We recently visited Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant at One World Hotel Petaling Jaya for our Chinese New Year dinner, taking the opportunity to try out the restaurant’s CNY creations by Executive Chef Michael Chew Chee Peng.
Zuan Yuan seats 380 persons, and provides a Cantonese culinary experience in a stylish venue that embodies the concept of vitality and energy, with spacious and pillar-less dining area, sophisticated colour palettes and elements of modern oriental design.
The restaurant also has private dining rooms, with eye-catching backdrop inspired by traditional Chinese mountain paintings, and a brightly coloured and very Instagrammable side wall providing a cheerful ambience for your celebrations. The rooms can be used as one large room or partitioned into two to five rooms, seating up to 100 persons in total.
For this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations, Zuan Yuan is offering five (5) varieties of this popular salad are available for dine-in or take-away from 1 January to 1 March 2019. Priced from RM118.00nett, the premium selection includes Yee Sang with Salmon Skin and Abalone, Yee Sang with Soft Shell Crab, Yee Sang with Abalone, Yee Sang with Salmon and Fruits Yee Sang with Chef’s Signature Sauce.
You can also usher in the Year of Swine at Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant from 15 January to 3 March 2019 with three (3) set menus with dishes signifying everything auspicious from prosperity, good luck, good fortune, good health and longevity. The menus echo Executive Chef Michael Chew Chee Peng’s two-decade culinary prowess and centred on time-honoured Cantonese cuisine signatures.
Priced at RM1,798.00 nett, RM1,988.00 nett and RM2,288.00 for a table of ten with a complimentary bottle of wine, the Gathered Elegance promotion is available daily for lunch (12.00 noon to 2.30pm) and dinner (6.30pm to 10.30pm).
Among the featured dishes are Braised Pumpkin Soup with Mixed Seafood, Barbecue Roast Duck and Chicken, Steamed Live Dragon Garoupa with Superior Soy Sauce, Wok Fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk, Braised Abalone with Seafood, Steamed Rice with Assorted Preserved Meat and “Nian Gao” with Coconut Flakes.
Zuan Yuan remains open on the eve of Lunar New Year and throughout the festive season.
日式麻酱烟三文鱼捞生
Yee Sang with Smoked Salmon, Crystal Pear and Japanese Sesame Sauce
瑶柱鲍鱼海味羹 Braised Superior Abalone Soup with Dried Scallop and Dried Seafood
We are really glad that many restaurants including Zuan Yuan have stopped serving sharksfin soup! The seafood soup with abalone here is way tastier anyway with loads of umami flavours!
粤式烧味拼 BBQ Roasted Duck and Chicken “Hong Kong” Style
A well executed traditional dish. We especially enjoyed the duck which didn’t have that pungent duck smell.
金镶海明虾 Wok Fried White Sea Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk
This dish had deliciously creamy salted egg yolk covering the prawns – imparting a rich savoury taste to the prawns. One of the best dishes of the night!
港蒸游水龙虎斑 Steamed Live Dragon Garoupa with Superior Soy Sauce
Chef Michael shared with us that fish dishes must be served with the head and tail to symbolise completeness or wholeness – something that is very important to the more traditionally minded Chinese diners, and especially business owners. The fish though, was fresh and tender and complemented perfectly with soy sauce!
带子卷伴鲜菌彩虹蔬 Stir Fried Lotus Root and Garden Green accompanied with Crispy Scallop Roll
Not your ordinary stir fried vegetables as this fish came with crispy scallops rolls!
红烧鲍鱼金钱袋 Braised Abalone with Money Bag and Flower Mushroom
Abalone makes another appearance with this dish!
银丝椰汁年糕 Steamed Coconut Nian Gao with Shredded Coconut
罗汉果六味糖水 Six Treasures Soup
Ending a luxurious meal on a sweet note!
For reservations or enquiries, call 603 7681 1159 or email zuanyuan@oneworldhotel.com.my
For more info, head over to http://www.oneworldhotel.com.my/restaurants/zuan-yuan-chinese-restaurant/
Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant is located at:
Lobby Level, One World Hotel,
First Avenue, Bandar Utama City Centre,
47800 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia.
