Special thanks to Royale Chulan Penang for extending this food review invitation.
This evening, Royale Chulan Penang gives a preview of its upcoming Christmas Eve Yuletide Buffet Dinner. Like the actual dinner, the preview event is held in Sri Tanjung Cafe at the Boustead Building. The centerpiece here is a large gingerbread house that resembles a snow-covered chapel.
Right off the bat, the Traditional Roast Turkey turns out to be the most impressive one that I have tasted this year. The meat is delightfully flavorful, partly due to the lovely marinade and partly thanks to mirepoix sausage and apricot stuffing. As per tradition, the turkey is served with Yorkshire pudding and cranberry sauce. Be sure to get some grilled pineapples too. Other meats at the carving station are Roast Beef Wellington and Roast Lamb Crown.
Given my affinity for cheese, it is no surprise that the Goat Cheese & Sun-Dried Tomato Pie appeals to my palate. Be advised that the strong taste of cheese may be overpowering for many people. In addition, the Smoked Duck Breast With Mango Salsa is pretty succulent too.
Cranberry Chicken Terrine and Turkey Ham are scrumptious indeed; I truly enjoy their juicy textures. Other dishes that are certain to tantalize one’s taste buds are Salmon Gravlax, Octopus & Abalone Mango Salad, Artichoke Caprese Salad, Pasta Asparagus & Marinated Tomato, and Arugula Spinach & Walnut Salad.
The Four-Cheese Sausage Rigatoni catches my eye right away. The sausages are presented over tube-shaped pasta. Although the sausages are filled with cheese, they are fortunately not too salty.
Speaking of cheese, my favorite dish this evening goes to Spinach & Cheese Ravioli. Filled with chopped spinach and ricotta cheese, the pasta is dressed with creamy sauce. This makes the ravioli extremely gratifying. The same can be said for Spinach, Mushroom & Cheese Casserole. I am duly impressed by the appealing aroma of mushrooms.
Next, Cranberry Cocktail Meatballs are made from ground beef, bread crumbs and seasonings. The meatballs seem to go well with cranberry sauce.
The chilled seafood section covers marine delicacies like flower crabs, shrimps, bay mussels and scallops. Dipping sauces that go with seafood on ice are Thousand Island dressing, garlic aioli, tartar sauce and more.
An integral aspect of Christmas celebration is the variety of traditional Christmas pastries. Some of the popular ones are Yule Log, Stollen, Gingerbread Men and Christmas Cookies. It is also interesting to see Baked Alaska on the menu.
Other delectable treats this evening are Chocolate Almond Cake, Black Forest Cake, Opera Cake, Cranberry Apple Pie, Baked Cheesecake, Apple Strudel, Bread & Butter Pudding, Crème Caramel, French Pastries and more.
Taking a detour to a soupy dessert, I cannot recommend Poached Apples highly enough. The apples are cooked below boiling point, allowing them to infuse their tartness to the liquid without completely disintegrating. The liquid, primarily grape juice, is pleasantly sour. It is a sin not to have a second helping!
The Christmas Eve Yuletide Buffet Dinner is priced at RM120.00 net for adults. The adult price includes a party pack and a glass of wine. Meanwhile, children and senior citizens enjoy reduced prices of RM60.00 and RM80.00 respectively. In parallel, the hotel serves Christmas Eve Western Set Dinner at The Spice.
On New Year’s Eve, Royale Chulan Penang is serving New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner at Sri Tanjung Cafe. This is mirrored by the New Year’s Eve Western Set Dinner at The Spice. Confirmed bookings before 15 December 2018 enjoy 10% off. This discount applies to the adult price only.
Christmas serves as a reminder for us to lend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate. To this end, Royale Chulan Penang is having a “Candle Of Hope” charity event throughout the entire month of December 2018. Guests can help in spreading the Christmas cheer by buying a Christmas card for RM10.00. This year, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Children’s Protection Society.
Name: Sri Tanjung Cafe
Address: 1 & 2, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-259-8888
Business hours: 7:00am-10:30pm
Website: http://www.royalechulan-penang.com/dining
Coordinates: 5.41700 N, 100.34401 E
Directions: From the ferry terminal at George Town, turn right and drive along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld). Royale Chulan Penang is located shortly on the left, at the same block as Made in Penang Interactive 3D Museum. There is a small lane right after the hotel, which leads to the main entrance and multi-level car park. Guests who dine in Sri Tanjung Cafe can get their parking tickets validated for a flat rate of RM5.00 per entry.