Mooncakes @ Concorde Hotel KL

Wish upon a blue moon

August 23, 2019

Wish upon a blue moon? Why not? Even better, bring the moon home… in blue, gold or pink. These golden “cratered” globes sparkle in 3 gorgeous hues and not only do they look good in your home but will also make great gifts for family and friends.

Hand-made individually in a process that includes glass blowing and crackling techniques, these arty crackle glass globes light up to add an enchanting aura to any room.

Crackle Glass Light Globes come in 2 sizes and 3 colours

The sparkly globes use 3 AA batteries and come with a metal stand though the stand is not necessary as the can stand firmly on their own.

There are two sizes: 22cm (9ins) and 12cm (5ins). The 22cm globe set (RM138 nett) with 4 mooncakes come in 4 set combinations of baked or snowskin mooncakes. Choices include white lotus paste, white lotus with double yolk, pandan lotus, fruit & nuts, white lotus black sesame and 2 new varieties – lotus paste with lohan kor (monkfruit) & lotus paste with chestnut & custard.

The smaller light globe sets (RM90 nett for 2 globes and 2 mooncakes) have choices of Japanese red bean, yam lotus with single yolk, golden pandan pure lotus and white lotus black sesame.

Four varieties (from top) Yam Lotus Paste, Lotus Paste with Chestnut & Custard Paste,
Lohan Kor with Longan Paste and Golden Pandan Pure Lotus Paste 

I love the lotus paste with lohan kor. The aroma of monkfruit, punctuated with bits of dried longan, is intense, as is the sweetness of monkfruit and longan. 

But for those who prefer more subtle flavours, lotus paste with chestnut and custard will be a better choice.

Musang King snowskin durian

I still remember Concorde Hotel’s Musang King snowskin durian from last year. To my delight, this best-seller is available again this year, and even better, there’s no increase in price. It’s still RM168 nett for 4 pieces. When sliced, you can see layers of pure durian flesh, compressed tight. There are no additives; the flavour and aroma of the king of fruit shines clearly.

Light Globe or Lacquer Jewellery Box? So hard to decide

Lacquered Jewellery Boxes come in 4 pastel shades

Japanese Red Bean and Chocolate Peppermint mooncake

Mooncakes also come in Lacquer Jewellery Boxes (RM148 nett) containing six mini mooncake varieties such as Japanese red bean, pure lotus, golden pandan pure lotus, yam lotus paste with salted egg yolk, chocolate peppermint and pure white lotus. The two-tier boxes come in 4 pastel shades of pink, blue, red and lavender.

phoenixbee@gmail.com

Hotel Lobby (halal) 

Concorde Hotel KL

2 Jalan Sultan Ismail

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Telephone

+603-2144 2200

Promotion

·       Hotel Lobby, Concorde Hotel KL

·       South Court Mid Valley Megamall KL

·       North Court, The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, Johor Baru

The Emperor @ Dorsett Grand Subang

Just tiffin carry me home

10 August, 2019

For the Mid-Autumn season, mooncakes are the order of the day. But just as equally important are the boxes these little pastries come in and over the years, they have become more and more challenging, taking on interesting and creative shapes.

Some are so pretty that it seems a shame to discard them after the cakes are savoured. Indeed, in recent years, it’s not enough to just have pretty boxes; practicality plays a big role and now we have mooncake boxes in the shapes of bamboo bags and jewellery boxes.

This year, I’m totally in love with the Tiffin Carrier mooncake boxes that are part of the Deluxe Gift Set at Dorsett Grand Subang. The four-tier enamel tiffin carriers are reminiscent of the 1960s and come in cool pastel shades of turquoise, orange and lilac, with flowers or singing birds painted on the outside. The colours denote the 3 hotel brands under the group.

The tiffin carrier can hold four mini Dragonfruit & Black Sesame or Lotus Paste Mooncakes (RM168 nett) or four Mini Premium Musang King Durian Mooncakes (RM198 nett).

If you prefer regular box packaging, there are a variety of mooncakes to choose from, including classic flavours such as Baked White Lotus Paste with single or double egg yolk, Red Bean Paste and Baked Pandan Lotus Paste. Baked Mini Dragon Fruit & Black Sesame Mooncake is the newest variety. 

Then there are snow skin mooncakes such as its Signature Blue Pandan Lotus Paste (coloured with natural hue from butterfly pea flower) with Single Egg Yolk and of course its Mini Crystal Skin Premium Musang King Durian that’s so rich and creamy.

All mooncakes are halal-certified and, apart from Dorsett Grand Subang, are also available at other Dorsett hotels, Silka hotels and Cosmo Hotel KL. 

Deepfried Durian Fritter

Chef Bryan making Durian Fritter

The Emperor Chinese Restaurant also offers Deepfried Durian Fritters (RM30), a family recipe by Executive Chef Bryan Teh. The fritter comprises frozen durian ice cream encased in a light batter that is deepfried to a golden brown. It is to Chef Bryan’s credit that inside the crispy pastry, the durian ice cream is deliciously fruity and bursting with the aroma of durian. It’s quite da durian bomb!  

If you cannot get enough of durian, the All Things Durian Afternoon Tea at the Piano Lounge offers three tiers of durian inspired nibbles and more. 

The durian-inspired creations are a combination of local and western pastries. 

All Things Durian Afternoon Tea Set for 2 persons at Piano Lounge

Right at the top are Durian Tempura, Durian Sesame Ball and Cucur Durian, served in a woven rattan basket. The middle tray has soup spoons filled Durian Swiss Roll and Durian Pudding. On the bottom tray, we see glasses of Durian Panacotta, Durian Pancake and Durian Cream Puffs.

We are also served sweet Green Pea Bubur with Durian and a tall glass of hot Teh Tarik.

phoenixbee@gmail.com

THE EMPEROR (pork-free)PIANO LOUNGE (pork-free)

Dorsett Grand Subang

Jalan SS12/1, Subang Jaya, Selangor

Telephone

+603-5031 6060

Promotion

Baked Mooncakes: (from RM28 to RM36)

Crystal Skin Mooncakes: Premium Musang King Durian Mooncake (RM33, 2-day advance order required), Butterfly Pea Flower Pandan Lotus Paste with single egg yolk (RM33), Red Bean Paste (RM26)