Operating Hours:
Monday to Friday
Lunch: 12.00 noon to 2.30 pm
Dinner: 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday:
Lunch: 10.00 am to 2.30 pm
Dinner: 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm
Thanks for having us! Happy Chinese New Year to all our Chinese friends!
We recently attended the Sunday Brunch on 9 December 2018 which is priced at RM150++ per pax (for the food only) with an option to add-on RM250 for unlimited flow of Perrier Jouet champagne! Guests are free to have a dip in the pool or lounge on the deck chairs which have a lovely panoramic view of the Kuala Lumpur city skyline.
This special brunch only happens once every quarter so do follow BABE on their Facebook page (link at the bottom of this post) to stay in the know of upcoming events.
Starting off the meal was not your typical “amuse bouche” as this “Down the Rabbit Hole” course came in the form of test tubes containing liquids of various flavours. We were not told what they are so we had it then tried to figure out what it was. Eventually after we finished it the servers revealed it to us and some were very interesting especially the “Hainanese Chicken rice” one.
Crab Nori Salad
Alaskan King Crab, Coriander, Lime Leaf Leche De Tigre
Sweet umami goodness of Alaskan King Crab on an edible leaf. This served to pretty much whet the appetite for what’s to come!
Ikura Tartlette
Thin Tart Shell With Fromage Blanc and Marinated Salmon Roe
We really enjoyed this one! Salmon roe on top of white cream cheese in a tart shell – simply bursting with umami flavours from the roe, contrasting against the creaminess of the cheese. A truly excellent appetiser!
“Steak” Sandwich
Braised Beef Tongue, Gherkins, Wagyu Tartare
Beef done two (2) ways atop what we thought was bread but turned out to be “bread” made from tomatoes which gave a very interesting texture, and tartness to the “sandwich”. The green “leaf” turned out to be cheese! What a surprising not to mention interesting take on a common sandwich!
Nagano Walnut Soba
Cold Buckwheat Noodles with 7-Ingredient Herb, Root and Seed Condiment
We got to “play” with our food here. After all, the place is not called Japas FUN Dining for nothing! First, we crushed the walnuts which were then added to the broth. Next we squeezed the oil into the dried ice which froze it to form tiny little icicles which were then placed on the soba. As it slowly melted, it imparted its flavours to the soba which we then dipped into the broth (containing the walnuts) before eating it! Talk about interactive dining!
We crushed the walnuts first before the broth was added to it
Freezing the oil into tiny icicles!
Forest Floor
Braised Daikon, Japanese Mushroom Duxelle, Seaweed Egg Emulsion
We had to remove some actual leaves to reach the “forest floor” where we discovered the “mushroom” which contained the daikon and mushrooms. Loads of earthy flavours in this dish and great for a mushroom lover like me and my partner in crime.
Mains (Choice Of)
Yuan Miso Salmon with Yuzu Cream
Crispy Burdock, Herb Salad and Daun Kaduk Oil
Most of the girls had this one. A perfectly cooked piece of salmon that went exceedingly well with the (slightly) piquant yuzu cream.
Or
(None of us ordered this one hence no pics/ comments)
CO2 Battered Tatsuta Chicken
Tatsuta-age, Truffle and Black Pepper Dressing with Mizuna and Radish
[Upgrade to Krystal Osetra Caviar : 15g for RM175++]
Or
Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Striploin 100g Steak
[Supplemental Charge of RM120)
Those of us who ate beef had this one and it was mind-blowingly awesome! It delicious chunks of Wagyu was served with various condiments like watermelon salt (yes they make it themselves), Japanese black pepper, and more! The flavours of the beef, with it’s super tender texture feels like a party in the mouth. Definitely one of the best wagyu dishes we’ve ever had!
Awesome! Simply awesome! We closed my eyes and savoured every bite of this!
Pina Colada
Caramelized Banana, Vanilla Rum Syrup, Coconut
A nice refreshing and creamy end to a wonderful interactive meal! It was like having the cocktail in solid form, which was rather unusual but undeniably satisfying! The girls attacked this one with gusto!
