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At the
Federal Kuala Lumpur, you not only can feast on organic food but you can
also stay in eco-friendly rooms, writes PUTRI ZANINA
 CURIOUS
about The Federal Kuala Lumpur offer of Eco Feast and Eco-friendly stay, I
decide to find out how going ‘eco’ is going to make a difference to the
hotel guests.
The first stop is the Café 57, the first hotel restaurant in the city to
offer an Eco Feast that urges patrons to ‘get real, go organic’.
What is organic food? It is food that is ecologically produced without
the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. To the health conscious, it
means good wholesome food and for me, it’s a whole new eating experience.
There’s an Action Table where you can select organic vegetables and have
them cooked on the spot. You have a choice of noodles to go with the
vegetables, cooked in clear soup, curry, steamed, stir fried, braised in
organic soya sauce or any other way you choose. The chefs there will help
you make a choice.
I opt for clear noodle soup with a selection of vegetables. The first
taste? Bland! But organic food is something you have to get used to, says
chef Chiew Yean Teng.
Think healthy; think the natural taste of food! There is less salt and
more natural content in the food. So, I decide to give it a chance as my
body is screaming to take it easy with the salt, sugar and oil.
Next, a waitress brings a tray of steaming hot green buns – a blend of
green bean and spinach in wholegrain organic dough with a pinch of baking
powder, yeast and organic Himalayan salt. It’s thumbs up indeed for these
green buns. They are soft, fluffy and taste so good on their own. They also
go well with onion soup and chicken cilantro, both of which are hot and
refreshing. By now, I’m perked up for more ‘green’ goodness.
Then comes chilled tofu with raw honey, a cold starter and a winner! It
goes down really soft, sweet and smooth. The combination of tofu and honey
is sensational.
When the eco Pizza 57 comes, I’m bowled over. Deboned, marinated and
barbecued chicken with seaweed and pineapple cubes slathered with pure
tomato puree on thin crispy pizza pastry is bursting with flavour.
There’s a free flow of refreshing organic fruit juices (watermelon,
apple, orange and local fruit in season) throughout the meal.
On the Eco spread buffet table, there are salads including fresh lettuce,
cucumber, carrot, tomato cherries, French beans, chick peas, boiled
potatoes, boiled kampung eggs, bean curd and roast chicken to go with 1000
Island, soya mayo, curry mayo, salsa tomato and balsamic dressing.
Main dishes include organic chicken rendang, multi beans cannelloni,
vegetable lasagna and steamed multi grain rice while the dessert corner
offers organic fruits, crepe with pumpkin jam or honey, fresh coconut milk
jelly with kidney beans, bubur of the day, assorted cakes and pastries and
organic tea (chamomile and Darjeeling)
I like the chicken rendang – the meat is firm and tastes like ayam
kampung. It’s mildly hot and not oily at all.
“We use organic chicken, fresh chilli paste, fresh santan and kerisik,
which we make ourselves,” says Chiew, who has 13 years of professional
cooking experience.
“The portion served is small as health conscious people take food in
smaller portions. Garnishing is also kept simple. The food taste is mild but
pleasing. Strongly flavoured food will spoil its natural taste,” explains
Chiew as I dig into a bowl of bubur kacang. It’s a mildly sweet bubur with
what I think is a creamy liquid.
“That’s oat milk and we mix it with organic cane sugar,” says Chiew
adding that organic and natural products can be expensive but true believers
are willing to pay more for them.
The hotel obtains its supply of organic vegetables from a farm in Raub,
Pahang, owned by DC Organic Sdn Bhd. Other organic products are sourced from
different suppliers.
The Eco Feast is an extension of the hotel’s “Federal Goes Organic”
campaign held in March. It has been extended to the concept of Eco Rooms,
all 18 of them on the 8th floor, which is a designated non-smoking area.
What greets me on the floor is a whiff of pandan; I know then it will be
the beginning of more natural goodness for both body and mind.
The Eco Pantry on the same floor offers a wide selection of organic
juices, beverages, pastries, groceries and personal care products while
various brands of pure water are available at the Water Bar.
There is also a private lounge where organic breakfast is served for Eco
Room guests.
The Eco Room is spacious, pleasant with a green colour scheme. There are
eco-friendly toiletries, which are free of any artificial colorant,
fragrance and harmful chemicals; and organic personal bar. The room is
plastic free and all towels and linens are washed with toxic-free
detergents.
I have truly a good night’s sleep in the room; never mind that the noise
from the bustling BBpark next door can be heard. Located in the bustling
shopping, dining and entertainment area of Jalan Bukit Bintang, the hotel is
a convenient gateway to the best the locale has to offer. After all the
shopping and walk-about in this sizzling hot area, it’s indeed a welcome
respite to escape back to the cool and fresh Eco Room.
I’m now hooked on things eco and though I may have to dig deeper into my
pockets (eco products cost 20 to 30 per cent more than conventional items),
it is a small sacrifice to make for long-term health benefits.
 Federal
Hotel Kuala Lumpur
The Federal Hotel is a landmark hotel built in 1957 for the Independence
celebration of Malaya. Now The Federal Hotel is a newly renovated with
luxurious rooms and comprehensive facilities. The hotel is located along
Jalan Bukit Bintang, right in the centre of the metropolis. Within
walking distance of major business, shopping and entertainment centres. |
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