Eating Out

Sirloin Flavours



BE tempted by the succulent flavours of sirloin in different cuts from Australia and the US. Mark your calendars as Prime, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur serves sirloin in a gastronomic affair this month. Meat enthusiasts are in for a treat with the Wagyu Sirloin with Butter Poached Chili Rosemary Fingerling Potato, Oven Dried Brisket Bacon Mille-Feuille with Potato Celery Mousseline, finished with a drizzle of Sarawak cracked peppercorn sauce. The Sirloin Sampler platter (with wagyu sirloin, Black Angus 200-day sirloin and pasture-fed sirloin) is another suggestion. The promotion is available for dinner until March 31. For reservations, call 03-2263 7434 or email dining.lmkl@lemeridien.com.

Peking Duck



THERE is no need to travel to Beijing for a taste of Peking duck. At Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur’s Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, traditional Peking duck is the signature dish this month. The outlet’s Peking duck promotion has more to offer than just the duck-filled crepe delight as there is Stir Fried Sliced Duck Meat with Ginger Spring Onion, Double Boiled Soup Duck Bone with Preserved Vegetable, Wok Fried Rice with Diced Duck, Stir Fried Egg Noodles with Shredded Duck and Stir Fried Diced Duck Wrapped with Lettuce and more. The dishes are available for lunch and dinner at RM58++ per duck. For reservations, call 03-2144 2200 ext 2338 or 2144 8750.

Tea Treats



THE Lobby Lounge of Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur presents the opportunity for you to relax and indulge your tastebuds with the introduction of three afternoon tea sets - Local Afternoon, English Afternoon and Asian Afternoon. Available from Monday to Friday, from 2pm to 6pm, the Local Afternoon Tea serves delights like Cucur Udang with Chili Dip, Tauhu Sumbat, Golden Banana Fritters and Pulut Panggang. Apple Crumble Tart and Prune Spiral are some delightful finds on the English Afternoon Tea platter while the Asian Afternoon Tea offers Malaysian Durian Tempura, Thai Money Bag with Chili Dip, Vietnamese Spring Roll, China Egg Doughnut Roll with Sweet Sauce and plenty more priced at RM38++ per person. For reservations, call 03-2782 6168.

DRAGON-I RESTAURANT, Lot S313A, 2nd Floor, New Wing, One Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama, PJ (Tel: 03-7725 8822). Business Hrs: Weekdays (11am-10pm); Weekends & Public Hols (10.30am-10pm). Non-halal. Popular for minced meat dumplings known as siew long pau, caramel pork ribs, ma po taufu, chicken fillet and vegetarian dishes.

RED GINGER, 18G-M Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, KL (Tel: 03-2095 3118). Business Hrs: Daily, lunch (11.30am-3pm); dinner (6.30pm-10pm). Closed on Sun. Pork-free. A family-run business known for its good food, warm service and reasonable prices. Its cosy, laidback and unpretentious ambience make it the ideal venue for private functions. Red ginger plants line the front entrance. Small menu.

DEUTSCHES HAUS, 46 Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL (Tel: 03-2143 2268). Business Hrs: Daily, lunch (noon-3pm); dinner (5pm-midnight). Non-halal. Serves authentic German cuisine with emphasis on sausages. Also stocks a wide range of excellent German beers. It has many speciality dishes.

LA GOURMET HOUSE, Lot G52, The Curve, Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara, PJ (Tel: 03-7725 4279). Business Hrs: Mon-Thurs (10am-10pm); Fri & Sat (10am-11pm). Halal. Special gourmet meals and speciality cakes are available daily for lunch and dinner. Gourmet merchandise like Dukka, herbs, spices, tea and coffee are also sold.

SENTIDOS TAPAS, Feast Village, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL (Tel: 03-2145 3385). Business Hrs: Daily (noon-1am). Pork-free. Offers a relaxed atmosphere with a tantalising selection of hot and cold tapas. There is an extensive wine list and a range of imported beers.

LA COCINA & COPA DE VINO, 38 USJ 9/5P, UEP Subang Jaya (Tel: 03-8023 2395). Business Hrs: Restaurant, Mon-Sun, lunch (11am-3pm); dinner (6pm-midnight). Bar, Mon-Sat (5pm-1am). Halal. Indulge in a variety of authentic Spanish food in a comfortable and romantic environment. There is a wide selection of wines from Spain and all over the world. Salsa dance performances are on every Friday night.

MALAYAN AROMAS, Concourse Area, Ground Floor, City Square Centre, Jalan Tun Razak, KL (Tel: 03-2161 5094). Business Hrs: Daily (8am-10pm). Serves a good variety of quality local coffees especially blends with palm sugar. There is also an impressive selection of Malaysian favourites like Roti Malaya as well as Western and Italian dishes.

JOGOYA, T3, Relish Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL (Tel: 03-2142 1268). Business Hrs: Daily (11am-2am). A Taiwanese chain specialising in brunch, lunch, dinner and supper buffets, priced at RM68++, RM78++ and RM88++ with a wide spread of seafood, Japanese, Western, Chinese and Indian dishes.

MUNAKATA JAPANESE RESTAU-RANT, Mezzanine Floor, Life Centre, 20, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL (Tel: 03-2166 7441). Business Hrs: Daily, lunch (12.30-2.30pm); dinner (6.30pm-11pm). Pork-free. Serves authentic and premium sushi, teppanyaki, a la carte and seasonal dishes. Set lunch and dinner also available.

BASIL LEAF RESTAURANT, 35 Jalan Damai, off Jalan Tun Razak, KL (Tel: 03-2166 1689). Business Hrs: Tues-Sun, lunch (noon-2.30pm); dinner (6.30pm-10.30pm). Relax while you eat here, enjoying Thai and Indo-Chinese cuisine. Bungalow is divided into six sections, separately themed for value-added dining experience.

PANDAN LEAF RESTAURANT, Lot S28, 2nd Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama Damansara, PJ (Tel: 03-7728 6078). Business Hrs: Daily (10am-10pm). Halal. Penang Nyonya fare using specially prepared spices.

THE SHIP, JALAN SULTAN ISMAIL, 40-1 & 40-2 Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL (Tel: 03-2141 8805) Business Hrs: Sun-Thurs (noon to midnight). Still a hit among locals and foreigners. Serves escargots, Chinatown Shark’s Fin with Crabmeat, steaks in 18 different styles. Wait staff dress according to rank like sailors on a ship.

TONY ROMA’S, LL1.43, Lower Level One, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway, PJ (Tel: 03-7492 1188). Business Hrs: Daily (11am-10pm). The people at Tony Roma’s are passionate about their food, adhering to standards set by the Orlando training centre. Expect hefty portions and enjoy the selection of margaritas, wines, martinis and liqueur coffees.

RESTORAN PIZZA UNO, 18 Jalan Puteri 1/4, Bandar Puteri Puchong, Puchong. (Tel: 03-8062 2530). Business Hrs: Mon-Fri, lunch (noon to 4pm); dinner (6-11pm). Sat & Sun (noon to 11.30pm). This new outlet sports a cosy contemporary atmosphere for tapas and wines besides serving a wide range of pizzas, pastas and desserts.

VANSH, Lot 9, LGF, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL (Tel: 03-2142 6162). Business Hrs: Daily (noon-1am). Pork-free. Run by the award-winning Rang Mahal outfit of Singapore. Highlights regional Indian favourites. Focuses on tawa and tandoori delicacies served in bite-sized portions.

RESTORAN KOTTARAM, F102 & 103, Block F, Phileo Damansara 1, 9 Jalan 16/11, PJ (Tel: 03-7955 1077). Business Hrs: Daily (9.30am-10.30pm). Halal. Heralds Kerala culture and cuisine, served according to royal fine dining protocol. The outlet is divided into five sections with individual purposes. One of its bestsellers is the Kottaram Briyani.

FUSION

GONBEI, T2, Relish Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL (Tel: 03-2782 3801). Business Hrs: Daily (noon-1am). Halal. Uniquely Japanese, food, design and ambience-wise. It has a sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki, robatayaki and tempura display cooking islands. Reputed to have the biggest collection of premium sake.

Chef Nulek Impresses With Her Knife-Wielding And Juggling Acts

Eating Out
By PRIYA MENON


IT IS not every day that you get to see a knife-wielding and utensil-juggling female chef at work, so it was truly a pleasure to see chef Vareenaun Eakwat (chef Nulek to many) from Thailand in action at the Sagano Japanese restaurant in Renaissance Hotel recently.

The 28-year-old Nulek is from Nami, the famous teppanyaki restaurant in JW Marriot Hotel, Bangkok and she would be at Sagano until March 29.

Teppanyaki is a Japanese cooking style where the meal is prepared on a hot iron griddle by chefs, who make it interesting by displaying special skills using knives and other kitchen utensil during preparation.


Skillful: The talented chef Nulek.

According to Nulek she was the first female chef at Nami and she had to train very hard to master the teppanyaki cooking skills.

For Nulek, skills like throwing knives and juggling eggs are a great way to make the dining experience more memorable and enjoyable for the diners.

Nulek introduced a variety of teppanaki appetisers in conjunction with the hotel’s latest promotion that also featured two elaborate eight-course menu namely the Seafood combination and the Seafood and Beef combination.


Healthy meal: Fresh sauteed vegetables with butter.

Both combinations had the creamy miso soup, green salad with chilli and carrot dressing as well as the deep fried soft shell crab with spicy chilli and mango sauce.

Unlike other miso soups, which were clear and made with miso paste, dried fish stock and vegetables, Nulek added whipping cream to her miso for a richer texture.

The beef dishes came with Korean Miso sauce and the Thai sauce called Stabina while the seafood dishes were accompanied by the American sun dried tomatoes and the unique Japanese Spicy Mayonnaise sauce.


Creamy: The miso soup with whipped cream for a more richer texture.

The Seafood and Beef combination had two main dishes, one was the Paper Wrapped Salmon with two types of seafood sauce and the sauteed wagyu beef and mushroom with two types of original beef sauce.

According to Nulek, the salmon dish was a healthy dish especially for those on a diet.

For the seafood combination, diners could enjoy sauteed lobster with two types of nami seafood sauce, which were made of tomatoes and spicy mayonnaise sauce.

The other dish in the combination was the snow fish served with vegetables and same type of sauce.

Both dishes came with sauteed vegetables and fried rice with garlic and shibazuke (Japanese cucumbers).


Fresh: Green salad with chilli and carrot.

The highlight of Nulek’s cooking was the egg juggling act where she threw the egg in the air, let it fall and it neatly broke in half.

As always the best part of any meal is the dessert and Nulek made it more exciting with her fruit flambe with vanilla ice cream.

Made from seasonal fruits, vanilla ice cream and butter, the ingredients were sauteed on the hot iron griddle and set on fire before served with a fresh scoop of ice cream.

The Seafood and beef combination is priced at RM 228 ++ while the Seafood combination is priced at RM 288 ++ including service charge and service tax.

> SAGANO JAPANESE RESTAU-RANT, First floor, Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel. (Tel: 21622233). Business hours: noon to 2.30pm, 6.30pm to 11.00pm daily.

Fine Japanese Fare

Compiled by RENITA CHE WAN


Akamomiji is the latest addition to Ipoh’s line-up of Japanese restaurants that made its small debut about a month ago.

The place is almost fully booked every evening, and prior reservations seem to be the norm, lest you decide to casually waltz in and capitalise on the furore or chaos that is surrounding almost all newly-opened outlets.

Ipoh is one of the states where quality and quantity of the food comes first while dining experience comes a close (or distant) second so although the service wasn’t excellent, the staff were rather friendly and approachable, topping up their cups of green tea every now and then.


Chicken Teriyaki Jyu

It has to be known that the owner of Akamomiji is from the management of Kizuna, and incidentally the restaurant is situated just a stone’s throw away from it.

Somehow, their orders got mixed up and they were served more dishes than they initially ordered. But being the hungry souls that they were, they relented and gobbled up everything that was put in front of them.

