ORIENTAL GROUP'S 26TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND BANQUET SERIES

 

The rich cultural and culinary legacy of pairing and infusing Chinese liquors into gourmet creations takes the limelight for Oriental Group’s 26^th Anniversary Grand Banquet Series.

Scheduled from 13 August to 9 September at different restaurants under Oriental Group, the exclusive Grand Banquet menu curated by Noble House Senior Executive Chef Wong Chin Leong, Oriental Pavillion and Noble Mansion Senior Executive Chef Paul Lee Kim Yew, Oriental Treasure and Han Room Executive Chef Jay Chan Meng Heng, The Ming Room and Ruyi Executive Chef Vincent Ong Chee Sin, and Oriental Pavilion BBQ Chef Kent Yam Kean Boon will flex the versatility of rose flower baijiu, Japanese plum wine, sake and whiskey in masterfully crafted dishes.

According to Dato’ Sri Philip Siew, founder and chairman of the Oriental Group, “the grand banquet series brings special dishes for our loyal clientele to savour whilst pushing the envelope and enabling our chefs to go beyond their comfort zone.

“Instead of inviting guest chefs this year, our chefs have created a special menu focusing on the use of wine and liquor in Chinese cooking which goes back thousands of years. Our chefs have experimented with Shao Hsing, Moutai (Chinese distilled spirit), sake, brandy and whisky, matching the liquors with premium and quality ingredients.”

At RM2,988++ per table of 10, discerning diners will be savouring the hallowed legacy of Chinese gastronomy, elevated by the artful harmony between food and spirits.

 

Delicate sweet-sour accents from umeshu (Japanese plum wine) tickle our tastebuds as we nibble on the pretty opener of Pickled Radish Roses. Immersed for 4-6 hours in umeshu, the crunchy radish slices leave a pleasantly rounded tartness on the tongue.

 

That paves the way for a classic handcrafted Spring Rolls with Chinese Wine. This painstakingly made appetiser consists of pig’s caul stuffed and rolled with handchopped pork mince, prawns and waterchestnuts flavoured with Chinese white wine. It's moreish, biting into the crisp outer layer before the delicious meaty filling hits the palate.

Balsamic vinegar pearls add playful pops of muted sourness to the Drunken Chicken with Vinegar Pearls. First marinated then poached with Shao Xing wine and baijiu, the chicken is then pressed until firm without affecting its succulent smooth texture.  

 

Due to logistical issues, we didn’t have a chance to sample the Chilled Japanese Sake Sea Clams but presumably the dish will undoubtedly delight food lovers.

More painstaking efforts goes into the making of the XO Cognac Stuffed Duck with Whole Abalones and Fin. Imagine a whole duck meticulously deboned, stuffed with shark’s fin, diced yam and whole abalones then braised for 6 hours. The duck bones are then simmered with base stock to make a flavourful gravy-like sauce.

Suffice to say the duck meat rendered with the distinct taste of XO cognac instantly captures our hearts and mind. We love how the varied textural contrasts of the impossibly tender duck alongside toothsomely resistant abalone and tender shark’s fin level up the dish’s sublime appeal. That sumptuous rich sauce pulls it all together superbly.

Instead of soy sauce, fragrant 8 Year Aged Hulu Shao Xing is used to infuse its complex, delicate sweetness to the Steamed Wild Sultan Fish. Although there’s barely sauce, the fine fish flesh oozes with sweet richness – a melding of fish jus and the aged Chinese wine. Perking it up further is aromatic chopped and oil-scalded spring onion.

Earthy and mutedly sweet nuances make the Stuffed Prawn Paste in Morel Mushroom especially enticing. Sautéed with House Made Dried Scallop Sauce, the heap of sauteed asparagus, celtuce, Chinese yam (huai san), ginkgo nuts, fresh lily bulb and baby corn levels up the enjoyment of nutritious vegetables.

Sticky glutinous rice with Mei Kwei Lou (distilled fermented sorghum spirit infused with rose) marinated chicken is rolled up with deboned suckling pig then roast until crisp for the Suckling Pig with Glutinous Rice Rolls masterpiece.

We also relish squares of delectable Cinnamon Whiskey Braised Pork; meltingly tender layers of fat and lean pork exuding enticing hints of cinnamon and whisky.

Doubled boiled for 3 hours in coconut, the next level Red Bean Paste with Guangzhou Aged Tangerine Peel wins the day with its timeless old is gold allure.

Oriental Group’s award-winning Taro Puffs complete the stellar culinary session. The Teochew style treat of airy-light pastry dome encasing decadent yam paste is rave-worthy; a most befitting finale to the grand banquet experience.

For more information or table reservations, call +6012 811 8812 or visit orientalrestaurants.com.my.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR PRESENTS CHEQUE TO CANCER RESEARCH MALAYSIA

 

A combined total of RM89,520 was raised by Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Four Seasons Resort Langkawi from this year’s Terry Fox Fun Run.
 
The cheque was presented to Andy Khoo, CEO of Cancer Research Malaysia (right) today by Simon Barnett, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel KL (left) and Ivan Giles, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Langkawi (centre).
 
