LM Eye Opener shots – this is NOT Nescafe
I like Maya Karin. Every morning, while I drive to work and listen to my favourite radio station, Hitz.FM, she reminds me that I’m doing the right thing by drinking Nescafe which is full of natural antioxidants, an ingredient which will apparently keep me healthy and youthful. And here I was thinking that my baby face was due to all that puppy fat I never shed. NO WONDER my husband dutifully wakes up EVERY MORNING to make me my daily cuppa. EVERY DAY. He knows the Secret (cue eerie music). And now, thanks to Maya Karin (and me), you do too. At only RM23.90 for a bottle of Nescafe Gold (good for a gazillion cups (don’t quote me)) and way cheaper than SKII.
This is NOT an advertorial.
Also, thanks to Mr Jean-Georges Vongerichten, we can now enjoy Michelin quality food in Kuala Lumpur, the city frequently referred to in movies when they’re looking for a place in the far east where unrest takes place everyday and often said in the same breath as Afghanistan and Congo. Sure, while the bombs are going off, I’m enjoying my daily cup of Nescafe and a Jean-Georges Signature Breakfast. *kaboom* Damn, did I just spill my Nescafe on my Hermes scarf?
This is still NOT an advertorial.
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is apparently quite an amazing chef. He owns a string of restaurants including the 3-Michelin-starred Jean Georges restaurant in New York. Vongerichten recently created a selection of “signature” breakfasts specially for Le Meridien properties worldwide for people who don’t want the same boring fare at hotels.
What delights me is Vongerichten‘s creative use of ingredients for the breakfast dishes. Take the Croque-Madame (RM24), for example. Soft cheese is sandwiched between two slices of toast, and when cut open, runny fried egg oozes out from the toast, much like when you squeeze a pimple and the pus spurts out. Well, maybe that imagery doesn’t work. The toast is topped with a citrus-chilli hollandaise sauce which adds a lovely zing to the dish.
The Buckwheat Crepe (RM20) gives an interesting twist to the typical crepes we find here. The buckwheat crepe is filled with gruyere cheese and mashed spinach (which looks similar to the mashed-beyond-recognition spinach vegetarian indian dish that my mum expertly prepares every Friday). Only for fans of spinach.
I was attracted to the Espresso Steamed Eggs (RM18) due to its interesting description. “Fresh eggs are steamed with the high-pressure espresso steamer to create a light and fluffy ‘a la minute soufflé’. Wouldn’t you be curious too? If you’re expecting a cloudlike fluffy appearance characteristic of soufflés, be prepared to be surprised. This is perfectly cooked scrambled eggs at best. Absolutely delicious, but I regretted not ordering the Smoked Salmon and Steamed Silken Tofu which, on hindsight, might have been a more adventurous choice.
Goat Cheese Gruyere Custard (RM32) is described as “a textural deconstruction of a Provençal quiche”. I like pretty words. Deconstruction. Provençal. Textural. It’s enough to give me an orgasmic shudder. I shuddered alright. My untrained palate couldn’t take the extreme sharp, pungent flavours of the goat cheese custard (had I lost my mind?!?!) with black olive puree topped with goat cheese foam (*screaming all the way to Sungai Pelek*). Granted, the texture was gorgeous and the assembly pretty, but if you’re used to milder cheeses, don’t be a smartypants and try to appear sophisticated. This brings back memories of my flight to London where I had to sit next to a man who smelt like cheese. I. Am. Not. Minnie. Mouse.
Other than the Signature Dishes, Mr Vongerichten also created a series of LM Eye Openers, basically blended fruit juices with a twist. Shots (like in the first picture above) are complimentary, while full-sized drinks are priced at RM12. Some of the choices include Cherry Lemon Pepper, Raspberry Pineapple Clove and Strawberry Banana Lime. Our favourite? Definitely the Mango Chilli Lime. Enough to give you a wakeup call that will see you till 2010.
Overall, this is a menu that is definitely created for the finer palate. My bill came up to RM60 (after 50% discount) thanks to our Starwood Card which just expired end May, but we definitely over-ordered. A perfect serving would be 3 dishes – one each, and one to share.
Check out FriedChillies’ take on the Signature Breakfast too.
Latest Recipe at Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur (website HERE)
2 Jalan Stesen Sentral
Kuala Lumpur Sentral.
For reservations, call: 03-2263 7888. Available daily from 6.00am to 10.30am.
Complimentary croissants for keeping us waiting
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Croque Madame
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Croque madame
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Buckwheat crepe
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Espresso Steamed Eggs (full sized mango chilli lime in the background)
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Goat Cheese Gruyere Custard
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Goat Cheese Gruyere Custard
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This is DEFINITELY not an advertorial.
hilarious “Advertorial”… ohh i like how the runny egg oozes out from the toast..but the crepe..is well too healthy looking..
i see u are sticking to the advice of Breakfast Like A Queen….
Lunch Like A Princess, Dinner Like A Pauper..
oh, hangon, its Breakfast like a Queen, Lunch Like an Empress, Dinner Like a Goddess…
what a feast. gorgeous pics as usual. chis, i never got to use my starwood card for this.
Daaaaamn. Surely JGV coming to Manila can’t be far behind? Pleeeease make it come true! Ha ha ha 🙂
Oo-la-la! The Croque-Madame looks interesting. I definitely want to try that!
And yes…I was expecting the eggs to rise like a souffle! =P
everytime i gaze at LL’s baby face, i think, wow.. this woman’s diet must be working for her plus that cuppa her husband makes her.. I want her life.
THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTORIAL 😛
great post.. no wonder u pain over it for so long. worth it’s weight/words in gold:)
cu l8r gator xoxo
Sigh…just woke up, went online to check some mails, thinking what to have for breakfast, decided to pop by your blog before filling my stomach…..but after looking at those lovely breakfast……WAT SHOULD I EAT NOW?????????
tht Croque madame is calling to me…
Who got this Starwood card thingy ..can borrow one ah?
It is true…
1) “THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTORIAL” coz I didn’t bribe you 😛
2) Your morning cuppa= baby face. He is a wise man. hehe!
and…Why am I only getting bread and jam for breakfast??? and I have to eat it on my desk at work. 🙁
U have the knack of making food look better than they taste. Raise expectations so high with the visuals, how the real thing gonna keep up???
fatboybakes: The former is correct. I eat vegetables for dinner. Thanks for the compliment. And yeah, you missed out on the Starwood Card discount. Poor thang.
Manggy: Or you can catch him on one of your many trips to the US. 🙂
Bangsar-bAbE: Croque Madame is very nice. Take a nice leisurely breakfast by the window. Very pleasant.
cumidanciki: I think the diet’s working too well. Only a couple of months ago, I was asked if I was still in University. (They blind, methinks)
Precious Pea: Nasi lemak? hehe.
thenomadGourmand: Would love to loan you my card, but unfortunately, it expired end May and I’m not renewing. sorry sweetie.
Sushi: Hahahaha…was wondering if you’d read this. I’m open to bribes. How about a case of Nescafe Gold? 😛 They should treat you better lah…give you a bowl of Maggi Mee for breakfast or something. kekeke.
Barbie: Harlow harlow! Where got raise expectations? Food looks exactly liddat mah. LOL. Anyway, I guess you hafta read what I said…like the squeezed pimple and the vomiting…and you’ll get a better idea. hahaha.
WOWWWW!! This is indeed breakfast fit for a KING…or QUEEN 🙂
Really nice spread, and I love the presentation of all the food….luxurious indeed 😉
Ooh! this is just a hop and a skip away from my apt…I MUST try it out 🙂 Looks nice…and I wanna try those eye opener shots!
Joe: Sorry man, your comment got into my spam mail. Actually, the crepe’s pretty good, even though it’s green and healthy. Try it. Somemore so near your office.
Christy: Hahaha…which is why we cannot indulge too often coz it hurts the purse strings.
Alexandra: Yup, worth a try indeed! Try one of each of the eye openers and drive them crazy…it’ll be fun!
my starwood privilege also expired end of May… is the Signature Breakfast still available at Le Meridien??? Guess I have to renew my membership already! Don’t worry, I won’t think that this is advertorial… even though it sounded like one (pssss… how much did they pay you??)
Your husband dutifully wake up to make you a cuppa of Nescafe… I dutifully wake up every morning to bath my baby and feed her milk before going to work 🙂
Thule: Hahaha, if only Nestle will give me a crate of Nescafe Gold! Looks like you and my husband have something in common – you both wake up early to make your girl happy. (Corny or wat, hor?)
haha having breakfast at le meridien b4 popping to work? ohh how i wish my salary can afford that kinda lifestyle..prob would pop alot of partners’ eyes out!
love to have this kind of breakfast every morning.
Hmmm… definitely worth checking out. Saw their menu online. The spiced Irish Oatmeal souffle + Wild Berries sounds interesting. Anybody tried that before?
Wonderful way to start the day!
Tried it today while on the way to see the dentist. Yummy. Needed to take my mind off my wisdom tooth.
hey ka! your food blog is definitely salivating! 😀
ur blog looks great love the food pics..will be coming bck for more!!
I don’t mind having this type of breakfast every alternate day…simply delicious.
Absolutely farnee lah. Definitely will think of ya when I eat another yummy breakfast here!
Me so jealous of you cos of your hubby and kopi he makes for ya. Mine just checks latest Lexulous scores on Facebook first thing in the morning. 😛
i was on coffee diet before i came back and lost some weight. i am not sure which part of it causes it but worth a try! not sure about nescafe though and what will be the effect with creamer and all.
The food looks just yummy as does that eye-opening shot! Sorry I havent been around lately but things have sort of gotten in the way….(and No, that is NOT a song…!!)
Refreshing breakfast to start one’s day. With dim sum prices surging to an all new, unbelievably high, this is indeed a good way to spend the weekend morning. With my Sin Chew Jit Poh in hand.
Appetising morning pictures, AWOL.
And no, this is not an advertorial.
oh man.. how can anyone resist after reading this post + the photos!?!?
LL: LOL….such a funny post. I should ask Toyboy to start making me a cup of Nescafe every morning too!!! (psst..this is not an advertorial) I believe the magic only works in that combination. Hubby + nescafe made by him. ^o^
Btw, may I borrow your card? Craving for yummy breakfast now. xoxo
I had the same breakfast at Le Meridien Bangkok this month. However in Bangkok they would feature certain dishes as part of their buffet spread. Do they do the same thing in the KL location as well?
I want to try the expresso eggs! Looks so yummy!