From hawker food in Penang to Kuala Lumpur’s cosmopolitan dining, Malaysia’s cuisine has a reputation for incredible diversity. With the recent inclusion of Desaru Coast into Time magazine’s influential World’s Greatest Places list, Malaysia confirmed its standing as a world-class culinary destination.
Vying to give travellers the full Malaysian experience, chefs at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas hand-picked the flavours most representative of the fiery Malay cuisine as well as making a gastronomic nod to fresh coastal dining. At Sea.Fire.Salt., the signature restaurant, an extensive caviar selection features locally farmed sturgeon roe and beluga caviar from Russia, while chilled seafood tower glistens with Irish oysters, Boston lobsters and Chilean mussels.
If you need to break away from the bounty of the sea, all-day dining restaurant Turmeric serves authentic local Malaysian fare and delicious Thai, Chinese and international cuisine bolstered with enticing drinks. Here, an extensive dessert selection steals the show: traditional sweets such as ais batu campur, a mound of shaved ice lavished with red beans, grass jelly and ice cream, are served with a cup of frothy teh tarik (pulled tea).
Infusing familiar concepts with new meaning, Anantara chefs take the humble tiffin box and reimagine it as a sophisticated afternoon tea service at the Observatory Bar, a chic hangout spot with 360-degree views of the ocean. Lacelike roti jala, glutenous onde-onde balls and other staples of local street food are paired with premium teas and Moët & Chandon Champagne.
For a meal that puts you in the water, villa guests can look no further than Anantara’s signature floating brunch. An Instagram-worthy selection of breakfast favourites, including berry pancakes, egg Royale with caviar, waffles, quiche and cold cuts is presented with flair in their personal plunge pool. Guests can soak up the warm Malaysian sunshine from their wide private deck whilst tucking into the floating meal, before retreating to the poolside gazebo with a bottle of Taittinger Brut Reserve.
And, of course, no stay at Anantara Desaru Coast is complete without experiencing the languorous ‘Saturday Brunch’ taking place oceanside every Saturday. With a breezy alfresco setting, it offers a menu running the gamut from surf-and-turf BBQ dishes, oysters on ice and soft-shell crab sliders to foie gras appetisers, urbane cocktails and fine wines. Children can grab themselves a spot on the beach out front, before making their way to the kids’ corner, dessert station stocked with international favourites or the lemonade stand serving refreshing homemade beverages.
For further information or to make a reservation, please contact +60 7 8280 888 or [email protected].