We also had their famous Babe & Daz which is an “ice cream style” foie gras laced with some Martell cognac and covered with chocolate! I loved this as I love foie gras and this was one of the most unique ways to enjoy the premium ingredient! (FYI this is not part of the champagne brunch set.)
A pic with Chef Jeff Ramsay and Chef Chu of BABE – Japas Fun Dining
BABE will also be running a special Festive menu from 21 December 2018 to 65 January 2019 which will feature some of the restaurant’s “Best of 2018” menu put together for this festive period.
[In Partnership with J’s Gate Dining at Lot 10 Kuala Lumpur]
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We recently headed over to J’s Gate Dining at Lot 10 Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur to try their October & November 2018 RM18 Specials at Ichiyutei, Kaisen Don Kinme, Shinanoji, Fuji Sakura, Bonta Bonta and TSUJIRI. This promotion from 20 October until 25 November 2018 and all the aforementioned participating outlets are pork free (no pork and no lard).
J’s Gate Dining which is located on Level 4 of Lot 10 Shopping Centre (the top shopping floor), brought together 16 specialty restaurants from Japan, taking up the entire floor! The dining hall provides authentic Japanese cuisine and level of service, centered on superior quality ingredients, Japanese hospitality, and a lively atmosphere, employing bona fide Japanese design to create a space where customers can comfortably enjoy real Japanese culture.
We decided to try the October & November 2018 RM18 Specials at the six (6) participating food and beverage outlets namely Ichiyutei, Kaisen Don Kinme, Shinanoji, Fuji Sakura, Bonta Bonta and TSUJIRI which all share a common seating area.Instagrammers Any Wong, Serene Khoo and Joey Tng (L-R)MHB’s popular food and beverage bloggers Kelly Siew (L) and Sharon Loh (R)
Ichiyutei
Creamy Curry Udon
The Creamy Curry Udon actually was topped off with mashed potatoes (which looks like “cream”) and not actually cream itself. This gave the dish a nice balance of flavours and textures, making it both creamy with a hint of spice from the Japanese curry sauce.
In Fukuoka Hakata in Japan, Ichiyutei sells over 100 bowls in an hour during lunch time, and their in Kuala Lumpur is their first overseas venture. Ichiyutei features the authentic flavours of Fukuoka Hakata udon noodles mixed with Japanese curry sauce and Japanese soup to make a hearty noodle curry soup with the rich flavour of katsu curry. The Hakata Udon is hand crafted by craftsmen and is freshly made each day.
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Kaisen Don Kinme
Salmon Mentai Aburi Don
The Salmon Mentai Aburi Don features slices of salmon atop the rice which are covered with mentai (fish roe) and mayo then torched before being served!
Kaisen Don is a Japanese rice bowl dish which consists of toppings of fresh and delicious raw seafood on sushi rice. Kaisen Don Kinme’s ingredients are freshly sourced and flown directly from Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, the largest fish market in the world. The concept and the menu of the outlet in Lot 10 is similar to that of (the parent outlet) Sushi Kinmedai, located at Publika Kuala Lumpur.
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Shinanoji
Mini Cold/ Hot Soba with Assorted Tempura & Miso Soup Set
Shinanoji is a 40-year old Soba specialty restaurant chain from Wakayama, a prefecture in the Kansai region, at the west Japan. Shinanoji specializes in soba and serves a choice of hot or cold soba. Japanese Soba is well-known as a healthy food because they are made with Japanese buckwheat flour, an ingredient that is rich in nutrients and low in fat and cholesterol. The soba at Shinanoji is made fresh in the store each day.
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Fuji Sakura
Chicken & Miso Special Hotpot
The concept here is to make the hotpot to your preference, which means that you can choose your choice of Dashi soup, with your choice of meats, then top it with your choice of seasonal toppings and side dish!
The outlet’s name “Fuji No Sakura” is inspired by Mount Fuji and Sakura, both of which are widely recognised icons of Japan. This outlet’s signature dish – the Nabe hotpot, is an authentic Japanese hotpot cuisine that widely recognised and favoured by many Japanese families.
