G3 @ Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar

One of the newer eateries in the Bangsar Telawi area....

G3.....

I wondered what it was supposed to mean? Gentle Green Giant? Nah.
Apparently, it stands for Gastronomic 3, to symbolise the 3 owners who all love food. :)

It's one of the newer places in the main Telawi area, located in between the Telawi veteran Alexis, and the unfortunately now defunct Telawi Street Bistro)
Looking at G3 from across the street....
I excitedly headed over there last weekend to meet some of my girl friends for a long overdue catch up...
(I hate how life and work always seem to get in the way nowadays... but I guess that's just how things are - we are all on separate, hectic schedules that it is hard to meet up more often)
Inside the restaurant....
It was comfortable enough inside, simple and fairly casual, with a balance of wooden textures against the start concrete floor...

In a hopefully not futile effort to try to stave off evil oxidants, I started off with a (supposedly) high octane anti-oxidant drink - the blackberry, cranberry and yoghurt juice (RM 12++):
If I drink enough of this, will my skin cells become younger?....
Yummy! :)
There was a nice balance of sweetness from the fruits, balanced against a slight sour tang and smoothness from yoghurt blended in. I really wouldn't mind ordering this again although I find the price a little disgusting - it's not the restaurant's fault though - bloody berries in Malaysia are so expensive because they are not native fruits....
(It tasted best when it was just served though, when it was nice and icy cold)

My gorgeous friend Kristine had the Grande Breakfast (RM 22++), which came with a little bit of everything - (turkey) ham, egg (prepared how you want), grilled tomato, baked beans, hash brown, sauteed mushrooms, (chicken) sausage and topped with a crusty slice of bread and oozey butter:
Chocolatey dessert....
Overall, it was nice except for the sausages which looked a bit shrivelled *lol*.
(I thought the mushrooms were really yummy - chunky and juicy)

I have to say, I much preferred the Tuna Hash (RM 16++) that I ordered though, which came with a grilled tomato, fried egg, bread and some chunky avocado sauce/paste at the side:
A close look at the fishy carby Tuna Hash....
The interesting tweaked hash browns which had bits of tuna mixed in tasted savoury without being too fishy, and tasted with a slather of the avocadoes that came with this.
(Mmmmm, and the bread.... Crusty, yet fairly moist, and not starchy - delicious!)

I really like the sauteed mushrooms, so I order an extra side of it - Sauteed Mushrooms (RM 6++):
Juicy mushrooms....
I really liked that the mushrooms were well balanced - not too salty and cooked just enough that they were moist but still with some bounce to the bite.

My other gorgeous friend Ver had the Fritatta (RM 18++) (photo turned out horrible - sorry) which came topped with some sausages and arugula, which she said was just a bit too oily, but otherwise tasted ok.

There were several other options on the breakfast/brunch menu too - can't say I wouldn't mind checking out this place again, as it turned out to be a decent meal and overall nice venue for a catch up session with the girls on a sunny Sunday morning. :)
(Looking at some other blog posts, like Sean's, it also looks like the lunch/dinner menu is worth checking out too)

Overall: Casual but comfortable new(-ish) restaurant in Bangsar with a fair range of classic and some interesting breakfast/brunch menu BUT nothing much to complain - although prices are a little on the high side, it is Bangsar after all...

Summary Sheet:

G3 @ Telawi 3, Bangsar KL

No 19, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 20++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - breakfast :), excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2282 8019
Opening Hours: 11am to 12am (Weekdays) and 9am to 12am (Weekends)
Parking: Limited

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Eat Drink KL
- Goreng.my
- The Life of Brian


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Restaurant, Western, Telawi, Bangsar, G3, Telawi Street

Cartoon (A play) @ KLPAC

Be Careful What You Wish For! :)....

Change is good, right?
(Right?)

Especially if you are a motley group of "typical" cartoon characters, ruled under a tyrannical leader?
:)

Well, sometimes it is, and maybe sometimes, it may just lead to all kinds of different problems..
Vivid poster...
I really had no idea what to expect when my friend Nina asked me whether I wanted to go watch Cartoons at KLPAC (which is a successful play, running for the first time outside the USA).

... and when I heard the initial long political-ish monologue after the fun, zany theme song (nice! The cast are so multi talented - can act, sing and dance), I was a bit like =_= <--- I don't like political-ish monologues..

