A very special dinner

"Is it your first time here?" asked the host who greeted us at reception.

"Yes."

"There is a pond in the middle of the restaurant. Do not step into it."

I burst out laughing.

So began an incredible birthday dinner at one of Kuala Lumpur's best French restaurants, Frangipani on Changkat Bukit Bintang.

There were two kinds of bread with a creamy herbed butter that was almost like cheese. Then...I'll let the photos do most of the talking.

A thumb-sized canape to start off a three-course meal (well, four with dessert).

A complimentary appetizer. A crunchy cracker with two kinds of dip. So simple but the contrast of textures makes you excited for the first dish.

First course: Fresh tiger prawn ceviche with avocado cream, dried tomato reduction and
chillies

In a word: frrresh.

First course: vegetable terrine

Very pretty. But I actually liked the salad more than the terrine itself. Reminded me of Viv's salad in Belper five years ago, only in miniature.

Second course: prawn risotto

Sorry, but it couldn't hold up against...

Second course: Warm tea smoked salmon with confit potatoes crème fraîche and salmon roe

I had a smoked salmon sandwich for lunch that day but I wanted more. This is the most unbelievable salmon ever. An out-of-body experience, to be perfectly polite about it.

Interlude: sorbet as palate cleanser.

Cool and refreshing. Would have also made a nice dessert. Or drink.

Mains: Three kinds of ravioli.

The cheese one is a dream.

Mains: Grilled Wagyu beef cheek with braised red cabbage, mole sauce and pumpkin dauphines

Super soft, as expected, but not so flavourful. Would have been tastier with gravy instead of mole sauce, but then that would have been very American. Tender and fat nonetheless. I mistook the cabbage for beet and the pumpkin for potatoes. No wonder they were sweet.

Dessert: Flourless chocolate mousse cake with vanilla sauce and chopped nuts.

My birthday (slice of) cake, the third one for the day. So rich that a few bites are enough. (And in case you're curious, a lot has happened since I was 20. Let's not go back there. Hahaha!)

Dessert: Crème brûlée, glacée, flambée

Light and sweet. Better if the flame had lasted a little bit longer to get rid of the alcohol...and give me a chance to snap a photo.

I have no words left. Time for dinner!