Although turkey is a mainstay of Christmas dinners, it’s nice to shake things up a bit, writes Samantha Joseph
GROWING up, my family prepared turkey every year for Christmas. It was a fulfilment of a yearning that began on Dec 26 of the previous year and lasted until the manifestation of Christmas dinner itself. Much of this had nothing to do with the turkey itself - often dry (as hotel turkey often is) and appetising only with the copious application of cranberry sauce - but was part of the mystic energies made up of shiny ornaments, Christmas trees, endless carols and glasses of port that seemed to wreath every Christmas season.
Now that I am older and responsible for Christmas dinner in my own home, I am suddenly hit by the impracticality (and also lack of tastiness) embodied by the turkey. Unless you are expecting a small army for your Christmas dinner, the leftover turkey will be haunting your household for a week after Christmas. Also it is very large, takes up a lot of space and no one really knows what to serve it in. Although I still love it, as do many of my generation, there is a question of whether there is an alternative?
Following this train of thought, Life & Times asked a few indie cafes and restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to give us their unique take on Yuletide offerings.
Simply Mel’s
Where: The Sphere, Unit 1-1A, 1st floor, No. 1 Avenue 1, Bangsar South, No. 8 Jalan Kerinchi, KL
Contact: 03-2241 4525
“Simply Mel’s presents Mama Mercy’s Roast Chicken with Baked Beans Stuffing, Mel’s Galinhia Pai (Chicken Pie), and a Rich Festive Fruitcake. All three items are unique to the Kristang community.
In the past, turkeys were not accessible, therefore chicken was the poultry option. Other families may have their own versions of stuffing but this roast chicken (aptly named after Mel’s mother) was Mama Mercy’s creation with her very own take on baked beans stuffing.”
Awesome Canteen
Where: 19 Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya
Contact: 03-7865 8048
“We seek to surprise our diners with dishes that retain key festive ingredients with a fierce injection of local produce and flavours. This Christmas, Awesome Canteen has come up with Chicken Liver Pate and Chilled Braised Ox Tongue with a dash of egg yolk sauce for starters, wholesome Crab Soup comes next and for the main Roast Turkey on a bed of braised carrots and potatoes served with slices of smoked duck breast meat, nangka muda and paku-pakis drizzled with corn and peanut sauce.”
The Humble Pie Co.
Where: No.11, Jalan 17/45, Section 17, Petaling Jaya
Contact: 03-7932 1793
“The Humble Pie is looking at a seafood-themed Christmas meal this year, with a Prawn Mango Salad topped with pomegranate and mango dressing as a starter and a rich Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with a selection of seafood in cream sauce. Dessert is a Christmas-deconstruction-no-bake cheese cake with ginger snap biscuit base topped sweet cherries.”
Bites Cafe
Where: 72 Jalan Tasik Utama 7, Lake Fields, Sungai Besi, KL Contact: 03-9055 4438
“Our waffles are modified version of Belgian waffles with no vanilla essence and minimal sugar. We’d suggest Grilled Chicken Waffle Sandwich, Fritata and Affogato with Pandan Kaya Ice Cream for Christmas with a twist. Sandwiched between the two pieces of thin, light and crispy waffle is a piece of grilled herbed chicken with melted cheese and tomato slices. The chicken and waffle are then drenched in a homemade mushroom sauce and topped with a sunny side up. Most cafes would use vanilla ice cream for affogato. That’s too main stream! Bites chooses Last Polka’s handmade Pandan Kaya ice cream to add a local twist to our affogato.”
Pulp by Papa Palheta
Where: 29-01, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, KL Contact: 03-2201 3650
“Pulp heralds this Christmas with a cup of good old fashioned hot chocolate, delectably rich with a spritz of orange. Christmas Cheer is a comforting festive drink crafted to warm up the nooks of your hearts.”