It was the beginning of December, and Chef Leo wanted to make one more Fine Food & Music event for 2011. I WhatsApped Chris Pereira and asked about the availability of JADE Sisters. He came right back. We were on!
THE MENU
Friday, December 16th 2011
SOUP
Pumpkin Soup served with Crab Cakes
SALAD
Smoked Duck and Fig Salad on a bed of Rocket Leaves
MAIN COURSE
Christmas Turkey Breast packed with Walnuts and Cranberry Stuffing, served with Vegetable Hash, Turkey Gravy and Cranberry Sauce
or:
Slow-Roasted Medium-Rare Prime Rib served on a bed of Roasted Garlic Mashed Potato, with Buttered Broccoli & Mushrooms, all served with Beef Jus
DESSERT
Apple Cobbler
or:
Pears Poached in White Wine
Meal includes Complimentary Wine throughout the evening
Menu by Chef Leonel Velazquez, Bella Restaurant, 69, Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu
The music
Set 1
Amazing Grace
Away In A Manger
Mary’s boy Child
O Come All Ye Faithful
Set 2
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Santa Baby
Winter Wonderland
No Christmas For Me
Feliz Navidad
Set 3
The First Noel
Silent Night
White Christmas
Jingle Bells
Our four sisters from Tamparuli sang in their natural harmony; sometimes Didi played keyboards, sometimes Amy played guitar, sometimes they did A cappella, always melodious, clear and smiling.
Lenn and Izhar – our Mega Boogie crew for the night, worked the lights and sound from back stage. Photographer Nasier Lee took beautiful photos of the musicians and diners.
Everyone was full, contented and in a festive mood by the time Jingle Bells started, and who was the night’s guest performer? On tamborine, little Victoria Velazquez joined the sisters and had the diners clapping, singing and cheering the night out.
It was a good result for the night and the year, and what else can we say?
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
Some events this year
• “Arabian Nights, video” – Tastes of the Middle East, with performances by belly dancers, and gambus musicians from Papar
• “Tango and Argentinian Wine dinner” – An Argentinian food and wine menu served to a medley of Tango songs
• “Cuban Nite” – food cooked from the heart by our Cuban American Chef Leo, completed with Havana cigars, to a backdrop of Latin sounds
• “Theatre Dining, A Night At The Musicals” – a dining menu to accompany a performance by Lady Shaula, an opera singer from Australia
• “Klasik Elastik at Bella, video” – Patrons dined as a violin and piano duo played classical European songs, in the oldest hotel lobby in Sabah, the stately Jesselton Hotel
• “Swanky Bubbles” – Champagne dining to the music of the Frank Sinatra Era
