Coffee, Toast, Eggs & Nasi Lemak @ Chong Kok Kopitiam, Klang

rich and smooth coffee

I've always had a penchant for nostalgia especially old fashioned kopitiams. Modern day ones just don't cut it for me even though they sometimes quickly satisfy hunger pangs. The last time when we wandered around Little India, I spotted this kopitiam right next to the train station. Vowing to return, we finally fulfilled our promise one Sunday morning.

egg-ology - how to crack an egg and enjoy it on a lazy Sunday morning

Driving around Klang is often a nightmare for me, probably because I'm not used to the place - the back roads and the road system that seems to go in a circular loop within the town centre. The jam around the town centre never seems to help too.


Butter slices that make the bread taste so good, steamed fluffy bread, lightly toasted bread with kaya

Back to the kopitiam - it is heaving with people who sit around waiting for their coffee, toast and eggs. Not entirely old fashioned, the tables and chairs strike one as more modern. For added sustenance, pick a packet of nasi lemak next to the payment counter.

someone's wearing his Xmas pressie (the Union Jack Mercedes F1 t-shirt), life is good here so kick back and enjoy the morning, antique cup on display next to Snow White and the dwarfs

They serve kampung eggs here, a welcome change from the commercial ones but sadly they can't seem to get it cooked perfectly. Instead of soft poached yolks with runny egg whites, we got harden egg yolks that plop from the eggshells when we crack them open.

simple sustenance but oh so good! - nasi lemak packets

Feeling a little disheartened with the eggs, we cheered up with the toast bread - light as air with a slather of not overly sweet kaya. My favourite was the steamed bread with a pillow soft texture that I couldn't get enough. Even the nasi lemak is good - just a simple mound of aromatic coconut rice topped with sambal, fried ikan bilis and a wedge of hard boiled egg. Coffee is very good here - smooth and rich. Ever notice how no one uses condensed milk anymore and it is all creamer made from palm oil. Sad but true since spiraling prices mean condensed milk is no longer profitable to be sold here. I have friends who now bring back their condensed milk from across the Causeway!

Despite our eggs, we were pretty happy with the kopitiam and vowed to come back another day for a dose of their incredible caffeine and the fluffy steamed bread. What I did notice from the other blogs that had visited this place a few years earlier though, there's quite a lot of changes - when we went there about 11am, there was no nasi lemak stall in front of the shop so maybe it was too late hence all we had left were the nasi lemak packets or the stall is no longer available. Another obvious change too, there's no old man making the coffee nowadays, instead it is a young Malay chap brewing the coffee. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

Chong Kok Kopitiam
No 5, Jalan Stesen Klang
Klang

Tel: 03 - 3371 0996

(Pork free. Same row as OCBC and next to the train station.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Kopitiam+ Klang

Other reviews:

• Motormouth from Ipoh
• Living in Food Heaven
• Ah Hong

Launch of Eat Drink & More by Starwood Hotels & Resorts

catchy eat drink and more

Dining out just got a little more IT savvy with the launch of http://www.eatdrinkandmore.com/, touted as the website that brings you a one-stop online portal for food and beverage concepts. The "more" part is said to relate to spa treatments and weddings but judging from their website, this could be added on in the later stage. Launched by the Starwhood Hotels & Resorts, the portal currently covers branded concpet restaurants from The Westin Kuala Lumpur and Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur (in 2014, we welcome another Starwood Hotel in the form of the St Regis).

Favola - pesto mozzarella balls, creamy cheese stuffed roast peppers

Starwood is said to be the first hotel group to take this initiative to provide this service in Asia Pacific. From the diners' perspective, this means they get to search online about the restaurants in the two hotels and most importantly, there is an online reservation system. You also get updated on the offers and news like what Valentine Day promotions they will be having. Even though Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur didn't take part with the launch, the reservation system also covers their restaurants: Essence, Celestial Court, Pavilions Lounge and Villa Danieli.

nifty and alcohol laden cocktails - cherries placed in an ice disc allowing you to eat them easily

No more dealing with the uncertainty, getting a table to the always packed Favola or even Prego's Sunday brunch is a just a click away. Even though Prime of Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur was not featured in the launch, you can book this restaurant online. Nevertheless some hiccups do occur with the booking system, as you're limited to bookings for 2-6 persons only at the moment. I personally reckon the limit on the higher number of people could be a way to control the sitting of the tables, since most tables usually sit up to 6 persons and anything above will need a special arrangement that is best highlighted to the management. Not too sure about why dining solo seems to be excluded, maybe its easier to squeeze in a single diner?

double the temptation with Favola's Illy Tiramisu

The launch of the website showcased the 5 branded concepts restaurants starting from the youngest i.e. the just opened Favola and Latest Recipe from Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur. We subsequently moved on to The Westin Kuala Lumpur, where we jumped from Eest to Prego ending finally at Qba.

The Latest Recipe - yummy! says the Ravenous Rabbit, ketupat parcels of soba noodles topped with warm smoked salmon sprayed with ponzu sauce

It is interesting to see the various dining concepts on display. Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur put a lot of effort in recreating the atmosphere of their dining outlets - they even transported their Venetian masks, chairs and tables including their trademark scroll menus. A crudo bar was set up, which had their specialties - breadsticks with various dips in small Le Creuset and Staub cast iron pots, gorgeous melt in the mouth cheese stuffed roasted peppers, eggplant wrapped tuna with pine nuts, raisins on the side, freshly grilled ciabatta sandwiches and etc.

melt-in-the-mouth wagyu beef cheek with creamy polenta from the Latest Recipe's catering menu

Their infamous Illy Tiramisu also made an appearance. Simply heavenly stuff that we savoured and wished for more (one had to ration the stomach space since so many places to try). At the Latest Recipe, I loved the chocolates on display (creamy and decadent!), the fork tender wagyu beef with creamy polenta dusted with cocoa powder and the unusual warm smoked salmon with soba noodles and ponzu spray.

Eest - fluffy yam puffs, topped with curry prawns, meat skewer with a sweetish sauce

We moved on to Eest where we cleansed our palate with hot tea from Westin's special blends. Then, it's more food served in spectacular mirror mile-long platters - small dumplings, crispy crackers topped with salmon and ikura, fluffy yam puffs with curry prawns and meat skewers doused in a sweetish sauce.

Prego's creamy foie gras terrine

Next it is on to Prego where you get to view their open kitchen from the top. There's a selection of dry white wine and Chianti from Starwood's Wines of the World.

Prego - foamy risotto in martini glasses, Chianti from Starwood's Wines of the World selection

Food keeps pouring in - nifty looking spaghetti in carton boxes or literally takeaway-pasta-in-the-box, eggplant rolls, a creamy foie gras terrine, foamy risotto served in martini glasses and etc.

Qba - popsicles to cool down, eggnog white chocolate lollipops for a sweet ending

We march on to the next and final destination - the ever hip and happening Qba. It's a spread that is designed for fun - eggnog lollipops with a dulce de leche dip, self-serve popsicles with flavours like gin and soursop or mojito. There's also pina colada frozen peletas, churros with hot chocolate sauce and teeny weeny tacos.

creamy Illy coffee - one of the kind

My favourite of the whole lot - the drink part where we were introduced to Illy Creama - creamy and icy cold Illy coffee. Imagine melted Illy coffee ice cream, served in a shooter glasses and you have the ultimate caffenine addict's fix. Who needs affogatto where you have one of these creamy shots? The machine is said to be the first in Malaysia and only available at Westin Kuala Lumpur. For more pictures on the launch, see my Flickr set.

In conjunction with the launch, I'm giving a special treat to the blog readers, an opportunity to eat and drink at Prego, The Westin Kuala Lumpur - a dining voucher for Prego Presto Set Lunch for 2 persons (valid until 12 July 2010). It's very simple, you just need to answer these two questions, 1. Which hotel will be running a Shanghainese promotion? 2. Are Prego's pizzas made with a wood fire oven? Email your answers to masakmasakcomp1@gmail.com by 12 midnight, 22 January, 2010.

*This is an invited review of the restaurants. The dining voucher is sponsored by The Westin Kuala Lumpur.

