Malaysia : REVIEW - Sajian Istimewa by Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur

Ramadhan 2020 is going to be a memorable one for us all — a year where we embrace the ‘new normal’ into our daily lives in battling the coronavirus.

Though the Malaysian government has loosened the Movement Control Order (MCO) to Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), we have to remember that home is still the safest place to be (at the moment). Unless for essentials like work and getting groceries or medications, we should really consider staying home no matter how much we miss going to food bazaars and breaking fast at restaurants alike.

I know some restaurants and hotels are opening doors to diners these days but I still prefer to have my food delivered to my doorstep. That’s why I was more than thrilled to have Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur extend their warm hospitality right into the comfort of my home with their specially curated Iftar menu : Sajian Istimewa. Who would’ve thought we could still enjoy sumptuous hotel spread in times like this!

Lamb Shank Biryani

This lamb shank biryani was cooked to perfection! A generous portion of lamb shank pieces with meat so tender that they melt off the bones — mmm salivating while I type this. A dish that’s bursting with flavours! The biryani rice was so tasty that I forgot how many servings I had. Honestly, if you love lamb dishes, you would love this!

Beef Rendang

It isn’t Eid in Malaysia if you don’t eat rendang! Eventhough we are still in Ramadhan, but a pre-Eid meal wouldn’t hurt anybody. That perfect caramelisation of coconut milk in the rendang makes the dish so delicious. I find the meat to be a tad bit tough but the depth of flavour in the gravy really makes up for it. While the menu says that this dish should be spicy, there was barely any heat. Even my three year old enjoyed this dish so, a win in my book!

Chicken Curry Kapitan

A thicker, richer version of your conventional chicken curry — YAS, my kind of curry! Before this, the only time I could truly enjoy a chicken curry Kapitan was when I travel out of Kuala Lumpur. Now, I’m so glad that Shangri-La has brought this closer to home! This dish definitely hits the right spot. The tender chicken pieces absorbed the flavours and aroma of the spices from it’s tasty curry gravy. I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner BUT we had no leftovers.

Fish Head Curry

Light full bodied curry? Checked! Generous serving of fish heads? Checked! Fresh okras and eggplant incorporated in the curry? Checked! This aromatic dish carried little to no heat, so everyone can truly enjoy the curry. That’s why it was like a battle of ‘you snooze, you lose’ at our table during Iftar. The curry was addictive and well-balanced. Not going to lie, it is a little bit oily but other than that I have no complaints and YOU, have to try this!

Vegetable Dhall Cha

I love the versatility of Dhall Cha! You can pair it with Indian dishes, it would taste great. You can also pair it with Malay cuisine and still taste delicious. For us, the Dhall Cha completed our Iftar menu. There were variety of vegetables cooked in the lentil gravy, however, I personally found the dish on its own to be a little too well seasoned. That being said, when it was eaten together with other dishes, especially the lamb shank biryani, it was divine! The wholesomeness the Dhall Cha brought to the meal is not to be missed.

Ulam & Tropical Fruits

Some freshness to the menu! Nothing much can be said about the Ulam except that they were fresh and of course, not enough! Would have loved to get more for the serving portion because just like the fish head curry, only the quickest managed to get a taste. The Ulam was accompanied by the sambal belacan which is a classic shrimp paste condiment.

As you can see from the photo, the sliced, fresh tropical fruits given on the other hand were copious. It’s a great way to finish off a hearty meal. Or a start to one, like an appetiser (a kind reminder to the the tummy to not overload on the main dishes).

Malay Kuih, Tunisia Dates & Cakes

Ah, my favourite part of the Iftar menu. Desserts! The assorted Malay Kuih had a good selection of classic favourites. With the flavours being just right, not too sweet but still authentic — it’s hard not to get addicted to these. Especially the Seri Muka, honestly the best I’ve eaten! If Shangri-La was next door, I’d pop by everyday for this alone. So yummy!

The chocolate cake was decent with tasty ganache filings and toppings, but it wasn’t the star of the menu. The cheesecake however, brought a sense of getaway from the modern twist other cheesecakes are getting these days. No, this was just a simple, classic cheesecake — fuss free but still so delectable.

Sajian Istimewa is one Iftar menu not to be missed!

The talented Chefs at Shangri-La has put together three different Iftar sets to choose from throughout Ramadhan and price starts from MYR 40 nett per pax. (Not joking, it’s a steal!)

For more information and detailed menu, you can check out :

www.shangri-la-specials.com.

Alternatively, you can also browse through Shangri-La Specials Mobile App available on Apple Store and Google Play.

Malaysia : REVIEW – Sajian Istimewa by Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur