Midsummer Nights Feast @ Starhill Gallery (11 July - 20 July 2008)

I was invited via Food Street Malaysia to Starhill on 13 May recently for the media conference on Midsummer Nights Feast. A 10 day Gourmet Festival starting from 11 July – 20 July will see Feast Village at Starhill Gallery transform into a gourmand's paradise. With Middle Eastern, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Malay, Western, Peranakan and Nyonya specialties to choose from, be prepared for a true taste adventure and indulgence in fine cuisine.

What's unique about this festival is that diners will also be entertained not only through their taste buds but also visually with theatrical performances in collaboration with The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac).

The list of the participating restaurants are as follows : -

Enak KL
Fishermans’s Cove
Jake's Charbroil Steaks
Jogoya
KoRyo-Won
Luk Yu Tea House
My Thai
Pak Loh Chiu Chow
Sentidos Tapas
Shook
Tarbush
Vansh

After a speech and slide presentation by Ms Steffanie Chua, General Manager of Starhill Gallery, the media were given a food presentation tour and food tasting to give us an insight as to what's in store for diners during the festival. The food tasting session turned out to be a feast loaded with scrumptious goodies. They were all so delicious but if I had to pick, my favourite of the evening was the Roast Wagyu Rump Steak!

Roast Wagyu Rump Steak from Shook!

We were also treated to some lovely desserts (I loved the fruit tartlets!) and given three cupcakes in cute carrier boxes as door gifts. Jackie Chan's Cafe was also on hand for those who needed a cup to further perk them up for an end to a wonderful evening.

Here are some highlights to look out for during Midsummer Nights Feast.

11 July 2008 Friday
5 p.m. - 7 p.m Opening Ceremony Of Midsummer Nights Feast

7 p.m – 12 a.m Opening Gala Dinner for Midsummer Nights Feast with Midsummer Night Ballet Performance by KLPac

12 July 2008 Saturday

7 p.m – 12 a.m. Night of Eastern & Oriental Express

Diners will experience the world class cuisine served on the legendary Eastern & Oriental Express in Shook! Led by YTL Group Executive Chef Kevin Cape. Agatha Christie’s novel “Murder On the Oriental Express” will be staged on that night and diners will have a chance to walk away with 2 train tickets for Eastern & Oriental Express for finding the “murderer”.

YTL Group Executive Chef Kevin Cape

There will also be local and international Celebrity Chefs making their appearances and conducting Master Chef Classes too. Chef Bobby Chinn, well known celebrity chef will be preparing a special menu at Shook! and will conduct a Master Chef Class. Chef Stephen Mercer will be specially flying in all the way from Australia to create a special menu at Fishermans’s Cove and conducting a Master Chef Class too. Chef Ismail who is the Food Ambassador for Malaysian Kitchen will be in action with creating authentic Malaysian food with “Balik Kampung Night” on 18 July 2008.

Master Chefs from Feast Village will also be demonstrating and showcasing their culinary skills, sharing their secret recipes and tips during this 10 day festival.

15 July 2008 Tuesday
10 a.m – 1 p.m. Launch of Feast Village Junior

Junior members of our society will be educated on “What Is Good Nature's Food” and participate in exciting activities relating to food.

16 & 17 July 2008 Wednesday & Thursday
Kids between the age of 7 – 12 will have a hands-on experience on decorating cup cakes and learn the different types of meat cuts and the art of beef tasting.

3 p.m. Venue : Shook! - Chef Judith

4 p.m. Venue : Jake's Charbroil Steaks – Mr Vincent Lau

16 July 2008 Wednesday
7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Organic Night – There will be a special menu using organic and non-genetic modified produce as key ingredients.

20 July 2008 Sunday
7 p.m. - 12 a.m. The Grand Harvest Finale! Diners can enjoy world class cuisines from 12 different restaurants at Feast Village, offering over 50 choices of cuisines – all at one price with a “Gourmet Safari” pass at RM200 nett per person. One word of advice, “COME HUNGRY!”

Mushroom Risotto with Duck Confit

Japanese range from Shook!

Pink Pepper Crusted Tuna from Sentidos Tapas

Sashimi from Jogoya

Sliced duck roll with asparagus, carrot and chinese parsley from Pak Loh Chiu Chow

Culinary Discovery Passes are available for any dinner where a booking for 9 persons will be entitled to a complimentary pass for 10 persons at only RM1,800 nett. A10-Day VIP Passport will be exclusively available to YTL Platinum Plus members with special price privileges. This event is truly a celebration of LIFE. For reservations and further enquiries, kindly call 603-2782 3882.

(Information and details are correct at the time of writing - from Starhill Gallery's Fact Sheet)