Held in May and June this year, the two hotel teams along with over 1,350 guests turned out in full force to participate and support the Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope which is celebrating its 45^th anniversary in 2025.
 
Initiated by the late Terry Fox who lost his leg to bone cancer in 1980, the then 22-year Canadian ran 5,374 kilometres across Canada raising CAD 24 million and spurred greater awareness of his vision for a cancer-free world.
 
Four Seasons founder Isadore Sharp made a commitment to uphold Terry’s legacy and today, more than 12,000 Terry Fox Memorial Runs take place around the world annually, supported by Four Seasons in several locations.
 

SHANGRI-LA KUALA LUMPUR UNVEILS 2025 MID-AUTUMN COLLECTION

The graceful peony flower is the key inspiration for Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s Mid-Autumn Festival (MAF) Collection this year. Emblematic of prosperity, honour and enduring relationships, it graces the refined MAF gift boxes and even appear in the special MAF celebratory menu (more on this later) by Executive Chinese Chef Keith Yeap.

Available now until 6 October, the Mid-Autumn Festival collection is designed for celebrants to show appreciation to those near and dear to them, and cherishing familial reunion.

 
According to Chef Keith Yeap, “Each mooncake is a gesture of heartfelt giving, whether for family, friends or business partners. It’s the sentiment behind the gift that’s meaningful. I wanted to craft flavours honouring heritage balanced by a sense of warmth and connection.”

 
Presented in striking turquoise blue and ruby red, the square, book-style Imperial Lunar Luxe Gift Set is adorned with intricately embossed floral motifs. Accented with gold detailing and a metallic nameplate, select any four full-sized baked mooncakes (160g each from RM42 per piece) from traditional and premium flavour mooncakes.

The Red Bean Paste with 40-Year-Old Dried Tangerine Skin stands out for its mellow sweetness and distinct aged citrus aroma. Purists will adore the classic White Lotus Seed Paste or more indulgent Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolk.

 
More contemporary riffs evoke by Yuzu Lotus Seed Paste with Bird’s Nest and Osmanthus White Lotus Paste with Yolk strike a modern, beguiling chord.

Nut fiends will find much to like in the Assorted Nuts and Sun-Dried Fruits variant whilst the vanilla-like scent and taste of locally inspired Pandan Lotus Seed Paste with Yolk proves winsome too.

 
Level up your grand gifting gesture with Celestial Grace Gift Set (RM538), a luxe fuchsia-red double-drawer chest bearing eight classic baked mooncakes (160g each) in classic and premium flavours: Red Bean Paste with 40-Year-Old Dried Tangerine Peel, Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolk, White Lotus Seed Paste (with or without yolk), and Assorted Nuts with Sun-Dried Fruits. Also included are Pandan Lotus Seed Paste with Yolk, Yuzu Lotus Seed Paste with Bird’s Nest, and Osmanthus White Lotus Seed Paste with Yolk.

 
A limited-edition Decade of Harmony Gift Set (RM338) also debuts in conjunction with Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s 40th anniversary. It’s a striking ruby red fine crocodile leather textured chest with a stacked four-drawer design accented with gilt corners and dainty drawer knobs.
 
Refined finishing touches include brushed metal plaque bearing the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur logo and commemorative 40th anniversary tag. Inside four artisanal mooncakes (160g each): the savoury XO Sauce Mung Bean, the indulgent, molten centre Custard Lava, the nourishing Lotus Seed Paste with Red Dates & Bird’s Nest, and the delicately floral White Lotus Seed Paste with Yolk & Rose beckon.

 
Clad in soft ivory hue with delicate pink floral motifs, a brushed gold clasp and wooden base, the keepsake worthy Moonlit Bloom Gift Set (RM338) features eight petite mooncakes (60g each): rich caramelly Toffee Butterscotch, exquisite Yuzu Lotus Seed Paste with Bird’s Nest, delicately creamy Custard Lava and fragrant Osmanthus White Lotus Seed Paste with Yolk.

 
The floral themed Blossom Gift Set (RM318) with eight petite mooncakes (60g each) of bold, creative flavours such as creamy-rich Musang King, sweet-tart burst of Mixed Berries, premium and tropical Bird’s Nest & Coconut, and the earthy with choco-nuttiness combo of Black Sesame & Nutella is conceived to appeal to the modern palate.

Die-hard durian lovers will be smitten by the Celestial Gold Musang King Treasure Gift Set (RM528) with eight snow skin mooncakes (60g each) filled with premium Musang King durian.

 
Ideal for personal and corporate gifting, Shangri-La KL’s 2025 Mid-Autumn Collection can be customised with company logos on the mooncake boxes for orders of 100 boxes and above, with minimum prior notice of seven working days.

 

Corporate clients enjoy exclusive bulk purchase benefits:
•            15% off for 200–599 boxes
•            20% off for 600 boxes and above (All discounts applicable on a single receipt).
 
Shangri-La Circle members will also enjoy 10% off purchases via Shangri-La Boutique from now until 6 October 2025, using the promo code SLCMAF25.