The appetisers of marinated seaweed, (Chuka Wakame) and marinated baby octopus (Chuka Idako) came in dainty portions, but served their functions as appetisers well.

The baby octopus on the other hand were crunchy to the bite, served on a bed of julienned cucumbers and it was refreshing.


Ninmiku Chahan (garlic fried rice).

“We were told by the staff that the fish are flown in from Japan every Tuesdays and Fridays and although it was a Sunday, the slices of fish remained fresh, sweet and succulent.

“Especially tempting was the crunchy roes. Every bite of it released squirts of juices and they are a far cry from Sushi King’s, believe me.”

They were then served with the Una Jyu (grilled eel with sweet teriyaki sauce on rice) but it was only after they have stuffed themselves with it that they realized the dish wasn’t in their order list.

“Oh what the heck, the thick, juicy and well-marinated slabs of eel were perfectly grilled, with its juice retained and none of the cold, fishy taste. Thumbs up to the unagi with complementary miso soup!”

The chicken, succulent and tender, was simply served with strips of seaweed and a sprinkling of sesame seeds, which came with a bowl of miso soup. This motormouth from Ipoh wrote that this meal is sufficient to be a complete meal, or perhaps a light lunch.

The garlic fried rice was good; fluffy and fragrant from the garlic cloves, perfect as an ala carte order to complement your salads, grilled meats, hot pots or even the kushiyaki.

“On the whole, the meal was above-average, with rather reasonable prices to boot. But of course we didn’t go crazy with the orders and did not order any sashimi, given the fact that it’s two days too late to sample their freshly flown supplies from Japan.”

Akamomiji Japanese Restaurant is located at 36-38, Medan Ipoh 1E, Medan Ipoh Bistari, 31400 Ipoh, and the number to call is 05-546 8368.

A Passion For Good Food

By HELEN ONG

WHAT started as a passion and hobby for Jane Phung has now become a full-time occupation.

“I love cooking, and my husband used to bring friends home to eat, so we were always having parties,” the 44-year-old restaurateur said.

Luckily, for the rest of us who weren’t fortunate enough to have been invited to her home, Jane finally decided to put her considerable skills to even better use by starting a restaurant with her son Tomy Yeoh, 23.

Six months ago, the Summer Garden Food Bistro, located at the corner of Jalan Lembah Permai and Lorong Lembah Permai 3 in the Vale of Tempe, Tanjung Bungah, was opened to the public.

There is no signboard in front, but the place lives up to its name – the relaxing and serene garden abounds with greens all grown by Phung like bamboos and ferns.

Inside, a mesmerising water feature tinkles merrily and more green plants dotted about the place add to the cool, calm feel.

“There are a lot of restaurants out there, so we try doubly hard to make customers feel welcomed.

“The first thing we impress on our service staff is the importance of a smile,” explained Phung, herself beaming.

With four well-qualified chefs, each with his or her own speciality, strutting their stuff in the clean open kitchen, the menu offers a good spread of not just Western and Japanese food but also some local favourites.

Try the laksa (the lemak version was thick and yummy, although they also have the assam), Mee Jawa, personally made by Jane herself, and Nasi Lemak.


Bursting with flavour: The Lemak Laksa is thick and yummy.

The Sashimi Moriawase, a colourful platter of various cuts of fresh seafood eaten with wasabi and soya sauce, makes an excellent starter for a few people.

If you have a hearty appetite, try the Japanese Curry Set of rice and fried chicken (or fish), different to our local curries and quite tasty.

One of their most popular items is Lamb Shank served with Pasta. Another appealing choice is the Duck Breast with Black Cherry Sauce, but the Wagyu Beef Steak, although pricey, was really superb, tender and succulent.


Succulent: Duck Breast with Black Cherry Sauce.

There are also succulent large king prawns or lobster cooked in a variety of styles including Thermidor or baked in grilled cheese. If you can’t decide, their well-trained staff will be able to advise.

Indulge your sweet tooth and choose from a selection of six to ten freshly-baked cakes – all made by the talented lady – with such delicious-sounding names like Kahlua Moist, Tiramisu and Chocolate Cheese.

