Feringgi Grill offers delicate sought-after specialty in various dishes

Feringgi Grill’s seasonal specials include the (clockwise from top left) Fermented White Asparagus, Duo Steamed Asparagus, White Asparagus Veloute and Crusted Australian Lamb Loin.

WHITE asparagus shoots may not have seen any sunlight while they grow but their delicate flavours light up the dishes they feature in.

Less herbaceous than the green variety and equally great with meats or seafood, they are back to thrill gourmands at Feringgi Grill in Penang.

The fine dining restaurant of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa spotlights different specialty ingredients each season and the milky-hued stalks are among the most sought-after.

“Guests always ask for it so we’ll typically offer it at least once a year, ” resort executive chef Lim Soon Leong said of the special white asparagus

promotion.He explained that the spears are white because they are completely covered with soil or black plastic in the three years they take to grow, thus preventing photosynthesis and the production of chlorophyll.

Though most popular in Europe, the ones served at the grill were sourced from Peru due to import issues arising from the Covid-19 situation in Europe.

They have been worked into seven epicurean ala carte offerings including the White Asparagus starter accompanied by poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce and bottarga.

There is also Fermented White Asparagus with stalks pickled in-house with a special brine and served with Hokkaido scallop and caviar.

Duo Steamed Asparagus with truffle dressing, tiger prawn and caviar, and White Asparagus Veloute with Hokkaido scallop and lemon zest, are the other appetisers.

The mild and crunchy shoots also add texture to succulent mains like the Crusted Australian Lamb Loin with stuffed morels and eggplant puree.

They also accompany the rich Cod Fish alongside morels and beurre blanc, and indulgent Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with baby carrots.

The menu also features a Chocolate Colada dessert comprising cocoa biscuit, coconut sable, pineapple confit, light coconut cream and rum chocolate mousse.

Alternatively, have the five-course White Asparagus Set Menu priced at RM300nett. It has two of the asparagus starters, a choice of mains and dessert.

The promotion is available until Nov 30 throughout Feringgi Grill’s current operating hours of 6pm to 10pm Thursday to Sunday. For reservations, call 04-888 8788.