[Hotel/ Dining]

Guest Chef Gari Abdel at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara

Crystal and I headed over to Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara on 1 August 2019 for official launch of the hotel’s “Flavours of Morocco” promotion in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Kuala Lumpur. The launch was held at Le Bar Cocktail & Stories and was officiated by Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara’s General Manager, Mr Franck Loison, and Madam Nawal Arifi, Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Kuala Lumpur.

The hotel invited Moroccan guest chef, Gari Abdel from Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche to prepare authentic Moroccan cuisine. We got to try some of Chef Gari Abdel authentic Moroccan dishes such as Shorba Khodar with Lemon, Artichoke Violet M’charmel, Gambas Mçharmel, a variety of tanjin, and more.

This was my first time trying Moroccan cuisine and I quite enjoyed it! Moroccan cuisine is heavily influenced by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine and therefore features produce like lamb, olives, couscous, and eggplant. We also got to try the Moroccan mint tea which was sweet and refreshing.

The “Flavours of Morocco” promotion at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara runs from 1 to 9 August 2019.

Here are the culinary highlights to expect from Guest Chef Gari Abdel:-

Buffet Lunch at Kwee Zeen

Available daily from 1 to 9 August 2019 – 12noon to 2.30pm

RM124.00nett per person

Taste of Oceana at Kwee Zeen

Every Friday, 2 & 9 August 2019 – 6.30pm to 10.30pm

RM158.00nett per person

C’est La Vie Brunch at Kwee Zeen

Sunday, 4 August 2019 – 12.30pm to 4.00pm

RM188.00nett per person inclusive of free flow of house beverages

French Moroccan Set Dinner at Nizza

1 – 5 & 7 – 9 August 2019 – 6.30pm to 10.30pm

Moroccan Masterclass followed by Lunch at Nizza

Every Friday, 2 & 9 August 2019 – 11.00am to 1.00pm

RM180.00nett per person

Apart from the Moroccan cuisine, the award-winning So SPA at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara will also be highlighting one of its award-winning treatments, the So Hammam Rituals. Whilst hammam has been at the heart of Moroccan culture for centuries, the So Hammam Ritual at So SPA, Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara combines socialising with friends with a deeply relaxing and soothing experience.

The So Hammam Rituals is an experience of the Maghreb traditional treatments, which purifies the skin with Savon Noir Beldi olive-rich black soup as well as the wrap that includes a body mask. A full body massage with tea elixir and Argon oil to complete the journey. The So Hammam Rituals is available as part of So SPA menu and priced at RM590.00nett for 120 minutes.

For enquiries and reservations, email HA123-FB4@SOFITEL.COM or call (03) 2720 6688

Photo Credits: Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara and author’s own

French Week at Gobo Upstairs Lounge & Grill, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur will be hosting French Chef David Gache from the Shangri-La Group of Hotels and Resorts to showcase some of his amazing French cuisine for a week in August 2019. Chef David honed his culinary skills at Michelin starred restaurants in Switzerland and London before going on to expand his horizon in Vanuatu, the Middle East and South East Asia. He will be making a special appearance at Gobo Upstairs Lounge & Grill to present a French gourmet experience, bringing some recipes all the way from his hometown to share with diners in Kuala Lumpur this month.

Starting from 19 August to 24 August 2019, Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur will celebrate the best of French Week by presenting dishes from the finest ingredients, bringing the taste of France in exquisite presentations right to the diner’s plates. Chef David will serve different set menus as well as an exclusive wine dinner.

The dishes featured at French Week 2019 include Scallop Carpaccio with Green and Red Apples, Apricot “Tarte Fine” with Pan fried Foie Gras, Roasted Black Cod Fish Fillet, Herbed Crust, Lemon Dill Butter Sauce, Seabass fillet “En Papillote”, Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Gratin Dauphinois, Raspberrie Valhrona Chocolate Tarte, Citrus Vacherin and more.

The Côtes du Rhône Wine Dinner will feature wines from the region of France. It will be held on 21st August 2019, priced at RM 395 nett per person.

For reservations, call +603 2332 9818 or email fbreservation.thkl@shangri-la.com

“Les Copains” Four Hands Dinner at Soleil, DC Mall

The role of a chef today is much different than it was a decade ago. Chefs used to be invisible, hidden behind the kitchen stove whipping together dish after dish, night after night without receiving much recognition. With the role of a chef changing over the years, so has the culture in the culinary world. Recipes, cooking techniques and knowledge which were once a closely guarded secret, have now become an open book. Chefs today are gaining celebrity status with worldwide acclaims and recognition bestowed upon them.

“Les Copains” is the theme of this 4-hands dinner which will be held over two nights – with mutual learning and friendship building among two great chefs who are renowned in the Malaysian gastronomic scene. After more than five years in each of their own restaurant, the collaboration between multiple award winning Chef Evert and Chef Darren goes beyond the means of providing a special meal, but to celebrate two restaurants which have held strong to their fine dining roots and beliefs.

Soleil under the guidance of Belgium Chef Evert Onderbeke has won multiple awards both locally as well as internationally. Named Time Out KL’s Best European Restaurant from 2014 to 2016 and MIGF 2015 most outstanding dining experience, most innovative cuisine, food presentation and wine pairing during the festive month. Internationally, Soleil has been awarded by Wine Spectator Magazine an Award of Excellence for two consecutive years 2018 & 2019 in which only five restaurants in Malaysia have been recognised. DC Restaurant by Chef Darren Chin is no stranger to awards and recognitions too. Voted by Malaysia Tatler as T. Dining Best Independent Restaurant of 2018, MIGF 2018 Golden Cauldron winner for best all round restaurant and numerous other awards.

For two nights only in September 2019, Soleil & DC Restaurant will play host to a unique culinary tour de force by two award-winning chefs and a very special wine pairing from the cellar of SW Wine Depot. This special event starts on 26 September 2019 at Soleil, and ends at DC Restaurant the following day, and features an 8-course, 4-hands collaboration degustation dinner menu. Priced at RM650++ per person, the two chefs are set to let loose and push boundaries to bring guests a gastronomic culinary adventure of epic proportions.

While food will definitely be the highlight of this culinary tour de force, the carefully curated selection of wines will be served to complement the meal. Soleil’s sister company, SW Wine Depot will be releasing wines from their special cellar and offer two wine pairing packages to accompany the meal. Champagne and wines such as Dom Perignon, Bonnes-Mares a burgundy grand cru of Chambolle Musigny, Château Angelus of Saint-Émilion which only as recent as 2012 has been promoted to Grand Cru Classes A status and Château Haut Brion a Bordeaux 1st growth will be among the wine offered in the premium wine pairing for the night. Château Haut Brion, is one of only five 1st Growth wines besides Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour and Margaux.