SEAFOOD SPREAD

After a leading city hotel created an unexpected buzz with its crab buffet, more five-star hotels have sailed into similar waters, reeling in KL-lites with lavish buffet laden with seafood of all shapes and sizes. The all-day dining Serena Brasserie at InterContinental KL which has always flaunted a sumptuous seafood spread has upped the ante with an even more diverse selection.

Fresh baits to reel in avid seafood lovers include spanner crabs, spiny lobsters, yabbies, scallops, king crab legs, jumbo prawns and mussels on the half shell. These are poached and served on an elongated bed of carved ice with assorted condiments and dips so diners can help themselves to the oceanic treasures throughout the meal.

 

Casanova no doubt would have find it hard to resist those freshly shucked oysters but for the squeamish, baked versions of the succulent molluscs are also available. If you like sashimi and sushi, there’s an array of the popular Japanese delights too.

 

Executive chef Sam Kung also exhorts us to sample the plethora of sizzling seafood and grilled meat prepared à la minute on the open charcoal-fired grill, tempting us with endless dishes of Cajun BBQ jumbo prawns, grilled crayfish and kam heong yabbies.

 

Besides the seafood fest, keep your eyes peeled on the wide range of hot and cold dishes served in the buffet. Don’t be surprised to find Venezuelan specialities or occasional themed treats popping up – these add to the element of surprise so depending on when you visit. Rest assured there’s always something new and exciting to tickle your fancy.

Get hooked on Serena Brasseries’ sumptuous seafood promotion during dinner on Fridays and Saturdays at RM120++ per adult. For a spirited affair, plump for the W.O.W (Wine of the Week) package at RM180++ per adult inclusive of one bottle of red or white wine.

For more dining reservations or for more information on Serena Brasserie, call +603 2161 1111 or visit www.intercontinental-kl.com.my.