The “Dashi” (soup stock) is the soul of the Nabe, and Fuji Sakura’s Dashi is freshly made with bonita flakes and kombu (kelp) each day in the store. The outlet also has several types of flavor for their dashi, ranging from the Japanese favourite Shoyu (soy-sauce) base, to a locally tailored fusion base which is more towards the Malaysian palate.
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Bonta Bonta
Toritama Stir-Fried Noodle
The Toritama Stir-Fried Noodles is fried with generous pieces of chicken as well as egg and vegetables. A rather uncommon Japanese dish here in Malaysia but one that is pretty delicious and very filling indeed! Bonta Bonta also has (non-RM18) dishes such as Unagi Bowl, Unagi Omelette Bowl, Fried Chicken Omelette Bowl and Teriyaki Chicken Omelette Bowl, all of which can have side dishes added on to make it a value set!
TSUJIRI
1pc Roll Cake & 1 Latte (Hot/Cool)
Roll cake selection: O-Matcha Roll Cake, Black Sesame Roll Cake, Houjicha Roll Cake
The story of Tsujiri begins at end of the ancient Edo period in 1860, when the brand Tsujiri was first established by Riemon Tsuji in Uji Kyoto, Japan. The founder Riemon tapped his own wealth to improve the tea industry, advancing and innovating the method to enhance the flavours and sweetness of the tea from the highest quality Gyokuro tea leaves. He also devised the tea cabinet to keep the tea leaves fresh longer, thereby reviving the popularity and marketing of the Uji tea. His effort was well recognised by many and to attest to that, his statue was built in Byodoin, Kyoto’s world heritage temple.
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We even had a little birthday celebration for our influencer Any Wong!
We recently headed over to Tangerine restaurant at THE FACE Suites which is a luxury all-suite hotel located in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle – the city’s commercial, shopping and entertainment hub. The hotel is located along Jalan Sultan Ismail, and is a short distance from the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower as well as shopping and entertainment districts such as Suria KLCC and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
The all-suite hotel comprises 200 suites with a stunning view of the Kuala Lumpur city skyline. Designed to cater the need for business and leisure travellers, the all-suite hotel offers One Bedroom and Two Bedroom suites in four room categories; Superior, Deluxe, Premier and Grand Premier. With One Bedroom Superior as the entry-level suite, ranging at 83 sqm to the largest suite at 138 sqm, the Two Bedroom Grand Premier. All suites are fully furnished with integrated modern living room, kitchenette that are equipped with modern appliances and spacious king-sized bedroom with en-suite bathroom as well as a functional space for work or study.
The infinity pool is located on the 51st floor also known as the Sky Deck is the highest floor of the building that offers a panoramic view of the Kuala Lumpur city skyline including the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower. In fact, this infinity pool is one of the most popular in the city with many hotel guests (yes the pool is only open to hotel guests) snapping a pic with the city’s landmarks in the background.
We were there for a fine dining dinner at Tangerine – the hotel’s rooftop fine dining restaurant that offers modern Western cuisine. The restaurant is located on the Sky Deck (Level 51) of THE FACE Suites and being so high up, offers a very scenic Kuala Lumpur city and evening sunset views.
Tangerine was designed sophisticatedly in all marble with floor to ceiling windows that lets in lots of natural daylight while also offering the aforementioned scenic views while you dine in luxury. Its fine dining menu focuses on using fresh ingredients and innovative flavours with modern cooking technique.
The restaurant has both an opulence indoor dining area as well as a more casual outdoor seating and is an ideal dining venue for intimate candlelight dinner, special celebratory occasions, and even private functions.
The restaurant has three (3) different set dinners available:
3-COURSE SET DINNER
RM288 NETT PER PERSON
5-COURSE SET DINNER
RM388 NETT PER PERSON
7-COURSE SET DINNER
RM488 NETT PER PERSON
We had the 5-course set dinner.
Amuse bouche to whet the appetite and set the tone for what’s to follow
1ST COURSE – CEVICHE OF KING PRAWN
Golden caviar, seafood reduction
A dainty little dish with fresh and umami flavours!
2ND COURSE – CHEESE AGNOLOTTI
Truffle shavings, fennel puree, lavender dust
Agnolotti is a type of pasta typical of the Piedmont region of Italy, made with small pieces of flattened pasta dough, folded over a filling of roasted meat or vegetables. This was another pretty dish thanks to the flowers on top. The truffle shavings added a touch of luxury to this dish!
3RD COURSE – SEARED FOIE GRAS
Gooseberry jam, vanilla glaze
Lovely earthy flavours of the foie gras went well with the gooseberry jam and red wine that we had!
PALATE CLEANSER – ICED TELANG TEA
4TH COURSE (Choice of)
ANGUS TENDERLOIN
Roots vegetable, baby onion, truffle jus
LAMB LOIN
Rillettes fritter, eggplant and date, black garlic dressing
Definitely the most photogenic and Instagrammable dish of the night! The lamb was beautifully slow cooked to a pink medium rare, and paired well with the reduction.
Black Cod
French scallop, fermented bean cream, royal chives
5TH COURSE – FRENCH CHEESE
served with Manuka honey
Three (3) different cuts of cheese paired with high quality Manuka honey!
Dessert – Burnt Milk Mousse
with Prunes Gel, Ginger Tuile
Something sweet to end the dinner.
The dinner was also supported by our generous partners SK-II, Shiseido Professional, Claude Bernard and L’Occitane.
Dining 51 storeys above KL was definitely a moment for us to shine in such a beautiful setting, and the L’Occitane Terre de Lumiere Parfum made the occasion extra memorable. We felt on top of the world, and confident knowing who we are, enjoying an unforgettable evening dining with lovely company, in a gorgeous ambience, and of course – a wonderful fragrance!
In Provence, there is a unique moment in time, when the light embraces the sky and blesses the earth with a fleeting interval of grace. This is known as the Golden Hour. L’Occitane translated this light into a scent which reveals an addictive and contrasted signature, an unexpected fusion of mesmerising gourmand notes and aromatic freshness.
Terre de Lumière Eau de Parfum, the first gourmand aromatic fragrance from L’OCCITANE, envelops the body in a scent full of contrasts. It leaves in its wake a soft, aromatic scent, with addictive, contrasting notes.
The SKII signature bestseller – Facial Treatment Essence, has a beautiful new look with a Limited Edition design depicting a single black bird in a sea of white birds. The Little Red Symbol Limited Edition symbolizes an act of courage and strength to stand up and stand out from the crowd to pursue one’s dreams.
SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence is made up of over 90% PITERA – a natural bio-ingredient containing vitamins, amino acids and minerals, which helps condition skin to retain its natural functions, boosting hydration, and keeping skin smooth, radiant and moisturised!
The set which is available now and priced at RM715 includes: Facial Treatment Essence (230ml) + Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser (120g) + Facial Treatment Clear Lotion (20ml)
Shiseido Professional has 5 leave in treatments that provides strong and healthy hair and scalp:
THE HAIR CARE Adenovital Advanced Scalp Essence (RM333) promotes hair growth and prevents thinning hair, dandruff, scalp itchiness and hair loss – giving you strong and healthy hair.
THE HAIR CARE Aqua Intensive Oil Unlimited Silk (RM123 ) incorporates The Lasting Veil technology that creates lasting lightweight moisturizing effect.
HAIR CARE Luminoforce Gloss Spray (RM100) protects the hair from UV damage and makes hair silky and shiny through the ends!
THE HAIR CARE Future Sublime Volume Serum (RM168) is formulated with Resilience-Lift Complex*2 that instantly gives resilience and strength for a voluminous finish.
THE HAIR CARE Fuente Forte Toning Serum (RM168) alleviates scalp problems such as dandruff and hair itchiness while improving scalp health and thereby promoting the growth of beautiful hair.
