SPRINGTIME is the most beautiful season of the year in Japan.
With the pandemic causing tourism to come to an almost standstill, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur replicates the Japanese spring for its most sought-after Afternoon Tea.
Its award winning Pastry Chef, Fodil Baghal and Chef de Cuisine, Ricky Kamiishi of Ebisu at Altitude create the cherry blossom theme specialties for the Sakura Spring Afternoon Tea that is now on until Apr 30 at Altitude from 3pm to 5pm.
Priced at RM148 nett per person, the afternoon tea set which is in collaboration with Shiseido not only takes diners on a gastronomy journey but also lets them go home with a Shiseido White Lucent sampling kit worth RM65 and a Shiseido voucher worth RM50.
The Sakura Spring Afternoon Tea comes in two courses - a savoury Hanami Bento and a selection of sweet confections.
HANAMI BENTO
The afternoon starts with Hanami Bento, a savoury bento box. 'Hanami' which means flower viewing or flower admiring is an apt name for the bento as the beautiful morsels of food are so elegantly displayed in the bento.
The bento consists of Salmon and Avocado Tartar, Baby Octopus Tempura, Steamed Egg Curd with Mushroom, Fried Wild Yam with Miso Paste, Simmered Bamboo Shoot, Shrimp and Chicken Ball, Croquette Sandwich, Chicken Ham and Egg Sandwich, Crab Mayonnaise Maki Roll and Sushi Wrapped in Fried Tofu.
I'm intrigued with the cuteness of the baby octopus tempura. It tastes satisfying but I can't help feeling barbaric for a while.
In the chicken ham and egg sandwich, there's a tiniest hint of wasabi in it. The incorporation of wasabi makes it 'Japanese' and complements the sandwich too.
The croquette sandwich is simplicity at its best. The croquette is crispy on the outside, soft and pleasantly creamy on the inside, and delicious with garnish and all.
I can't get over how petite the sushi rice wrapped in fried tofu is. The envelope-like tiny parcel of sushi rice has toppings of ebi roe. It's an explosion of tastes from this tiny morsel.
Sweetness from the fried tofu wrap and salty from the ebi roe, marry well with the sushi rice and these make a perfect tiny bundle.
SWEET SENSATION
The next course would probably take you to a sweet heavan, if you are a sweet tooth person that is.
The selection of sweet confections are placed in an ikebana-like structure. Ikebana which is Japanese art of flower arrangement fits the Sakura Spring Afternoon Tea draft to the letter.
The sweets look too pretty to eat. Among them are Push It Up - a sponge cake pop covered in pink white chocolate with golden specks, Shiseido Macaron, Itchigo Verine, Charlotte, Itchigo Tart, Blossom Bite, Shiseido Madeleine, Plain Scone and Matcha Scone.
Most of the sweet meats on the ikebana stand are petite in size except for the Shiseido Madeleine, Shiseido Macaron and Scones.
Blossom Bite is my favourite. It is a matcha sponge sandwiched with cherry mousse walled with slabs of pink sakura chocolate. The slightly bitter matcha and tart cherry mousse go really well together.
The pink Shiseido Macaron decorated with sakura blooms is very pretty but too sweet for my liking. Both the almond shell of the macaron and the raspberry cream are sweet, while the tartness of the raspberry fails to get through.
The regular sized Shiseido Madeleine is also too sweet. The chocolate sakura (white chocolate in pink) is a little thick and sweet but I don't get the sakura flavour at all.
The sponge on the other hand is soft with a little bounce to the touch. Compared to all the other pretty offerings, the madeleine looks a little too plain.
Both the Itchigo desserts (itchigo is by the way strawberry in Japanese) - the Verine ( tiramisu-like layers of mascarpone cream, chocolate mousse, strawberry jelly, and chocolate brownie) and Tart (fresh strawberry and sakura cream in a tiny tart shell) are excellent.
You can't go wrong with strawberries and cream.
TEA, COFFEE OR SAKE
There's a wide selection of coffee and tea to choose from to wash down the amazing spread. Among the beverages available are Single Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Caffe Latte, Double Espresso, Macchiato, Hot Chocolate, Hot Milk and Teh Tarik.
Tea lovers have English Breakfast, Organic Earl Grey, Pomegranate Oolong, Ginger Oolong, Moroccan Mint, Nippon Sencha, Chamomile, Organic Rooibos, Jasmine and Darjeeling.
The gourmet coffee is by illy cafe while the tea selection is by Harney & Sons. For those without restrictions, there's also Cherry Blossom Sake at RM40 per glass.
Spoilt for choice and can't decide what to have? The staff is ever ready to recommend for you.
When you're done with spring at the Altitude, I suggest doing some walking at the adjoining Pavilion Mall to burn some calories or some retail therapy to burn some holes in your pockets.The choice is yours.
FAST FACTS
Altitude - Level 53
Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur
2 Jalan Conlay
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
TEL 03 - 2113 1888
EMAIL [email protected]
WEBSITE www.banyantree.com/en/malaysia/kualalumpur
HOURS Sakura Spring Afternoon Tea is served daily from 3pm - 5pm until Apr 30.
EAT Japanese spring-inspired afternoon tea
MUST TRY Blossom Bite
PAY From RM148
MOOD Tasteful ambience and cosy with Kuala Lumpur's cityscape views.
SERVICE Staff are attentive and friendly
I SAY Why not indulge yourself
Enjoy cheap Japanese dishes from the comfort of your home with Grabfood Promo Code.
