Tag

Invitation Card

Browsing

Every exclusive dinner have their own trademark theme, and I must say that second time being invited to Hennessy X.O Appreciation Night 2013 is another memorable night. Looking back at the pictures, I still remember how the food taste when Chef Edward Lee came over last year (click here). Cannot deny that the team really pull the whole event into another level, as when I received their classic invitation card I am already looking forward the event, as it mention are going on little trip “Spirit of Conquest” by taking guests on a specially crafted journey of the past, present and future of the original cognac.

At first, it makes me wonder, how this whole thing would be as the location is at Chin Woo Stadium.

Hennessy XO (1)

Upon my arrival, all our cars are taken care by the jockey service and I am totally surprise to see that they actually build up a mock up ship for this dinner. Then only realise this is how we going for a conquest.

Hennessy XO (2)

 First of all, of course we have to check in and verify ourselves. .

Hennessy XO (10)

 and happy to see Bangsar Babe and her husband Rif are into this cruise. . 😀

Hennessy XO (11)

Out of my expecatation, I get to see some Uni friends in this event with Sampson, Vincent and Wife. .

Hennessy XO (3)

Hennessy XO (7)

Hennessy XO (8)

 Of course first thing first, that we are being treated with unlimited amount of Hennessy X.O.

Hennessy XO (4)

As walking into the room, they have converted the whole look and feel into classic old sailing ship

Hennessy XO (5)

Leather cushion and classic painting are being place into the room to make up the ambiance even better.

Hennessy XO (6)

A world map to show where are we heading later.

Hennessy XO (12)

As we were called into the dining area, and walk thru the walkway, this totally caught my attention as we are actually dining above  a stunning floating platform on water, to make it looks like actually we are in a ship.

Hennessy XO (15)

With the dinning area are well decorated with huge screens are being place at the side and front to make it like a ship window ..

Hennessy XO (14)

Transparent panel as walkway that makes it looks like we are actually sailing on sea and projection images on the screen are showing we are actually docking at a modern city at the moment.

Hennessy XO (16)

 Reading at the menu for the  night, its all very unique and cant wait to dip into the dishes.

Hennessy XO (17)

 With the official Emceeing is Will Quah which is no stranger to all of us .

Hennessy XO (18)

Right before the dinner, we were shown a glimpse of what to expect for the night, with video presentation on the screen, showing little history of Hennessy follow by journey of Chef Lee Anne Wong with Hennessy X.O.

Hennessy XO (31)

 Nevertheless, it start off by Chef Lee will introduce us on her dishes, and how do we pair it with X.O after that.

Hennessy XO (22)

First to be on the table is Parisian Regalia, a foie gras flan with duck confit, green apple and Frisee lettuce.

Hennessy XO (23)

It look rather plain when being serve and I am very curious how does it taste like, and it did surprise me that foie gras is cook to perfection as a simple cut on the cube that makes it burst with flavour in smell and taste. It just melts into the mouth and to drink a sip of neat X.O, it makes the taste even more robust. A remarkable dish to kick start with.

Hennessy XO (26)

After first dish, it gets us moving around and sharing with drinks and how do we feel about first dish. Apparently every one is impress that makes it a great kick off. Of course with some photo moments with BangsarBabe and another famous blogger Kinkybluefairy.

Another thing that caught my attention is when the first dish is done, the screen of all the panels change to sea view like we are sailing to another place and it is just right, that we are now sailing to China which is our next destination.

Hennessy XO (27)

 Golden Crab and Corn Soup

Hennessy XO (28)

 with golden crab and corn soup with caviar, lime and coriander accents.

Hennessy XO (29)

Then I put in the whole spoon and stir it into the soup. A great combination that makes the soup sweet, bitting off chunks of crab meat and corn along with ebiko that makes it bursting feeling. Had a sip of X.O mix with a bit water and brings out great aroma after taste.!

Hennessy XO (32)

 None the less manage to catch up with the guys that night ..

Hennessy XO (30)

 In China we are being pamper with classic Chinese music  .. . and moments after that we set sail again to another new location.

Hennessy XO (33)

Done with the first two light dishes, then we are serve with modern-global cuisine Western Allure, a bed of cowboy-style peanuts, with salmon place ontop looks like a  sailing ship for me, and I pair it with neat X.O again. The taste brings the peanut very oak flavour and salmon is sweet after taste. Unique!

Hennessy XO (34)

Venetian Ambrosia – Chicken with Porchini Mushroom ravioli, truffle paramesan cream is one of the best dish for the night that prepared to perfection that ravioli is al dante.

Hennessy XO (35)

 Then we have our very own little Pavoratti performance.

