Mum's 56th Birthday, Hi Tea @ Dorsett Regency Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Throughout the years, my Mum has always enjoyed buffets/hi-teas , especially those from the 5-stars hotel. When asked on why she is so into buffet dining, my Mum commented that she loves the wide spread selection of the food where it enhances her appetite.

It was my Mum's birthday during last February, and again she insisted on buffet dining. This time round, we decided to have a hi-tea at Checkers Cafe of Dorsett Regency Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Checkers Cafe at Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur

My mum fell in love with the lime tree

Chinese New Year was still ongoing during the time of visit and as such, the cafe was in a reddish mood, decorated with red cloth and cherry blossom.

Very relaxing ambiance

We were the only customers in the whole cafe upon our arrival. The numbers picked up eventually, but only by another two tables. Nonetheless, we were grateful as it gave us an absolute relaxing environment to enjoy our hi-tea.

1,2,3 - Time to survey the food spread

We started by this corner where it have a few chef preparing some fresh food such as satay and fried stuff.

The Chef Corner

Here are some of the spread from the Chef Corner.

Sushi
There were only two types of sushi featured here, makisushi and inari sushi. How I wish there were some sashimi especially salmon.

Chawanmushi
Japanese steamed egg in a cup that consists of some meat and ginkgo beneath.

Mixed Fried Stuff
It is hot from the wok. Onion rings, calamari rings, crab claws and some fish balls were the notable one.

Those that dislike oily food may find the steamboat platter rather interesting.

Steamboat with variety of ingredients
From vegetables, meat to seafood, just pick your favourite one and blanch them all.

We noted something special being featured in the buffet spread.

Fish Head Noodles

Fish Head Noodles
It was decent but could have been better with thicker condensed milk, at least for me.

Next, we look into the appetizer and the main course corner.

Appetizer and Main Course Corner

I must admit that some of their appetizer looked too good to be appetizer. Some of them were prepared and presented in a very artistic way.

Love the colourful spread that look so cheerful

Ready salad in a tea cup

Fresh Garden Salad

Luncheon Ham
Lovely luncheon ham that has a soft yet tender texture.

Mussels, Oysters and Prawns

Steamed Dumpling

Dim Sum
A below par dim sum.

Stew Beef with Vegetables

Fried Clam in Kam-Heong Style
Pretty decent though but cannot be compared to those from the hawker which tasted much better.

Assorted Buns

Mixed Fruits with shrimp paste a.k.a Rojak

In conjunction with the Chinese New Year festival, there was also a platter of Yee Sang added to the spread.

Yee Sang

Assorted local fruits

Whenever I'm at a buffet, I'm always excited to check out the spread at the For the Checkers Cafe, I must say that their desserts corner did not disappoint.

Desserts Corner

Fruit Punch
Consisted of tropical fruits, longan and lychee.

Ice-shaved desserts
Mix your own ingredients for a customize bowl of ice-shaved dessert.

For those with sweet tooth

Local Delights - Kuih Koci
Glutinous rice to compliment with cocunut flesh that were dunked in gula Melaka.

Local delights - Kuih Lapis

If the local delights do not appeal to your taste, worry not because they have plenty of cakes to choose from.

Plenty of cakes and pastries to offer

Cakes, cakes and cakes
I had no chance to try even one of them as I was too full with food.

Assorted pastries and cookies
My personal favourite would be the fruit tarts and chocolate cookies.

Chocolate Fondue
This made my day, as I've always love to dip some fruits and pastry into it.

No Baskin Robbins or Haagen-Daz ice cream but they offer some pretty decent ice cream to satisfy our ice cream craving.

My customize ice cream

Busy with the food

A little bit of this and that

The hospitality and the services of the Checker's Cafe attendant were excellent. Not only did they continuously offering to help us to snap pictures, they manage to fulfill our demands.

Firstly, we wanted to have a personal Yee Sang for toss. Our initial demand was rejected by one of the attendant citing that we need to order a personal platter separately as it is not included as part of the buffet. However, later on, another attendant together with the manager on duty prepared a special mini plate of Yee Sang for us, using those ingredients from the main Yee Sang platter.

Our customize Yee Sang by the attendant

Tossing for a better health and wealth

My second wish to the attendant was to have a birthday cake for my mum but I was told that prior notice was required so that they could prepare the cake. Well, I was a little disappointed at first but I was caught by surprise eventually. The attendant creatively prepared a slice of cake that came together with candle as a birthday cake for my mum.

My lovely Mum with the special piece of cake

You are getting younger Mum!

Happy Birthday Mum!

Although the hi tea were of nothing spectacular, but looking at your parents enjoying themselves is the best gift you could get when you buy them some meal. I promise to buy them more meals in the future and hoping with many happy returns. Happy 56th Birthday Mum and hope you have had a great one!

Back to the old school of sephia

Family portrait

Overall, I would say that the hi-tea spread at Checkers Cafe of Dorsett Regency KL met my expectation but nothing of spectacular. It might have a wide selection when it comes to dessert, but the main course was slightly off the track. The good thing is that, they have discounts for senior citizens who are above 55 years old.

