My 22nd Birthday Dinner @ Melting Pot, Concorde Hotel KL (Thursday, 24th April 2008)

Salam,

Today I turned 22! Alhamdulillah for all the blessings I have received all my life, and most importantly for the opportunity given by Allah for me to still breathe and make presence on this wonderful planet Earth.

As usual, Ayah would bring us for a family dinner to celebrate the birthday of any of us. Sometimes it is delayed if our schedule clashes with each other. Fortunately this time we can make it on the day itself.

I had no idea of where to go, of course for birthday occassions my sister and I expected somewhere which is extra nice. Before my parents divorced, we always dined in hotels or considerably posh restaurants almost every Saturday. However after the divorce, my sis and I felt it wouldn't be as fun to go for dinners at really nice places without Ummi following us. Although of course we need the fix of dining at nice places once in a while :p But of course, having the whole family together would be the best. This time was cooler, because Ayah invited Ummi to join the dinner as well since it is indeed their daughter's birthday dinner right? :)

Yeah I had no idea where to go, my sister, she has more knowledge on the latest eating spots in KL, and she's the type who always has the cravings and desire to go here and there.. so I asked her to decide. She told me about how she read on other food blogs of how exquisite and tempting the dinner buffet at Le Meridien, Kuala Lumpur, so we agreed to try it out.

Quite unfortunately, Ayah has made his mind to bring us to one of his all time favourite hang-out places, which is the coffee house at Concorde Hotel, KL at Jalan Sultan Ismail. We dare not to disagree, because we really didn't want to ruin his good mood, which if we do, would affect ours as well. My sis, Deena/ Nana and I were like OK, and Nana was like telling me 'Damn! I have dressed up this well and to go there where there are always old folks around, and the waiters are not cute anyway!" Haha, yes I have to agree, indeed we really wanted to check out something new and refreshing. Anyway I told Nana that at least Concorde would be much better than another favourite hotel of my dad, which is the Equatorial KL, because I really don't like the waiters and waitresses there, they are really huge suck-ups. Seriously, I don't like to eat there although I cannot deny that their buffet selection is amazing.

But not to fret, the buffet selection at Melting Pot, which is the coffee house is amazing as well. They have a very wide selection of local and western cuisine, and believe me this kind of buffet, it's not hard for you to be full before trying out everything.

The price of the dinner buffet for an Adult is RM 75.00++

The buffet selection area

Ayah and Nana; Ayah currently is so into his 'F1 Racer' shirts now

I love you Ayah! Mmmuaah! :)

Dengan Ummiku (With my mother, by the way Ummi in Arabic already means My Mother)

Ok now I have introduced you my family, let's do our Jom Makan! presentation. I have taken the photos of what we have eaten, none of us manage to try out everything of course, but we did taste a little from each other's plates. :p

As for the fruit juices above, we have to order separately of course. Sheesh hotel's fruit juice always upsets me with their very little amount. What a pity.

Not to be forgotten, I am a serious fan of cherries. Yes I am the type who would ask everyone "Do you want your cherry??" with the hope that they wouldn't :p

Nasi Briyani (Briyani Rice)

Very tasty. The chunks of lamb and chicken are very tender and juicy. Very well marinated.

Seafood and Salad

Ummi really loves seafood especially oysters. The seafood is really fresh. Yes I know that oysters are very pricey and comes from the classy type of food, but as strange as it seems I don't like oysters, I think they have a strange taste which I could not accept. Haha maybe my tastebuds are not classy enough! :p

Laksa Sarawak (Sarawakian Laksa)

I have always wanted to try this popular dish from Borneo but I was too full to try anything more. Nana has eaten this and she said it's really tasty. By the way, I heard that the paste for this laksa has to be specially ordered from Sarawak or else the taste wouldn't be as good since it would not be the authentic Laksa Sarawak.

Nana poses with her Laksa Sarawak

Grilled Lamb served with Grilled Tomatoes and Potatoes

I love its taste, very well marinated and grilled. Really tender and juicy. The mint sauce, BBQ sauce and mushroom sauce are also very nice and rich in taste.

Fried Finger Food

They have Thai Chicken in Pandan Leaves, Japanese Squid & Prawn Tempura, Fried Softcrabs and Fish Fillets, and all are delicious of course. I especially love the softcrabs, first time I've tried it when I was in Vietnam. For the fried food here, they have Thai Chilli Sauce and Tartar Sauce for the dips.

Me eating. Such an ugly sight but such a lovely taste.

Grilled Seafood

I didn't try this one. They have grilled salmon (Ummi's favourite), clams, squids and others. Served with black sauce and other sauce which I could not recognise :p

The Dessert

A wide selection of fine confectionery.

The very entertaining Batak strollers

The entertaining live performance by the Batak strollers while you are dining. Usually you could request of the songs which you want to listen. Ayah and Ummi would always request some Malay, Indonesian and English oldies. Ayah as usual with his Semut Merah and Ronan Keating's songs. Ummi with her D'Lloyd and Samsons as well (Ok that is a new band). As for Nana & I, we like to request for Sheila On 7, Dewa, Peter Pan, Acha Septriasa & Irwansyah and now they have even added their list of Mulan Jamilah's Makhluk Tuhan Paling Seksi and Dewi-Dewi's Dokter Cinta. Yes of course, they sing waayyy better than Acha Septriasa, Irwansyah and Mulan Jamilah :p

Ececey Nana, manja la tu konon :p

I like this photo, Ayah looks like an Italian Mafia boss while enjoying his ciggie and some Mediterranean entertainment :p

Well well! Did not expect this one! A surprise birthday cake!

By the way before my cake came, there were other 3 people celebrating their birthday on the same night. The Batak strollers sang me a very melodious 'Happy Birthday' and wished me good health, a successful life and wished for me to cherish this sign of love from my family especially my parents. Definitely I will and amin to all the prayers.

A very blessed Suraya

Cheese Cake with Fruits

Original price RM 80. Ordered after 9.00 pm, sold at half price which is RM 40.

Of course, my smart Ayah ordered the cake after 9.00 pm. Haha, ayah has always made the joke, for hotel's cakes if we order after 12 midnight probably we'll get it for free. Not! :p The cheese cake is the richest cheese cake I've ever tasted, they really used more cheese than flour. It tastes so good yes but after a few bites you would feel quite muak. How shall I put it, like you feel like you cannot take it anymore because the cheesy taste is so rich.

I think in this pic I look like a small girl who is so happy with her birthday cake

Ummi & I posed with the cake

Blowing out the candles.. my wish is a secret.

Cutting the cake.

Ayah is feeding his girl :) Terima kasih banyak-banyak ayah (Thank you so much ayah)

Yes and this is me feeding my sister

When we left, we saw that the King, His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin leaving the opposite Shangri-La Hotel. I always have seen him and his entourage on the road especially on the Federal Highway. Regardless of many negative political issues directed towards the King, as his people I highly respect and support his reign. Daulat Tuanku! (Long live the King) :)

Malaysia's proud landmark, the Petronas Twin Towers or Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)

As ayah drove on one of his favourite highways, Ampang- Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway or AKLEH (Ayah is a fan of many highways), I asked Ayah to slow down so I can snap the photo of KLCC beaming at night. Casually Ayah said "Oh Sue why can't you just buy a postcard?" :p