Located on the second floor of The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur is The Brasserie, a Michelin-selected restaurant for two consecutive years.
Paying homage to Malaysia’s diverse agricultural heritage, The Brasserie’s menu now incorporates dishes that feature ingredients meticulously sourced from Malaysia’s states.
Recently, we were invited to get a taste of some of these dishes through an exclusive a la carte menu curated by Executive Chef Azizi Taslim.
Spotlighting local harvests
Our evening started off strong with the amuse-bouche. Although this is not on the menu, it encompassed the theme of our dinner, as it used heirloom tomatoes from the Highlands in the gazpacho, while the croquette was filled with Penang duck.
Next came the array of exquisite entrees. From the selection, my favourites included the gorgeous Oyster Platter as well as the Heirloom Tomatoes.
The fresh oysters that were topped with ikura will be a hit with seafood lovers. The tomatoes were also a very refreshing dish, even with the milky burrata over it. The tomato dish features produce from Genting Highlands, and we were told that the burrata was also locally sourced from Langkawi buffalo.
As for the mains, there was the Pithivier De Louise, a dish that Chef Azizi proudly expressed is hard to come by in most restaurants. Comprising Angus Tenderloin, Savoy Cabbage, Foie Gras with Layered Minced Beef and Chicken, this complex dish is one for sharing.
The Boston Lobster Tagliatelle is also great for sharing. Featuring lobster bisque, this pasta dish is buttery and flavourful.
While we didn’t get to try it, there’s also a London Lobster Noodle dish that uses local spring onions, ginger, and egg noodles. Blending Malaysian flavours with Western cooking techniques, this dish certainly piqued our interest.
And if I must pick one thing to enjoy again from this menu, the Chocolate & Peanut Bar may very well be my top pick. This indulgent dessert features Chocolate Sable, Dulce De Leche, Peanut Cream, Kelantan Chocolate Cremeux, and Peanut Butter Ice Cream. Even peanut butter dislikers amongst the group thoroughly enjoyed this delectable offering.
To finish our meal, there was the Petit Four that used chocolate from Pahang.
Communal, for the community
Besides the emphasis on locally sourced ingredients throughout our dinner, there was also an increased commitment to offering sharing plates, which Chef Azizi had pinpointed as a common Malaysian custom.
Much of the menu was designed in a way where diners can share with family and friends, creating a more communal and perhaps even casual environment.
Other chefs we’ve spoken to such as Yellow Fin Horse’s Jun Wong and Sage Restaurant’s Don John have also placed heightened emphasis on using local ingredients.
Previously, we heard from Chef Don John that Malaysian ingredients tend to require more work compared to ingredients like, say, Wagyu beef, to draw out top-notch flavour profiles.
With that in mind, it’s great to see this movement of sourcing locally be adopted by names as prestigious as The St. Regis. It’s particularly inspiring to see these Malaysian ingredients be treated with the utmost care and attention, elevating them to tastefully intricate dishes.
Sourcing ingredients locally isn’t just about leveraging local pride, either. It’s also about reducing carbon footprint and supporting local farmers.
Moreover, this practice offers diners fresher ingredients. Speaking of freshness, we also noticed that The Brasserie was growing its own microgreens, edible flowers, and fungi.
With this win-win-win situation, there’s no reason not to source locally.
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If the dishes appeal to you, The Brasserie is offering its daily a la carte menu from 12:30PM onwards.
Or, you can opt for the Set Lunch Menu, which starts at RM120+ per person for the 2-course meal and goes up to RM158+ for the 3-course offering.
There’s also the 5-Course Dinner, available every day from 6PM to 9PM at RM611+ per person. There’s also a RM894+ per person option that comes with a four-glass wine pairing.
The Brasserie is also offering Sunday Brunch from 12:30PM to 3:30PM starting at RM271 per adult and RM135+ per child (under age 12). There’s also an alcohol pairing option for RM488+.
There’s also a full vegetarian menu offered.