There was very nice pacing and build-up, with creative use of multimedia, and very soon after, I found myself really really enjoying the show. :)
Mr Puppet likes hanging out...
The characters** are all interesting, first in their perfect typical box-ed up "perfection" and even better when the chaos ensues and the cracks and craziness start to show.
(** The Puppet, The Damsel, The Suitor, The Japanese Kawaii Best Friends, The Mischievous One, The Cameo Song Guy, The Dictator and my favourite, The Rock Star - "RAWR". LOL)

Date: August 18 – 27, 2011
Venue: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: Priced from RM 25 to RM 38. Call (+603) 4047 9000 or (+603) 2142 2009 for ticketing.


In short (IMHO):
Definitely worth a watch! - multitalented cast make good of a slightly tweaked, borrowed play from the USA that has a balance of zaniness, laughs and things to make you think. :)


Here are the details of the show:
CARTOON by Steve Yockey:
(Recommended for mature audience aged 18 and above only)

Executive Producer: Dato’ Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Director: Kelvin Wong
Stage Manager: Alvin Looi
Production Manager: Freddy Tan
Costume Design: Cassandra Lim

Synopsis:
...klpac and the director that brought you Indicinelive! present CARTOON by Steve Yockey. IT’S A WAR ON TERROR™ IN TOONTOWN! Chaos ensues after mischievous urchin Trouble steals the oversized yellow sledgehammer that bratty, Hitler-esque Esther commands her toonizens with.

Theme songs come to a halt as paranoia and violence follow a zany goose chase, while a band of mismatched cartoon stereotypes find themselves increasingly stuck in an existential rut – will there ever be a way out? Played through a series of TV episodes, CARTOON is a response to the rapid coalescence of media, politics and consumer giants – an in-your-face satire of a forthcoming totalitarian world, if you like.

MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY

Cast:
(In alphabetical order! To be fair....)
- Actors: Amanda Ang, Rashdan Harith, Lorna Hoong, UiHua, Grace Ng, Jabar Laura, Matthew Ong, Freddy Tan, and Alexis Wong.
Venue: KL Peforming Arts Centre (KLPAC)
(Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan (off Jalan Ipoh), 51100 Kuala Lumpur)

Dates: August 18 – 20, 23 – 27 @ 8.30 pm, Matinee on August 21 @ 3.30 pm (No performance on 22 Aug 2010)

Ticket Price:
- RM38, or RM25 (Students & the Disabled)

[PROMO!]
Buy 4 tickets of any price in one receipt and get 1 free!

[MID-WEEK SPECIAL!]
RM25 flat for August 23 & 24 @ 8.30 pm

[COSPLAY SUNDAY!]
Come dressed-up as your favourite cartoon character on August 21 and get your ticket at only RM25!



Ticket info:
- go to KLPAC, or
- call +603-40479000.
If you want more details, here is the KLPAC official website.


Hope you like it! :)
J


OTHER REVIEWS:
- Dustyhawk Broken Mirror
- Gorengdotmy
- The Star


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Musical, KLPAC, Cartoon, Sentul, Steve Yokel, KL Performing Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

1 Malaysia Ramadhan Feast @ Chatz Brasserie, Parkroyal Hotel KL

Another round of Ramadhan feasting!...

Do take note that this is an invited review - So, here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

How quickly time flies. An ex-colleague just reminded me that we had been trying to to arrange a Buka Puasa get together to catch up since... well, last Ramadhan...
=_=

There are of course many options being paraded in the newspapers, billboards, etc, right now - Last week, I got to check out the offering at Chatz Brasserie in the Parkroyal Hotel, located conveniently in the heart of KL's Golden Triangle Shopping area.
:D
- Simple but comfortable - classic hotel setting:
Comfortable setting....
- A must have at any reputable hotel nowadays, fresh Oysters and prawns:
(Their theme was "1 Malaysia", so they had a range of Malay, Chinese, Indian as well as Nyonya and Western dishes)
A luxurious addition to any meal....
- Healthy Salads and Ulams to balance your meal:
Leafy veggies and herbs are good for you....
- Tantalising curries:
(Other than the usual curries and rendangs, there was also a range of delicious Nyonya recipes, taught by the talented chef Debbie Teoh,... There was a very appetising blend of aromatic spices with a hint of assam tones in the curry, and I especially liked it paired with the yummy Nasi Ulam that they had that night)
Some of the lovely, spicy dishes....
- Petai dish, for those who love these pungeant beans:
(There were also many "stalls" serving up a pretty wide variety of local favourites (Satay, Nasi Ayam, Briyani, Assam Laksa, Ayam Pansuh, etc) as well as foreign treats (Spaghetti, Grilled Lamb, Grilled Beef, etc)
Love it? Or hate it? :)....
- Desserts, both local....
One of my (many) favourites - Sago, with gula melaka and santan served at the side....
- ... and foreign:
(There was also an array of Haagen Daz ice creams for you to choose from...)
Cakes and tarts too :)....
In terms of pricing, it is reasonable, as there really is quite a variety of food to choose from:
- RM 86++ per adult,
- RM 43++ per child (4 to 11 years old).