The dinner was also supported by Claude Bernard timepieces
Claude Bernard was founded in 1973, and takes its name from a master watchmaker from the Jura Valley where centuries earlier Switzerland’s watchmaking industry had taken hold. In the mid-16th Century Frenchman John Calvin broke with the Roman Catholic Church and fled to Geneva. French Huguenots followed him but when Calvin banned the production, and wearing of, jewellery because it had ‘no place in the worship of God’ local goldsmiths and jewellers were forced to turn to a new trade – watchmaking.
Most of these craftsmen farmed during the warmer months and honed their watchmaking skills in the winter and Les Genevez, a plateau high in the Jura, became a focal point for what became a roaring trade. It’s in Les Genevez today that Claude Bernard creates its timepieces, either with mechanical or quartz movements, all assembled with a passion for detail that can be traced back to those 16th-century pioneers and Claude Bernard himself.
Today, Claude Bernard prides itself on using the most modern of materials in its watches but without forsaking that magnificent Swiss watchmaking tradition. Precision, quality, reliability and attention to the finest detail are hallmarks of Claude Bernard watches, now distributed to more than 70 countries throughout the world.
Claude Bernard’s portfolio is diverse, with sleek diver’s models such as the Aquarider to the slick Sophisticated Classics dress watches and the elegant, ultra-feminine Dress Code family. Combining tradition and innovation and the highest quality but without the price tag to match, Claude Bernard watches are the best value Swissmade watches available today.
For more info on Claude Bernard timepieces, head over to https://www.claudebernard.ch/
Claude Bernard is distributed by Crystal Time in Malaysia. For more info, head over to http://www.crystaltime.com.sg/
Operation Hours: Daily from 6.00pm to 10.30pm (For dinner only)
Dress Attire: Smart casual wear (Strictly no swimming & gym attire, singlets, sandals and slippers)
Do note that children below 10 years old are not allowed to dine in the restaurant.
Photos by Andy Kho Photography (www.andykho.com). All photos are copyright of MHB and may not be reproduced in any manner or form without written permission.
Influencers with MHB Managing Editor Tim Chew. Thanks for having us!
This Christmas, MHB had our Christmas Lunch 2018 presented by Cava Restaurant & Bar @ The Bangkung Row, and supported by Kronenbourg 1664. Cava is one of the mainstays along Jalan Bangkung in the swanky and upmarket neighbourhood of Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. The pork-free restaurant serves modern and traditional Spanish cuisine – from hot and cold tapas, to mains like paella and baked suckling lamb, to desserts like Creme Catalana, complemented with a variety of wines and of course – cava!
The interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting, with the long wooden shelves showcasing the more rare labels of wines that have been enjoyed there over the years
The walls are lined with awards and photos. The booths are great for a romantic couples’s night out!
The restaurant layout is pretty versatile and is even suitable to host small parties such as ours!
Supporting our event was Kronenbourg 1664
We started off the afternoon with some Vallformosa Classic Brut NV. On the eye, it had a straw colour with greenish shades, with lively bubbles. On the nose, it had aromas of melon, banana, apricot, and apple, while on the palate, it was pleasant, fruity and refreshing!
Mix Tapas Sampler
Baquerones en vinagre, Anchovies, and Pulpo a la Gallega
Starting off lunch was a mixed tapas sampler consisting of anchovies in vinegar, cured anchovies, and Galician style octopus, giving us a taste of the restaurant’s tapas menu.
Sopa de Mariscos
Traditional Spanish seafood soup loaded with a ton of fresh seafood and finished with a dash of Pernod to add some complexity to the broth. Briny and flavourful, safe to say there wasn’t any left after we were done with it!
Cava’s Famous Sangria
Red Original~ red wine, triple sec, orange juice, lime juice
White Original~ white wine, Black Label, apple juice, lime juice
Cava is well-known for their Sangrias and we have to agree! The red was more complex, with full-bodied flavours while the white was lighter and very refreshing, with a hint of smokiness from the Johnnie Walker Black Label.
Next up were some sharing platters which exemplified “The Spanish tradition of sharing food”…
Baked Spanish Suckling Lamb Leg
This succulent and tender piece of lamb leg is huge so be sure to share it! It was baked with rosemary, giving it a lovely herb taste, while having a lovely crust on the outside and tender meat underneath. This meat-lover’s dish takes a while to prepare so order it early, then enjoy some drinks or tapas while waiting for it to be cooked.
Slowed Braised Oxtail
Slow cooked for hours, the meat was so tender it didn’t take much to fall off the bone. Slow cooking it for hours also infused it with loads of flavour, when combined with the flavourful sauce, makes this an ideal dish to go with some house bread (order some to go along with this dish)!
Paella Arroz Negro
The final main was a signature Spanish dish – Squid ink paella with squid and prawns, garlic aioli. Incredibly delicious on its own, Cava added an extra dimension (mostly for us Malaysian diners who always love something spicy in a meal) in the form of cili padi pesto (in the little saucer on the top left) which really gave a kick!
Crème Catalana
Finally, a sweet and creamy end to the meal in the form of a creme Catalana which is the Spanish version of creme brulee. Luxuriously creamy with a hard sugar top, this dessert went brilliantly well with the fruity flavours of the Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc.
Group pic with Peter – one of the owners of Cava
Although it’s been around for years, Cava continues to dish out good Spanish food, adding the Spanish option to the various restaurants located at the row of shops along Jalan Bangkung in Bangsar, which continues to be synonymous with good food. We hope to visit Cava’s sister restaurants along Jalan Bangkung soon – Bobo KL, Leonardo’s, Lucky Bo and Opus Bistro.
Three (3) of our members namely our official photographer Andy Kho (who turned 40!), Spicy Sharon and Aerisk Ong had their birthdays in March and April thus we decided to organise a little gathering to celebrate and PLOY at Clearwater Damansara was the very gracious host for the event! PLOY means “gem” in Thai and the style of food at the establishment was modern Asian with some Thai + Japanese influence as well as some Asian + Western dishes and has everything from sushi, sashimi, pizza, pasta, burgers, and everything in between!
This outlet at Clearwater Damansara was the original outlet which was opened a couple of years ago and remains a favourite among the working crowd at Clearwater and neighbouring office buildings due to its good fare and reasonable pricing. There is also a newly opened branch at Publika, Kuala Lumpur.
Crispy Baby Squid
These were great especially if eaten with beer/ wine as the lovely savoury flavours made these incredibly addictive!
Ploy’s Pomelo Salad
Roasted Duck, Fresh Lime, Mint Leaf, Chili
A very refreshing salad with chunks of sweet pomelo on top. The mixture of tastes and textures in this dish made it a very appetising salad indeed!
Avocado Salad
Romaine, Radicchio, and iceberg lettuce with ginger dressing
The richness of the avocado was balanced out nicely by the ginger dressing which provided a little zing to this salad!
Popcorn Chicken Pizza
Crispy Chicken, Tobiko, Sweet Pineapple
Looked very weird but tasted pretty fine! This was a play on the classic Hawaiian pizza with tobiko adding some Japanese influence while the crispy popcorn chicken replaced the chicken chunks.
Spicy Salmon Pizza
Oyster Mushroom, Tobiko, Fresh Mint Leaf
This one was simply awesome and incredibly delicious! The mix of salmon and oyster mushroom together with the tobiko and mint leafs might sound rather odd but it worked perfectly! Try not to share this pizza among too many people or you’ll find yourself ordering another one.
Enter The Dragon (Sushi)
Deep Fried Jumbo Shrimp, Sliced Avocado, topped with Tobiko
Maki rolls are definitely a favourite item here.
Seared Salmon Nigiri
Fresh Salmon, sushi rice and sauce
Use the seaweed to hold the sushi and pop it into your mouth for an explosion of flavours!
Pour out the yolk from the shell onto the rice then mix it well!
Linguine Mentaiko
with nori, fresh cream
Everyone of us agreed that this was a really remarkable and tasty pasta dish! Simple yet delicious!
Durian Panacotta
PLOY only uses ‘Raja Kunyit’ durians in this durian dessert
Really really good! We really can’t eat normal panacotta anymore without comparing it to this one which actually had small pieces of durian inside and had a very strong durian flavour which we durian lovers desire in a durian dish.
