CLASSIC JUADAH RAMADAN AT COSMO KL

Few people can resist breaking fast with classic Malay kampung dishes during the month of Ramadan and the culinary team at Cosmo Hotel Kuala Lumpur is banking on the tried-and-tested to please the crowd. Served at Mint Café from 5 May to 3 June, the Juadah Ramadan buffet dinner will please sticklers of tradition, from appetisers to dessert.

Opening volleys of assorted kerabu (local salad) such as cockles, prawn with young mango, smoky beef strips and local fern shoots with grated coconut alongside herbaceous greens and pickles will tickle the tastebuds.

 

Mildly spiced Sup Ekor Lembu (oxtail soup) and Bubur Lambuk (savoury spiced rice congee with beef) are genteel choices to ease patrons after their day-long fast. The impending festive Hari Raya mood is evident with the inclusion of Lemang and Ketupat Palas (glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves) with Serunding (beef floss). Some Rojak Buah (fruit & vege salad) won’t be remiss either as a healthy option.

Notable main dishes to feast on include punchy hot Talapia Sambal Hijau (fried fish topped with pounded green chilli), creamy and redolent with turmeric and heady spices Daging Panggang Masak Cili Padi (beef slices in bird’s eye chilli and coconut milk gravy), and Siput Sedut Masak Lemak (snails in rich creamy turmeric-flavoured gravy). 

 

Festive specialities run the gamut from Ayam Masak Merah (red-cooked chicken with tomato, chilli and spices), Ikan Bakar (grilled fish), Satay and Roast Lamb to Lala Masak Paprik (Thai-style clams with chilli) and Kari Kepala Ikan Merah (fish head curry).

Dessert to sweeten the senses range from colourful Malay Kuih and deep-fried banana fritters to various ice-creams and cool shaved ice treat of ais kacang.

 

 

Early bird vouchers for the Juadah Ramadan buffet is only RM65 nett per adult for purchases made between 29 April and 4 May. From 5 May to 3 June, the regular price of RM88 per adult will be applicable.

For information, call Cosmo Hotel KL, tel: 03-2030 1888 or email: chkl.ramadan@cosmohotelkl.com Address: 13-15, Leboh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

AFTERNOON TEA WITH TIFFANY AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KL

 

An epitome of luxury, love and joy for over more than 175 years, the signature robin egg blue of Tiffany & Co. makes its presence felt at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with The Lounge’s Afternoon Tea with Tiffany experience, available now until 16 June.

 

Through the Hotel’s collaboration with Tiffany & Co., an authentic Tiffany’s table setting replicating the charming ambience of The Blue Box Café™ back in Fifth Avenue, New York takes pride of place.

For the uninitiated, The Blue Box Café™ — located on the 4^th Floor of Tiffany & Co. New York flagship store — has a 6-month waiting list for those who yearn to sample the legendary breakfast, lunch and tea at Tiffany. The dream eats list includes The Ten Carat Breakfast (USD100), a platter of buttermilk waffle luxed up with 30g Siberian Ossetra caviar and lemon crème fraiche.

Closer to home, I was ecstatic when Dato’ Rosemarie Wee of Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur extended an invitation for moi to experience the Tiffany-inspired afternoon tea. The show-stopping cache centres on a beautifully laid table set with limited edition Tiffany tableware in white and robin egg blue, specially brought in from The Blue Box Café™. This sophisticated setting befits the Tiffany-inspired tea menu curated by Executive Chef Junious Dickerson.

Inspired by Tiffany’s latest Believe in Love jewellery line, the gorgeous handcrafted afternoon tea treats come clad in that iconic robin egg blue and white hues. Hats off to Chef Junious Dickerson and team for getting the hallmark shades down pat.

 

Presented on a tiered stand, we couldn’t stop gushing over the lovely creations. The most pix-worthy is undoubtedly the dainty candied peel-studded Royal Spice Cake in a beribboned, fondant Tiffany Box. Another gem is the luscious Chocolate Praline with Mandarin Orange Gel shaped like a multi-faceted, gold-flecked turquoise jewel.