Well, there you have it. This is probably the last Buka Puasa buffet I'll be attending this year. I hope you have lots of fun buka-ing with your family and friends.... :)
(Thanks to Lilian for the kind invitation - was really nice meeting you!)

Summary Information:
1 Malaysia Ramadhan Feast @ Chatz Brasserie, Parkroyal Hotel KL
(August 1 to August 29, 2011)
(Reservations highly recommended)

Opening Hours: For the Buka Puasa - 7pm onwards
Phone: 603-2147 0888
Address: Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Official Website: Click here

HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
-

MAP:

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TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, One Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Parkroyal Hotel, Chatz Brasserie, Buka Puasa Buffet

d'italiane kitchen @ Jaya 33, PJ

Yet another choice for Italian food in PJ...

It would seem that Malaysians (or the general KL/PJ population anyway) love Italian food, as there appear to be many eateries serving up the robust food from that part of Europe.

One such place is d'Italiane Kitchen, located in Jaya 33, PJ - It's not new, having been open for a few years now, but I only ventured there recently after a short shopping trip to the conveniently located PJ Digital Mall**.
(** Really like this place as its existence = I don't have to go all the way down to Low Yat to get tech-y stuff)

We weren't as hungry/greedy as usual so we skipped straight to the mains. :)

The Pasta Salmon Alfredo (RM 28.90++) was pretty yummy - Sufficiently creamy, but thankfully not too thick and cloying, with chunky cubes of salmon:
Pasta + Creamy sauce = Decadent meal :)....
I preferred the Pasta River Prawn Arabiatta (RM 29.90++) though, as I like red sauces much better than creamy ones. Also, the prawn was fresh and the bits of rich flavour from the roe really added some extra "Oomph" to this dish:
That's a pretty big prawn!....
The Tiramisu (RM 20.90++) was also nice, taste wise - It was just a tad too sweet though but overall, creamy and chocolatey/coffee-ish enough and an interesting mix of moist, creamy and crunchy:
(The hefty price tag would probably deter me from ordering again though)
(Eeyer. Why are tiramisus in KL getting more and more expensive? *grumble*)
A classic Italian dessert....
So was it mindblowing?
Nah.

Still, the taste is above average and pricing is decent (considering the amount of stuff that comes with each dish - wah! such a big, meaty prawn!)...
(Definitely wouldn't mind venturing back here to try out some of the other dishes on the menu)

So it's: Simple yet cosy ambience, friendly service, fairly wide range of Italian food for reasonable prices (just slightly more expensive than average) BUT nothing bad really - :).....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

d'italiane kitchen @ Jaya 33, PJPG-01B
Ground Floor, Jaya 33, No 3 (Lot 33) Jalan Semangat, Section 13, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 55++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7956 3684
Opening Hours: 1130am till 11pm
Official Website:

(They also have a new outlet in Sunway Giza)

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- Neo Lady
- KY Speaks
- Timothy Yeo
- Melaka Boy.com
- ewinee.com

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, d' Italiane Kitchen,Jaya 33, Sri Hartamas, Italian, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Buka Puasa @ The Melting Pot Cafe, Concorde Hotel KL

How quickly time flies - Ramadhan/ Bulan Puasa starts next week!...

Do take note that this is an invited review - So, here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

A mother and son team, dishing up traditional Padang food? - how sweet...
:)
Mother and son, Sambasri Harun and Irwan Arifin, posing with their signature dishes....
.... and they are serving up delicious traditional cuisine from their hometown, Pariaman in Padang, Indonesia - with a beautiful blend of fragrant spices accentuated by a mild, pleasing (chilli) heat on the tongue....

