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Going the full Aliyaa Sri Lankan experience

Going the full Aliyaa Sri Lankan experience

One cuisine I don’t get to eat often enough is Sri Lankan food. For a great introduction to Sri Lankan cuisine, the full Aliyaa experience is highly recommended by chef Siva, comprising a set of tasting dishes of the following: Crab samosa; Atukkal rasam; Fish 

Topshelf offers French with Asian flair

Topshelf offers French with Asian flair

Topshelf proves why it’s still one of the top places for fine dining in KL after 12 years, with its exquisite dishes courtesy of chef Chris Yee. Haven’t been there for years, and now it’s expanded and renovated to encompass a much bigger space, including 

Enjoying the sea’s treasures at Oversea seafood

Enjoying the sea’s treasures at Oversea seafood

Renowned for its Chinese cuisine, the Oversea Group of Restaurants’ latest outlet at TREC, KL, features pork-free seafood dishes with a tank-to-table concert. Super fresh seafood gets delivered via an innovative conveyor belt from the tanks directly to the kitchen.

The OTT decor blew me away as I half expected to see Ursula, the sea witch from Little Mermaid, to pop out from the stairways, thanks to the giant octopus tentacles reaching out towards diners. The immersive dining experience is further enhanced by a LED-ceiling screen showing underwater scenes on the ceiling. You can’t help but look up and stare, and even the opulent washrooms were something to shout about, dressed in shimmering tiles with ‘shells’ as taps and basins.

Of course, the star of this place is the seafood menu and you can choose expensive fish, huge tiger prawns, oysters, lobsters, abalone and more, and those not big on seafood, not to worry as there’s a diverse selection available for you too. But wait, the media was invited to eat, and what a feast it was!

We started off with Braised Assorted Seafood Soup with Eight Treasures, naturally sweetened with seafoody goodness. The other seafood dishes all came out together:

*Streamed Turbot Fish with Chilli and Superior Soy Sauce – beautifully steamed despite so large a fish, its flesh still succulent and firm.

*House Special Giant Freshwater Prawns – the chunky flesh was springy, a clear sign of its freshness, and the tasty sauce similar to kam heong. 

9*Indonesian Mud Crab with Chilli with mini croissant – conventional sweet sour style, but well-delivered, good quality meaty crabs. Although I prefer mantou to the mini croissants which would have absorbed the gravy better. 

*Steamed Japanese Scallop with garlic and vermicelli, largest scallops I’ve come across, juicy and springy flesh. Love this. 

The Black Truffle Fried Rice with Japanese Scallop was everyone’s fav – fragrant with truffle, while the ebiko provided texture and bite. Each grain was nicely separated as it should be for fried rice, yet mixed well for a balanced flavour.

*Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables provided our green quota while refreshing Chilled Citron Tea with Snow Fungus and Peach Gum was a fitting refreshing dessert to the lovely meal. 

Make a trip to Oversea Seafood, even it’s just to gawk at the decor. Quite a sight indeed, and the food is definitely praiseworthy.  

Add: 436, Jalan Tun Razak, near Kelab Golf di Raja Selangor, Kuala Lumpur. HP: 010-303 2200

X marks The Spot

X marks The Spot

This new-ish café in Bangsar, KL, located on a little sliver of land with a tree jutting through the roof, was named The Spot by Chinoz by its owners literally because they described its location to friends as ‘X marks the spot’ on the map! 

More Syrian flavours at SAJ

More Syrian flavours at SAJ

S.A.J. Bistronomy by Leen’s (short for Syrian Authentic Jars), offers a similar line up to its predecessor Leen’s, with a few small twists to familiar ones, a couple of fav mainstays and some entirely new dishes. Helmed by chef Ameer Alzalek, his culinary story is 

Celebrate St Patrick’s with Guinness

Celebrate St Patrick’s with Guinness

Calling all Guinness lovers! The Guinness St. Patrick’s celebration will continue at participating pubs and bars near you for the next three weeks! Make sure to get together with your family and friends to commemorate magical moments and “Make it Our Day to Remember” over your favourite stout.

This year, the brand is giving fans the power to turn every pint into a unique representation of themselves via AR. All Guinness lovers have to do is scan the Guinness logo on their pint that will launch a filter of charms using this link, but that’s not all. When purchasing two sets of Guinness at participating outlets, consumers will receive a free glass, and they will get to bring these unique charms to life. 

There will be pint customisation, the iconic St. Patrick’s Day parade, live music, and exclusive Guinness prizes up for grabs. More info: https://guinnessstpatricks.com/events/  

KLANG VALLEY (KL/SELANGOR)


15 March 2024, Friday


Three Stooges, Jaya One, PJ; Powerplant Ekocheras, KL; SHI ER, Solaris, KL; M Lounge 2, Kuchai Lama, KL; Rockafellers, Jaya One, PJ


16th March 2024, Saturday


Hookie Dookie Lounge & Bar, Desa Park City, KL; The Social, Publika, KL; Rock Bottom, Desa Park City, KL


17th March 2024, Saturday


Healy Mac’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, Jalan P. Ramlee, KL; Souled Out, Hartamas, KL; The Beer Factory, Hartamas, KL


MELAKA


21st March 2024, Thursday


The Stage Music Lounge, Kota Syahbandar; Hard Rock Cafe, Lorong Hang Jebat; The Beer Factory, Kota Syahbandar; Classic 80, Merdeka Permai; Rockafellars, Jaya One


JOHOR BAHRU


22nd March 2024, Friday


Luna Bistro, JB Town; The Bierhaus, JB Town; Mac Murphy Bistro, JB Town; Macgregor’s, JB Town


23rd March 2024, Friday


La Preimeur, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah Flanagan’s Irish Restaurant, Impian EmasHarvests Bar & Grill, Senibong CoveLa Olla Tapas Bar, Senibong Cove


IPOH


28th March 2024, Thursday


Legend BarForget Bistro & BarLe RewineV 8 Soldier Bistro & CafeHaven HHealy Mac’s Irish Bar & Restaurant


PENANG


29th March 2024, Friday


Le Lobby, Bukit Mertajam; Big Barrel, Butterworth; The Beer Factory, Butterworth; Sky 7 Hutong Alma, Bukit Mertajam


30th March 2024, Friday


Healy Mac’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, Georgetown; Rockafellars Kitchen + Bar, Georgetown; Sky 7 Hutong Alma, Georgetown; La Vista, Bayan Lepas; The Beer Factory, Bayan Lepas

Spectacular buffet at Four Season KL’s Curate

Spectacular buffet at Four Season KL’s Curate

Experience a fusion of faith, festivity and flavour at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur‘s Curate featuring Malam Cahaya Rembulan — A Cultural Feast Through Traditions from March 11 to April 9. “Our team at Curate has gone above and beyond to create menus that beautifully 

Mediterranean fare at Day Dreamers Cafe

Mediterranean fare at Day Dreamers Cafe

I tot this was a new dining spot but turns out Day Dreamers Cafe (halal) has been around for some years, having moved to Plaza Damas from Plaza Damansara, KL, a while back.  The hanging baskets and many potted plants outside the cafe at the 

Fusion at its finest at Nimbus

Fusion at its finest at Nimbus

So what’s it like dining in the clouds? If you don’t know try Nimbus which offers 4 course dinners, given a touch of artistry by chef Fred Choong. Dishes here are a result of his experimentation, fusion at its best, and unlike French-skewed cuisines, flavours are strong and tweaked to our Malaysian palates.

To start, we had the fluffy fragrant housemade Bread with Mushroom Truffle Butter, smooth and buttery, enhanced by the light taste of truffle.

Since there we four of us, we had four different first starters – Pan seared scallop in Tom kha emulsion; Salmon and cured Yolk; Octopus and yam pudding; Chicken and escargot. In particular, the chicken treated with turmeric and lifted with salted egg yolk cream in an side sandwich of puff pastry, which was more like a biscuit, stood out for its unique pairing and flavours. But the octopus was also quite riveting, mixed with dried shrimp and chili while the tom kha emulsion was a nice change.

Scallops with tom kha emulsion
Turmeric chicken and escargot
Salmon and cured yolk

The second course was Egg custard with herring roe, or slippery smooth chawan mushi enriched with oyster jus. There’s also a choice of foie gras at additional cost. 

For mains, we tried the

Herb crusted lamb rack, juicy and still pink. Comes with the chef’s special sauce, tho I feel it’s already so tasty on its own as it has  a special glaze to lift the flavour.

The house signature is Prawn bisque noodle, and it’s clear to see why. Visually grabs you, the squid ink pasta absorbs the prawny broth, reminiscent of Penang Prawn Mee (Hokkien Mee). 

Mushroom and artichoke risotto and Guinea Fowl Tortellini were good too, but outshone by the other two mains. 

Fred also creates his own desserts – not often you get a chef dabbling in both savoury and sweets, but he does a great job. 

While Nimbus doesn’t claim to be fine dining, it definitely borders on fine cuisine and at RM388+/2 pax, it’s steal prices and so worth the culinary trip.

Add: 72G, Jalan SS 21/62, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya. Hp: 014-968 8748

Enjoy tacos and ice cream at Commune Lifestyle

Enjoy tacos and ice cream at Commune Lifestyle

This coming Ramadan  season, Commune Lifestyle, is having a “Buka Puasa with Commune” campaign from March 14 to April 10. Nacho Average Taco food truck will be stationed within the premises of Commune flagship store at 69 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, KL every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday