It’s the weekend and what better way to kick back, relax and hangout with some family or friends over a spread of unlimited food than to go for a Hi-Tea session. Yes, Hi-Tea or High Tea, if you please. It’s interesting to find out that there is a difference between High Tea and Afternoon Tea. The latter, started in the UK, is more like a social gathering for ladies of the elite & leisure and it involves manners, lace and dainty foods and tea, of course. This afternoon soiree usually takes place in mid-afternoon.
Now, High Tea, on the other hand, started off as a working class meal served on a high table at the end of a workday (usually after 5pm). It’s usually a heavy meal, comprising meat, fish and vegetable dishes. Over time, and thanks to commercialization and hotels, this has evolved into a eat-all-you-can buffet, covering dishes from salads, starters, mains, to soups and desserts. High tea buffets used to be served from 3pm onwards but now it is not unusual to see hi teas starting at 12 noon!
The Dondang Sayang Coffee House at the Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur is one of those places where you can start on your Hi Tea at 12 noon. To some, that’s even too early for lunch! And certainly, the Hi Tea here offers a wide variety of dishes and there’s a new theme every week. The week I was there, it was The Taste of Malacca’s Best. The mains featured quite a no. of Nyonya dishes like Ayam Pongteh, Assam Fish (black pomfret), Duck & Pickled Vegetables Soup (“kiam-chye ark”), Chicken Debel. LL’s favourite was the Hainanese-style Lamb which was so appetizingly aromatic from the star anise, cloves and cinnamon added into the meaty stew.
The Nyonya Laksa had the right balance of flavours and I like the skewered fishballs served at the “Satay Celup” counter.
Duck & Pickled Vegetables Soup
However, I think the best item served in Dondang Sayang Coffeehouse is their satay. Both the chicken and beef satay here are extremely good. Time and effort must have been spent to get the best-flavoured marinated meats which are barbequed to the just-right level of doneness. I lost count of the no. of sticks of satay we kept piling onto our plates. The meats were so tender and tasty… and I love the lemongrass and tumeric aroma in them… really good satay, believe me.
For desserts, there’s a wide selection of local and western delights. Traditional kuehs like angkoo, onde-onde, sago gula melaka, bubur pisang, bubur cha-cha were served side-by-side with cheese cakes, puddings and pastries.
Dondang Sayang’s Hi Tea Buffet is priced at an affordable RM39++ per adult and RM25++ per child. The themed hi-tea is available on every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday from 12.00pm to 4.00pm. The themed hi-tea changes every weekend starting with Best Food from Penang, followed by Malacca, Ipoh, Western and more.
For reservations, contact 03-2160-5923 (direct line) or 03-2161-8888 ext.123
Dondang Sayang Coffeehouse
Lobby Level
Corus Hotel
Jalan Ampang
Kuala Lumpur