- The famous Fat Boy Bakes, with a big bone in hand:
(Look at that gleeful smile!)
FBB with his big Sup Gearbox soto....
- Many famous Padang dishes like Dendeng Paru to whet your appetite:
(It's lungs... usually I'm squeamish about consuming these kinda body parts but in this case, it's yummy!. There is also an array of other Padang classics like daging dendeng bakar, gulai urat lembu, opor ayam, sotong berlado, ikan masak bumbu, udang tusek, sambal lado hijau, keropok belinjau, keropok kulit lembu and much more...)
Eating lungs are good for your lungs, right?....
- Delicious array of curries - here, the fish head curry:
(Went so well with rice)
Curry + rice = YUMS....
- Grilled Lamb. Stuff with Rice. Delish!
(This was one of my favourite dishes that night - especially the rice, which was wonderfully spiced and flavoured by the lamb)
The chefs dish up the lamb....
- A selection of meats and seafood - take your pick and the chefs will grill it for you:
Food prepared a la minute....
- If you don't feel like curry/rice, there are also fresh seafood - Oysters and lightly cooked Prawns:
Many other cuisines to select....
- There is so an array of other cuisine, like Chinese (steamed fish, tofu, dimsum) and Japanese (Tempura prawns, etc):
Choices, choices....
- A variety of Local desserts, including kuih-muih like kuih lapis and comfort food like various pengats:
Tummy warming Malaysian desserts....
- Desserts a la Orang Putih (Western folks) available too!:
(Cakes, macaroons, ice cream and many others....)
My favourite part of every meal....
- It's the Concorde KL after all, so it's a nice setting in the main Melting Pot Cafe dining area:
(Reservations are highly recommended, as it usually gets very packed)
Comfortable although crowded....
- There's also a live band around to entertain you as you dine:
Somehow they managed to make Bieber's Baby song sound interesting....
Price-wise, I think it's pretty reasonable, considering it's a very reputable hotel in the KL area:
- RM 89++ per adult,
- RM 44.50++ per child (4 to 12 years old).
(There is also a 20% discount during the 1st and 4th week of Ramadhan!)

We were also told that they will be changing the menu everyday, to keep things exciting, so you can just keep going back again and again, if you want to. :)


PS/
Thanks (and *HUGS*) to the witty Fat Boy Bakes for extending the invite and of course, to the sweet Julini of Concorde for being such a good hostess.

Summary Information:
Buka Puasa @ The Melting Pot Cafe, Concorde Hotel KL
(August 1 to August 29, 2011)
(Reservations highly recommended)

Opening Hours: For the Buka Puasa - 7pm onwards
Phone: 603-2144 2200
Address: 2 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Official Website: Click here

HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Bisous a Toi
- Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel Blog
- Lionel Ong
- Fat Boy Bakes


MAP:

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TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Nasi Padang Pariaman, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Concorde Hotel, Melting Pot Cafe, Buka Puasa Buffet

Penang Assam Laksa FTW! :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE....

Oh, Penang Assam Laksa....
I have loved you all these years, with all my heart, but now, the world has acknowledged your awesome-ness too.
*HAPPY*
The object of my affection....
Your comforting complex taste - sweet/savoury/sour, spicy, fishy (in the best way possible), accentuated by the fragrance of the bunga kantan (ginger flower?) and mint leaves, with an extra ooomph from the added hae koh (prawn paste), enveloping the slippery smooth strands of noodles - MMMmmmm. Delicious delicious-ness. My perfect comfort food on a rainy day... :D
(Or any day, really)

Why this sudden declaration of love? Well, if you haven't read it already, here's the link to the CNN Go's recently published World's 50 Most Delicious Foods......
(Look out for Entry Number 7)

Luv laksa long time,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Penang Assam Laksa, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

New Beer In Town

Beer-y good fun and minums at a recent launch at G Tower....

I met an ex of mine recently when he visited Malaysia... and he exclaimed how he was really surprised I like drinking beer now....

It's not THAT strange for a girl to enjoy a nice, ice cold beer once in a while, is it? ;)
(... Or even more than once in a while)

There was a time when I thought beers tasted horrible,... but that's before I tried some of the really lovely beers available. One interesting new discovery, is the Kronenbourg Blanc, the newly launched "white" beer from the French brand, Kronenbourg 1664.

