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Are you ready, durian lovers, for the biggest and absolute best celebration this summer? Our veritable King of Fruits is making a triumphant return to Hong Kong this August for an extensive and specially curated menu at Hotel ICON. Available every Sunday from 9 August to 30 August, guests can take a culinary trip to the tropics of Malaysia and look forward to an overwhelming array of savoury and sweet durian dishes, courtesy of Malaysian native and executive pastry chef Danny Ho. Haters of durian, just look away now.
Taking place in the spacious Silverbox Ballroom, durian aficionados can anticipate tasting everything from the mildest to the most intense flavours, as well as premium-grade varieties of this divisive fruit. This year’s selection features five different types of durian including D197 Mao Shan Wang, D24, D101, Black Thorn, and the highly recommended D88, all freshly imported from Malaysia.
But that’s not all. The ‘Durian Prince’—as chef Danny Ho is known—will also present a menu of durian-themed sweet treats to showcase the natural, rich creaminess of the fruit. Traditional Malaysian desserts like Durian Pulut Tai Tai will make an appearance, as well as the light and fluffy Pandan Durian Coconut Roulade Cake, Durian Coconut Pudding topped with fleshy fruit, and the unmissable Malaysian Durian Ice Cream.
For a milder side to this strong, overpowering fruit, tuck into the Crunchy Baked Crab Shell Stuffed with Durian, and the wholesome Double-boiled Durian Chicken Soup to nourish the soul and taste buds. Other savoury dishes include the Western-inspired Deep-fried Prawn with Golden Angel Hair topped with Durian Thousand Island Sauce, D101 Durian Deep-fried Prawn with Cheddar Cheese, and a Durian Deep-fried Squid created by chefs Kelvin Lee and Raymond Fung from neighbouring restaurant The Market.
And the best part? This year’s Malaysian Durian Festival doesn’t have to end when your meal does. Hotel ICON is also offering durian addicts an opportunity to continue their tasting extravaganza with various engaging activities on the day, such as taking an unforgettable selfie at the photo booth or discovering the harvest of durians through a virtual tour. Most importantly of all, be sure to tune into the interactive session hosted by chef Danny Ho to stand a chance to receive hidden durian surprises, including a whole D197 Musang King freshly imported from Malaysia, the Forbidden D24 Durian Egg Roll, and a box of Musang King Durian Mooncake!
If the pungent smell—and your breath—become a bit too much to bear, there’s always room to try out the rest of the Hotel ICON buffet, which features their much-adored selection of sizzling Asian specialities, such as a fresh selection of seafood including Alaskan King Crab Legs, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa Lemak, and Beijing Roasted Duck. A sashimi bar and free-flow beverages complete the incredible experience.
For those of you who missed out on Hotel ICON’s previous durian festivals, now’s your chance! Eager beavers and early birds can enjoy discounts on admission prices by booking and settling the full payment for their reservation on or before 26 July 2020. Visit their website for more details.
Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3400 1300
Born in Hong Kong, raised in Germany, and educated in the US, Jen is an award-winning creative with a background in illustration, communication design, art direction, and content creation. When she’s not getting lost in a good book, you’ll find her doing crosswords, eating dim sum, covering all sides of a “Hamilton” number, and taking naps.
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