IHG Culinary Journey at InterContinental KL: Review

Around the world, it’s a tempting time to be checking out the restaurants of the InterContinental Hotels Group, which is taking F&B enthusiasts on the IHG Culinary Journey, marking three months of menus curated by seven celebrated chefs & served in stages at IHG’s flagship hotels across Asia, the Middle East & Africa. Naturally, InterContinental KL is part of this excitement.

For two weeks starting today, Oct. 12, until Oct. 25, the hotel’s Tatsu restaurant is offering recipes exclusively created by celebrity chef Takagi Kazuo. Start with a delicately textured mixed vegetable terrine with egg yolk & sweet-&-sour sauce, followed by a choice of main – Japanese pepper beef with foie gras dengaku, or Saikyo miso-marinated Pacific black cod with rice & miso soup – & a dessert of green tea ice cream with fruits & sweet bean paste, expertly executed by Tatsu’s team to deliver nuanced flavours that illustrate a harmonious blend of Japanese culinary traditions & contemporary techniques. Two courses (main & dessert) cost RM128 nett; three courses clock in at RM158 nett, which entitles the guest to a complimentary second glass or bottle of wine upon purchase of the first glass or bottle (the first glass costs RM60, while the bottle is RM285).

On Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, the fun shifts to Serena Brasserie, with a cheerful selection of beautifully baked triumphs masterminded by Dean Brettschneider, a New Zealand-origin, award-winning patissier who founded Singapore’s Baker & Cook establishments. We sampled two of Brettschneider’s offerings – a fresh & warm pizza with a distinctively thick & tasty sourdough crust, topped with meatballs, roasted zucchini, basil & mozzarella cheese, plus a cinnamon-tinged carrot cake with walnut pieces, crushed pineapples & cream cheese icing. Both were lovely, auguring well for the menu’s other selections, such as an open-face thyme beetroot bruschetta with goat’s cheese, dry figs & pistachios (RM78 nett for a main course & dessert, or RM98 nett for three courses on this menu). The optional wine pairing showcases InterContinental’s Australian Penfolds collection – choose from the vivacious Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling 2013 or the vibrant Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet 2012. A selection of cocktails – the InterContinental’s Dry Martini, Margarita or Whiskey Sour (RM38 each) – is also recommended to partner with the menu. Many thanks to InterContinental Kuala Lumpur for this preview of October’s IHG Culinary Journey.