Here are five beach resorts and a city hotel that serve up themed dinners to spice up your evening.
MASSAGE OF THE SENSES
Banyan Tree Bintan, Indonesia
Indulge your entire being with Massage of the Senses. At the private cabana on the beach, relax with one of Banyan Tree's signature spa treatments before you satisfy your palate with a private dinner under the stars.
Menu: The five-course menu allows guests to get a taste of the tropics with a ginger-flavoured pumpkin soup. Creations such as tamarind-marinated carpaccio of seared veal tenderloin and sea bass braised in mustard-kaffir lime broth are set to tickle taste buds. End the meal with an iced lavender yoghurt mousse with wild berries compote.
Price: US$160 per person
Availability: From 6pm daily weather permitting. Make your reservation at least 24 hours prior to dinner. Outside bookings are also welcome.
POLYNESIAN DINNER
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
Step into the private beach and you're welcomed with a tropical cocktail. The set-up of square tables and cushioned benches will also be yours to enjoy once you enter. A troupe of musicians and dancers perform throughout your meal and the show is topped off with a spectacular fire dance performance.
Menu: Dinner is served family-style with tables of 10 echoing the way the locals do it. Diners pass around the platters of food and fill their plates with Tahitian fare. Sample the flavours of the islands with dishes such as coconut marinated red tuna and lagoon fish cooked in banana leaves. Chicken Fafa and local root vegetables are also on the menu. Fresh fruits and poe (pudding) desserts complete the feast.
Price: US$145 per person
Availability: Every Monday evening from 6.30pm
MURDER AT THE CASINO FATALE
InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong
If you have a keen eye for detail and secretly wish to be Sherlock Holmes, then the Murder Mystery Dinner Show in InterContinental Grand Stanford Hongkong should captivate you.
The event on April 24 takes you back to Las Vegas circa 1965. Detective Slate receives a call about a murder at the Casino Fatale. Snoop around and figure out if the deed was done by Doris Knight, the veteran waitress, Herman Kaplowski, the nervous Blackjack dealer, Alfred Twittington III, the wealthy tourist from Hongkong or his wife, Abigail Twittington III.
Menu: Solve the murder over a four-course dinner that has been specifically designed for the theme. Start your night with a Las Vegas cocktail. Whet your appetite with a dish of smoked salmon and consommé of game. For your mains, choose between fillet of cod and roasted tenderloin of beef. End your meal with a scrumptious baked Alaska.
Price: HK$798 (US$103)
Availability: The April 24th event starts at 7.30pm. Events are irregular with the last organised on December 18, 2009. Check with the website indicated below for latest shows. Capacity ranges from 90 to 250 depending on the venue.
DINE BY DESIGN
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives
Dine by Design allows guests to enjoy their meals in unusual locations around the resort. Choose Dinner in the Jungle and you'll sup against the backdrop of century-old banyan trees.
If you wish to venture out of the resort, you can choose to dine aboard a dhoni (Maldivian boat) and take in the ocean sights.
Menu: The food served complements the surroundings. In Dinner in the Jungle, expect a Maldivian-inspired barbecue, served hot off the grill. You can also partake in a wine-tasting session on the seashore and end that with a gourmet dinner paired with fine wine. True to its moniker, you can also request your own menu.
Price: US$100 per person
Availability: Every Sunday, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The experience can only accommodate a maximum of 20 guests. Advance bookings are required. The hotel also welcomes requests for other days of the week.
CULTURAL BBQ
The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa
The entertainment kicks off with a soothing angklung (traditional musical instrument made with bamboo) performance. Then, watch traditional dances showcasing the rich cultures of Malaysia's different states. Note the vibrant traditional garbs and graceful choreography as they tell stories from the local cultures. End the night with exciting fire stunts.
Menu: Tuesdays are Earth & Fire days. Expect succulent barbecue ribs and roasted whole lamb. Pair those with a healthy portion of salad in the buffet line. Sun & Sea Fridays serve up the freshest seafood, ranging from seabass to cod fish, salmon to lobster. It's yours to decide if you want your seafood baked, grilled, fried or even steamed.
Price: MYR165 (US$50) per person
Availability: Tuesdays and Fridays from 7.30pm
Jarrel Tan
