Foreign guests get a taste of local culture at Boulevard Hotel

IT was a thrilling first-time experience for some tourists from abroad during the lion dance performance at the Boulevard Hotel Kuala Lumpur on the first day of Chinese New Year.

The lion dance kept the crowd at the hotel lobby in awe as they showed their skills on the 2.5m high stilts.

Photographs of the performance were taken by both the foreign and local onlookers as the skilled performers jumped from stilt to stilt.

Majestic: The guests were awestruck by the lion dance performance.

Earlier the lion dancers, accompanied by the sounds of cymbals and gongs, did their rounds at the hotel's Wild Rice Restaurant and the Flutes Living Room Lobby Bar as a symbolic effort to chase off bad luck and bring in the good luck.

Along with the troupe was also the God of Prosperity who gave out red packets to hotels guests and spectators.

Hotel general manager James Loo said the lion dance was a compulsory annual affair for the hotel during the season.

“This performance has been on the hotel's annual calendar of events since the hotel opened its door to the public in 2005.

“The dance showcases Malaysia's multi-racial life to our guests,” he said.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]

Boulevard's Wild Rice Restaurant Buffet Line

EVERY time a new dish is created at the Wild Rice Restaurant, the chefs ensure it first makes its appearance in the buffet line.

“Placing a new dish on the buffet table is the best way to find out if patrons like it,” said executive sous chef James Koh, who would also make his rounds asking patrons for feedback as well as suggestions on making the new dish a regular offering in the restaurant.

Salad offering: Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Pesto.

Currently, Koh, who had offered his specially prepared Prawn Mee in the buffet spread, is happy with the response from diners who not only gave him tips and feedback but also requested that it be available outside buffet hours.

Koh, who had previously worked in Australia, recently introduced the new and popular line-up in the main menu.

“One of our signature dishes here has got to be the B Burger,” said Koh, who had initially created the burger with a beef patty coupled with double cheese, egg, tomato, lettuce, cucumber and gherkin, all tucked neatly into a fresh sesame bun and served with French fries. Now in the new menu, the burger comes with a choice of either a chicken patty or the original beef patty.

Pasta passion: Chili Tuna Fettuccine.

The restaurant is open 24 hours a day and is a mere stone’s throw from the hotel’s swimming pool.

On weekends, according to Koh, dishes like Chicken Lor Bak and Whole Crispy Spring Chicken served in a basket with French Fries and Prawn Crackers are a big hit with families who dine by the poolside.

“These are things that every one in the family can share and have fun eating while taking a break from the pool,” Koh explained.

Vegetarian dishes such as Spaghetti Ala Napolitana, Deep Fried Popiah Rolls, Indian Vegetarian Set and Avocado Fruit Burger with French Fries are also on the menu.

Popular with patrons: Koh with (from left) Chicken Lor Bak, Seafood Curry Mee and Penang Prawn Mee.

For dessert, Koh said nothing could beat fruit dipped in chocolate sauce and topped with cream.

”When we had our chocolate fountain during the buffet sessions, it was such a big hit among patrons that we decided to put it in our a la carte menu so that our patrons can have it at all times,” said Koh.

Other favourites at the restaurant include the Mini Crispy Yam Ring filled with sautéed Mixed Vegetables, Diced Chicken and Cashew Nuts, Creamy Smoked Seafood Pie and Chilli Tuna Fettuccine.

WILD RICE RESTAURANT, Level 9, Boulevard Hotel Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 03-2295 8000). Business Hours: Opens 24 Hours.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]

Acrobatic Lions Enthrall Boulevard Hotel Guests

Seeing double: The two lions prancing about in the hotel’s lobby.

ONE of the best parts of watching a lion dance performance is when dancers take to the stilts.

At the Boulevard Hotel's entrance, a golden lion was the centre of attention as it contemplated its routine on high stilts.

Going up: The acrobatic lion climbing up the metal poles during the event.

The lion dancers cleverly showed a little hesitation, which was obvious from the lion’s body and eye movements, but in no time, it showed off its agility to the watching crowd.

Trained by Benny Goh, the lion dancers from Pusat Tarian Singa Seng Yew did thrilling jumps and leaps on 2.5m high steel bars at the hotel porch on the first day of Chinese New Year.

Prior to the dance on stilts, a silver lion joined the golden lion as they pranced through the hotel to usher in luck.

The lions visited Flutes Living Room and Wild Rice Restaurant on Level 9 before dancing on stilts.

They then returned to the lobby to bless it with the usual offering of lettuce leaves, mandarin oranges and pomelo.

The offering was then presented to general manager James Loo.

During Chinese New Year, it is common to see lion dancers warding off evil spirits and dancing to bring in luck and prosperity at hotels, restaurants, businesses and even homes.

Many hotel guests took the opportunity to capture the moment on their cameras before the lions called it a day.

Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]