I got to taste it at the launch party, which was held at the brand spanking new and GORGEOUS View Rooftop Bar of G Tower:
Beauiful view of the KL skyline from the top of The View....
Mmmmmmm. I found the light but evidently fruity taste of the beer really interesting - would love this served ice cold, while I lay down at the side of a beach. :)
The new Kronenburg Blanc (front) and the existing classic Blue Kronenburg (back)....
The artistically painted models at the launch were really interesting too:
Ooh la la....
It's art?....
HUGE thanks and *hugs* to the gorgeous Agent Ciki who allowed me to borrow her photos - my camera doesn't perform very well in low lighting....

Also, thanks to Alex and Gladys from G Tower, who so kindly extended the invite to this event - had a lot of fun. :)

For more info on the hotel/ the office units/ other facilities, do check out their main website: CLICK HERE.

G Tower and Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
199 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Hotel Tel: +603 2168 1919
Hotel Fax : +603 2168 1818
Email : info@gtower.com.my

Leasing Tel: +603 2168 1800
Leasing Email: lease@gtower.com.my


Other posts on this event:
- Cumi dan Ciki
- Beerbeer
- I Come, I See, I Hunt and I Chiak
- Adventures of a Tomcat
- Kee Hua Chee Live


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee @ off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, KL

Reputedly the original and best Chilli Pan Mee in KL....

Who hasn't heard of the (in)famous Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee in KL? :)

Through the years, pan mee places have come and gone but Kin Kin remains, with its facade pretty much unchanged:
(Located in a slightly hidden block of shoplots, just off the bustling Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman aka Jalan TAR - sort of just behind the Honda showroom)
Outside Kin Kin....
Inside, it remains simple and down to earth - a typical coffeeshop setting, which can get VERY packed on weekday lunch times:
Simple - plastic chairs and tables....
I started with a side order of Pork meatballs (about RM 5 for a 1 person serving):
Yummy oinky bites....
Small, slightly bouncey and savoury, with a slight zing of salted fish(?) minced in - not fantabulous, but it's a good complementary part to a meal at Kin Kin.

There really aren't many choices here - just their signature pan mee, which comes in 1 standard size, in either dry (Korn low) or soup format (Chee-ee sui) (about RM 5.50 per bowl).

I much prefer the dry format - topped with an egg, minced pork sauce and deep fried anchovies (ikan bilis), with the accompanying small side bowl of veggies in a simple egg drop soup:
ALL MINE :D....
One thing that really wins points with me here is that the egg is always (as far as my experience goes) perfectly prepared - look at it in all its glistening, jiggly glory, oozing beautifully runny yolk with just a light prod of a chopstick:
LOVE...
The famed Chilli is served separately - it is FIERY, to say the least. There was a time when the attitudes of the owners/ waitresses there were EQUALLY FIERY (thus, their infamy for mostly horrible and brash service) but after such a long lapse, I got the feeling that they have mellowed over the years.....
(Bordering on friendly, even! Or maybe I went on a "good day" as compared to the last time, a few years ago?)
A plastic canister filled with chilli at every table....
You can add in as much or as little chilli as you like. I recommend starting with one spoonful and adding more later if you would like your tongue to sizzle:
(Mind you, I actually like spicy food but I can only handle about 1 and a half spoonfuls before it gets uncomfortably hot - it is a thin line between pleasure and pain, eh? lol)
All mixed up and ready for consumption!....
The beauty is in the mix. :)

All their lovingly prepared ingredients** make up the wonderful mix of textures and tastes - al dente noodles that are not the least bit starchy, coated with the sticky goodness of the runny egg, accentuated by the dry heat of the chilli, crunch from the crispy anchovies and savoury goodness of the pork mince.
(** As I understand, everything from the noodles to the chilli blend is prepared in house)

GLORIOUS.
(Hits all the right spots for me)

Of course, as many have pointed out, the serving size is pretty small for the price.... Still, this place remains a firm favourite for me if I have a craving for pan mee. :)
(Note: Prices stated are approximate because there is no receipt and I forgot - sorry!)

So it's: Simple setting, good chilli pan mee (reputedly the best) BUT can be very packed, service is infamous (although much better now), limited choices and serving size is on the small side......

Summary Information:;
Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee @ off, Jalan T.A.R., KL

Opening Hours:
Weekdays 7.30am to 9pm,
Weekends 7.30am to 4.30pm (Closed on some Sundays - the last of each month?)
Phone: -
Address: No. 40, Ground Floor, Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman 1, off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur
(BTW they also have a branch in Pandan Indah @ 6-G, Jalan Perubatan 4, Off Jalan Pandan Ilmu, Pandan Indah - it's closed on Mondays though)

NOT HALAL

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- KY Eats
- Happy Happy
- You Get What You Give
- Meals I Had
- Motormouth From Ipoh


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Jalan TAR, Restoran Kin Kin, Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Memo

RE: REAL LIFE

Please be informed that J the Chocoholic has recently gotten a new job and she is caught up in that and lots of other aspects of Real Life.

