Macarons & Chocolates @ Mandarin Cake Shop, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

As someone who loves all things sweet, one of our favorite treats are macarons.. and not just any macarons but the ones from Mandarin Cake Shop. Mandarin Cake Shop located in Mandarin Oriental KL (next to Mosaic) opened back in October this year. Not only do they sell macarons, there are various types of cakes as well as chocolates which are all produced fresh on a daily basis.

The team at Mandarin Cake Shop is led by the talented Executive Pastry Chef, Holger Deh. He was recently awarded the HAPA Artistic Chef - Pastry (Platinum), recognising him as one of the best 5 in Asia. :)

Mandarin Cake Shop -- a sweet treat

Gingerbread house for Christmas

Lots of Chocolate Santas

Colorful macarons

All sorts of Christmas cakes... if you're too lazy to make a dessert this year, then you can get one from Mandarin Cake Shop!

Anyway back to the macarons. The macarons are the bestsellers of Mandarin Cake Shop and it's easy to see why. In terms of texture, they are one of the most consistent ones we've encountered in KL --light and airy. Plus they are very generous with the fillings. These are our favorite macarons at the moment.

There are a total of 7 flavours here -- salted caramel, hazelnut, orange, blackcurrant, calamansi, raspberry and chocolate. We have tried them all except for calamansi which is their latest flavour -- wanted to try this the last time we went there to get some macarons but they ran out. So popular!

Out of the ones we've tried, our favorite is the hazelnut (tastes similar to Ferrero Rocher), followed by chocolate, salted caramel and blackcurrant. It's not only me who loves the macarons here, but my whole family does... my mum, my husband, Baby C and even Baby D!

A real treat

Beautiful colours

Trs bon

We have also sampled their chocolates, can't remember all the different types we had but I remember them being very good. Baby C loves them.

Full set of photos available to view here.

The macarons from the afternoon tea served in Lounge on the Park

Price: RM4.50 each during our first visit. Price is now RM5.00 per piece.

Location: Mandarin Cake Shop, Lobby Level, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2179 8846

GPS Coordinates: 3.15568, 101.7120

Website: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/kualalumpur/dining/cake_shop/

I am still alive

Readers,


Merry XMas and a Happy New Year to all of you.


Been so busy running around and just soaking up the time spent with some close friends and family.


Food blogging will have to wait.


For those in KL who have my number, give me a buzz!


Thanks
Joe

Maduro & De Solvang

Drink & be merry! Maduro & De Solvang are two watering holes, one at TTDI & the other at Solaris Mont Kiara _ a 10-minute drive from each other, using the excellent Penchala Link.

First up, Maduro _ a handsome TTDI cigar lounge, free from crowds on weekday evenings.

Food wasn't available on our not-so-recent visit here (months ago, eeeks!), but we were satisfied with red wine at about RM16 a glass.

We're not cigar buffs though, so this selection was wasted on us.

Next up, De Solvang _ not one of Mont Kiara's high-profile watering holes, but still worth a stop.

De Solvang's menu is wide, featuring snacks such as Haitian Chicken Wraps _ tortillas filled with meat marinated in rum & Coke. Sounded unusual, but tasted unmemorable. Or maybe we were too tipsy to remember.

Decent drinks at decent prices: Japanese Slipper (midori, cointreau, lemon juice) & Walking On The Beach (What's in this cocktail? We forget. But we think Sex On The Beach is better).

Ninety-nine bottles of something-something on the wall, ninety-nine bottles...

Bar Maduro,

Lorong Rahim Kajai 13, Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

De Solvang,

Solaris Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

Christmas Dinner @ Chalet, Equatorial Hotel KL

Its Christmas Eve tomorrow.

Yes, Im stating the obvious right?

I have been very sick lately, bouts of flu and fever followed by spine-numbing gastric spasms. The agony is leaving me pretty braindead lately. Turnaround time for work related matters are delayed and writing has taken a backseat, hence the lateness for some blogposts.

So really, what Iwant for Christmas is to be well again.

And if Im well enough, I would like to have a nice Christmas dinner with some friends, with gingerbread men and log cakes! :)

One of the many Christmas preview dinners I had this year was at Chalet, the Swiss restaurant in Equatorial Hotel KL.

Chef de Cuisine Hafizzul Hashim designed a pretty good menu this year. If you are dining here on Christmas night, look out for the lovelySteamed black cod and Boston Bay musselssaffron veloute, leek and squid ink tagliatelle and the perfectChristmas pudding flamed with Cognac.

The full menu is as below, priced atRM198++ per person(RM229.68nett), which is pretty standard for any Christmas dinners in town now. In addition to food,Chalets resident strollers, Los Muchachos will be performing while you dine. They would play your song requests if you ask nicely! :)

Diners will also receive homemade pumpkin cake, a digital photo and a stalk of rose for ladies.

Christmas Day Dinner

Sunday, 25th December 2011

Appetizer
Pressed terrine of Scottish smoked salmon and crab
with mesclun salad, crme fraiche and keta caviar

Note: The terrine wasnt ready for our preview but it certainly sounds good, especially with caviar! Anyhow, our smoked salmo below was exemplary.

Soup
Butternut squash veloute,
sauted shrimp and chestnut finished with parmesan foam

Sherbet
Kir Royal sorbet

Kir Royal sorbet! Sounds exotic somehow!

Main Course
Steamed black cod and Boston Bay mussels
saffron veloute, leek and squid ink tagliatelle

Fabulous textures and Im loving the saffron veloute which is made from fish stock base, topped with cream & simmered til thick.

or

Tournedos of beef fillet Rosini
with Peruvian asparagus and sauted chanterelle

or

Roasted breast of Tom Turkey and leg stuffed balontine
with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato gratin and giblet gravy

Dessert
Christmas pudding flamed with Cognac

The delicious christmas pudding that wasnt diabetically sweet. I dont think ours that night has Cognac but imagine how awesome would it be on Christmas night itself!

or

Black and white chocolate mousse on almond sable
with orange sorbet

It was overall a very pleasant dinner and Im glad to be back after my first visit for their MIGF menu 2011.During the MIGF dinner, I liked the seafood better than the meats, and same goes for the Christmas menu this time round.

The turkey was a tad too dry but the stuffing was delicious (according to my dining partners) while mybeef fillet; though pink, lacked the flavour I thought that could have made it shone.

Business hours at the Chalet are from 6.00 pm 10.30 pm daily. For reservations, please call Chalet at 03 2161 7777 ext 8333.

But of course Christmas Eve is not forgotten! Aunique festive Swiss 6 course menu for the eve consisted ofTournedos of Veal fillet Brillat-Savarin with potato mouseline and wilted spinach or the grilled Atlantic halibut with Peruvian asparagus, saffron potatoes, citrus and basil jus among other dishes.

For bubbly, join Chaletstraditional European brunch, priced at198++ per adult (! inclusiv e free flow of wines) and RM88++ per child on Chrstmas day itself.

Plan ahead for New Year too while youre at it, and check out ChaletsNew Years Eve Set Dinner that comes with masquerade party pack, digital photo and a stalk of rose for ladies.
It is priced at RM315++ per person starts from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. The New Years Day Set Dinner is priced at RM198++ per person that offers a scrumptious five course menu.

So please call Chalet at 03 2161 7777 ext 8333 for further details or for any inquiry that you may have!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

All pictures taken with: