LE GOÛTER FRENCH AFTERNOON TEA

Afternoon tea may have started with the 7th Duchess of Bedford but oh là là, le goûter is  tea-time in France. Word has it that a sweet snack like biscuits or chocolate in bread is de rigueur after school to keep the young ones going till dinner. I found this blog offers a good explanation of le goûter: https://www.loumessugo.com/en/blog/entry/what-is-gouter-it-s-tea-time-kids

As expected, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur - as an Autograph Collection property, bestows its own inimitable take on Le Goûter Afternoon Tea. Served in the warmly welcoming, French-style Brasserie 25, you'd be charmed by its exposed rust-red brick arcades, mid-century copper sputnik chandeliers and dark wood floors.

Once we were seated, a chilled welcome drink known as Paradise Pink set a refreshing pace for our maiden French afternoon tea experience. I enjoyed sipping the subtly sweet, pleasant guava juice and pineapple juice concoction mixed with grenadine syrup while the Brasserie 25 team swanned about, discreetly going about their tasks.

Presented in a boxy copper warmer, the curtain-raiser featured a triple serving of Mini Salmon Quiche, Sardine Curry Puffs, Deep-fried Samosas and Arancini Balls. We partook the delicious savoury snacks with freshly brewed cups of Cameronian Gold Blend tea. Coffee is also available for those who yearn for a caffeine fix.

Both the quiche and deep-fried risotto balls covered in breadcrumbs were rich and hearty with varying textures and lushness to tickle the tastebuds. Although we left the curry puffs and samosas for consumption later, the pastries remained flaky and crisp without any trace of residual greasiness. Fillings of both the local pastries were generous and flavourful too.

Two triangular pieces of toasty Grilled Cheese Sandwich made a welcome addition to the line-up. It reminded me of carefree childhood days when the simpler things in life like sandwiches for tea was a treasured treat.

True to its French roots, Le Goûter boasts a comprehensive showcase of sweet temptations. After all, the art of patisserie is much respected so afternoon tea guests here are plied with a heart-stopping selection of delicate French dessert. Presented with white gloved service and proffered on a silver tray, I daresay the visually pleasing and sublime creations would please even the infamous Marie Antoinette who immortalised the "let them eat cake" quote.

My favourite is the Lemon Meringue Tart followed by the delicate Raspberry Macaron. The crunchy Almond Biscotti and Orange Madeleine also hit the spot when paired with cups of milky tea.

The charming frontliners were adept at persuading us to sample the extensive array. We readily succumbed to their gentle coaxing and indulged in dainty portions of the heavenly Almond & Cherry Clafoutis, Langues de Chat - a feather-light, buttery biscuit shaped like a cat's tongue, White Chocolate Truffle Cake and Almond Financier.

Le Goûter Afternoon Tea is served daily from 3 pm - 6pm @ RM70 per person. We were told it has been a runaway success since its introduction especially on weekends so it's advisable to reserve ahead should you wish to experience it.

For reservations, please call Brasserie 25, tel: 03-2038 0000. Address: Hotel Stripes KL - Autograph Collection, 25 Jalan Kamunting, Kuala Lumpur. Website: http://stripeskl.com

ACCCIM LAUNCHES FOOD TRAIL WEBSITE

Food brings people together. Realising this and the wondrous food scape of Malaysia is a carrot that draws in tourists, The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCCIM) launched the ACCCIM Food Trail website to promote Malaysia’s rich melting pot of multi-cultural cuisine.

Officiated by Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap (top pix), President of ACCCIM, the launch at Lot 10 Shopping Centre was attended by Dato’ Joyce Yap, CEO – Retail, Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd who is also the Chairperson of ACCCIM Tourism Committee, along with Joseph Yeoh, Vice President of YTL Land & Development Bhd and YTL Hotels & Properties Sdn Bhd.

According to Dato’ Joyce Yap, “sensory experiences such as dining out cannot be replicated online. It’s an experiential affair encompassing atmosphere, ambience, delicious food and good service.”

Hence the ACCCIM Food Trail website is timely since food tourism is fast gaining traction in Malaysia. According to Tan Sri Datuk Ter, “promoting local cuisine requires marketing initiatives and planning and co-operation among different agencies and the extensive use of social media.”

Tan Sri Datuk Ter said: “The main objective is to showcase Malaysian street food and to promote food tourism. We want to explore potential business growth between the F&B industry and inbound tourism. We have solicited food recommendations via our Constituent Chambers around Malaysia and further suggestions are welcomed.”

To mark the launch of the ACCCIM Food Trail website with a bang, the three VIPs proceeded to pound spices using the pestle and mortar.

For more information, visit http://www.acccim.org.my/tourism/