Prince Hotel – New Orleans Food Festival and Mardi Gras Valentine’s Dinner

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This year, Valentine’s day coincidentally falls on the same day as Chinese New Year! What are the odds huh? Anyway, as usual, Prince Hotel has come up with some special themed dinners for the lovey-dovey couples to celebrate Valentine’s day, New Orleans style. What say you?

New Orleans cuisine is a style of cooking originating in the State of Louisiana (centered on New Orleans), U.S.A. which is a melting pot cuisine that blends French, Spanish, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Southern American, American Indian, and African influences.

Ice-sculpture

New Orleans cuisine can be divided into two types: Creole and Cajun. What is the difference between Creole and Cajun cooking? The easiest way is to think of them as city and country cooking.

Many Creoles were rich planters and their recipes came from France or Spain as did their chefs. By using classic French techniques with local ingredients, they created a whole new cuisine, Creole cooking. This is much more prevalent in the cities.

On the other hand, the Cajuns were a tough people used to living under hard conditions. They tended to serve strong, rough country food prepared from locally available ingredients. Thus Cajun cuisine was born in the swamps and bayous of the countryside.

The staple food – rice (Seafood Jambalaya)

While both cuisines are distinct, there are similarities. Rice is a staple of both, they tend to be spicy and Creole and Cajun chefs usually start a dish by making a roux of oil and flour. In addition, there are many common ingredients such as crab, shrimp, oysters, crawfish, freshwater and saltwater fish, plus wild turkeys, ducks, homemade sausages, chilies, beans, tomatoes, okra, yams and pecans.

Some of the signature dishes of New Orleans that are featured in Eccucino are Gumbo, Jambalaya, Shrimp Etouffee, Boiled Crawfish, Blackened Fish and Bread Pudding.

Blackened Roasted beef

Perfect serving of roasted beef

Boiled Crawfish

A serving of boiled crawfish with corn and potato on the sides

Ever heard of dirty rice? This was my first time too! I was so curious to find out what it was that I took picture of the guy preparing it. When it’s done, the fragrance was so very strong and aromatic!

Preparing Shrimp etouffee dirty rice

I almost wanted to eat it there and then, but I had to be ladylike and wait til I got back to my seat.

Simmering rice in gravy and seafood

Completed Shrimp etouffee dirty rice!

New Orleans is also the home of Mardi Gras, a huge festival of parties, parades, costumes and music which ends on Fat Tuesday. (This year falling on February 16th). This yearly festival has earned New Orleans a reputation as a party town with the official motto:

“Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll)

Masks for Mardi Gras celebrations

More fancy masks!

Ooh… Fiery

witch with a mask

Saucer and witch

New Orleans Food Festival is available for buffet dinner at Eccucino from 4th to 14th February 2010 and is priced at RM79++ per person.

Valentine’s Day 14 February 2010
Eccucino will be featuring a special Valentine’s Mardi Gras Buffet Dinner on 14 February 2010.
Valentine’s Mardi Gras Buffet Dinner is priced at RM110++ per person.

For Reservations, please contact

Eccucino at Prince Hotel and Residence Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Conlay,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2170 8119/8120
Email: [email protected]