Over history, in ancient Rome, food taster duties for the King was given to slaves. This carries to the current time where presidents and royal families have hired food tasters, because of the fear of being poisoned, eg. Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama, have been known to employ food tasters.

However, my topic today is not that serious, I am not tasting food in that manner. Today I want to share my experience going for a food tasting at the Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur. As we have ordered the catering services from this hotel to cater for the Royal Gala Dinner that will have a Royal Guest of Honour, we have been invited to a food tasting at the Hotel. Out Royal Guest is one of the future ruler (Crown Prince) of one of the States in Malaysia. So this dinner event is considered very auspicious for the Club and hence we went to do a food tasting at the hotel. The objective is to give a constructive feedback about the food that will be served during the Royal dinner function.

Food Allergies Attack
I experience a quite serious food allergies after that. When I finished eating the desserts, I started to feel dizzy. I don't understand what was it? So I went to the washroom and washed my face, but the dizziness just won't go away. We all went back to the office after that and then I started to feel nausea. I drove back in worried that I might faint on the way home but thank god that I safely reached home without any incident. Immediately when I reached home, I had a high fever like I was on fire. I quickly ate the fever medicine, then wiped my body with wet towel continuously. I felt cold inside and shivers, while outside my body burning like I was on fire. It went on for 2-days plus diarrhea before I fully recovered. The secret to recovery from that diarrhea was to eating few good fresh bananas. What an experience. Lol... Food Taster!! I am really not qualified I guess. What a weak tummy I have hahaha.

MY FOOD TASTING EXPERIENCE
When we reached the hall, there was a welcome digital board outside with our Club name, we were greeted by few of the hotel's Food & Beverage Director. There is a table ready with a full set up of the Royal Dinner, but to me the set up just okay, there is no wow factor to it.

APPETIZER
Salad with Smoked Salmon & Prawn with Mandarin Orange Horseradish Wasabi Dressing.

My Score: 4/5 (very good), salmon was very nicely done and fresh with all the right ingredients taste placed in the plate.

SOUP
Wild Mushroom Cream Soup and garlic bread.

My score: 4/5 (Very good but quite salty otherwise I gave full marks. Garlic bread should be placed on side rather than on the top, the bread has lost its crispiness due to the steam coming from the soup).

On the side, some soft buns and butter were served as well.

My score: 4/5 (Very good but not warm enough when it reaches the table).

My score: 0 (Rejected this one, because the soft bun was too hard).

MAIN COURSE CHOICE

Pan Roasted Beef Medallion on Ratatouille, Red Onion Compote, Gratinated Potato & Thyme Reduction.

My score: 3/5 (Nice, but I would prefer a medium, rather than medium well, quite hard to bite otherwise very tasty).

Lemon Grass Crusted Salmon Fillet on Salmon Risotto, Baby Vegetables & Citrus Butter Sauce.

My score: 5/5 (The Salmon is moist and just so tasty).

Crusted Lamb Cutlets with Gratinated Potato, Baby Garden Vegetables & Herb Jus.

My score: 5/5 (Tasty and yummy, tender juicy lamb meat well marinated, excellent taste).

DESSERT
Cranberry & Morello Cherry Stick, Toffee Pudding with Berry Compote, Mango Sauce and Green Tea Tiramisu Ice Cream

My score: 3/5 (Too many things on the plate, the toffee pudding tasted like chocolate, I cannot taste mango sauce and the green tea tiramisu ice cream tasted like Green Tea, I don't understand the Tiramisu taste mentioned.)

And to end it all, Coffee & Tea were served. Of course mine was a fresh brewed hot coffee.

Conclusion
The Executive Chef came out and sat with us to discuss the tasting experience and he has agreed to revise the whole menu following our feedbacks. Thank you Chef!

The Table Setting

Not attracted to this table setup, I don't feel amaze by it, just normal.

The Canapes

Before they served us the appetizer, they started serving us first with some canapes.
My score: 3/5 (Not cocktail-friendly type, just a few of those canapes I think can be served during cocktail, so they need to improve those canapes to be finger friendly food).

The Menu