Festive feasts at the Westin Desaru Coast

 

At the most wonderful time of the year, it is a pleasure to chill out with a rejuvenating stay at a beachfront resort and make more memories with family and friends.

 

Gingerbread houses are part of the decor
in the festive buffets at Seasonal Tastes

Once again, Seasonal Tastes, the all-day dining café at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, will be presenting festive flavours in a lavish spread to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

 

With a regular clientele of local and international guests, this café has sections for Asian cuisine including Chinese, Malay and Indian food in addition to the festive fare so that diners may enjoy a wide range of local flavours in this sumptuous buffet spread.

 

Overseeing the festive buffet set-up in the café for the media preview, was Executive Chef Yee Weng Ding, better known as Chef Ding.

 

A happy team to welcome diners into
Seasonal Tastes in the Westin Desaru Coast

He paused for a brief chat and did not hesitate to point out that the festive spread also had an outdoor section, set up with live cooking stations for Pasta and Carvery that served items from traditional Roasted Turkey to freshly grilled skewers of satay.

 

Chef Ding also highlighted a dessert corner there that served freshly-made Crepe Suzette in their own recipe that diners may choose to garnish with additional toppings and scoops of ice-cream in flavours of their choice.

 

When I heard about such an irresistible treat, I made a mental note to save some space to savour this indulgent Crepe Suzette for my dessert later on.

 

Beef Wellington served from the
Carvery section outdoors

A quick look at the buffet revealed a festive spread that included an array of classic Christmas delicacies, diverse international choices and handcrafted desserts that will be served throughout the festive season as well as on New Year’s Eve.

 

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, diners may savour festive favourites like Roasted Turkey with Chestnut stuffing, Beef Wellington drizzled with Truffle Sauce, Baked whole Salmon with Herbs and Roasted Leg of Lamb.

 

On New Year’s Eve, diners can look forward to enjoying a taste of Texas Caviar, Baked Honey Lamb Shoulder, Slow-cooked Beef Cheeks, Roasted Marble Beef Ribeye and fresh Japanese Oysters.

 

Take your pick from a choice of Coolberg drinks

Among the dishes served in the international section for this preview were Baked Cheesy Scallops, Seared Salmon Fillet with Cranberry Glaze and Pomegranate, and Garlic Butter Prawns with Almond flakes.

 

Part of the Chinese section was a live-cooking station to serve noodles prepared in the diners’ choice of soup while its hot buffet featured premium items like Smoked Duck in Cabbage Rolls, Pineapple Fried Rice with Toasted Turkey and Cashew Nuts, and Steamed Sea Fish Fillet in Nyonya Sauce.

 

Chef Rajendra at the Indian section

I was delighted to meet with Chef Rajendra again at the Indian section as he was putting the finishing touches to the condiments for diners to enjoy with the gravies and Tandoori Lamb, eaten with fragrant rice or baked naan.

 

To strike a balance with the protein served in the buffet, a section was dedicated to serving fresh greens, complete with instructions for diners to, Snip-Sauce-Serve.

 

Then I recalled that the Resort had teamed up with BoomGrow’s Machine Farm to cultivate pesticide-free, nutrient-rich greens in an initiative for sustainable vegetable production, with the resort’s own farm cultivated to serve freshly harvested greens, daily.

 

And that was not all because there was still an array of appetizers, salads, Japanese sushi, fresh-cut fruits, a Nacho’s station, Coolberg malt drinks, a Chocolate fountain, and of course, the delightful desserts.

 

Pastry chefs, Putra and Kit, worked together
to serve my order for Crepe Suzette

While the gingerbread houses were just for display, the Pastry team did their best to dress up the pastries in the Christmas theme with festive designs of Christmas Trees, marshmallow Snowmen and even Reindeer with Chocolate antlers and a red nose.

 

The festive mood continued as I carefully plucked off a macaroon from the Macaroon Tower – lest I made the tower topple over – and helped myself to the cakes and pastries including a wedge of the Christmas Pudding.

 

Yes, I also waited patiently at the live pastry corner while the pair of chefs worked together to serve my order for freshly-made Crepe Suzette topped with my choice of Vanilla ice-cream. Mmm…

 

Festive Dinner Buffet

1 to 30 December, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm

RM188 nett per adult, RM94 nett per child (Ages four to 12)

 

Christmas Lunch Buffet

25 December, from 12.30pm to 3pm

RM168 nett per adult, RM84 nett per child (Ages four to 12)

*Add-on beverage package (Free-flow Red or White Wine) at MYR188 nett

 

Christmas Dinner Buffet

24 & 25 December, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm

RM288 nett per adult, RM144 nett per child (Ages four to 12)

*Add-on beverage package (Free-flow Red or White Wine) at MYR188 nett

 

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet

31 December, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm

RM308 nett per adult, RM154 nett per child (Ages four to 12)

*Add-on beverage package (Free-flow Red or White Wine) at MYR188 nett

 

For reservations and further information, call Tel: +607 838 3333 or email fb.westindesaru@westin.com

 

Seasonal Tastes is on the lobby level of The Westin Desaru Coast Resort at Jalan Pantai 3, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor. For more info, visit website: westin.com/desaru