CHEF Vengadesen Sundarasan, 38, did not begin his career at culinary school – he initially studied engineering but discovered his passion in the kitchen.
Now with 19 years’ experience, he is Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre’s chef de cuisine.
“I had applied for a job in a hotel’s engineering department but there was no vacancy.
“But the hotel had an opening in its kitchen crew team, so I took it,” he recalled.
Seven months later, when there was a vacancy in the engineering department, Vengadesen decided to stay in the kitchen.
“My paternal grandfather had a catering business and that might have influenced me,” he said.
Vengadesen’s forte is in pastries as well as Western and Indian dishes.
“Indian food is my speciality.
“I particularly enjoy Indian food from the Malabar region and Kerala state, which is not spicy but flavourful.
“I learned most of my Indian cooking from a chef from Kerala,” he said.
He has incorporated Malabar dishes in the “Feast of the Ocean” dinner buffet at Merchants, Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre’s all-day dining restaurant.
“The spread’s highlights are seafood dishes such as Boston lobster, Malabar Briyani, and Udang Galah Masak Sambal.
“We also feature various sushi and chilled seafood on ice.”
The chef recommends the Malabar Crab Masala.
“Kerala dishes such as Malabar Crab Masala are cooked with coconut oil, which adds flavour.”
The seafood-on-ice selectionfeatures lobsters, briny oysters, mussels, clams and prawns.
Hot stations showcase grilled seafood, including whole fish of the day, along with crab, river prawns, salmon fillets and beef short ribs – all glazed with rich sauces.
The buffet also offers crispy, golden tempura fried to order and flavourful satay.
There are stations too for made-to-order noodles and pasta.
Priced at RM238+ per adult, RM168+ per senior citizen and RM118+ per child, the buffet takes place every Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
MERCHANTS, Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
Menara 8, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur.
(Tel: 03-2782 8888) Business hours: 6.30am to 10.30pm daily.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