Japanese Food @ Kobe Gyutaku Yakiniku, SS15, Subang Jaya

Tokusen Yukke - beef sashimi with egg yolk (RM33)

One night while searching for food in Subang Jaya, we stumbled on this place just off the busier stretch of Asia Cafe. Touted as serving Kobe beef from Japan, we were sorely tempted to order the pricey meat but decided to give the less superior beef a chance before killing the wallet.

the incredibly addictive miso sauce, gorgeous grill marks

Similar to the Korean BBQ, Yakiniku is a little different as it does not come with the abundant side dishes or banchan. Instead, the grilled meat is served with a miso sauce and lettuce. Nevertheless, the ribeye and short ribs we order are tender and absolutely delicious especially when paired with the addictive sweetish miso sauce.


tender shortribs and ribeye

What I also loved about grilling the meat here is their grill has an inbuilt suction that is strong enough to prevent any smells permeating into our clothes. Another favourite was discovered - beef sashimi topped with a quivering quail's egg yolk. Mix the lot up to add a richer taste to the melt in the mouth beef that tasted so good chilled. Simply heavenly especially for bovine lovers!


the stone and apron, tatami rooms that let you dangle your feet freely, nabeyaki udon that comforts the soul

As it was a little cold that night, we had a bowl of comforting Nabeyaki Udon to share. Full of ingredients like prawns, eggs and the thick noodle strands, we were slurping the broth to the last spoonful.


sakura pink ice cream

To end the meal, it was imported Sakura or cherry blossom pink ice-cream and fresh watermelon. Needless to say, I ended up eating all the watermelon instead as a certain someone hates watermelon.

I must admit I was skeptical when I walked in expecting a run of a mill place amidst the suburbs but was pleasantly surprised with the food here and warm ambience here with the tatami rooms. The people who seem to dine here are Japanese probably because Malaysians will prefer Korean barbeques instead. Nevertheless I will return to try the other items on the menu like the Korean dishes - the kimchi stew, cold noodles and various parts of the cow, I have not tried before - the tongue, intestine and even the heart. Also available for lunch are sets that range from RM28 to RM38. There is also Bipinpa (or what we know as Bibimbap).

Kobe Gyutaku Japanese BBQ
No. 52, Jalan SS15/4
Subang Jaya

Tel: 03-5638 2923

(Pork free. Open for lunch and dinner. Place is on the same row as Peppercorn Cafe and Allergo Cafe.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Yakiniku+ Subang Jaya

Tandoori Chicken & Naans @ Stall opposite Ampang Point, Off Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

juicy and succulent tandoori chicken

It amazes me that I took so long to discover this place, which I reckon serves the most amazing tandoori chicken and fluffy soft naans. A little bird gave me a hint of this place last week and after watching Sherlock Holmes on a Saturday night, we headed there on a quest to search for this stall. With vague directions like "near Ampang Point" and "next to guitar shop", we set off in a wild goose chase. Splashie Boy was good humoured enough to drive around Ampang looking for it but after a while, we almost gave up hence the next best thing was to google for directions. Hallelujah for 3G services!!! I stumbled on Fried Chillies' directions and after a driving through a dark curvy road, it was tandoori and naan nirvana at the end!

1. Tandoori chicken skewers on the oven, 2. mutton kebabs. 3. The grill master at work

Nicknamed Uncle Arumugam by the Fried Chillies team, this stall seems to be working non-stop fulfilling orders. To spot the main man, zoom in on a tall fella with the cap. He's the person you need to place your orders with as most of the others tend to ignore you. (I suspect they can't speak the language) Seems he used to work in a Northern Indian restaurant where he picked up his skills. He doesn't do the grunt work anymore, leaving it to his workers to handle the making of the naans and the grilling.

1. dainty fingers flatten naan dough. 2. balls of naan dough waiting to be flattened

The grill master - this stoic looking fella looks after two tandoor ovens fueled by a charcoal fire, moving metal skewers from each oven until they're cooked to juicy perfection. I love the way they make the naans here, transforming from the balls of dough into fluffy soft naans with crispy edges. Once the dough is stretched, it's placed on the side of the tandoor oven. Such dexterity to place it quickly at the sides without burning any of their extremities.

