MasterChef Australia Season 5 Set Dinner @ The Apartment KLCC & The Curve

Do you love watching MasterChef Australia on Lifetime (Ch709 on Astro)? From 26 November 2013 to 6 January 2014, you will get a chance to taste the dishes that you see on MasterChef Australia Season 5 through an exclusive partnership between Lifetime and The Apartment. During this period, The Apartment will be featuring a total of three 4-course dinner set menus on rotation over a period of 6 weeks. 

Dining with us at the media review was Assistant Marketing Manager of Chaswood Resources, Wouter Schepers. When asked how the selection of dishes was made for the special menus, he explained that it was based on the dishes popularity on the show and website, as well as the desire to provide a varied menu for their diners. The 4-course MasterChef Australia set meals are available daily from 5pm onwards at The Apartments outlets at KLCC and The Curve, ranging from RM98+ to RM138++ depending on the choice of main course.

Pumpkin soup with a twist

We sampled the first dinner set menu, which is available from 26 November onwards. The first course is the pumpkin soup with a twist, recipe from one of the MasterChef Australia judges, Matt Preston. The pumpkin is first roasted in the oven, then added to chicken stock and pureed. The soup is garnished with fried sage leaves, candied bacon and pumpkin seeds. The Apartment's version is smooth and creamy, with a peppery aftertaste.

Next, is the appetizer of lamb and goat's cheese croquettes, served with a corn puree and corn salsa by one of the guest chefs, Brendan Platt. The croquettes were both crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The corn components offer a nice contrasting texture to the dish.

Lamb and goat's cheese croquettes

For mains, diners can choose from three main course, the eye fillet with onion jam (RM138++ for the 4-course menu), pan fried duck breast with parsnip puree and chips (RM128++) and death dish risotto with braised mushrooms, hazelnuts and parlsey (RM98++).

Out of the three mains, my favorite was the eye fillet with onion jam by one of the contestants, Lynton Tapp. Loved how nicely presented it was on the plate. The Australian grain-fed beef at The Apartment has been pan seared rather than sous vide (in the show), and sits atop a delicious cauliflower puree and further garnished with baby turnip, radish, thyme, chestnut mushrooms and onion jam. For me, one of the most interesting aspect of this dish is the onion jam, which I would love to try making in the kitchen next time I serve steak at home.

The pan fried duck breast with parsnip puree and chips was another great main course to try. This recipe is from Gary Mehigan, one of the judges. The duck meat was succulent and paired nicely with the creamy parsnip puree and crispy chips.

The death dish risotto is a cheat's risotto recipe by judge Matt Preston. The risotto is cooked in salted water until al dente then topped with braised mushrooms, orange zest, hazelnuts and chopped parsley. This was slightly too dry for my liking, as I prefer my risotto on the creamy side.

For dessert, we had the chocolate chilli tart, a creation of one of the contestants Christina Batista. The tart itself was on the crunchy side, but we liked the chocolate chilli filing, which left a spicy aftertaste. This was served with praline, whipped cream and candied chilli slice.

Price: 4-course set dinner priced between RM98++ to RM138++.

Location: The Apartment KLCC, Ground Floor, Lot 139, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2166 2257

Website: https://www.facebook.com/atheapartment