Food Explorer & Home Chef
Tucked away in a corner of Shah Alam, this dish alone was worth my trip to Spiced Pumpkin Cafe. I discovered a Johor-style Lontong Kering Rendang Daging which had cubes of pressed rice cake, tossed with serunding kelapa (grated coconut floss), sambal tumis, peanut sauce, …
Tiger has been on a journey of overcoming the odds since 1932, and the brand believes that much of its success is owed to its loyal fans. This is why the bold lager has brought to life the Tiger Den – dubbed as the home …
I like that Cafe Bistrot David has a casual Parisian vibe about it. Having been around for a few years now, the cafe’s menu is David Chin’s playground to create and experiment with new ingredients and food ideas. Cooking out of passion to please himself, it’s a luxury not many chefs have.
The man behind the iconic Dave’s Deli recently opened Bar X Grill upstairs of the cafe, focusing on food cooked on a Spanish grill. Serving cafe food with a gourmet slant, pies and sandwiches which I’ve had here are out of this world. The stained windows which you see are from the home of the sugar king in Java, century-old terracotta tiles for the stairs, and emotive photographs by well-known photographer SC Shekar adorn the walls.
He’s also launched his Penang outlet, Beach St Bistrot in a heritage building in Penang.
At the last visit, we tried the CBD Original Burrata with tomato, beef cecina, pecorino, parsley butter and basil oil. This unique ensemble had two shards of beef standing tall in the middle of the creamy cheese. Smothered with passata, the saltiness of the beef, sweetness of the cherry tomatoes, combined with all the other elements make this a must-try dish here.
Fat Hokkaido scallops, sea prawns and baby octopus enriched the linguine with Garlic Kombu Butter sauce. Definitely not your average pasta dish, the Italian Mama would be so proud of this exquisite offering.
David jokingly said his Paella with Mixed Seafood from Bar X Grill, was the best in town. And after we’ve had a try, we’re inclined to agree. Stacked with prawns, mussels, clams, baby octopus and scallops, the paella is cooked over hot coals on the grill, and finished in the charcoal oven. The rice had a deep flavour, infused with the juices of the seafood, and each mouthful was a treat that teased the palate with a promise of more good things to come.
Prices may be a little steep but justifiably so as only premium ingredients are used. Service is impeccable and my only regret is that I am limited by my tummy and my wallet.
Add: 135, Jln Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 018-912 0332
Tasty Australia 2023 takes you on a culinary journey showcasing the best of Australian gourmet food and beverages at Isetan KLCC from June 9 to 21. Presented by The Model Cook and Isetan Kuala Lumpur, this is the 10th year and the biggest, most integrated …
Renowned for their fine Chinese cuisine, the Oriental Group of Restaurants is recognised as one of the top Chinese restaurant groups in Malaysia, showcasing exceptional Cantonese cuisine. When it comes to commemorating Chinese festivals, the Group never fails to impress when it’s down to curating …
EQ Kuala Lumpur hosted the media to a special Aperitivo Hour and Wine Tasting at Bottega Lounge recently and introduced them to Sandro Bottega, President of Bottega SpA, one of the world’s largest producers of grappa and sparkling wines, and distributor of Italian premium quality beverages and food products to over 120 countries worldwide.
Sandro began managing his late father’s distillery at the age of 19, supported by his siblings.
Over the years, he has been instrumental in increasing awareness of grappa and Italy’s
sparkling wines to larger, international markets. Today, the Bottega brand is synonymous with
high quality liqueurs such as Limoncello, Bacur gin, the Bottega wine range (Bottega Gold
especially), and Stardust Prosecco. The Bottega brand is also the second-best selling sparkling
wine in travel-retail, distributed in about 300 airports around the world, on 60 airlines, and some
of the best wine shops globally.
In Malaysia, EQ is home to the Bottega Lounge, a space serving luxurious high teas and some
of the most outstanding of the Bottega range of wines.
Joining Sandro in Malaysia was celebrated Italian chef, Mauro Civiero, who presented a tasting
menu from the Bottega 100 Gold Book of recipes. The five menu items were selected
specifically for their affinity with the Bottega wines selected by Sandro for the tasting. The wine
list includes Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC Spumante Brut and Bottega Rosé Gold Pinot Nero
Spumante Brut Rosé.
Chef Mauro’s offerings included Amberjack Tartare marinated with sun-dried tomatoes, capers
and olives, with zucchini threads was simple and refreshing while the Buffalo Mozzarella emulsion with wild oregano, tomato jelly and basil was unusual as the jelly base was firm, resembling a slice of pumpkin. The contrasting textures were a lovely touch to the creamy Mozarella.
I found the Venetian Crabmeat Salad with eggplant slightly on the dry side, but the accompanying wine served to bring out the best of the flavours; the sou vide Rosé Veal, braised with a myriad of herbs, and paired with Mascarpone Tuna Mousse and Sbrisolona was surely the highlight of the day, tender and moist.
Sandro spoke about Bottega’s fortuitous collaboration with EQ Kuala Lumpur, and the symbiosis between the two brands. EQ Kuala Lumpur’s General Manager, Gerard Walker said, “Both EQ and Bottega are committed to quality, luxury experiences. This is why as the capital’s newest five-star property, we are delighted to be in collaboration with Bottega, so that we can offer our guests the sophistication of the Bottega Lounge where only the finest foods and spirits are served.”
Sandro Bottega and Chef Mauro were in Malaysia for a series of events in EQ Kuala Lumpur,
which included a curated wine pairing dinner, and a wine Masterclass.
Setting out to be different from other mall resto, Marinero Mediterranean Dining & Bar Lalaport is tastefully decorated to convey Moorish vibes. The place is very spacious, including a private dining room and al fresco dining as well as a bar area. The food is …
Heineken is on a mission to encourage Malaysians to stop ghosting their friends. The brand recently launched ‘The Ghosted Bar’, a campaign encouraging Malaysians to #WorkResponsibly. Based on a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Heineken, it was discovered that 41% of employees in Malaysia have …
Small really cozy cafe which you’d imagine reading a book and spending a lovely afternoon. Good coffee, and pleasantly surprised at the good food and flavour fusion. Even drinks have been given a spruce-up with interesting thirst-quenchers such as Sparkling Yuzu Matcha, Strawberry latte and Three Guys latte.
Named Three Guys coz of the three partners helming the cafe, this pseudo-Japanese rice bowl joint makes the prettiest rice presentations I’ve come across. Scoring top marks for carbo-based staple, this is one place you wanna throw your no-carb rule outta window.
Okonomiyaki, typically a savoury Japanese pancake, has been reimagined as a Seafood Don rice bowl. Bonito flakes and okonomiyaki sauces keep the essence of the dish, while rice replaces the flour, and prawns, crabstick, smoked duck and torched mentaiko provide the textures and bite with lovely runny egg to meld the awesome flavours together for a fulfilling meal.
Smoked Duck Don comes with a local context of homemade sambal, onsen kampung egg, cherry tomatoes and edamame – another great combination with looks to boot, satisfying the carnivore with generous pieces of meat and a touch of spice to wake up the senses.
ATM bowl – avocado, tamagoyaki and mentaiko sauce with options to level up to Avocado Salmon Mentai Don – not only looked amazing but came with strong taste credentials to back up the pretty bowl. Cold food (avocado) contrasted with hot egg and mentaiko works well in this instance, keeping the palate alert with exceptional flavours.
The Chilli Pasta is essentially Chilli Pan Mee but with spaghetti, using their signature housemade XO sambal sauce. Milder than the fiery Chinese pan mee, also a tasty option tho I preferred their rice offerings more. There’s also Chicken Mentai Bento, that’s lke cha siu gets Japanese makeover. Sinple but so yummy.
Food here should especially appeal to the health-conscious, with their clean cooking style. The only downside here is the parking which can be a challenge, otherwise, I’d probably hang out here regularly.
Add: Unit 2-14, Level 2, Block B, KEDAI @ MAHSA Avenue, Jalan Ilmu, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 010-430 9123
Not quite your typical Chinese restaurant, the interior of Chinese Palace reminds you of an era long forgotten, with photographs of old mini buses and other scenes of old Malaya on the walls, and strong green and burgundy hues as the background canvas. A successful …