The making of a naan from flattening, placing it on the napkin and tandoor oven before being taken out

The wait is a little long but we're rewarded with juicy and succulent tandoori chicken that we tear with our fingers. As it was late, they weren't serving any keema (my favourite with peas) hence we went for the mixed vegetables. Simply gorgeous stuff - diced carrots, potatoes, mixed vegetables in a creamy sauce that had me scraping the stainless steel dish to get everything down my rumbling tummy.

peek inside for what is going on

The tandoori fish - a piece of tenggiri fish cutlet wasn't as juicy as the chicken but nevertheless it was still enjoyable especially after a dash of lime juice from the halved calamansi lime on the side. The mutton kebab was also fantastic especially eaten hot from the oven.

fluffy soft heavenly naans

However our favourite were the fluffy naans - not rubbery but so pillowy soft, I could eat them the whole night long. We had two types - the butter and garlic but we preferred the sinful melting butter version that screamed "cholestrol!". Other varieties available are cheese naan and keshimiri naan. Not being satisfied with just one each, we ordered another one to share and slowly waited for the additional naan, since it takes a while to get one made.

the simple yet finger licking mixed vegetables

Thus, if you're looking for a little piece of heaven, drop by here and satisfy the tandoori and naan cravings. The place may not be the cleanest nor the most elegant but hey, this is what street food is all about. Service can be quite lacking especially if they're busy but press Uncle Arumugam for your order and it's well worth the wait. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

Tandoori stall next to Galeri Guitar
Directly opposite Ampang Point and near Empire Furniture Gallery and SSF
Off Jalan Ampang
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 012-354 5624

(Halal. Open from 6.30pm till 1am. Rest days are not fixed. To get here, pass Ampang Point shopping mall, take a right at the first traffic light, go staright and follow the curve of the road through the housing estate to lead you back to Jalan Ampang. There will be a row of stalls tucked at a corner on your left hand side, next to a row of shophouses facing Jalan Ampang. The stalls are also near Empire Furniture Gallery and SSF. Tandoori stall is at the end nearest to Jalan Ampang.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Tandoori+ Naan

Favola Contest Winners

I tell no lies, these are the winners! says Pinocchio

As promised, today's the day, we announce the winners for the contest. Loads of entries (Thanks everyone!) and it was a tough decision as usual, probably because most were hampered with the PG-13 requirement. I roped in two independent judges - Splashie Boy and Cheryl Lum from Le Meridien Hotel and they both picked the same two winners, hence I guess it's no fluke.

* drum roll *

The winners are Michael Elfwing and Jeremy Wray. Congratulations!

Will be emailing both of them to arrange for delivery of the vouchers. Hope you will enjoy your meal at Favola-la-lah!

Char Siu @ Toast & Roast, SS2, Petaling Jaya

goodness gracious me - melt in the mouth char siu

When it comes to char siu and what's good, it is all up to the individual's taste - some may prefer it less fatty, with a sweeter crust, more bite to the meat and the list of characteristics is endless. Even the cut of the meat is important - my mother has been raving about this excellent char siu she had in Singapore that uses the premium pork neck part. (If anyone knows where in KL they do char siu from that part, pls tell me!) Hence, another person's char siu is honestly another person's poison.

For me, my taste always leans towards half fat with half meat, a melt-in-the-mouth texture with a sweet but not toothachingly saccharine crust. Even the crust can't be crunchy hard but still soft to the bite of the teeth. At this particular place, well tucked in the heartlands of SS2 far from the madding crowd of traffic and people, I reckon I found a pretty good contender for my perfect char siu (A small plate is RM6, price for 1kg is RM60).

hakka noodles with a twist

Other than the pretty darn good char siu, you can also sample Hakka mee (RM4.50 for a regular and RM5.50 for a large) topped with minced meat and crunchy fish skin bits that seem to add a kinda crispy oomph to the simple bowl of curly strands. Also on the cards here - dumplings, chicken and roast pork. Not sure if they're good but hopefully I get to slowly try all these. The young couple who run this small shop is efficient, moving quickly to settle orders from office workers and oldies from the neighbourhood. Best of all, for those who're "bananas - aka can only speak English", the lady is Thai and speaks pitch perfect English.

Toast & Roast

No. 20, Jalan SS2/72
Petaling Jaya

Selangor

Tel:016-682 2249

(Non Halal. Open from 8.30 to 4.30 pm, char siu available from 10.30 am onwards. Closed every alternate Tuesdays. Restaurant is located at the same road as New Paris Restaurant, 5 Stones and Amaya condominiums but at the far end, nearer towards Ken Damansara where access has been blocked. A mamak shop and office area is found on the same block of shophouses.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Other reviews:

• Ipoh Mali Talak Sombong
• leongal

Tagged with: Char Siu+ SS2

Dining Out @ Teeq, Lot 10, Kuala Lumpur

butterflies flit around

Being in town last night, I was debating on what new place to try. We eventually settled on Teeq at Lot 10, a place we decided would be easier to get parking compared to fighting with the crowds at Changkat Bukit Bintang. We struck lucky as the mall was relatively quiet and luckily the perpetual jam in front of Pavilion was also missing in action.

I have been dying to try Teeq ever since I heard about it but kept my excitment in check after I flicked through the menu and discovered it wasn't too exciting since choices were limited. Feeling inspired after a certain little bird who had visited it twice, told me that it had its hits and misses I decided to give it a chance while keeping my expectations in check.

1. the snazzy kitchen, 2. beef carpaccio, 3. plush sofa seats

Teeq scores big on ambience - soft lighting, a ceiling with wooden strips undulating to form beautiful waves, an classy open kitchen behind a glass of wine bottles and curved plush sofa seats. Definitely a place for a romantic meal and we spied quite a few couples walking in for dinner a deux. As we were sitting near the window, it was slightly marred by the view of Celebrity Fitness where we could see people enjoying the fitness classes. Kinda made us feel very unvirtuous especially when we were both tucking into our meal.

Fishy matters 1. Pan fried scallops, 2. confit of salmon

The menu is a mix of Western and Asian styled dishes that focus on Thai, Japanese and even local favourites. It offers a small selection hence choices are limited. You find miso soup mingling with a mushroom cream soup or even a classic Caesar salad fighting for space on the appetizer page with California temaki or tod muan pla, a Thai pomelo coconut salad with soft shell crab. Since we didn't want to try the Asian style dishes, we stuck to the Western ones.

For appetizers, it was the pan fried scallops in an fusion style as it was served with a spicy lemongrass, wild ginger and coriander sauce. On the side were deep fried eggplant pieces. For RM24, we thought it was a little pricey since all we got were 2 scallops. Nevertheless the spicy sauce was lovely and tangy, giving flavour to the scallops and the eggplant. The beef carpaccio on the other hand, was served in a large platter with a rocket salad topped with parmesan cheese and a garlic bread. On the side was the poached egg. Mixing everything together, we liked the tender beef slices with the soft runny egg and the refreshing salad. My only gripe was the egg was just a tad too cold indicating it was prepped earlier on.

gorgeous duck confit with the rich tasting red wine jus

I must admit I was blown away with my main course - the duck confit (RM36) was gorgeous. With a crisp skin and fork tender meat, I loved everything on the dish including the risotto touched with a bit of orange and paired with a rich red wine jus. Even Splashie Boy's confit of salmon (RM58) was good with tender flaky fish paired with an orange jus and fennel.

1. Tiramisu with a twist, 2. the view from on top, 3. brownie cubes top the tiramisu

After such a high, we fell to the ground with their tiramisu said to be served with a twist (RM17). Recommended by the waitress (the other choice was chocolate brownie), this version definitely needed a huge pick-me-up, as the texture was akin to a pannacotta vs soft billowly mascarpone cream I prefer. Even the coffee soaked sponge layer was almost not noticeable until we dug deep and found one layer.

The warm fuzzy buzz I got with the duck and salmon confit has me curious on whether the other dishes like the herb scented cod or the braised beef cheek is equally good, so if an opportunity crops up to dine at Teeq, I would seize it. Nevertheless the limited menu does turn me off slightly since I'm a person who likes choices. Even though the wait staff ask you to, "mari mari" to Teeq the moment you step through their glass doors, you may not want to rush over here unless it's just for the excellent duck confit. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

Teeq Brasserie

Rooftop

Lot 10 Shopping Centre

Jalan Bukit Bintang

Kuala Lumpur

Tel:03-2782 3555

(Pork free. Open for dinner only)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Other reviews:

• Eat Drink KL
• Belinda's Daily Dreams

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurt @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

frozen yoghurt - chocolate and strawberry with banana

Every weekend, we inevitably gravitate towards Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) to stock up on the feline essentials. Thus, we spied this new frozen yoghurt shop that opened a few weeks back, looking a little forlorn tucked between the magazine shop and Ayamas. How weird, we were all discussing at the pet shop that why would anyone open a frozen yoghurt shop here, since walk-in customers will be lower here versus the malls.

juicy fruits poster and M&Ms at the toppings counter

Last Sunday, the neighbourhood seems to have warmed up to the place, as we spied a steady stream of customers pushing through the glass doors to get their frozen yoghurt fix. After checking with the pet shop owners, if the place was worth checking out (they gave their thumbs up!), I decided to pay a quick visit. The place is spartan white with a row of machines on one side, pictures of juicy fruits on the walls and a counter where you select your toppings.

tutti fruitti cups but everyone goes for the clear plastic ones (less weight?), the machines you pull down your frozen yoghurt from, gummies as topping

The place works on a "do-it-yourself" concept - go to the machines and select the flavours you prefer (I remember my choices were a basic flavour, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and banana, lychee) by pulling the handle down yourself. I was aiming for 3 flavours - being all eager to try out something new but I realised, you had to be snappy with the pulling as before you know it, the container gets filled up quickly. I did manage to get 2 flavours - the chocolate which was delicious and the strawberry banana that was dissapointing since it lacked any strong flavour of either fruit. Once you are done with piling your cup with the frozen yoghurt, you can add any toppings you wish - a choice of M&Ms, oreo bits, peanuts, a large selection of fresh fruits, gummy bears and etc. Then it's time to pay as they weigh what you have taken and charge you RM5.30 for 100 grams. My cup of 2 flavoured frozen yoghurt was about RM10, quite a hefty price I felt especially since gelato at Bar Italia is about RM8.30. Even though we're not comparing apples to apples since frozen yoghurt is healthier with less fats and etc, but I honestly think Malaysians often look at the bottom dollar (RM in this case) more.

Seems this is owned by the Naza group who bought the franchise over from the USA, hence the sprouting of outlets everywhere (Sunway Pyramid, IOI Mall, Berjaya Times Square, Capital Square and Bangsar Shopping Centre) with their financial muscle. What we noticed was none of the locations are prime hence I'm not too sure how high their walk in traffic will be. For instance, the Bangsar Shopping Centre outlet is so well tucked at the back of Times Bookshop, you won't notice it unless you use the other bookshop entrance. From a financial and business point of view, kinda suicidal I reckon especially since the frozen yoghurt is not cheap in price and if I remember correctly, no frozen yoghurt place has survived long in Malaysia (maybe we all prefer eating ice cream and gelato!). If you wish for more information, visit the worldwide site as it has more information vs the Malaysian website that is under construction. Do check out the world map on the website and see how Tutti Frutti has conquered almost the whole world, kinda like world domination of frozen yoghurt.

Tutti Frutti Yoghurt

No. 11, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-7725 2101

(Pork free. Same row as Ayamas and KFC. For a list of all the other outlets with addresses, see the Klue's website.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Frozen Yoghurt+ Tutti Frutti

Italian Food @ Favola, Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Love the Favola logo with the various pasta shapes that you can even find on the lift doors

Apologies for not blogging for so long - work just got a little crazy that after working those long hours, I didn't feel like going home to edit pictures and write blog posts that I let things slide. Now there's a mountain of pictures to edit and a whole lot of blog posts to write about. Will definitely work hard in clearing that backlog - one of the many resolutions I'm making mental promises to keep.


1. Favola all over. 2. divine bread. 3. heavenly potato truffle dip

One of the most important things I learnt from last year is people absolutely love gifts. After meeting my Amedei chocolates winner & fellow foodie, Eliana Lee to pass her prize, I've found that feel-good factor a little addictive that I've got another little surprise for all of you at the bottom of the post. Hope you will like it - just call it a tiny payback for all those Nuffnang RM that you help me earn from those clicks. It's only a tip of the iceberg versus the top bloggers earnings, but it is just enough to fund a few gifts here and there for my loyal readers.

1. red Murano chandeliers add some dolce vita. 2. panzerotti - resembles our curry puff on the outside but it is Italian to it's core. 3. sardines from the appetizer plate

Back to this review - the much anticipated replacement dining establishment at Le Meridien Hotel for the magnificent Middle Eastern Al-Nafourah. I must admit, I was a little skeptical when I heard it was an Italian eatery coming our way - thinking to myself, "do we really need another Italian place opening up here when so many are sprouting up everywhere?" Nevertheless, judging from the people crowding here to sample the food (we returned on a Saturday night without a booking and had to sit at the temporary side table as it was pretty full of people) - I guess there's no such thing as too much Italian food as Malaysians are lapping it all in.


1. mussels with chicken served with tomato sauce. 2. scallops served on a bed of cauliflower masquerading as risotto topped with truffle

From the moment you step out of the lifts to the eighth floor, you will be greeted by the wait staff chiming out "Buonasera" who will lead you to the dining area. The restaurant is given an Italian feel with a large painted mural on one side depicting a masquerade ball and rustic painted wooden beams on top where jewel red Murano glass chandeliers hang from. Along the corridor leading into the restaurant, you will be greeted by a wall hung with a variety of Venetian masks. Chairs decked in red allow you to lean back in comfort.

1. lobster risotto. 2. comfy laidback chairs to place your butt. 3. baked pasta shells

While you unravel their uniquely presented scroll-like menu - you will be given complimentary breads and three kinds of dips that changes flavour on a daily basis. Each table is given a small foccacia loaf studded with tomatoes, ciabatta bread and three types of grissini or breadsticks - two hard ones and one flaky puff pastry variety. The dips can vary from my absolute favourite - the truffle scented potato to other varieties like the anchovy potato, eggplant and the absolute basic olive oil with balsamic vinegar. With those delicious dips, you inevitably end up filling most of your tummy space with the fluffy breads - we do suggest some resistance especially if you're on a no-carb diet but honestly, it's kinda futile with such deliciousness in front of you.


wagyu beef lasagna - 1. dressed down. 2. in layers.

There's a long list of antipasti available, about 16 cold (freddo) and hot (caldo) varieties that cost RM20 each. If you don't want to pick and choose, there's always the sampler plate for RM35 where you get 5 antipasti to try. The selection ranges from classics like caprese - the must have mix of tomatoes with fresh buffalo mozzarella, breasola aka shaved dried beef that is served with fresh fig, pink peppercorns and rocket salad, bruschettas topped with cured salmon, portabello mushrooms and etc. My absolute favourite out of the cold varieties - the sardines sauteed with onions and raisins in olive oil and vinegar. Don't miss out on the hot varieties especially the divine roasted scallops served on a bed of cauliflower florets chopped so finely that it resembles risotto and dusted with black truffle shavings (Pssst it's so good, I reckon this will be my must-have everytime I visit here!). I also enjoyed the unusual pairing of fresh mussels with a minced chicken and herbs stuffing in one side of the shell. My other favoruite were the crunchy cod fritters served with a divine creamy garlic sauce. If antipasti is not your cup of tea, they also have three types of soups available - a hearty minestrone, a seafood tomato and saffron soup and a clear beef consomme served with egg, parmesan cheese and croutons. One very unusual item in the menu is the little known panzerotti - resembling curry puffs, this is mini calzones stuffed with either mushrooms or vegetables that are deep fried versus baked in an oven. You can order this more for the novelty value but honestly give it a miss as it tends to be a little too oily and a non-event in terms of the taste department.

1. Venetian masks. 2. Roast lamb shoulder. 2. Veal osso bucco. 3. Veal escalopes done two ways

For the invited review, we didn't get to sample their 10 inch pizzas but in my revisit, we finally did and was bowled over by the texture even though the toppings were a little sparse. Simply lovely especially with the thin crispy crust from the wood fire oven. Six varieties for RM35-RM45 are available that include traditional tomato, one topped with fresh mozarella and basil pesto, grilled artichokes, spicy lamb sausage, grilled chicken and a Venetian seafood one. We sampled the Venetian one topped with lobster, scallops, prawns, calamari and clams.


tiramisu that will give you an ultimate "pick-me-up"

