CHECKERS CAFÉ @ Dorsett KL

Ringing in the good cheer

November 28, 2019

Myanmar children from the Shalom Education Centre singing carols after the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Walk into the Dorsett Kuala Lumpur and your eyes will land on the colourful tinsel Christmas tree in the lobby lighted up in rainbow hues of green, red, orange, purple and blue. 

Dessert corner near the entrance to Checkers Cafe

One floor up, at Checkers Café, the mood is equally buzzing. We’re here for a preview of the Christmas buffet. Near the entrance at the dessert counter, watermelon carvings of Santa and Rudolph take centrestage.

And these are just some of the appetisers

Poached prawn and mussel on ice

The temptation to stop here is strong but there’s plenty more inside the café, from assorted appetisers, beef cold cuts, sliced rolls and salad to poached prawns and mussels on ice. There’s a good selection of dressings such as blood orange, berries, French, Italian olive and Thousand Island.

I see dainty tea cups of apple salad, macaroni salad and metal spoons filled with pear and pate while colourful sliders in Christmassy colours of green and red beckon.

Lamb Navarin

Shepherd's Pie

Beef Goulash

But I am a sucker for hot foods and I am torn between two choices of soup: Roasted pumpkin soup with roasted almond and crab-sweet corn soup. Both prove to be equally creamy and fragrant, a delightful way to whet the appetite.

I fill my plate with Lyonnais potato and honey glazed carrots, pairing these with Shepherd’s pie and lamb navarin. My Best Friend gives the thumbs-up to the beef goulash. 

Deboned Grilled Fish with lemon butter sauce

Tomato Seafood Ragout

Jamaican Jerk Chicken is full of spicy aroma

On the other side of the island table are tomato seafood ragout, eggplant moussaka, a delightful grilled fish (deboned) with lemon butter sauce and Jamaican jerk chicken that’s aromatic from the spices. There’s pilaf rice for those who must have their rice. 

Baked Salt-Crusted Salmon

Traditional Roasted Turkey with stuffing and roasted vegetables

At the carving station, baked salt-crusted salmon with mustard dill cream sauce proves popular. I’m happy to note that the salmon stays moist, not dry. So is the traditional roasted turkey with stuffing, roasted vegetables such as pumpkin and brussel sprouts. You get a choice of sauces too, such as black pepper, giblet and mushroom.

Prefer your food cooked to order? Chefs are on standby to dish up pasta as well as sausages, chicken and beef grilled a la minute.

There's not one but two cheese platters

I wander over to the cheese platters, loaded with cheddar, aged cheddar, camembert, brie, blue as well as fresh grapes, strawberries and dried apricots, prunes and mango.

Sticky caramel banana pudding

Christmas stollen with soft marzipan centre

Festive cupcakes, pies and jelly

For dessert, there’s fresh fruit and ice cream with toppings as well as marshmallows to dip in the chocolate fountain. Or pick from cookies and star-shaped ginger breads, log cakes, cinnamon apple pie and cupcakes decorated with cute snowmen and Christmas trees. Crème brulee and mousses topped with berries are a treat.

Oh, look there’s Christmas stollen with a soft marzipan centre and sticky caramel banana pudding, to which I add a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.

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Chocolate log cake, gingerbread house and macaron tower

CHECKERS CAFÉ 

(no pork served)

Dorsett Kuala Lumpur

172 Jalan Imbi, KL

Malaysia

Telephone

+603-2716 1010

Opening Hours

All-day dining

Promotion

* Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner, 7.30pm: RM118 nett, including 2 drinks and canapes at Windows Lounge (from 6.30pm)

* New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner, 7pm: RM118 nett, including 2 Countdown drinks to watch fireworks at Level 30 rooftop of Dorsett Residences in Bukit Bintang, KL.