2018 Valentine at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang

Cheers! My wife and I enjoying a romantic early Valentine dinner, with a personal butler, Mr Nasrin. (2 February 2018)


DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang is doing their first Valentine ever. Guests can opt to celebrate it at their restaurant, Makan Kitchen, or at the poolside, or up on the suite balcony, with views overlooking the sea.

Our Valentine at DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang

It was a night to remember for My wife and I, when DoubleTree decided to give us an early Valentine's Day dinner. They surprised us with it when we arrived at the hotel for its review stay, which took place on 2nd to 4th of February, 2018.

The table was beautifully set with rose petals and coloured lights. Three staff members from Makan Kitchen downstairs were spirited to our room to prepare the whole setting. They were Mr Ahu, the Assistant F&B Manager, Mr Omar and Mr Nasrin, who remained as our butler for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit wet. Due to concern for impending rain, it was decided that our dinner would be moved indoors (alas, the rain never came, but as compensation, we got a romantic indoor dinner with air-conditioned comfort.

Dinner that evening was a four-course affair. We had our own butler, Mr Nasrin. It starts with the appetizer, which as Crab Timbale with Apple & Truffle Oil, with avocado, cilantro, shallot salsa and lemon grass jelly. Both my wife and I were quite impressed, particularly in the creative use of lemon grass jelly. Mr Ahu has paired the appetizer with Andreola Dirupo Presecco DOCG, a sparkling wine from the Veneto region of Italy. It serves as the apéritif.

Crab Timbale with Apple & Truffle Oil (2 February 2018)


Sparkling wine paired with the appetizer. (2 February 2018)


The next item was a soup, Green Lip Mussel Chowder, with truffle oil drop and curry coconut drizzle. We love how creamy and rich this soup is, and the mussels were huge and succulent. This is paired with a white wine, a Luis Felipe Edwards Pupilla Sauvignon blanc from the Central Valley of Chile.

Green Lip Mussel Chowder (2 February 2018)


As for the main course, the guests are given a choice of three items. However, for the purpose of showcasing this Valentine Set Menu, they served us all three. They were the Pan Fried Salmon Steak on Leek Stew, with orange butter sauce, teriyaki drop, sauté fresch crunchy vegetables and dill baby potatoes; Stuffed Supreme of Chicken Breast with mushroom, spinach and mascarpone, sauté carrot, asparagus, bok choy and yellow zucchini, and roasted garlic pasta with tarragon sauce; and Char Grilled Tenderloin, with sauté green asparagus, baby carrot, broccoli, sauté cherry tomato and grilled mushroom, creamy garlic mashed potato, mushroom jus and fruity barbeque sauce. Mr Ahu paired the main course with a red wine, a Merlot also by Luis Felipe Edwards Pupilla. By the way, the main course was served with a little sauce containing a small bottle of Heinz Chilli Sauce, Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Tabasco Sauce. We didn't use any of these.

Of the three items, I enjoyed the salmon steak and the char grilled tenderloin the most. The tenderloin was done medium rare and was very tender. The chicken breast and pasta were a bit on the dry side, mainly because we spent so much time taking photographs that the food dried up. I suppose, if we had consumed the pasta as soon as it was served, it would be al dente.

Pan Fried Salmon Steak on Leek Stew (2 February 2018)


Stuffed Supreme of Chicken Breast (2 February 2018)


Char Grilled Tenderloin (2 February 2018)


Chilli Sauce, Tomato Sauce and Tabasco Sauce, but we didn't use any of these. (2 February 2018)


There was more food than we could consume, since there were three items instead of two. So we made room for the dessert, which was White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse, with Britany biscuit, strawberry jelly, white chocolate ganache and fresh berries. This is without compare the most beautiful dish of that evening, and a beautiful little heart completed the perfect picture. The wine paired to the dessert was Sambuca, a digestif.

White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse (2 February 2018)


It was a private dining affair in our suite. (2 February 2018)


A shot of Sambuca, a digestif, to bring closure to a lovely evening. (2 February 2018)


Love is everywhere at DoubleTree Resort. (2 February 2018)

DoubleTree's 2018 Valentine Programme

If you ever wished for a romantic Valentine evening, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang has everything set up to put you in the right mood. See details below.

Behind the Scene

I managed to take some shots of the team setting up our Valentine evening.

Mr Ahu and Mr Nasrin preparing the balcony setting for our Valentine evening. (2 February 2018)


A romantic Valentine on the balcony, overlooking the sea, at sunset. (2 February 2018)


Mr Nasrin, Mr Ahu and Mr Omar setting up the indoor dining table for our Valentine dinner. (2 February 2018)


Mr Nasrin, Mr Ahu and Mr Omar, all set to dish out the DoubleTree hospitality. (2 February 2018)

Many, many thanks to DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang

We are very grateful to DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang for giving us such a fantastic welcome and hospitality. It is a memorable and priceless occasion to experience the first ever Valentine dinner to be held at the hotel, and we deeply appreciate the gesture.

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