Hennessy XO (36)

Looking at the menu, I am loving it as there are 2 types of dessert that going to be serve, and Mazuka Splendour first to arrive. Filled with Syrimiki Cheeze curd fritters, sour cream and dark fruit sauce. A great combination of taste with light sour berry taste and sugar and its origin from Russia.

Hennessy XO (37)

 While we are enjoying this dessert, we were entertain with Russian dance.

Hennessy XO (38)

 Last country that we are going to visit is Japan . . .

Hennessy XO (39)

 Dark Chocolate Ganache to tantilize our taste bud before nice ending of the last dessert.

Hennessy XO (40)

Nihon Grandeur . Grapefruit gelee with cream, Grapfruit Ice, and sesame brandysnap. Taste refreshing as it looks with smooth ice and sour grapefruit gelee taste make it well balance in taste.  Brandysnap is crunchy. A perfect dessert to end our wonderful meal.

Hennessy XO (41)

Indeed it is another remarkable night with great food and friends. Chef Lee Ann Wong impress all of us with her master culinary skills  with her well known  modern-global fusion cuisine style. Her creation with Hennessy X.O will live in our memory. . With my friend even commented

“Bok, do you remember when we had fine at overseas? All of them taste so good and back in Malaysia cant taste any till tonight. One of the best fine dine dish she ever come across to dine in Malaysia. ” I must agree with her statement. 😀

With that, only I realize why my friend is a big fan of hers. More about her? (click here)

 Special thanks to Hennessy X.O for the invitation again.

Thinking back when was the last dinner I had for Hennessy and I thought it was like bout 2 months ago and never thought it was last year event. Time really flies and year 2012 definitely a great achievement in my blogging time. Never thought I would actually be in the scene with the rest as I usually love to read those foodie who got invited to such glamour event. It was a great break thru for me and thanks to you who give me this opportunity.

Then last week, right after I came back from my lunch I got a surprise delivery package on my working desk as I curiously open up the packaging and I was excited to see again hard dark black invitation card with gold wordings. I am  amaze how this year invitation card looks like, that its a classic ticket that will sail us to a great discovery, as I was already impress with what Chef Han did last year (Food trail & Actual Day Dinner – click to read) and I am pretty sure that their latest selection of chef would definitely surprise us with her creation.

X.O

Then I insta on the invitation card, one of my close friend in US told me she loves her as she emerge as one of the last few final contender in Top Chef. I felt excited by her saying and cant wait to see her in action this week.

BONY1638

Okay, let the sail begins with the theme EMBARKS ON THE SPIRIT OF CONQUEST is what HENNESSY X.O Appreciation Grows 2013 is about with selected Chef Lee Ann Wong will be the captain to bring us through an amazing journey. Born and raised in Troy, New York, Lee Anne, a 2nd generation Chinese- American, was not drawn to the kitchen, favoring sports –softball and ice hockey – instead.

A girl who started her study in fashion and how did she end up in cooking is when she found her passion for cuisine grows during her first year studying Fashion Design at FIT when she started cooking for friends. As her passion grows in cooking and decided to switch then she never look back since then.

Graduating from The French Culinary Institute (The FCI) Chef Wong jumped into the restaurant world. She immersed herself in New York’s fusion cuisine – working for several years at Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, then Jean Georges Vongrichten’s Chinese venture, Restaurant 66. She has also cooked and staged in kitchens all over the world, including The French Laundry, Charlie Trotter’s of Chicago, Nobu, The Four Seasons, Trio, Casa Oaxaca in Mexico and Cap Jaluca in the British Virgin Islands – picking up global flavors and techniques along the way.

Chef Lee Anne Wong is also the Executive Chef of Event Operations at The French Culinary Institute by working alongside culinary heavy-hitters such as Jacques Pepin, Andre Soltner, Ferran Adria, Tyler Florence, and Martin Yan.

When my friend said that she loves her, only I realize that she emerge as fans favorite with her fusion flavors cooking that took her to no.4 in the competition of Top Chef. Since then, she become more popular

Why not check out the clip below, as she emerge as the first female chef for the Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows series of events.

She loves to travel during her personal time with vast experience in her 12 years cooking experience is definitely something I am really looking forward to set sail with her “Spirit of Conquest” – to experience the past, present and the future of the original cognac that will take place at Chin Woo Stadium for 3 days.

BYLF3189

Chef Lee Anne Wong and Foo Ken Vin, Senior Marketing Manager, Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia pose with the canapés prepared during the canapé masterclass happen in March.

 

Last year it had been a crazy year as got bombarded by lots of ‘red bomb’(red invitation card for Chinese means wedding dinner) for some of my friend had decided to settle down with their loves one, I particularly got like every week 1 card since beginning of December till end of January. If just by attending all, I would just need to fill in a form and declare broke. Usually the food in the wedding dinner would not be so good and it always depends on which hotel or caterer and its a good news for couples planing to host wedding this year, certainly this would be a option.

