Ferdinand's, The Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort

We haven't been here in years and a friend recently raved about it, so we decided to pay Ferdinand's a visit last night. I don't know if it was because we were late at 8:30, but the restaurant was empty except for one couple. For a place that can seat about 60 people, the restaurant was pathetic.

Ferdinand overlooks the resort's swimming pools, the little beach and the sea beyond so the view is awesome. The restaurant is very comfortable and elegant without being overly posh although they tried, by putting their waiters in silly striped coattails. While I like a lot of privacy when fine dining, Ferdinand's felt out of date and abandoned, like everybody is eating somewhere else we don't know of. So I realised last night that ambience is not just how beautiful the decor and setting are, but also the whole feel. The place felt dead, or about to die.

But, on a positive note, the food was good except for the dessert, and I have made my disappointment known on the questionnaire form they provided at the end of the meal. What I also wanted to say but didn't because I didn't want to appear as a cheapskate, was probably the reason people aren't coming is that in an economically uncertain time like this, RM71/US$20 before tax for two small pieces of lamb rack is ridiculous. I don't know about you, but whenever the food is served at fine dinners, I always feel a funny wave in my stomach, and I have to hold back this terrible urge to suddenly throw my head back and laugh at the big plates and the bird feed portions. I like fine dining for its elegance, and many courses in small portions make very decadent and luxurious dining compared to one big meal of pasta or a giant steak. However, when you have to pay RM40/US$11 for a soup, RM25-30/US$7-8 for a salad, RM60-90/US$17-25 for a main and RM20-30/US$6-8 for a dessert, plus that glass or bottle of wine, and gov't tax and service charge, I have this urge to shout, hey, I could eat an ostrich for that amount of money. I know my mom would say something like that and get a look from me, like, you don't understand, this is fine dining.



We started on a crabmeat salad, RM24/US$7 ++. It was quite ordinary, crabmeat (definitely frozen) with some mayo and a few pieces of lettuce and sun dried tomatoes. I don't know why they are so stingy with the greens, it is a salad after all.

This was accompanied by a basket of assorted bread with the usual tomatoes and eggplant tapenade and a dip of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, on the house. Oh, and a small piece of bruschetta. Then came the little surprise, a lovely lemon-lime sherbet to clear the palate for the next course.



My pan fried cod with an herb crust, RM60/US$17++. The cod was thick in depth but not in breadth, done just nice and very moist, with a flavorful crusty crust. Cod being an oily fish, I couldn't finish this cube of fish unlike steamed cod, which goes very well with rice, which I can never get enough of.



Hub's lamb rack was two little chops of 2 small ribs each rather than a rack. To me, a rack is only a rack if there's at least 3 ribs in one piece, or just have the whole 4 ribs in a piece. But it was done perfectly, crusty seared outside and tender moist inside, RM71.25/US$ 20 ++



These guys (Filipinos are such great singers!) came along and sang at the next table. The Korean guy asked for 'My Way' and I sputtered. I hate that song. I know this is bad of me but I'm annoyed by how Asians love 'My Way'. This song is so over-sung, and is probably the reason I hate going to karaoke joints. And it is a stupid-sounding, draggy naggy song too. The only place I want to hear this song is at a funeral, out of deep respect. "And now, the end is near/here..."

Remember I told you that I never know where to look when singers come serenade at my table? While they were at the other table, I was mentally stressed thinking, where shall I stare, and what song shall I request? Hub looked relaxed and dreamy. Oh oh.

Then they came and sang a lovely song which I can't remember the title of. I could see Hub with a funny look in his eyes. Oh oh. He is such a music person. They finished and asked us what song we wanted them to sing, and Hub said, "More love songs." I was embarrassed so I asked for a chippy Abba song. They did a good version of Chiquichita followed by a Filipino love song (which we requested), "Dahil sayo/Because of You". When they finished, I told them that we were celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary one day early and they said, ah, we have the song for you. It was hard not to laugh but I controlled myself, for they sang "I Don't Like to Sleep Alone"! If they knew how many nights we preferred sleeping alone in the last 24 years after a fight! But, they were good and the cello is such a mellow romantic instrument that I too was taken in by all that love stuff. We both decided that we would still marry each other even if we went back in time. Wine and music really can rob people of their senses.

These guys sure made the dinner special.



Ferdinand's dessert menu is disappointing, with at least 3 out of 6 items being some kind of mousse, which I don't like. So I settled for their apple tart, which was a bad end to a nice meal. The puff pastry tasted of commercial pastry margarine while the apple slices were tasteless because they were sliced so thin. RM18/US$5 ++

Overall, we enjoyed ourselves but I walked away with a pounding headache that is still there this morning. I know it was that Wolf Blass Eagle Hawk Chardonnay, because I've had it before, and I'm never going to drink that again.

p.s they also gave two little favor packs of pretty good home-made chocs on the way out.