I remember my first Christmas alone in the UK – it was particularly cold and dark that year, and almost all my friends went home for the holidays. Mulled wine and minced pie doesn’t taste as good when you’re having them alone and there was no turkey that year; I ate store-bought pizza and chips instead.
Amuse bouche of poached lobster, lobster jelly, caviar and sour cream
Back home, Christmas is a celebration with friends and loved one – with plenty to eat and drink, not to mention many pre and post lunches and dinners. The folks at Mandarin Grill are serving up a sumptuous 5-course dinner menu with a Christmas touch, starting with an amuse bouche of poached lobster, lobster jelly, caviar and sour cream.
Foie Gras Parfait with Salted Cinnamon Caramel and Citrus Brioche
Dense, rich and flavourful
I was giddy with excitement when the foie gras parfait arrived, with salted cinnamon caramel and two slices of citrus brioche. Beautiful to look at and even more beautiful to devour – rich, creamy goose liver the texture of butter on soft brioche, with the dusting of Christmas in the form of salted cinnamon caramel.
Chestnut-Belgian Endives Cream Soup
It’s beginning to taste like Christmas!
The chestnut-Belgian endive cream soup was elegant and creamy, reinforced by the sweetness of the endive. Not the type of soup I would crave for, but a good fit in the dinner menu. The poached salmon was light and delicious, set on a bed of fennel brandade to complement the natural flavour of the fish.
Poached Salmon
On a bed of fennel brandade and sauteed spinach
Sorbet — intermezzo of cranberry and cider
You get two choices for the mains – a fancy glazed duck galantine and grilled duck breast or josper grilled Australian sirloin. Naturally, I preferred the beef, cooked to medium doneness and served with potato mash, honey glazed carrots and truffle jus.
Josper Grilled Australian Sirloin with potato mash, honey glazed carrots and truffle jus
Medium doneness
Glaced Duck Galantine and Grilled Duck Breast with semolina strudel, brussel sprouts and cranberry sauce
Juicy, tender and hardly gamey
The duck breast was tender, juicy and not at all gamey while the glaced duck galantine was rich and full of flavour. I thought this was aptly paired with brussel sprouts and semolina strudel, with cranberry sauce.
Traditional English Christmas Pudding, macerated in 12-year old Scottish malt whiskey, hard sauce and hazelnut brittle ice cream
Dessert was a traditional English Christmas pudding, macerated in 12-year old Scottish malt whisky and served with hard sauce and hazelnut brittle. This tasted like a cross of fruitcake and spotted dick pudding, but much more refined.
The dinner menu is available on the 24th and 25th of December, priced at RM398++ per person (additional RM160++ for wine pairing). For dining reservations, call 03-2330 8797/8798 or email [email protected].
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Mandarin Grill
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2380 8888
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur
Facebook: MandarinOrientalKualaLumpur