Grill 582, Christmas Set Menu, Best Western Premier, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Words by Polly Szantor

Photos by The Yum List (Monica Tindall)

Nestled between Jalan Tun Sambantham, Jalan Damansara and the Klang River, this hotel is a little difficult to find, but if you’re going for dinner at Grill 582 it’s worth the effort. That’s especially true this holiday season, since Sous Chef Siti Arini Darsom is sharing many of her favourite festive dishes on Christmas Eve. Chef Siti won two awards at the Malaysian International Gourmet Festival 2013: most outstanding starter and most creative menu of the festival. Deservedly so – her Christmas Eve menu is absolutely delightful.

Before the six-course dinner with wine pairings, we sampled cocktails created especially for Christmas. The Cranberry Margarita, Christmas Morning and Elf are sweet, colourful and festive, just perfect for this time of year, and they’re all priced at RM25++. 

Dinner began with Cured Duck Breast, Pomegranate and Orange Vinaigrette. The duck was very tender with a rich, full flavour, while the large pomegranate seeds added lovely tangy taste explosions. 

The Purée of Red Lentil, Feta Cheese and Smoked Olive Oil was beautifully presented. The inspired addition of salty Feta was the perfect foil for the unusually sophisticated lentil purée. This dish was accompanied by a crisp and perky De Bortoli Semillon Chardonnay 2011 from the Riverina region of Australia, which was a perfect fit.

This was followed by a seasonal Cranberry Sorbet to cleanse the palate. I would have preferred a little less sugar, but Caning lapped it up happily and, Monica said she'd be quite happy to have more for dessert.

The Pan Seared Barramundi with Tongarashi Crust and Fennel Emulsion was outstanding. The fish was topped with Japanese spices, cooked to perfection and served on a buttery bed of mashed potatoes surrounded by creamy fennel. It was perfectly paired with the delicate, spicy fragrance of a Torresella Pinot Grigio 2011 from Northern Italy.

There had to be turkey, and what a treat it was. A generous portion of Slow Roasted Turkey Breast was rolled around a chestnut stuffing and served with lightly cooked Brussels sprouts and roasted pumpkin. Rather than plain gravy, the sauce was a Morel Jus, an unusual touch that elevated this dish above the ordinary. A 2009 Trout Valley Pinot Noir from Nelson, New Zealand was chosen as the pairing and its spicy fruitiness moved pleasantly into a long, elegant finish.

Next came Bread and Raisin Pudding, Stewed Berries and Eggnog. This was not as unusual as the other dishes, but it had the nice, homemade feel of comfort food. It was accompanied by a glass of Cockburn’s Port from the Douro Valley, Portugal, a classic ending to a delicious meal. 

But it wasn’t quite over. There was a choice of tea or coffee served with well-spiced Christmas Cookies. 

This was a lovely meal, classily presented with a few unusual combinations to spark interest. It should be noted that there will be carollers in the lobby and restaurants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and the Christmas Eve Dinner will be followed by entertainment.

Reason to visit: for the reasonably priced, festive menu of well-executed, tasty Christmas fare. 

The Christmas Eve set menu is priced at RM150.00++ per set inclusive of 1 glass of wine and RM250.00++ per set with wine pairing, available on 24 December 2013, 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm.