Tasting Christmas: A 6-course delight awaits at the Mandarin Grill

Enter December—a month full of festivities, good times, and great food. This festive season, diners at the Mandarin Grill will enjoy a lavish 6-course ordeal on 24 and 25 December 2015. For this year’s celebration, Chef Benjamin Halat curated a dinner menu that caters to our warm weather with refreshing, lighter dishes without losing its Christmas flair, by infusing spices like star anise and cinnamon.

 

In the warm, inviting ambience of Mandarin Grill, festivities are first introduced by an appetizer of Home Cured Gravlax with Orange and Clove Spice. The delectable slice of gravlax is served on a bed of potato sour cream salad, a beautiful juxtaposition of salty and creamy flavours. Next, the Winter Pumpkin Veloute makes an entrance—a warm, hearty soup of pumpkin goodness, garnished with pumpkin seeds for added texture.

Inspiration for the next dish stemmed from the chef’s love for Chinese cuisine, which translated into a fusion delight: Steamed Boston Lobster Won Ton. A depth of flavours is showcased here with the star anise infused gravy and marinated pomegranate, which provided a lovely tangy pop to the dish. Between the entrée and main course, the usual palate cleanser of sorbet was absent, but in its place came a flavourful cup of Five Spice Infused Beef Tea. A certain local influence was unmistakable in the delicious broth—the chef calls it the English version of bak kut teh.

Diners have the choice of either the Traditional Roasted Turkey Breast or Josper Grilled Australian Beef Tenderloin for main course. I went with the Christmas classic option of turkey, and was presented with a palatable plate of baked turkey leg ragout served with potato gratin and brussel sprouts. A spread of cranberry sauce complemented the turkey wonderfully with sweet, tangy notes, while the side of potato gratin had a beautiful cheesy crust that certainly went down well in my books.

The dinner ended on a sweet note with desserts—the lovely Iced Praline Yule Log features a very Christmassy presentation topped with an edible snowflake ornament. Equally beautiful in presentation is the Christmas Petit Fours, a slate of delectable treats that is sure to have you in merry spirits for the festive season.

The 6-course Christmas dinner menu is priced at RM498 nett person and RM658 nett per person with wine pairing. For dining reservations, please visit or call the Festive Desk at +60(3) 2330 8797/8798 or email [email protected].