She expresses her sincere apologies and promises that regular blog updates will resume as soon as possible.

Best regards,
J the Chocoholic

(Ok. Now just for fun, let's do that again in directly translated Malay)

RE: BENAR HIDUP:

Tolong dimaklum bahawa J the Chocoholic sudah baru dapat kerja baru dan telah ditangkap dalam itu dan pelbagai aspek Benar Hidup.

Dia mengespresikan ikhlas maaf dan menjanji yang update blog biasa akan bermula semula secepat mungkin.

Best punya regards,
J the Chocoholic

PS/ LOL. My BM is getting so bad/ out of practise! And also, apologies for calls missed, smses not replied and chat messages ignored.... Please bear with me while I stabilise things at work, ok? Thanks.... :)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Prime @ Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Finally: I taste the, reputedly, best steak in KL....

I had a really bad day at work that day - can't remember why exactly,... but it was just one of those days, you know?
>.>

Anyway, I was supposed to have dinner with an old friend of mine, when upon hearing of my bad day, decided that we should make use of the glorious discount on his Starwood card instead of just going to the usual simple tai chow/ cafe.

How can I say no to that? :)
(Especially since I had never eaten at Prime before)

- Delicious bread and butter (complimentary):
Delicious, creative butter blends....
Apparently, they change the butter blends from time to time - that day, we were served with an interesting array: Cinnamon butter, salted butter and watercress butter. All of them were wonderfully creamy and went very well with the warm bread.

- Succulent, Grilled scallops (RM 55++):
Bouncey scallops! :D....
Simple, seared scallops that were plump and juicy. Would have loved it if there was more of that delightful smokey fragrance instead of just a hint, but otherwise, YUMs.

- Hearty soup, Lobster Bisque (RM 45++):
Good soup - my favourite comfort food....
The thin layer of puff pastry on top was so lovely (nice butter fragrance) and went well with the creamy and robust soup.
(Hmmmm... I didn't find quite as much chunks of lobster as I would have liked though, but I supposed a lot of lobster went into the boiling process to produce such a robust taste)

- Cheesy, Lobster Thermidor (RM 230++):
Messy presentation but its the taste that matters, right? :)....
Wah. Looks like a mess of cheese and shell but when you dig in, you will find a treasure trove of fresh, sweet and juicy lobster meat which is accentuated by the melted cheese.

- Mmmmmmmm, Black Angus Ribeye Steak (RM 120++):
Juicy steak....
Perfect griddle marks, juicy, fresh meat that had all the necessary beefy flavours (in a good way) - a good meal for the carnivorous like me. :)

- Decadent, Creme brulee (RM 25++):
A sweet ending....
This was not the best creme brulee I've had ever had, but it was pretty good - nice aroma from the added vanilla beans but there wasn't enough of the yummy caramelised sugar layer on top.

Overall, it was a great meal and I definitely left feeling much happier. :)

Admittedly, prices are not cheap, but with the Starwood Card "free 1 person's meal" privilege (which in this case, adds up to a 50% discount off the food), it turned out to be a reasonable price considering the ambience and the quality of the food.
(You can even play a game of "Spot the celebrity" here on most nights I think - we saw Tun Dr. Mahathir when we were there! The highlight for me however was running into a beautiful Miss J Seaton who was having a birthday dinner there with friends - *HUGS* Hope you had a fun, delicious celebration!)


So it's: Nice ambience, food is good BUT prices are expensive (unless you have the Starwood card)....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Prime @ Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 8
Ambience : 8
Service : 7
Price** : RM 200/++ per person (unless you have a Starwood card)
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2263 7434
Opening Hours: 12noon - 2.30pm, 6:30pm - 10pm

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Masak-Masak
- Knits and Nibbles
- KampungBoyCityGal
- A Whiff Of Lemongrass


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Steak, Prime, Le Meridian Hotel, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Chateau d' Esclans Wine Pairing Dinner @ Chinoz KLCC

Pink is quickly becoming my favourite colour...