My favourite is Gateau Napolitaines with Raspberry Jam, a disc of icing-covered buttery shortbread biscuit topped with lush vanilla mousse and raspberry jam. Coming in a close second is the ethereal Chocolate Gianduja Plaisir Sucre Cake — wafer-thin chocolate praline layered with chocolate whipped cream on hazelnut cake base coming in a close second. An airy-light Elderflower Choux Puff adorned with a white chocolate feather and crisp Blueberry Macarons with Mascarpone Crème complete the on-point selection.

The Lounge’s Signature Tea Blend, brimming with discernible peach and tropical fruit nuances, is a perfect accompaniment for the array of marvellous morsels. No classic cream tea is complete without scones and we dare say the warm Plain and Raisin Scones here doesn’t disappoint. All the scones need is a liberal spread of Devonshire Clotted Cream, Strawberry Jam and Lescure Butter.

On the savoury front, the winsome quintet features miniature New York Ruebens with Peppered Pastrami, Sauerkraut and Provolone, Egg Salad with Poached Asparagus and Truffle Crème on Pain au Lait (French milk bread), Foie Gras Mousse in Bouche with Blue Pea Flower Jewels, Cucumber with Aged Feta Cream, Fennel Pollen, Olive Oil Pearls on Sundried Tomato Bread and Cured Salmon Rillettes on Purple Potato Blini. Nothing is more satisfying than sampling thoughtfully curated, detailed creations in the company of good friends.

An Afternoon Tea with Tiffany is priced at RM158 nett, will be served at The Lounge daily from 2.30pm to 5.30pm until 16 June. Limited edition Tiffany tableware will be used exclusively for reservations of 8 guests or more. Reservations are highly recommended.

Please call Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03-2382 8650 for reservations and information. 

CITARASA 6 SEKAWAN AT MELTING POT CAFE

Black pepper, candlenut, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and star anise are the six main spices used in the myriad of dishes cooked for the upcoming buka puasa season. Hence the kitchen brigade of Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur has opted to unleash a nightly breaking of fast spread aptly titled Citarasa 6 Sekawan from 6 May to 4 June.

Based on three rotational menus, a staggering 160 dishes comprising Malay, Indian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine will be served for Iftar. Refreshing drinks (think milky iced tea with coffee jelly, soya bean, sugar cane, sirap bandung, etc) set the ball rolling in addition to dates and dried apricots.

Returning by popular demand are Bubur Lambuk and Sup Gearbox — two perennial offerings bound to make diners smile from ear to ear. The latter is sought-after as the chef on duty will even customised the soup to your taste, adding extras such as tripe and beef cartilage. Also on the menu is the siren’s call of chilled seafood: oysters, mussels and prawns alongside sushi and sashimi.

Kerabu, Sambal and the grand centrepiece of a whole Roast Lamb remain the key crowd-pullers, whetting the appetite before they dive into the extensive variety of hot dishes.

 

Notable spicy local, Padang and Thai temptations include Fish Head Curry, Siput Sedut Masak Lemak, Asam Pedas Tenggiri, Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak, Daging Dendeng Belado, Sambal Ikan Bilis Petai, Ikan Bakar Percik and Red Beef Curry with Fruit. The Indian spice larder makes its presence felt in claypots laden with Butter Chicken, Mee Goreng and Lamb Varuval.

 

A distinctly bazaar feel dominates the buffet thanks to the live action stations dishing up Teppanyaki, Roti John, Tosai and Fried Crabs and Chicken hot off the wok. Billowing steaming baskets of Dim Sum and Steamed Thai-style Fish add to the convivial dining atmosphere.

 

 

Remember to leave tummy space for the veritable array of dessert. Recommended picks such as Apam Balik, Onde Onde, Cekodok Pisang, Kuih-muih, Pulut Serawa Durian, Ais Krim Potong and Continental Cakes will leave you spoil for choice. A surefire sweet conclusion to the Citarasa 6 Sekawan dining affair.

Dinner reservations for the said buffet made between 6-10 May and 2-4 June will be entitled to special price of RM118 per person. The regular price is RM138 nett per adult while children aged 5-12 years old will be charged at 50% off the adult price.

 

For reservations, call Melting Pot Café, tel: 03-2717 223. Address: Lobby Level, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL.