During the final days of the Chinese New Year celebrations, one of KL's hottest venues, Maristar at Star Hill Gallery, threw open its doors for a night of quality drinks, nibbles and socialising. The popular night spot buzzed with young, hip fashionistas and a sprinkling of the city's elite set, all eager to sample the delights of the free-flowing canapes.
And wowee, those canapes were delicious! We were off to a great start with Italian favourites, such as a focaccia pizza with anchovies and a beautifully wrapped forkful of spaghetti cooked in truffle oil. Potato croquette bon-bons arrived sitting on a dash of garlic mayonnaise, bite-sized eggplant parmigiana, duck pate on crisp crackers and cod tempura with a dollop of tartar sauce were also amongst the mouthwatering food on offer.
But it didn't end there. No open house is complete without some sweet stuff to tickle the tongue. Small pots of the most delicious panna cotta topped with a berry coulis, a melt-in-your-mouth choux filled with a thick orange sauce (shaped like a mini mandarin) joined a yummy tiramisu and a hazelnut tart topped with a golden chocolate coin for dessert.
All this eating makes a girl thirsty, so I was delighted to quench it with the nicest mojito I have ever tasted! I also tried the superb frozen MariStar Melon cocktail while my companion loved her frozen margarita, before we moved on to a house red wine that complemented the night's colour theme and satisfied my palate.
Being a member of the Marini group, Mari Star is not short of glitz and glamour, and the attention to detail is always on point. A team of DJs filled the air with everything from classic gangster rap to more modern dance tunes, creating a fantastic party atmosphere from their video-enhanced podium. However, being a celebration of the Lunar New Year, there was still more entertainment to come.
A group of percussionists heralded the arrival of 3 highly entertaining teams of Lion dancers who weaved their way through the crowd, following Cai Shen (The God of Prosperity) as he and his helper handed out mandarins to all the guests. The dancers' performance held us all enthralled and brought a true feeling of celebration to the event.
Having never been to an "Open House" before, I think I was spoiled, as I am not sure any future one will live up to the quality of food, drink and entertainment in such a salubrious setting.
The Mari Star offers the cool cats of KL a place to hang out in a relaxed yet elegant bar. With fashion events held here, too, it is clearly the place to see and be seen. Private rooms and VIP areas offer those wishing to enjoy the venue without prying eyes to soak up the atmosphere in peace.
When it comes to celebrations, the Marini Group sure knows how to throw a party, and having had a sneak peek at their Valentine's Day menus, I know where I would be booking if I was still in town! Gallagher oysters served with lemon jelly and some Avruga caviar, slow-roasted lamb shank on a bed of truffle mash and lobster ravioli feature in its various restaurants. Those with a sweet-toothed sweetheart can earn brownie points by allowing them to choose from delicious desserts such as a Chocolate Mille Feuille at Mari Star or a Raspberry Rose Mousse at Marini's on 57.
Ensure a happy Valentine's day by reserving a table at one of Marini's venues before everything books up.
Maristar
Address: The Starhill, LG 08, Lower Ground, The Starhill, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100, Kuala Lumpur
Contact: For reservations, contact +603 2386 6030, +601 2935 2533 or visit https://marinisgroup.com/maristar/.
