sultry northern nights

Up in the sunny emerald isle of Penang, Robb Report Malaysia and Louis XIII staged two nights of beautiful dinners, with the undoubted highlight being the Louis XIII experience to cap the night. At The Eighty Eight restaurant, Chef Danny Ng’s virtuosity in ingredients and preparation of European contemporary cuisine resulted in a beautiful seven-course menu of, among others; Spanish Salami with Watermelon Carpaccio, Charred Citrus Cured Duck with Saffron Risotto, Organic Pork Belly cured in molasses and a 36-hour sous-vide short rib.

Led by Louis XIII ambassador Calvin Chen, the dinner party took turns to toast the evening with the full range of Remy Martin cognacs; the VSOP, Club and XO, arriving finally at the pinnacle Louis XII cognac, a blend of aged eau-de-vie, many of which have been stored for over a century.

The following night, Farquhar Mansion – the island’s go-to dining room for French cuisine – hosted the evening. Their menu soared on truffled mushroom soup, wagyu steak and a capellini drizzled with truffle oil. All these palatal pleasures segued into the headline act of the Louis XIII, served in pillet glasses and providing a glorious warm finish to the night.