To The French Reviera
As an ambassador of modern French style, culture and art, Sofitel has done wonders in introducing us to the meaning of joie de vivre. Nizza, the in-house restaurant at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara is a good example. With its blue-and-white flooring and water-coloured ceiling, Nizza is a welcoming sight as guests are invited to bask in its French Riviera-inspired ambiance.
Things got off to a good start as we sat down to preview its new dining menu. First, a glass of the signature Luxe Tropicale – a pre-dinner cocktail featuring passion fruit, champagne and vanilla liquer to set the mood. The evening sun’s rays casts a comforting calmness over its chic pool deck – reminiscent of the coastline of Cote d’Azur with its modern parasol pool bar and beach cabanas. A selection of tapas – a new addition to the bar – whet our appetite of what’s to come. Drawing inspiration from Catalan cuisine, you sample small plates such as mejillones en escarbeche (fresh mussels steamed with herbs, garlic, chilli and taragon vinegar), gambas al pil pil (prawns sautéed with garlic, parsley and dry chilli), ceviche (seared snapper with lime chilli shallots coriander and avocado), and more.
With the prelude out of the way, executive chef Kim Gates made the rounds to talk to the diners about the dishes – inspired by the South of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Your dining experience takes off with Chef Kim’s personal favourite – salade de Nizza, which features arugula, cherry tomato, artichoke, fennel, avocado, manchego cheese, toasted almonds in argan oil and cider vinaigrette. If you prefer something warm, the Veloute de pois vert is a creamy green pea soup with scallop and caviar. For mains, the Vivaneau Grenobloise is a delight for seafood lover. The red snapper is pan fried at just the right temperature to retain its juicy flavour. It is served with pomelo, grapefruit, lemon, gooseberries and caper berries. Meanwhile, the Plateau de fruits de mer is a cornucopia of grilled lobster, prawns, king crab, red snapper, calamari, mussels and oysters is a satisfying meal for two or more.
For the meat lovers, the Longe d’agneau or lamb loin sous vide is highly recommended, with its side of fava breans, beetroot moutabel, heirloom vegetables and thyme jus. The classic favourites – Black Angus ribeye and juicy rack of lamb – are of course an ever-present feature on the menu. End your dining experience on a sweet note with the Fondant au Chocolat, Pannacotta, Tiramisu, Crème Brulée or Gelato.
Nizza opens Wednesdays to Mondays, from 4.30pm to 10.30pm. For enquiries or reservations, email HA123-FB4@sofitel.com or call 03-2720 6688.