No Italian meal will be complete without pastas! Here you get a pick of freshly made pastas - black ink tagliolini, linguini and the thicker parpadelle. Dry pastas are also available like spaghetti, vermicelli thin capellini and penne. Choose which sauces you wish to eat the pastas with - bolognese, polpetta aka meat balls in tomato basil sauce (huge portion but the minced meat was a little less springy and a bit too dense), spicy arrabbiata, aglio olio pepperoncino that has bird's eye chilli, creamy funghi or mushrooms and gamberetti or prawns served with pine nuts, tomato sauce. The pastas are priced between RM30 to RM40. They also serve potato gnocchi and baked conchiglioni shells in a tomato seafood based sauce (yummy stuff!) Also within the pasta and risotto section, you have one of their signature dishes - lasagna al forno (RM40) made with luxe braised wagyu beef cheek, chicken ravioli and scallop and lobster tortellini. Three types of risotto are available - we sampled the lobster variety that tasted like Neptune's catch.


dolci dolci....1. fruitti di miso. 2. almond pannacotta

If you have room after the primi or first course of pasta (that's why portions are not huge for your pastas!), there's the secondi or main courses. A variety of chicken, lamb, sword fish, veal, prawns and black angus beef is available from RM50 to RM90. We sampled three items - the veal osso bucco, veal escalope served two ways: panseared with lemon butter sauce and breadcrumb coated and roasted lamb shoulder. The veal osso bucco won me over with its fork-tender meat and rich beefy sauce.


A must to end an Italian meal - a little grappa to grimace over before heading home!

Last but not least - leave room for desserts especially the ultimate pick-me-up in town aka Favola's tiramisu (RM20) - sponge drenched with Illy coffee, soft billowy mascarpone cream and these cutesy crunchy cookie croutons that gives you a teeny "pop" in the mouth after you have eaten them. Also good is the frutti di bosco - fresh ricotta cream with berries and the wobbly almond-scented panna cotta. Make sure you also end the meal with some grappa just like the Italians do. You get a variety of grappa here - the lighter milder ones with limoncello or the chocolate milk one. For a head spinning effect, go for the Grappa Alexander Platinum - guaranteed to make your head pop and wake up for the journey home based on the grimaces from those who sampled it.

mural is located at Favola, Le Meridien Hotel

On a final word, despite my initial negative feelings about the place (another Italian again!), I must admit I do like the food at Favola. It's definitely a feed-good dining place and I love the pizzas, the scallops, sardines, the veal osso bucco and the rock-me tiramisu. Thumbs up to the breads and dips too! On the cards here for lunch, you have a value-for-money antipasti buffet that you select from the crudo bar for RM35++ i.e pickles, fresh breads, cold appetizers to eat to your heart (or tummy) is contented. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

Favola
Level 8
Le Meridien Hotel
Sentral
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2263 7434

(Pork free. Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner except for Saturday lunchtime. Reservations is highly recommended as the place can get quite full especially for dinnertime. The restaurant can seat up to 95 persons and also has two private dining rooms).

* Part of this review was sponsored by Le Meridien Hotel who invited us for dinner. We did return again on our own for a second meal, hence the review encompasses both dinner experiences.

Other reviews:

• a lil' fat monkey
• cumidanciki
• fried chillies
• ahmok
• The Butterfly-mess
• aly's wonderland
• eat drink KL
• quirkymalaysia
• have your cake and eat it too

Last but not least, to celebrate the start of a new year, I'm giving away two complimentary dining vouchers for Favola, Le Meridien Hotel Kuala Lumpur worth RM150 nett each. The vouchers are valid until 23 June, 2010. To be one of the winners for the dining vouchers, it's very very simple. You just need to come up with the funniest conversation between the two characters in the mural in the above picture.

Rules of the competition:

1. Multiple entries are allowed, so keep them coming in to increase your chances of winning.
2. Keep the language to PG-13 please (kids are watching!).
3. Make it as witty and funny as you can - you need to make your judges laugh till they pee in their pants!!
4. Originality counts towards winning, so no copying please.
5. Send in the entries to masakmasakcomp1@gmail.com by midnight, 8 January, 2010 (Friday)
6. Judges will run through the entries and announce the winners on 13 January, 2010 (Wednesday).
7. The competition is open to everyone. In the event, the winner is from overseas, the voucher will be mailed to you. Alternatively, you can nominate a resident in Malaysia to collect the same on your behalf, if preferred.

Good luck everyone!! Go forth and be creative!!