How do you like your durians? Fresh? Or cooked and made into desserts? Some people are averse to eating cooked durians but the King of Fruits can be made into so many different types of sweets and injecting them with its unique flavor.
CAKES
Durians are widely added to cakes as these are extremely popular. Due to the mushy texture of mashed durians, it’s rather tricky to balance it in the cake recipe. Two of the most outstanding cakes featuring durians that are my favourite are from Just Heavenly and Bijan Restaurant.
Chocolates and durian are an excellent pairing. Good quality durians like D24 are used. The unmistakable durian aroma blends in well with the chocolate between the soft spongey cake layers.
Just Heavenly’s Chocolate Durian Cake: RM13.90/piece
Just Heavenly Cafes are at:
Bangsar Shopping Complex (Tel:03-2011-4866)
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 03-21415150
Jaya One (Tel: 03-79555212)
Bijan’s Chocolate Durian Cake: RM15++ per piece
W.e.f. 8 Aug 2014: RM18++
Bijan Bar & Restaurant
3 Jalan Ceylon
50200 Kuala Lumpur
GPS: 3.1483420, 101.7050030
Tel: 03-20313575
Opens: Mondays to Friday 4.30pm –11.00pm
PANCAKES
Wrapped in soft fluffy crepes, the durian and fresh cream filling inside the golden packages are divine. Lai Po Heen’s durian pancakes are legendary. It is the must-have dessert for any durian lover dining in this Chinese restaurant. The pancakes are served chilled and the proportion of fresh cream to durian is well balanced.
Price: RM38++ for 3 pieces
Lai Po Heen
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50450 Kuala Lumpur
GPS: 3.1560508, 101.7119891
Tel: 603-2380-8888
Website: www.mandarinoriental.com
Open from 12pm to 2.30pm for lunch (Mondays-Saturdays) and 11am to 3pm
(Sundays & Public Holidays). Dinner is served daily from 7pm to 10.30pm
For dining reservations, please call +603-2179-8885 or email [email protected]
DURIAN CREAM PUFFS
Crispy skinned puffs made from choux pastry with soft fluffy centres are slit in the middle and into this space a big dollop of creamy durian paste is pumped. The durian paste is only pumped in upon order so that the puffs do not go limp.
Price: RM4.50 per piece @
Mello Yello Bakery
Hero SuperMarket
No.1 (Block 2) Jalan Vanilla Anggerik W31/W
Kota Kemuning
40460 Shah Alam
GPS: 3.0054320, 101.5386460
Opens 11.00am to 10.00pm daily
MOONCAKES
Mooncakes have already appeared in many restaurants and hotels even though the Mid Autumn Festival is still about 2 months away.
Among the many outlets which offer durian mooncakes, my favourite ones are from Concorde Hotel and The Hilton Kuala Lumpur. Both hotels’durian mooncakes are of the snowskin type. Only topnotch quality durians are used by both hotels, ie Musang King are the durians of choice.
The premium Musang King makes all the difference as every bite of the thick creamy sweet durians in the moon cake is like eating pure unadulterated durians. Each of Concorde Hotel’s durian moon cake uses 120g of pure Musang King!
Hilton’s “Heavenly Gold”is very popular and since its introduction some years ago, it has been making its appearance every year. Be sure to place orders in advance to avoid disappointment.
Price: Heavenly Gold @ RM38++ per piece @
Hilton Kuala Lumpur
3 Jalan Stesen Sentral
50470 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2264-2264
GPS: 3.1329120, 101.6856640
Price: RM42 nett per piece @
Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur
2 Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2144-2200
GPS: 3.1506410, 101.7104400
SHAVED ICE DESSERTS
Tracka Durian Snow Ice is a shaved ice dessert served in Tong Pak Fu. The sublimely fine creamy shaved ice (almost like ice cream!) is mixed with Tracka durian pulp so it’s really fragrant. The mountain of soft velvety shaved ice is served with grass jelly and sago pearls by the side with crunchy cornflakes sprinkled all over the top. I never share my favourite tracka durian snow with anyone!
Price: RM11.80 (regular portion), RM14.80 (large portion)
Tong Pak Fu is available at these Klang Valley malls:
Suria KLCC, MidValley Megamall, Empire Subang, Metro Genting Klang, Paradigm Mall
At the Express Cafe, the Durian Snow Ice is served with tangy jelly cubes and boiled yam and sweet potatoes by the side, leaning towards the Taiwanese style. The durian is fragrant and well infused in the shaved ice.
Price: RM8.90 per bowl @
Express Cafe
43 Persiaran Anggerik Vanilla Business Park 1
Kota Kemuning
40460 Shah Alam
This post was first published on HungryGoWhere Malaysia on 31 July 2014.