You will be hard-pushed to decide which one to go for. The Chocolate Cheese Cake was absolutely delightful, light but full of flavour, and went perfectly with one of their aromatic, full-bodied coffees.

Summer Garden is open from 11am to 10.30pm every day. For details, call 04-890 0977.

Fresh Noodles Set To Be A Draw

By K.W. MAK
Photos by RAYMOND OOI

THREE to four minutes, that is the time you have to consume the freshly made soba noodles when the waiters serve the dish to best savour the flavours.

That was the advice given by Kampachi at the Pavilion general manager Chiharu Yabe, who believes that it was about time Malaysians were formally introduced to the buckwheat noodles that the Japanese love so much.


Sushi specials: Executive chef Weng Leong Looi (left) and Lew working on sashimi during the launch.

The popularity of the noodles is due to its high nutritional value and its ability to lower cholesterol and is one of the main attractions at the newly launched restaurant that brings the name of Kampachi from Equatorial Kuala Lumpur.

“Most restaurants either have a machine preparing it or sell the pre-packed versions. We have it freshly made by hand daily,” Kampachi Pavilion managing director Donald Lim said.

Lim said the restaurant’s concept of having a show kitchen where a chef would be making the soba noodles daily would appeal to shoppers.

Unlike most shopping mall restaurants, Kampachi Pavilion sports a private room to cater to customers who wish some privacy.


Eye-catching: A look at the interior of Kampachi at the Pavillion.

As for the menu, the items listed are faster to prepare items to cater to shopping mall clientele who may not have as much time as customers at a hotel.

Quality wise, Lim assured that there would be no difference, as the chefs serving at both restaurants are both long time students of Kampachi’s master chef Lew Tin Sin.

“Kampachi at the Pavilion will have the same food supply as Equatorial, so customers can be assured of the same quality that they have come to expect at Kampachi,” Lim said.

The restaurant will also be promoting specialty teas from Japan, which include Kaga Gold Leaf Tea, Tsugaru Green Tea and Soba Stem Green Tea.

Harmony Of Flavours

If you've always wanted to try Japanese food but simply don't know what to order,then head for Matsuki Restaurant in Cantonment Road, Penang.

They have two menus available: one for those already familiar with Japanese food and the other comes with photos of the food for people who aren't.

And you don’t have to worry about accompaniments. You'll get a complete meal with the Special Lunch Bento set – chicken teriyaki, unagi (eel), fried vegetables and sashimi together with rice, miso soup, chawan mushi (steamed egg custard) and fruit.

A delicious Sukiyaki Tei Set, served piping hot in a claypot, costs just RM18 and the Seafood Set RM25.


Value for money:The Seafood Set offers a complete meal.

Also try the Gyuniku Kimuchi Itame (sliced beef fried with kimchee) and Adegashi Tofu (deep-fried tofu with sauce) – both very appetising.

Indulge in some Haagen Daz ice-cream and wash it all down with hot or cold sake or Asahi beer.

The food is such exceptionally good va- lue because proprietor Lee Ten Lin, 57, is also a purveyor of Japanese groceries and therefore has access to the raw ingredients at trade prices.

The chilled tuna is shipped in weekly, and the salmon (shake) is flown in twice a week, ensuring the sashimi is as fresh as possible.

“Every morning, I go to the market personally to source for the best produce available,” Lee explained.

He employs experienced local chefs, and service is provided by his wife Judy and daughter Siew Yen, which all go towards keeping quality up but costs, and therefore prices, down.

Matsuki has been going for over 10 years now, and judging by the lunchtime crowd and Japanese clientele who go there to eat and read the papers, it offers not just value for money but also authentic Japanese food (he often gets busloads of Japanese tour groups too).

The pork-free outlet, with its neat, fresh interior and clean wooden furniture, is a pleasant place. It has four tatami rooms which can be booked in advance, and sufficient parking in the front garden.

Matsuki is open every day from noon to 2.30pm for lunch and 6pm to 10.30pm for dinner. For details or reservations, call 04-229 5504.