(left) Chefs Richard Ekkebus, Uwe Opocensky and Bjoern Alexander discuss dishes during Off Menu Hong Kong. (Photo: Instagram@offmenu.hongkong)
Cover Chefs Richard Ekkebus, Uwe Opocensky and Bjoern Alexander discuss dishes during Off Menu Hong Kong. (Photo: Instagram@offmenu.hongkong)

After successful outings in Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Bangkok, the Off Menu festival arrives in Kuala Lumpur

Prepare for a culinary extravaganza like no other. This month sees the debut of Off Menu Kuala Lumpur, in partnership with HSBC Premier. This thrilling gourmet experience celebrating chef collaborations will make its debut at Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur. 

What exactly is Off Menu? An exclusive event by Tatler, it brings together renowned chefs from all over the country and places them in teams of two. These teams are tasked to create exciting, one-of-a-kind dishes you would never find elsewhere, not even at their restaurants. These ‘off menu’ creations are then made on the spot for guests to enjoy at this pop-up food festival.

Malaysia will be the fifth country, after Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Bangkok, to host this unique dining experience. Off Menu's inaugural edition was held in Hong Kong in 2019. The three-day event was held on the rooftop of the Peak Galleria that boasts a magnificent view of the city skyline.

“We believe that Hong Kong’s culinary scene is one of the most exciting in the world, led by some of the most interesting chefs and tastemakers working today. We’ve also long dedicated ourselves to promoting local talent and flavours, and Off Menu is, at its heart, a food festival that will offer a true taste of Hong Kong in a way that has not been done before,” the first announcement for Off Menu proclaimed.

See also: What's Cooking At Off Menu, Hong Kong's Newest Food & Drink Festival

The event was a jubilant celebration of Hong Kong’s vibrant food scene, with some of the city’s most accomplished chefs joining forces with culinary icons from Michelin-starred restaurants. The result was 12 unique "off menu" dishes served to over 1,300 guests. Local stars such as Vicky Lau of Tate Dining Room, May Chow of Little Bao Diner and Tam Kwok Fung of Wing Lei Palace rubbed shoulders with international names such as Jordy Navarra of Manilla’s Toyo Eatery and Hisato Hamada of Tokyo’s Wagyumafia. Legendary sushi chef Mitsuhiro Araki of three-Michelin Araki even made a special appearance each day to demonstrate his mastery of tuna carving.

Off Menu Hong Kong proved a success, and was hailed by many as one of the most exciting events of the year. It wasn’t long before other regions decided to host their own versions of this festival. 

Off Menu Taipei was held at the Hotel Indigo Taipei from December 4-6 2020. The event showcased 10 chefs, two mixologists and one pâtissier, including Chef Wes Kuo of Embers, Chef Eric of Gen Creative, and Chef Paul Lee of Mexican-Japanese restaurant Impromptu By Paul Lee.  All dishes were created around the theme of ‘Heritage’.

Read more: The Best Asian Cities For Food, From Kuala Lumpur To Kota Kinabalu

Off Menu Bangkok followed suit in March 26-28, 2021 at the gardens of the beautiful Peninsula Bangkok Hotel, located beside the scenic Chao Phraya river. It featured 11 chefs from prominent restaurants all over Thailand, including Chef Wilfrid Hocquet of Blue by Alain Ducasse, Chef Sujira ‘Aom’ Pongmorn of Saawaan, and Chef Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam, the first winner of Top Chef Thailand. Over 1,000 guests attended this culinary celebration, which also featured a charity auction benefiting the Duang Prateep Foundation.

Plaza 66, one of the most popular shopping hubs in Shanghai, played host to Off Menu from May 29-30, 2021. The two-day event was billed as a “global food tour of secret menus”, crafted by top Michelin chefs from around the world. Some big names attached were Andrea Cofini of the Joel Robuchon Shanghai, Stefano Baccheli of Da Vittorio Shanghai, and Tural Hasanov of the Portman Ritz Carlton.

ICYMI: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants: See The First Ever Essence Of Asia List 2021

On Nov 13 and 14, it will be Kuala Lumpur’s turn in the spotlight. The exciting line-up includes Jun Wong of Kikubari, David Dahlhaus of Ambara at One&Only Desaru Coast, Jeff Ramsey of Japas, Kenny Lee of Jade Pavilion, and Raymond Tham of Skillet at 163. For the full list, click here.

What delights can we expect from these collaborations of the country’s most talented culinary trailblazers? What tasty masterworks will they craft from Malaysia's distinct flavours? Join us at Off Menu Kuala Lumpur on this journey of food discovery.

Off Menu Kuala Lumpur is strictly by reservations only. Places are limited so make your bookings early by clicking here or email myinfo@tatlerasia.com. Only two sessions are still available:

Nov 13 (Saturday): 2pm - 5pm
Nov 14 (Sunday): 2pm - 5pm

For more info, visit Off Menu Kuala Lumpur's official website. Off Menu Kuala Lumpur is supported by Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia, Heineken, and San Pellegrino.

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