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Restaurants: Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei at La Parc Cafe (台北盛世王朝大飯店)

Signature Malaysian dishes are on offer for two months at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SUNWORLD DYNASTY HOTEL, TAIPEI

You would have thought a fusion of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures producing spicy and original flavors would be popular here. The reality is there are no authentic Malaysian restaurants in the city that I know of, though a few have opened and closed over the years. Therefore, a two-month festival of Malaysian cuisine at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel is a welcome addition to the list of dining options.

The hotel's buffet-style celebration of the Southeast Asian nation has the advantage of being able to try a bit of everything. Laksa noodle soup is a good starter. It is the definitive Chinese-Malay dish and is likely derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, meaning many and referring to the varied ingredients it includes. Sunworld's laksa is a sour fish soup with crab sticks, shrimps and assorted fruits of the sea, plus rice noodles.

A tropical country, Malaysia has got plenty of peanuts, fruits and coconuts to turn plain meat dishes into something special. Satay may have originated in Indonesia but it has probably been a staple Malay dish for just as long. Marinating the meat in turmeric gives it a characteristic yellow color and it goes perfectly with peanut dip. The Malay curry is another favorite and pits spice against the mild taste of coconut milk for a satisfying combination.

Sunworld Dynasty Hotel Taipei at La Parc Cafe (台北盛世王朝大飯店) Address: 100 Dunhua N Rd, Taipei (台北市敦化北路100號) Telephone: (02) 2715-0077 X 3310 Open: From 11:30am to 2pm; 6pm to 9:30pm Cost: NT$560 plus 10 percent for lunch; NT$680 plus 10 percent for dinner. NT$100 extra on weekends Details: Buffet style; credit cards accepted

Crab in a hot and sour tamarind sauce, sambal squid, stuffed pomfret fish with Balaihan chili and chicken in Malay sauce are other signature dishes offered. Alternatively, if Malaysian food isn't tweaking your taste buds, there is also sushi, roast beef and the hotel's usual buffet fare. Leave room for desserts, however, as the Malaysian shaved ice sweets and cakes are a refreshing change from the norm.

"Basically, Malaysian food is a great combination of Chinese, Indian and Malay ingredients. It is cooked in a traditional way because it is the earliest type of sweet and sour food in Asia. Like Thai food can be hot, spicy and sour, but due to its unique seasonings Malaysian cuisine will surprise the passionate gourmet," head chef Tony Wu (鄔仲利) said.

While a taste of Malaysia at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel is not the real thing it does provide a bite-sized idea of what the country offers. Win the lucky draw and a round-trip ticket to explore further is yours. 
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