This is an invited review.
(So, here are my usual disclaimers)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

It is no small feat that Chinoz has been opened in Suria KLCC since the very start (1998! How time flies):
Near the main entrance of KLCC, facing the park and fountain...
So, to put it lightly, they must be doing something right all these years. :)

That night, we were seated in a nice private area inside, simple but sophisticated. I liked it, but if it was a cool night, I would have loved to sit outside and enjoy the night sky:
Private dining area - sophisticated, quiet and cosy...
The view outside...
I was there a little early, so I milled around, sipping on bubbly and was struck by how beautiful the wines are - they looked almost magical, glowing from within. When I looked at the label and read "Whispering Angel", I thought, "What a fitting name!":
An array of beautiful wines...
Gorgeous glow...
- Following a few short words from our hosts, we started off with the Asiatic Hor D'ouvres, a mix of spiced "popcorn" shrimp, "roti jala" duck and a foie gras maki:
Matched with a Chateau d' Esclans Whispering Angel
3 different types of yummy appetizers...
Look how pretty the wine is!...
All 3 parts of the starter were faultless, and I particularly enjoyed the slightly spicy and crispy bites of prawn.

I had sort of expected the pretty salmon pink wine to be overwhelmed by the spices (as my perception of rosé wines is that they are kinda weak and girly)... but I guess you should never judge a book by it's cover. :)

While it tasted refreshing because it was lightly chilled, flavour-wise the wine held its own very well, with a sophisticated mix of tastes and (again, surprisingly) medium body. It was also relatively dry as compared to the rosés I have tasted thus far.

- Black Cod with Abalone:
Matched with a Chateau d' Esclans Les Clans and a Chateau d' Esclans Les Clans Garrus
Rich tasting but full of good fish oil...
Again, the wine is just so beautifully coloured...
The different flavours of the sea, paired together and balanced with some citrus tones, turned out beautifully. Although the abalone could have been a bit more tender, it went well with the rich taste of the oily black cod.

As for the 2 wines, both went matched well with the fish - each with their own elegance and varying complexities. They were both delicious, of course,... but it was the Garrus (which is the pride of the winery) that stood out to me. It has an added depth of woodiness to the already beautifully complex bouquet, and an impressively long finish.

I really liked this wine and I wish I could describe it better... :(
Anyway, to sum it up in simple words, it was DELICIOUS, YUMMY, WONDERFUL. :)

- Sous vide Lamb Loin with Sze Zhuan Pepper:
Matched with a Chateau d' Esclans Whispering Angel Rouge
Coated with pepper - robust without being overwhelming...
Beautiful purple red hue and well rounded flavours...
The lamb was deliciously tender, robust flavours but without that horrid gamey taste that tend to affect ovine meats. This was accentuated by the well rounded red wine, with its mix of berry flavours.

- Assiette de amarillo:
Platter of different desserts...
The interesting mix of sweet, sour, moist and crunchy desserts also went down well... I love it when there is a variety of small bites to sample - just wish there was something chocolatey in the mix too.
:)

- 3 very talented and affable men:
(They are not on the menu, but definitely an important part of that night...)
A sincere love for wine makes the world a smaller, happier place, right? :)...
It was wonderful that the very experienced and passionate Gert Lehmann from Chateau D'Esclans had flown in all the way from Europe to share his knowledge and love of rosé wines with us.
(Hopefully one day I can really visit this beautiful winery, owned by the famous Sacha Lichine, in the Provence region of France)

SHOUT OUT
Thank you to:
1) Gert Lehmann from Chateau D'Esclans for his company and patience (with this girl who knows next to nothing about wines),
2) The management and chefs of Chinoz for the wonderful meal, and
3) Jonathan from Albert Wines for the kind invite! (You rock!)

BTW: If you want more details on Albert Wines (they export, wholesale and retail a wide range of spirit and alcohol brands), do check out their official website: Click here.

As for the food described here, it was specially designed to match the wines but if you want something similar, you can enquire directly with the restaurant.
(Contact details below)

Summary Sheet:

Chateau d' Esclans Wine Pairing Dinner @ Chinoz on the Park, KLCC

G47 Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

Price** : Call restaurant to ask
Parking: OK

** Can be customised according to your event

Telephone No.: 03-2166 8277
Opening Hours: 11am - late
Parking: OK

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- NST


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, French Wine, Chinoz on the Park, Suria KLCC, Chateau d' Esclans, Kuala Lumpur