Khalil showing the fresh lobsters. - Photo: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
A cornucopia of marine delights await diners, from the succulent sweetness of oysters, tiger prawns and lobsters to the delicate flavours of crabs and scallops.
These are available at the weekend seafood dinner buffet in Thyme, Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur.
Featuring evergreen local favourites like bamboo clams and lokan (a type of shellfish), this seafood extravaganza has been a draw at the all-day diner for two-and-a-half years.
The hotel’s executive chef Khalil Zakhem promises diners a buffet line that is 80% made up of fresh seafood, some of which are flown in just hours before the food is served.
There are several points of interest in the buffet line.
Fine De Clair Oysters.
One of these is the oyster bar, which greets diners as soon as they enter the restaurant.
These soft and meaty mollusk are shucked live and rinsed in clear water to rid them of grime and sand.
The Sabah lobsters, weighing between 220g and 350g each, can be found just beside the seafood-on-ice that has an impressive display of yabbies, mussels, flower crabs and no less than six other different types of sea and freshwater shellfish.
While there is a hot section featuring oatmeal prawns, chilli mud crabs and giant freshwater prawns cooked in a spicy turmeric and coconut sauce, diners can also try out some “a la minute” options.
This is where they can select their choice of shellfish, place them in a miniature bucket and clip them with different coloured tags to be either grilled with sambal, mornay sauce or stirfried in lemongrass, candlenuts, curry powder, curry leaves and bird’s eye chili.
Another impressive centrepiece is the bubbling tank of live tiger prawns.
Telur Ikan Mayong (Spotted Sea Catfish Roe) cooked in spicy tamarind gravy and topped with fresh basil.
Diners can land the catch of the day with the little nets that are provided by the kitchen team.
Buckets are provided as well as tags to indicate if the prawns are be poached and served with lemon wedges or cooked in a salted vegetable soup with milk.
We were told that the live offerings would be changed according to what was in season.
Diners with a penchant for exotic flavours should look out for Telur Ikan Mayong (Spotted Sea Catfish Roe) cooked in spicy tamarind gravy and topped with fresh basil.
Situated in the Malay food section beside the Pucuk Paku Kupang (Mussels with Fiddlehead Fern) and Lala Sambal Petai (Asian shell clams with stink beans), this unique-looking fish roe bears a striking resemblance to little white pearls encased in mini oblong balloons. Tastewise, it resembles caviar.
This section also has asam laksa. Sour and fragrant, the soup was generously thick with pureed mackerel.
At the sashimi section, slices of yellow fish belly beckons.
Lala Sambal Petai (Asian shell clams with stink beans).
In the sushi section, there is tamago (Japanese omelette).
Do look out for the cucumber with radish sushi which is sprinkled with powdered sakura flowers.
A personal favourite is the tamago maki sprinkled with crunchy white and black sesame seeds.
Sauteed with togarashi (a Japanese spice mix), the seeds will crackle with each bite.
For dessert, there are cakes, tartlets and even a chocolate fountain. There is an ice-cream station too, where the raspberry-mango ice-cream does complement the apple cobbler and vanilla sauce.
Thyme’s Fabulous Seafood Night Dinner Buffet is on Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
It is priced at RM238nett and RM119nett for children aged six to 12.
Those paying with UOB credit cards are eligible for a 25% discount. CIMB, Maybank, Standard Chartered and HSBC credit card holders are entitled to a 20% discount.
Bookings made via Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur’s eShop will be given a 20% discount.
THYME, Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. (Tel: 03-2872 8503). Business hours: 6.30am to 10.30pm.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