Swiss

Swiss (2)

It was not until few days ago, got an opportunity to take a glimpse at Grand Hibiscus Ballroom media tour that organize by Swiss Garden Hotel and also a chance to taste on their wedding package menu.

Swiss (3)

The ballroom is brand new that was just opened recently, and manages to host around 5 wedding dinner in such a modern design ballroom.

Swiss (4)

Every couple will demand for the design of their wedding hall, and to make the choice easy, Swiss Garden had a proffesional in house wedding planner to assist the couple to cater for their demand yet they also do have certain package and theme to go along for the night.

Swiss (5)

The wedding dinner that was just hosted the night before that the newly wed’s chose the theme of Lavender, which signifies calm and peacefull. Besides this, there are a few other theme such as, Rose, IRIS, Jasmine and a few more.

Swiss (6)

The whole ballroom and lighting will be decorated among the theme as the main colour for Lavender is light purple. I just love their modern design with a touch of nature with some of the wall lighting are flower’s design, so do the carpet. The ceiling colour will be set according to the theme too.

Swiss (7)

Swiss (8)

Swiss (9)

The table cloth and settings are set accordingly to the theme.

Swiss (10)

Swiss (11)

This is media review for the dishes of the night that the package ranges from RM750++ – RM1450++ per table.

Swiss (12)

‘An Infusion of Hot and Cold Combination’ was the first dish of the night.

Swiss (13)

It was fried very crispy on the outside till you feel like you are eating crackers and inside is filled with shirmp.

Swiss (14)

‘The japanese Octopus which is fresh and juicy, Fried Wan Tan and Fried Egg with Shark Fin and Egg Roe’

Swiss (15)

‘Braised Shark’s Fin Soup with Crab Meat and Crab Roe’

Swiss (16)

As I would rate one of the best, love the starchy salty taste and with vinegar in dark maroon colour add on it, just pull out the taste of the pot cook aroma. The sharkin added in was genuine and top grade, that every sip we can taste the slices and the crab roe added in can just feel the rocky solid and a bit salty. Makes me remember the first bowl of shark fin when I try when I was young.

Swiss (17)

‘Kwai Fei Chicken’ something that look and taste very simple but had been cook to the best, the soup base taste is very mild, with Chinese wine, a bit of Chinese herbs, a bit salty taste in it and the chicken meat had been steam and cook to its juiciest and soft meat.

Swiss (19)

‘Red Garoupa “Yin Yong” Style’

Swiss (18)

This fish is one of the best dish with its meat so juicy and tender as the chef mention had used 8 hours of marination. Imagine it the succulent taste.

Swiss (20)

If you are a cheese lover, the meat had been dough and marinates well to stuff the cheese in it and fried under hot oil till it was golden brown and the cheese just melt. This is what we call Chinese version of Stuff crust pizza. It taste awesome and we had not enough of it.

Swiss (21)

‘Wok Fried Tiger Prawns “Yin Yeong” Style’

Swiss (22)

Salad mayonnaise prawn is rich in taste, not that creamy which suits the taste of old people with high cholesterol that the meat is chewy and fresh.

Swiss (23)

My preferred choice, as when I we took picture of this, the smell of the fried Nestum had just makes me put want to eat it instantly. It was fried till the aroma came out and its crispy to eat along with the prawn.

Swiss (24)

‘Braised Abalone, Sea Cucumber and Black Mushroom with Broccoli’. The first thing that came into my mind was the abalone that had been cut into cubes shows the sign of big abalone and the chef use ‘2 head abalone’ that been boil, steam and marinate with its gravy for a few hours that makes it so soft, juicy and chewy. The soup base is top notch!

Swiss (25)

‘Salted Egg Fried Rice’ fried with wok hei and the salted egg had just pull out the aroma and eat it with sambal, taste perfect.

Swiss (26)

‘Pastry Duets’

Swiss (27)

Swiss (28)

‘Double Boiled Shark’s Fin Melon with White Fungus and Honey Dates’
Which is something new to me, as one of the type melon that had been finely chop till it look like shark fin. Then cook under high temperature to get the sweetness of it out and mix with the rest of the ingredient that end me with 3 bowl of it.

The wedding dinner set menu certainly serves great quality of food that I would say with a classic touch in a modern feel. The Chinese dish taste is very authentic as what I feel. If wedding dinner with this kind of serving, surely it would make the wedding even more perfect.

For more information you can check out at:

Location:
Swiss Garden Hotel
No. 117, Jalan Pudu,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
West Malaysia.

Tel:03-2141 3333

Map

Pin It