Every year, when the year-end festive season swings by, the chefs in Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur put on their most ferocious creative caps and come up with an endless list of delicious items to feed the hordes of hungry guests. Well, this year is no different. The F&B team has come up with a “White Christmas” spread that is quite unrivalled, in terms of selection and quality.
Head for their signature restaurants Essence and Villa Danieli as the Christmas and New Year festivities will be the highlights there. Just to give you a heads-up on what’s going to be happening there, here’s a condensed preview of the festive delights in Essence and Villa Danieli.
ESSENCE
Essence, the all-day-dining restaurant, is a buffet paradise. If you are energetic, have a fierce appetite with a bottomless stomach, Essence will be your dream food playground. During this festive period, indulge yourself in the following feasts:
Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner @ RM138++ per person (food only); RM178++ per person (inclusive free flow of house wines and draught beer).
Time: 6.30pm-10.30pm
Pan-seared Maguro with toasted baby arugula, candied peaches and baked ricotta cheese
Stuffed Snow Crabmeat in roasted bell peppers
The buffet is vast, and I mean really vast. If I have to pick my favourites, check out the Pan-seared Maguro with toasted baby arugula, candied peaches and baked ricotta cheese, Stuffed Snow Crabmeat in roasted bell peppers, Roulade of Chicken Breast stuffed with organic spinach, roasted pecans and prunes in tangy creamy sauce and Saute’ed Pacific Shore Scallops with asparagus spears.
Roulade of Chicken Breast stuffed with organic spinach, roasted pecans and prunes in tangy creamy sauce
Christmas Day Brunch @ RM158++ per person (food only); RM378++ per person (inclusive free flow champagne, house wines and draught beer)
Time: 12.00pm-3.00pm
Sleep in on Christmas Day and then head on later for the brunch in Essence. Make sure to go with an empty stomach because there will be plenty to fill it up at the buffet. Feast on some light and refreshing salads and appetizers before going for the main kill.
I love the thinly sliced Roast Beef with horseradish, sliced gherkins, grain mustard and wash them down with some sweet Rabbit Consomme. Don’t miss the Mississippi-style Dry Rub Beef Shortribs glazed with Coke BBQ and the sliced Red Mullet with saute’ed seasonal vegetables in shellfish bisque.
Roast Beef with horseradish, sliced gherkins & grain mustard
Red Mullet with saute’ed seasonal vegetables in shellfish bisque
Mississippi-style Dry Rub Beef Short Ribs glazed with Coke BBQ sauce
For dessert lovers, there are plenty of Christmassy goodies on the counters. I had a hard time choosing from Coconut Mousse with passionfruit jelly Yule logs, white tiramisu, Lychee Pannacotta, White Chocolate and Gingerbread cheese cake, Christmas puddings and my favourite Vanilla Buttercream Yule log. There are plenty more, I promise you.
New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner @ RM158++ per person (food only); RM220++ per person (inclusive free flow champagne, house wines and draught beer)
Time: 6.30pm-10.30pm
Smoked Black Pepper Duck Breast with sweet plum sauce
Heirloom Tomato, shredded Buratta, basil pesto & pecorino shavings
The feasting continues for New Year’s Eve. Besides the regular spread of local and international favourites, look out for the Smoked Black Pepper Duck Breast with sweet plum sauce, the appetizing Shellfish Bisque and the tender Slow-braised Lamb Leg on Black Pepper Udon and edamame beans.
Slow-braised Lamb Leg on Black Pepper Udon and edamame beans
New Year’s Day Brunch @ RM168++ per person (food only); RM388++ per person (inclusive free flow champagne, house wines and draught beer)
Time: 12.00pm-3.00pm
Fried Calamari with shredded cabbage
Mexican ancho chilli dry rub Salmon with cilantro & citrus mango salsa
My favourites from this spread are the crunchy Fried Calamari with shredded cabbage, Mexican ancho chilli dry rub Salmon with cilantro & citrus mango salsa and New Orleans Bay oven-roasted chicken thigh with coffee-infused BBQ sauce. Oh did I mention the Szechuan Hot & Sour Soup here is very good?
The festive desserts will still be available – zoom in on the Christmas brownies and mince pies before they disappear!
VILLA DANIELI
The lovely Tuscany-styled Italian restaurant in Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur exudes rustic charm and is the perfect spot for a more intimate and romantic meal. The jovial Executive Sous Chef Kamaruddin Adnin and his team have outdone themselves with some spectacular festive menus. For a relaxing sit-down meal, indulge yourselves in the following courses:
Christmas Eve 3-course Dinner inclusive of White Christmas themed antipasto buffet @ RM220++ per person
Time: 6.30pm-10.30pm
Squid Ink Gnocchi in triple cheese sauce
What thrilled me here are the Squid Ink Gnocchi in triple cheese sauce and the amazing Roasted stuffed chicken roulade bursting with spinach on a bed of thyme-infused pumpkin mash, topped with a pretty orange glazed baby carrot with a splashing of wild mushroom and cranberry sauce. Equally impressive and delicious is the Pan-seared Snapper Fillet with braised “theme bean”. Being Christmas, the dessert to have is of course the warm Chocolate Pudding with marinated fruits and chilli lemon granita!
Roasted Stuffed Chicken Roulade
Pan-seared Snapper Fillet with braised “theme bean”
New Year’s Eve 4-course Dinner inclusive of antipasto buffet @ RM230++ per person. Top up additional RM150++ per person for wine pairing.
Time: 6.30pm-10.30pm
Mascarpone & Spinach Ravioli served with marinated Mediterranean vegetables
I totally enjoyed the Mascarpone & Spinach Ravioli served with marinated Mediterranean vegetables topped with sage butter, foie gras terrine and green pea foam. This was matched by the Oven-roasted Australian Beef Striploin with gnuddi, colourful petite cubes of soffritto and sprinkled with shaved parmesan. Next on my favourite list was the tasty Pan-seared Swordfish on a bed of mixed lentils paired with some saute’ed fennel and asparagus and swathed with smoked green pepper puree.
Oven-roasted Australian Beef Striploin with gnuddi, colourful petite cubes of soffritto and sprinkled with shaved parmesan
Pan-seared Swordfish with mixed lentils, saute’ed fennel and asparagus and smoked green pepper puree
Tangy Lemon Spiral Pasta Salad
Spinach Frittata with Summer Vegetables Oil
New Year’s Day Brunch inclusive of antipasto buffet @ RM138++ per person. Top up additional RM220++ per person for bottomless champagne, house wines, draught beer and juices.
Time: 12.00pm-3.00pm
What’s really great about the New Year’s Eve Dinner and New Year’s Day Brunch is the eat-all-you-can antipasto spread laid out.
Roasted Pumpkin with Baby Spinach & Walnuts
Skillets and pots are filled to the brim with good old traditional Italian bites like Roasted Beef Salad with mustard dressing and arugula, Smokey Rosemary Salmon with orange cinnamon drizzle, Spinach frittata, colourful spiral pasta salad and wood oven roasted potato salad with anchovy, shallots and garlic oil. For more substance, there are the sweet pepperoni, bamboo lamb chorizo and all kinds of grilled vegetables.
Smokey Rosemary Salmon with orange cinnamon drizzle
Wood Oven-roasted Assorted Potato Salad with Anchovies, Shallots & Garlic Oil
So, before you hop over to Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur, please make your reservations to avoid disappointment.
Executive Sous Chef Kamaruddin Adnin
For reservations, please call 03-2717-9900 or
email [email protected]
Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
www.sheratonimperialkualalumpur.com