KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — We know the Chow Kit area for its rich history, colourful market, and delectable nasi kandar eateries. But there's much more in the heart of the neighbourhood. There is The Chow Kit — An Ormond Hotel.

Having been listed in New York Times "52 places to go in 2020” and World Travel Awards Malaysia’s Best Boutique Hotel 2022 for two consecutive years, this boutique hotel attracts contemporary travellers who appreciate simplified luxury.

The hotel design marries crafted tradition with modern comfort, and offers meaningful and authentic experiences for its guests who wish to soak up the culture of this vibrant city.

As you enter, you are welcomed by The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar. The food served here follows the hotel's ethos of balancing style with substance featuring dishes that weave in Malaysian heritage and are presented with a modern refined look.

One of the beloved traditions in Malaysian culture is the "open house.” Usually held during festive occasions, people gather together to share a meal.

That communal spirit is what unites us, as we share stories over delicious food. The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar aims to recreate that experience with A Taste of Chow Kit, which features 2 palatable starters and 7 divine small plates of meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables paired with nasi ulam and their signature house-made sambal merah and sambal hijau.

Served "hidang” style, it showcases the north and south of peninsular Malaysia. Available from 11am to 10.30pm daily, the set is priced at RM248 and perfect for two to three people to share whenever you want to try a little bit of everything.

Balance the meal with a round of salads like the pegaga salad which marries fresh pennywort leaves with grilled tiger prawns in a piquant calamansi dressing or the kerabu mangga with grilled squid topped with sliced chillies and toasted cashew nuts. Other choices for starters include the Bergedil Sumbat or Nam Yue Chicken Wings.

Dig into the feast with the Sambal Udang where you get juicy large prawns in a fragrant, sweet sambal with toasted coconut.

If you want to drench your rice with gravy, there's the delectable Daging Hitam Manis which is fork tender beef cooked sous vide style with a slight sweet gravy.

It may not look appealing with its black hue but pop it in the mouth and you can taste the spices of cloves, star anise, cinnamon and cardamom which will have you reaching for more.

You can also add a bit of the rich, creamy Nyonya Kari Kapitan for lemongrass and galangal flavours or the Ikan Assam Pedas, for tangy tamarind flavours.

Don't forget your greens as you tuck into stir fried Pucuk Paku or fern tops garnished with crunchy fried ikan bilis. There's also the Terung Balado or eggplant topped with a fragrant red chilli sambal.

For larger groups of three to four people, there's The Chow Kit Platters (RM360). Served with a choice of three varieties of chargrilled items, nasi ulam and their house-made sambal merah and sambal hijau.

If you love seafood, there's the From The Sea platter that showcases chargrilled fresh seafood like squid with turmeric and daun cekur glaze, freshwater prawns with sea salt and black pepper, scallops with mango and salsa, and Ikan Bakar, a choice of snapper or sea bass seasoned with spices, grilled in a banana leaf and served with an assortment of sauces like the tangy air assam, sweet sambal kicap, and their signature house-made sambal merah.

If you're a meat lover, the From The Land platter has various chargrilled meats. You can tear through the whole Ayam Kampung that is paired with a coconut percik glaze, the Lamb Loins that are tender and marinated with a spicy curry, or nibble on the Beef Spare Ribs with galangal and star anise.

There's also the all-time favourite Satay with a choice of chicken or beef, served with peanut sauce.

For those who cannot decide, you can order the Best of Both Worlds to enjoy the Squid, Ikan Bakar, Ayam Kampung and Beef Spare Ribs.

Chef’s Specials are also available for those who prefer á la carte options. For RM70 per 100 grams, the charcoal grilled Australian Angus Tomahawk is accompanied with classic beef jus, charred seasonal vegetables, kerabu mangga and their signature house-made sambal merah. Pre-order of at least 24 hours before is needed for this juicy goodness.

Should seafood be your favourite protein, there's the Grilled Freshwater Prawns (RM150) with its sweet tasting flesh and creamy orange roe, paired with kerabu mangga. Or you can order the Ikan Bakar (RM120).

Leave room for dessert as the kitchen whips up classic local desserts with a twist. For instance the Boko Ubi Kayu (RM20) is a lovely marriage of tapioca and custard layers that is bruleed. Crack through the caramelised sugar top to discover smooth custard with the slightly gooey tapioca for a satisfying sweet.

If you prefer a daintier bite, the Ube Seri Muka (RM20) is a great choice. Here the kuih seri muka is reimagined with a soft, creamy layer of sweet yam which blends harmoniously with soft glutinous rice and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Finish off your meal with tasty cocktails. You can select from The Chow Kit x Mizukami menu devised by award-winning mixologist Shawn Chong that has Malaysian elements such as Vitagen grape, Ribena or even their take on the A&W root beer.

For those seeking morning sustenance, try their best kept secret: the French toast. They use thick cut brioche bread that is soaked in buttermilk and griddled until golden brown.

This creates a bread pudding texture with a custard-like interior. Served in two versions, one with berry compote or with pengat pisang, a Malaysian twist of caramelised bananas. It's a winner that will definitely get you out of bed.

Breakfast is served from 7am to 10:30am on the weekdays and till 11:30am on the weekends.

2022 is fast approaching an end so it’s time to gather the family, friends and colleagues together for those important year-end celebrations. The hotel offers various spaces that suit your needs.

From a cosy get-together for 20 persons, a cocktail event for up to 80 or even a rooftop party with the city skyline, allow them to curate the right package for you that features food and signature cocktails from their very own kitchen & bar.

For further details on The Chow Kit — An Ormond Hotel with regards to their room packages, dining offers and event spaces, visit their website www.thechowkit.com. Bookings for dine-in can be made at +603-27786688 or WhatsApp at +6017-2567489. With regards to the event spaces, enquiries can be made by calling +603-2778 6666 or email to events@thechowkit.com.