This hi-tea at Checkers Cafe of Dorsett Regency KL starts from 12pm to 4pm and available on the weekends and public holidays. It is priced at RM 60++ per person with kids aged from 4 to 12 years old and senior citizens eligible for a 50 % discount.

Atmosphere: 8/10
Food: 5/10
Spread: 5/10
Price: 6/10
Verdict: Apart from the excellent hostess service, there is nothing much to shout about the food.

Checkers Cafe Coffee House
Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur
172, Jalan Imbi
55100
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: 603 - 2716 1000
Fax: 603 - 2715 5000

Seoul Garden Korean BBQ IOI Mall Puchong @ Bandar Puchong Jaya [11th June 2010]

It was the birthday of my buddy Chee, and we decided to celebrate it by having dinner at Seoul Garden in IOI Mall Puchong. From it's name, you've guessed it right as Seoul Garden offers Korean BBQ, in a buffet style.

Priced at RM 35.88++ per head, they offer variety of marinated meat for you to bbq at your table with an accompanying hot pot for some steamboat. Drinks however is not included, and you will required to top up RM 3.88++ per head for a free flow of soft drinks and juices.

Seoul Garden, IOI Mall Puchong

Space is valuable and as such, you could see them fully utilizing every inch of the space made available to them.

Space is being fully utilized

Each table is equipped with a hot plate and hot pot for you to cook at your pleasure and it can occupy up to 4 adults.

Hot pan and a hot pot
The hot pan can be replaced with a new one upon request should it stained badly after some grilling.

Time to scroll for food and drinks. I went to their drinks station first and I was overwhelmed to see the fruit juice station made available to us.

Nestle Fruit Drinks

They have marinated chicken, beef, lamb, fish and squid to choose from for you to grill. Flavours ranges from black pepper, bbq, curry to the exotic coffee flavour.

Variety of meat for BBQ purpose

Ingredients for steamboat

Vegetables and side condiments

Sauce staion
My personal favourite would be the Seoul Garden Special Sauce as it adds flavour to the grilled meat.

Time to take the raw marinated meat to the table. My first helping consisted a variety flavour of chicken meat.

Chicken meat in different flavour

Time for some Bar-be-Q

Keep an eye as not to overcook them

After a few minutes of grilling them, it's time to enjoy them while they're still sizzling hot!

And it's ready to go
The chicken meat marination were pretty decent, not something that really 'wow' you but you won't complain it either. On a side note, the coffee flavoured chicken tasted too exotic for my taste bud!

If you are tired of grilling, you can have a short break by having some steamboat.

A mini steamboat

The grilling won't stop at the first helping. It continued with lamb meat marinated with black pepper sauce.

Black Pepper Lamb
This was the bomb! Not only the marination was good, but the meat were well infused with the black pepper marination as well. And if you grill them in the right way, you are off to enjoy some really good juicy black pepper lamb!

Curry Flavour Squid
Squids are usually very resistant to marination, but the squid somewhat are well infused with the curry flavour marination in this case. It makes me wondered how they get it done.

More lamb chop with green and red pepper

Grilling them in a teppanyaki style

A fully utilized hot plate

Some Garden Salad

I continued by having more black pepper lamb and some Bulgoki flavoured chicken. I took some lettuce too so that I can enjoy the grilled meat in a Korean BBQ way.

Black Pepper Lamb and Bulgoki Chicken

As the grilling is done, it's time to savour the Bulgoki flavoured chicken in a Korean BBQ way by wrapping the grilled meat with a slice of lettuce.

Bulgoki Chicken wrapped in lettuce
The fresh and crunchy lettuce went so well with the grilled Bulgoki flavoured chicken.

Here are some of the ready food made available to you.

You can make your own rojak

Stuffed cheese meat in crab shell
I thought it was lacking in flavour and tasted awful.

Dessert Bar
Consisted of a few fruits and various condiments for you to shape your own bowl of ais kacang (shaved ice).

Ais Kacang
I tried mixing a few of this and that condiments but it ended up not nice. The ais kacang tasted bland and could have been better if they provide some gula Melaka.

Ice Cream Bar
They offer King's ice cream. My favourite were the chocolate and honey dew flavour.

Happy 26th Birthday to you Chee!

This was my first time visiting Seoul Garden and I must admit that I really enjoyed savouring their grilled meat in a very cozy atmosphere. Not only that, their customer service of this branch was great as well, as we were attended almost instantly upon request. I also noted that the food are always replenished when they are finishing.

Making things better, we only paid for 7 pax as they have a promotion which entitled birthday person on the same day to eat free with a minimum of 7 paying adults. I would definitely revisit them for more and more grilled meat! Do visit their website at http://www.seoulgarden.com.my/promotions-br0.php for the latest ongoing promotions.

Atmosphere: 6.5/10
Overall varieties: 6/10
Food: 6.5/10
Price: 6/10
Verdict: Black pepper lamb and Bulgoki flavoured chicken are those meat that you should not miss out.

Seoul Garden IOI Mall Puchong
Lot EG 9 & EG 10, Ground Floor
IOI Mall New Extension
Batu 9, Jalan Puchong
Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47170
Puchong, Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: 603 - 8076 8726
Fax: 603 - 8076 8736

Business hours: 11.30am - 10pm daily
Website: http://www.seoulgarden.com.my/seoulmenu0.php