Thanksgiving and Christmas @ The Ritz-Carlton KL

“Happy Thanksgiving!” says the turkey chocolate cupcake! 

I had the privilege to dine with Steve Cokkinias, the GM of Ritz Carlton KL for my first ever Thanksgiving Dinner this year. The set up at the dining room was surreally real, thanks to Steve who wanted us all to truly experience Thanksgiving, just like how it was back in his younger days in his home country.

The gorgeous seating.

Below: Steve and his wife, Mimi. Bee Hong of The Star, John of The Peak and moi. We purposely took this picture with the “möck” fireplace.

Sacks of potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and turnips.  Yes, it’s a real Thanksgiving Dinner!

Ok, I do not know what Kermit the Frog is doing here.

Naturally dinner was delish; and as authentically prepared as possible. Kudos to the new maestro of Ritz Carlton’s kitchen, Chef Martin Büchele from Austria.

And our turkey was specially craved by Steve himself!

Menu

Salad
Beetroot Salad.

Soup
Roasted Mild-Spiced Butternut Squash

Main
Sage and Onion Stuffed Roast Turkey, Baked Mashed Potato, Honey Glazed Carrots, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Roasted Gravy

Dessert
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, Jello Fruit Cake

Other than the salad, of which I thought was a tad overdressed and sour (especially the beetroot), the rest of dinner was simply sublime. I loved the creamy butternut squash soup and the turkey was the tastiest I ever had. So unlike those bland and tough birds that I had to endure year after year. So turkey can be tasty after all! LOL.

We were warned from the beginning to save room for desserts. Apparently the Caramel Pecan Cheesecake is to die for. Well, here it is. I’ll let you judge it for yourself.

Very homemade look yes? Just like back home, Steve said. Rustic and unpretentious.

Below: And we are one big happy family! 

I took the dinner as a prelude of what could be in for Ritz Carlton’s Christmas meals coming up this month. Chef Martin Büchele’s culinary skills seems favorable so far!
Perhaps I should head over here for my Christmas brunch on December 25 itself. Mouth watering delights includes Alaskan king crab to Italian asparagus risotto with the piece de resistance being the venison cooked to perfection along with the aged prime rib smothered in rich bone marrow gravy.

Of course there would be the traditional roast turkey, complete with chestnut stuffing, Cumberland chipolatas and roast gravy.

December 25, 2011
12.00pm to 3.00pm
César’s. Level One

RM98++ per child under 12.
RM198++ per adult
RM298++ per adult, includes Laurent-Perrier Champagne

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To be honest I’m more inclined towards the Eggnog Boxing Day Roast, which includes turkey with trimmings, prime rib of beef, venison, marinated Norwegian salmon, hundreds of multi-coloured macaroons and, of course, cinnamon spiced Eggnog; just cos I haven’t had eggnog before in my life!

December 26, 2011
12.00pm to 3.00pm
The Lobby Lounge. Ground Level
RM65++ per child under 12. RM140++ per adult.

Sigh. Looks so good right? I can’t wait for Christmas now!!  

In keeping with the Ritz Carlton tradition (check out my post last year! ), the unique life-sized Gingerbread House makes its debut again this year. Ritz Carlton hopes to raise funds for charity by selling off each of its bricks with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association.

Throughout December, you’re welcome to “Buy a Gingerbread Brick” from the Gingerbread House with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association. They shall inscribe your name or company logo onto each brick until they are all sold.

‘Buy a Gingerbread Brick’ from December 1 – 31, 2011
Minimum purchase of RM100
The Hotel Wing Lobby. Ground Level

 

Come on people! Let’s do our bit for charity in view of the festive season shall we??  

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Then we have the adorable annual Teddy Bear Tea with activities such as a Teddy Bear Workshop, Christmas tales reading with Santa Claus and gingerbread man decoration with the hotel’s Pastry Chef.

This includes a delectable Afternoon Tea spread with  items such as winter truffle scented Wagyu beef tart (I wanttttt!!!) , wild berry crème brûlée, butter poached Maine lobster quiche, with the children’s menu featuring goodies such as teddy’s gummy bears and lollies, chocolate fountain with marshmallows & teddy smiles cream cookies.

Children will have fun with creative fabric painting on teddy’s T-shirt & they are able to bring their teddy bears home. Other activities include decorating their own gingerbread man with a selection of toppings.

Sounds fun eh? I think so too! Do bring your little ones for an afternoon of fun mingling with other children and the best part? There’s no cleaning up afterwards! 

December 10, 2011
3.00pm to 5.00pm
Carlton Gourmet. Ground Level, Carlton Conference Centre
RM135++ per adult. RM95++ per child under 12.

 

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Fancy taking your Christmas holidays up another notch on the luxury scale? Yes? Book yourself into Ritz Carlton KL and spend Christmas with friends and family in a Two or Three Bedroom Suite at The Ritz-Carlton.

Wake up on Christmas morning in your spacious Suite and come mid-day, let the Chef cook to perfection your lavish family Christmas Dinner which your personal butler shall serve. Same goes for The Ritz-Carlton New Year’s Eve package at which includes access to The Club Lounge, a romantic butler-drawn bath, Cameron Highland strawberries and a Magnum bottle of champagne flown in specially.

Are you feeling festive yet? Well, I am! 

Merry Christmas in advance my dear readers! 

For further enquiries: Please call The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur at 03-2142 8000 or email [email protected].

 

All pictures taken with: