Middle Eastern fare @ Al-Nafourah.

I first encountered Middle Eastern food when my company held its corporate lunch @ Bukhara Restaurant, KLCC. There, I got to savour their intriguing offerings such as hummus & chickpea puree served with fresh warm pita bread; assorted kebabs and their irresistable desserts. Definitely worth the try if you are bored of the usual Western, Japanese or Chinese food.

Two weeks later, we're back for more Middle Eastern fare and this time round the lucheon is held at Al-Nafourah, Le Meridien Hotel. Step into the restaurant and you are immediately transported to the mythical Arabian mode. We love the gorgeous ambiance with the beautiful concoction of Moorish and Turkish designs.

Food wise, we had more or less the same food sampled @ Bukhara.

Cold & Hot Mezzeh (Appetizer)

Hummus (Puree of chickpeas mixed with tahini, lemon juice, olive oil & paprika) -- Wish we could have more chickpeas.

Labneh be Toom (soft creamy cheese, dried mint & garlic) -- Refreshing & lite yoghurt-y taste.

Iman Bayaldi (Stuffed aurbegine with tomato, onions & garlic in olive oil) -- Yummy!

Kabak Mucveri (Zucchini Fritter) -- Deep-fried battered cucumber that tastes like Malay's cucur udang, served on a bed of Couscous.

Falafel (Broad Bean & Chickpeas Puree with garlic and coriander) -- Abit dry and choking but the taste is pretty decent when paired with the yoghurt-like dressing.

We just can't stop reaching into the basket of warm pita bread to go with the chickpea puree, fritters & aubergines. By the time we finished walloping the Mezzeh, we were already hall full (how to continue with the meeting after lunch??).

Somehow we just happened to have different compartment for good food. Time for some Lebanese grills and desserts...

Grill

Mashawi Mushakalah (Assorted Grilled Kebabs include charcoal grilled marinated beef tenderloin; Chicken Shish Tawok; Lamb Kofta)

Grilled Mediterranean vegetables

Top up the plate with more carbs--Ruzz Bilzafaran (saffron ghee rice) that reminds us of our local briyani.

Sweet ending

Mhalabiyeh (Soft creamy pudding made with rice powder and flavoured with orange blossom water) -- We truly adore this luscious dessert! Everyone around the table finished the smooth creamy pudding till the last spoon and I'm missing it dearly now.

Since it was a corporate luncheon, the food were all pre-ordered and the bill was well taken care of *grin* hence I didn't get to figure out how is the pricing like. Drawing inference from the usual 5-star pricing for fine dining, guess you should be ready to fork out around RM80 per person for a decent 3 course meal. Of course you can still opt for cheaper alternatives for Middle Eastern fare like Bukhara and Al-Marjan, both located @ KLCC.

LOCATION: Le Meridien KL, opposite KL Sentral Station.

Tel: 03-22637888