HomeNewsLifestyle News Exclusive Chocolate Collection from The Empire Hotel and Country Club
Exclusive Chocolate Collection from The Empire Hotel and Country Club
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Blends Brunei’s Exotic Spices & Ingredients
A unique range of handmade chocolates blending local spices and ingredients into traditional European recipes is now available at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei.
Created by the hotel’s award-winning chefs Suhairi Idris and James Norman and their team, the chocolates introduce exotic local flavours such as pandan and chili along with durian, bananas and coconuts.
Gift-boxes on sale at The Lobby Lounge of Brunei's premier resort start at B$14 for a selection of eight chocolates. Boxes of 16 are B$26, or B$74 for a box of 49 and B$136 for a giant box of 98.
The mouth-watering selection of new confections with a distinct Brunei twist include Tongkat Ali, flavoured with the root of a traditional local tree, a blend of young coconut with dark chocolate named Kelapa, and Chili Truffles infusing milk chocolate with local chili.
Pandan Leaf blends white chocolate with sweet-scented pandan, Durian Ganache is flavoured with the pungent 'King of Fruits', and Pisang Emas combines delicious local banana with dark chocolate.
Classical European chocolate recipes are also included in the selection, from traditional Milk Chocolate, Fruity Nuts, and Hazelnut Praline to Cappuccino, Vanilla, Buttermilk Caramel, Bittersweet Cocoa, lime-flavoured Turkish Delight, Lavender Caramel and Saffron, scented with the unmistakable aroma of the world's most expensive spice.
The new creations placing Brunei distinctively on the world's chocolate map represent the combined efforts of Executive Chef Suhairi Idris and Chef James Norman, and local Bruneian chef and aspiring chocolatier, Siti Amira (Mira) Mubarak after exhaustive experimentation to produce ideal blends.
"What we have produced is a range of chocolates unique to Brunei, so they are obviously superb souvenirs for visitors, as well as memorable gifts for local Bruneians," said Chef Idris.
"We set out to create distinctive 'rainforest' chocolate recipes and the results will delight chocolate lovers."
Chef Siti Amira (Mira) Mubarak who has been with the hotel since 2004 and who played a key role in developing the range of unusual, indigenous flavours, admits to being completely passionate about chocolate. Her ambition is to travel the world to learn about chocolate and eventually to become a teacher, passing her knowledge to the next generation.
The gift boxes can be ordered from The Empire's Lobby Lounge by calling +673 241 8888, extension 5008. For special requests, personalised chocolates can also be made at an extra charge. Boxes can be delivered to friends and relatives overseas as well, with an additional air-freighting charge.
On the doorstep of one of the oldest rainforests in Southeast Asia, The Empire Hotel & Country Club is an outstanding 5-star beach resort – a luxurious architectural masterpiece with a superb country club and floodlit Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course.
One of the world’s largest resorts, it features 359 spacious guestrooms and 61 lavish suites and private villas set in a 180-hectare (445-acre) tropical garden estate.
With impeccable credentials for world-class meetings, conferences and exhibitions, the resort is emerging as a leading Asian venue for the MICE market, including the Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting.
Its new PADI dive centre is opening Brunei’s spectacular underwater reefs and shipwrecks to scuba-tourism for the first time.
For executive travellers, the hotel has an exclusive E-Club, and for families an E Kids Club keeps children entertained all day.
With its own cinema and state of the art theatre for live performances, the resort enjoys a prestigious profile hosting royal and state visitors to the Sultanate of Brunei.
A multiple-award winner, it has been repeatedly voted Asia's Leading Golf Resort and Brunei's Leading Hotel in the World Travel Awards. Its breathtaking Emperor Suite, which is one of the world’s largest at 666 sq m with its own indoor swimming pool, has also been voted World's Leading Presidential Suite. In Smart Travel Asia magazine's 'The Best in Travel 2006' awards it was ranked among the top 25 of Asia's Best Business Hotels, Best Conference Hotels and Best Leisure Hotels & Resorts.
The championship golf course is meanwhile the annual venue for the Asian Tour as host to the Brunei Open. Players have voted it ‘Best Host Venue’ of the 28 tour events.
For bookings, call Reservations on +673 241 7788 or e-mail
or contact your travel consultant.
