Modern Chinese Cuisine
A
new menu awaits at Five Sen5es, the
fine dining Chinese restaurant at The
Westin Kuala Lumpur. In the heart of the city, foodies will dine on
exquisite Chinese cuisine set in fine elegance. The Chinese restaurant may be
pork free but has garnered a solid reputation for serving modern Cantonese food.
Stepping
into Five Sen5es, one is transported
immediately to a tranquility of space. A soft resonance of water fountain
flowing in the background, a light fluttering sight of smoke from a huge
Chinese cauldron, plush cushions set on leather bounded banquettes and plenty
of natural lighting flowing into the room defines the mood for the dining
experience.
There
is also the open kitchen where chefs and culinary team are seen working briskly
to prep and prepare the dishes. The firing up sound of the stove, the chopping
of ingredients on the board, the water running when cleaning and washing added
more musical to the anticipation of the dining scene.
Private
rooms are available, offering diners more privacy. Large table with coloured
glass Lazy Susan backed by plush armchairs set with cushions evoked sense of
artistic contemporary décor.
While
being ushered to the table, the sight of rows of tea, beautiful in glass jars,
will tempt your curiosity to order one with the meal.
And
so we did… with our order of Bi Luo Chun
(green snail spring tea). Grown in the Dongting mountain region in Jiangsu,
China, the green tea came highly recommended by the waitstaff for its floral
aroma with a hint of fruity note.
Lunch
started with dainty morsels of dim sum. The Steamed Prawn with Truffle Har Gow (RM18) is sublime. Thin and
translucent crystal skin dumpling filled with fresh bouncy prawns with bits of
truffle, hardly a dumpling one can say no too.
Crispy Yam Puffs with Fresh Scallops (RM18), the name itself already
sounds divine. Creamy mashed yam fried to much golden crispiness, encasing
seafood filling and a crowning glory of scallop and tiny popping Ebiko, one order may not be enough!
The
classic pairing of Deep-fried Net Spring
Roll with Prawn & Mango (RM18) never fails to please the palate.
Crispy, juicy, sweet and fruit, it got all the right flavours and textures that
many would absolutely enjoy.
And
yes, my fondness for cubes of wobbly radish rice cakes is satiated by the Fried Turnip Cake with XO Sauce &
Turkey Ham (RM14). A good dose of heat with much XO umami notes, I believed
I practically polished off the dish to myself… well most of it at least.
Five Sen5es also has an All You Can Eat Simply Dim Sum that is available at RM88 nett per
person during weekdays or come Sunday and public holidays, there is a Simply Dim Sum Buffet is served at
RM125 nett per person from 10.30am to 2.30pm. A la carte is also available.
The
regular main menu offers a delectable appetizer of Crispy Salmon Banana Roll with Green Tea Dressing (small - RM36 |
big - RM68) Quite an unusual pairing but the trio seemed to get along pretty
well in flavours.
The
soup course was one of the highlights of the lunch. An ocean’s bounty, the Braised Fresh Scallops with Seaweed &
Seafood Thick Soup (RM36 per portion) showcase a silky smooth and thick egg
white laced bisque studded with crab meat and bean curd along with delicious
seafood essence. A blanket of seaweed along with a large sweet poached prawn
and scallop added much glory to the soup along with some bright pearls of Ebiko.
The
Fried Cod with Signature Lemongrass
Sauce (RM160/180g) is guaranteed to reel in some brownie points. Golden and
crispy fried cod fish, smothered in a tangy and aromatic lemongrass infused
sauce and topped with julienned mango, onions and chili, the fish is superbly
sweet and almost creamy with a soft flaky texture.
There’s
something utterly tummy warming about the Braised
Chicken with Chestnuts & Mountain Yam (small - RM52 small | big - RM98).
Chunky tender pieces of chicken with soft nutty chestnuts and yam in thick moreish
sauce is simply perfect with steamed rice.
If
one must eat carbs, make sure it’s a worthy one like the Minced Duck Fried Rice with Prawns, Yam & Pumpkin in Claypot (small
- RM45 | big - RM88). The pot of fluffy rice is fully loaded, I mean Fully
Loaded! Every spoonful of rice is thoroughly studded with lots of smoked duck,
shredded conpoy, cubes of yam and pumpkin. The mish mash of meaty goodness and
creamy root vegetables is comfort food for diners of all ages.
The
Fragrant Crispy Vegetables with Roasted
Pine Nuts (small - RM38 small | big - RM73) is lovely. Not the usual leafy
greens but not that I would mind as the dish has a wondrous compilation of
textures from the lotus root to the baby corn, sugar sweet peas, black wood
fungus, gingko, carrot, pine nuts and more. The addition of crispy shredded
conpoy added much salty moreish notes to the dish.
Lunch
ended with desserts. Three to be exact since these three were the ones that
caught our attention. The Chilled
Chinese Herbal Jelly with Aloe Vera Honey Juice (RM16) had the right
balance of bitterness herbal note while the Silken Mango Cream with Pearl Sago & Crushed Thai Pomelo (RM20)
proved that this familiar classic will always have a special place in our
hearts with its fruity sweet mango flavours.
The
Crispy Avocado Kataifi (RM20) was
albeit unusual but nevertheless interestingly delightful. Crispy kataifi pastry
filled with creamy avocado and cubes of mango was a nice change from the usual
sweet desserts.
For
reservations or more information, please contact Westin Dining at 603.2773.8338
or email westindining@westin.com.
FIVE
SEN5ES
The Westin Kuala Lumpur
199, Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
T +6 03.2731.8333
F +6 03.2731.8000
Website:
www.thewestinkualalumpur.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/westinkl/
Business Hours:
Monday to Sunday
Lunch: 12.00noon - 2.30pm (Mon to Sat)
10.30am
- 2.30pm (Sun & PH)
Dinner: 6.00pm - 10.00pm
*Five
Sen5es is a pork-free restaurant.
