Grand Palace @ Pavilion KL

Grand Palace

This is another franchise from the Palace Group that owns the Jaya Palace, Damansara Palace and Imbi Palace. This outlet in Pavilion KL, located on the 6th floor is the new addition to the Palace group of chinese restaurants. It was only opened a few weeks ago and it serves very fresh seafood too (literally from the fish tank). haha....

A dinner was called on Sunday after one of our friends had an unfortunate experience with Air Asia which led to dinner on Friday being cancelled. Boy, I could feel her curses all the way to KL! Don't you think Air Asia has a high frequency of delaying and cancelling its flights?!!

Starters: Cheese & Foie Gras Block with Black Truffle

Look at the Black Truffle in the middle. It's like a gem! One of our close friends cum wine merchant was so nice to bring this back all the way during his visit to Cannes recently. The foie gras pate was just so tasty with the addition of a little black truffle. There were too much to finish so we saved the cheese for another day.

Beluga Caviar & Fresh Oysters

This is my second time having the Beluga Caviar. First time was here. The Beluga Caviar is the ultimate caviar in terms of price and taste. It is the roe of the Beluga Sturgeon Huso Huso which is currently considered to be endangered. It's the most expensive type of caviar, with present market prices ranging from $7,000 to $10,000 per 1 kg. But I must say that the caviar is an acquired taste. Not many would like it, but everyone wants to have a taste of it. In my opinion, it must be one of those food (like foie gras) that one has to try in a lifetime if there's a opportunity.

Krug Rose

Like I've mentioned before, the kings of champagne, the Krug, is afterall a perfect complement to the caviar! It's like a couple match-made in heaven. Since we have tried the Krug Grande Cuvee the other time, this time we had the Krug Rose (a Pink Champagne). Mostly pink champagne is the rave for ladies because of it's delicate pink hue and taste.

This is a sensual, extravagant champagne and yet provocative. It is crisp, seductively silky smooth and has very delicate fine bubblies that excites your palate and then a tingling sensation down your throat. You'll be surprised that you'll lick every corner of your lips while savouring this exotic champagne. Hmmm.... a hard to resist temptation.

The mitten crab (Hairy Crab) @ RM98 each.

Learn how to dissect the Mitten Crab here. I have previously recorded how the waitress did my crab for me... I'm spoilt, I can't do it myself. There's a saying that goes "September Female Crab, October Male Crab" which means during the nineth month on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, one should eat the Female crab and then the Male crab in October. But the thing is that, all these female mitten crabs is expensive during September, and so we had the male one here instead! And when the rest of China had the male crab, we will go for the female crab!

A lot of foreigners were mistaken by Shanghainese claims saying "Hairy crab is Shanghai's delicacy". Actually, fresh water hairy crab belongs to Suzhou. There are two kinds of fresh water hairy crabs, one is Taihu Lake hairy crab, and the other Yangchen Lake hairy crab. I read that the hairy crab from Yangchen Lake is the best. The lotus Island in Yangchen lake town, Xiangchen District is the best of the best. A traditional way of cooking is to steam the hairy crab and then have it dipped with minced ginger and spring onion sauce. Old people consider crab as cooling so don't drink tea, cold water or eat persimmons after taking crabs, or you will get stomachache.

The Highlights

The Awesome Wines....

1. Le Secret des Sabon 2007 from Châteauneuf du Pape.
2. Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2003 (95 points by Robert Parker) The Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle is considered to be one of the best wines in the world. It is made solely from the Syrah grape variety, the vines have an average age of 40 years.
3. Chateau Margaux 2002
4. Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1996 (one of the best years for Mouton)

All these wines are at least rated at 90 points and above. It was really one of those rare occasions that I get to try a wine from Northern Rhone and it has to be a Hermitage!

Nor forgetting the Abalone and Sharks belly braised in special sauce. Not exactly something I really fancy, but it's nice nonetheless.

Then we had the sharks bone soup, roasted piglet with gultinous rice (thumbs up), grilled cod fish and "suit kap" with logan for dessert.

Of course when there's good food, good wines and good company, a good cuban cigar should be lighted! And yes, I had the MonteCristo No. 4. This one has a medium gauge and it has a taste of cocoa, vanilla and some coffee. However, I think the draw is not really that great. I still like the Edmundos anytime!

The Mafia look

Tesseron Lot 29 (RM1400/bottle)

As a night cap before ending the dinner, we had the Tesseron Lot 29 which I had blogged about it here. It is indeed a very nice and soothing cognac. So good even to drink it on its own! haha...

After that, we adjourned to Pulse @ Grand Millenium for a round of whisky (Glenfiddich 15yo) before calling it a night. Before I knew it, it was already Monday morning and in a few hours time, I had to get to work!

Hope your saliva didn't wet the keyboard. Thanks very much to my generous friends once again and hope you guys like this post - a recollection of a wonderful Sunday evening!

Updated Post here.