Sunday Brunch at Tosca

Tosca, the Italian trattoria, is located next to the swimming
pools on level 13, DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru

Sunday mornings are for indulging in lazy lie-ins and a leisurely brunch by the swimming pool.  At Tosca, the Italian trattoria next to the swimming pools at level 13 of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru, diners can choose to sit indoors in air-conditioned comfort or in the alfresco section.  The outdoor seating overlooks the swimming pools and also comes with a spectacular view of the city skyline. 

Tosca presents an intimate setting where Sunday Brunch with live cooking stations, is served from 11am to 3pm.  In the tradition of good brunches, diners will enjoy quality rather than quantity in an elegant selection of singular items in the buffet spread.  The pleasure of this leisurely brunch is matched by superior food quality, flavours and freshness in menus that will change every week.

A guest receiving her pasta order served ala minute
from the Pasta Corner in the Sunday Brunch

You can start your meal with pizza or pasta, the hot or cold dishes or head straight for the desserts.  Whichever you choose, you are still in charge and there are really no rules about how you should enjoy your Sunday Brunch.  Best of all, the food & beverage team here are on hand with attentive but unobtrusive service, to help you create your pick of pizza, pasta and salad. 

Pizza here is as fresh as you can get because the chefs at the pizza station will roll out the pastry and top it with your choice of ingredients.  Your pizza will be popped into the heated oven and served piping hot once it is ready.  Made small so that diners can enjoy more, these thin crust pizzas are so deliciously fresh and crispy that you may want to share another soon!

A chef putting the finishing touches to
freshly tossed Caesars Salad

At the Salad Bar, you can pick your choices from ready made items or ask the chef to toss up a fresh Caesars Salad for you.  This is like preparing it at your table so you can taste the crispy freshness of the romaine lettuce and croutons with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese and the distinct tang of lemon juice and Caesar’s Salad dressing.  The portion is just nice so that you have space to savour the other appetizers.

You can also create your own bruschetta with mushroom and tomato toppings in the buffet or just help yourselves to appetizers like pickled beetroot, potato salad and smoked salmon mousse.  At Tosca, the potato salad is made with new potatoes and a sprinkling of raisins and chopped cherries for an exciting taste-contrast experience.  Meanwhile the smoked salmon mousse is piped deep into tiny wafer cones so that you can savour its smooth, smoky taste with every bite!

Asst Outlet Manager, Sudeshkumar Mohan,
drizzling chocolate sauce on delicate
chocolate mousse

The Pasta Corner is another live cooking station where you can pick your favourite pasta, sauce and choice of ingredients for the chef to whip it up for you.  While waiting for your pasta to be ready, just help yourselves to the soup-of-the-day and the main course items.  The menu of hot items varies each week but will include main course items in seafood, meat and poultry, prepared in various recipes.

To round off your meal, take your pick from a range of coffee choices and enjoy it with the spread of delightful desserts.  Whatever you choose – from Citron Passion Tart, Strawberry Mille Feuilles, Raspberry Tartlet, Mango Vanilla Panna Cotta, Mont Blanc to the delicate Chocolate Mousse – this sweet ending is the ultimate indulgence for a leisurely Sunday Brunch.  

As a special treat, diners may also use the swimming pools before or after their meal so do bring along your swimming togs.

Main course hot items are topped up regularly

Savour elegant appetizers like [Clockwise] new potatoes salad sprinkled with raisins and chopped cherries,
salmon mousse in tiny wafer cones and slices of pickled beetroot

Sunday Brunch at Tosca from 11am to 3pm is at RM78++ per adult and half-price for children aged 5 to 12 and seniors aged above 55.  RM168++ per person with free-flow of house-pouring wine and beer.  DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru is situated at 12, Jalan Ngee Heng, 80000 Johor Baru.  Reservations are recommended.  Tel: 07 – 268 6868, Fax: 07 – 268 6888. 

A version of this article was published in The New Straits Times, Streets Johor on 6 Nov 2014