Malay Melange is coming to Four Points by Sheraton Pune. And it lets you visit Malaysia virtually through some hot, spicy, vibrant food. Get ready to set your heart racing as you sample multiple courses from a set menu that ends in sweet, sweet dessert.

I was invited to an exclusive preview of the Malaysian Food Festival which launches on November 20 at Panash, the Pan Asian restaurant at Four Points by Sheraton Pune. You can relax in the rich and cozy ambience of Panash and dig into the special Malaysian dinner menu. I hope you are salivating at the thought of sampling a Laksa or a Roti Kanai, a Gado Gado or the Nasi Goreng. Executive Chef Sanjay Mitra has carefully crafted the menu so that you get a well balanced taste of the different aspects of Malaysian cuisine.

The best thing about Malay Melange festival is that it offers three different pricing levels. The vegetarian option is priced lowest with two other levels for meat and seafood. I think foodies will enjoy having this choice. So if you are not craving the sea stuff, you can happily opt for the meat option, knowing you are not being charged a premium for something you don’t want to it.

Veggies like me don’t need to feel the brunt of a full price sticker for something we will never sample.

I know you folks want to get to the food already, so onward march to the menu, what I sampled and how it was.

Almost every culture seems to have a version of the samosa. Vegetable Tembossa was a vegetable stuffed curry puff with a crispy cover. The tembossa was not greasy at all and was a good start paired with a peanut sauce and a chili garlic sauce. Tauhu Goreng was fried tofu which was perfectly crispy outside. Whether you are a tofu fan or not, this version is worth a try. Stuffed with bean sprouts, this is a high protein, filling appetizer for vegetarians (and vegans).

The vegetable laksa was fiery and fragrant and had a creamy coconut milk/ cream base. Spice lovers will be happy with this one, and it will provide some welcome warmth with the first chill of the season setting in.

The Roti Kanai was flaky and perfect to soak the spicy Sayur Lodeh, a vegetable curry with a spicy curry base. Sayur Tumis were stir fried vegetables just bursting with flavor. I could make a meal out of them and some soup. Bursting with garlic and a slight sweetness, these dry stir fried vegetables were my favorite.

The Mee Goreng Noodles are available with or without egg and I loved the vegetarian version. Asian greens added a freshness and there as a slight sweetness which comes from kecap manis.

I tried an array of desserts and you can choose from any of these. Choosing one won’t be easy. Pisang Goreng were fried bananas drizzled with chocolate.

Rujak Medan was a spicy fruit salad served in a tuile bowl. The spicy fruit salad had a kick. But the tropical guavas and pineapple added a burst of freshness which you are bound to enjoy at the end of a spicy meal.

Lapis Legit was my pick out of the three desserts. This layered butter cake was flavored with star anise. There was a spicy caramel sauce on the side which I loved. So much that I asked for some more sauce on the side. The everyday caramel gets a makeover, mixed with some cinnamon and Chinese Five Spice. It may sound simple, but the trick is to get the balance right.

The dropping temperatures are making us crave something with oomph, and the Malaysian flavors at Malay Melange will do the trick. So grab a Malaysian themed dinner this week at the Four Points by Sheraton, knowing you are only paying for what you eat.

Price – Vegetarian 650 ++ , Meat 850++ , Seafood 1050++ from Nov 20 to Nov 29, 2015.