Decadent Chocolate Fondant
served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Chocolate lava cake = a favourite among females any day!
Then it was time for the cake cutting!
The private room we were in was huge and had a sofa area which was great for photos!
If you’re looking for somewhere nice in the upmarket Damansara Heights that serves good fusion fare without breaking the bank, PLOY is certainly a viable option. We will definitely return for more of the spicy salmon pizza, seared salmon nigiri and linguine mentaiko! The private room is good for parties of around 10 pax and provides a very Insta-worthy backdrop!
PLOY DAMANSARA is located at:
G-02, Ground Floor, Work@Clearwater,
Changkat Semantan, off Jalan Semantan,
Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur.
Telephone: +603 2095 0999
Website: http://ploywithyourfood.com
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday
12.00pm – 3.00pm ;
6.00pm – 10.30pm
Saturday
6.00pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Sundays
Public Holidays
6.00pm – 11.00pm
Photo credits: Andy Kho Photography (www.andykho.com)
We decided to have an intimate gathering to celebrate our November babies’ birthdays which included Choo Mei Sze, Kelly Lee and our Managing Editor Tim Chew, and Ante in 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya very generously hosted us for a little dinner party.
Ante is a really popular addition to the host of food and beverage options at 1 Utama Shopping Centre as they bring modern Western style dining featuring a whole host of pork dishes. The outlet is tremendously popular among the Damansara/ Petaling Jaya folk, and is bustling during dinner and weekends.
Glenlivet were nice enough to sponsor some single malt whisky to go with the celebration
Loccitane too generously sponsored some products for not only the November babies but all the guests at our little dinner.
A platter serving for 2 -3 persons, it has smoked duck cubes, Iberico ham, Spanish white ham, olive oil infused rock melon served with ricotta cheese & thyme and toasted sourdough slices with French butter.
This dish is great for sharing over some drinks with the savoury flavours complementing beers or wines. Also great if you have not tasted these items before as it gives you a little taste of some of their signature items.
Pumpkin Veloute
Roasted pumpkin and herbs served with garlic toast
A very heartwarming soup which is rich in flavour and went perfectly with the crusty garlic toast.
House Smoked Bacon
3 slices of ANTE’s own house smoked bacon served with seeded mustard
This one is heaven for any bacon lover. The smoky flavours very evident while the meat was wonderfully flavourful. A must order dish at ANTE!
Jamon Iberico
A single portion of selected Iberico ham slices with extra virgin olive oil infused rock melons, garnished with ricotta cheese and thyme.
More Jamon Iberico ham for us as it was just so lovely! The savoury taste was nicely balanced out by the melons and cheese.
Miso Pork Belly
Succulent pork belly cubes served with Japanese miso based sauce and topped with a crispy herbed crust
When they say succulent they really mean it and it totally was just that! Beautiful and melt in the mouth with a depth of flavours coming from the miso and herbed crust. A must order dish for any pork lover.
And because it was so good we just had to share another photo of it!
Garden Duck Salad
A salad made of lettuce, grilled watermelon, smoked duck slices and pecans nuts dressed with tangy orange brandy reduction
Something slightly healthier so we wouldn’t feel so guilty about the meal. The smoked duck slices balanced out the taste of the greens while the orange brandy reduction balanced out the whole dish.
Char Grilled Pork Shoulder Steak
The shoulder cut with the best marbling of fat to dark meat ratio that gives a burst of flavor with each bit, served with creamy mashed potatoes, green salad & rosemary sauce.
The highlight of our dinner – the pork steaks!
A tender and flavourful cut of pork that went beautifully with the rosemary sauce.
Char grilled Pork Ribeye Steak
The rib eye cut that has the best of both worlds, offering lean white meat and dark meat. Served with roasted potatoes, green salad and truffle butter sauce.
The truffle butter sauce added a richness and fragrance to this steak, making it very appetising indeed!
Pork Diane
The striploin cut, served ala Diane style, which comprises of roasted potatoes, green pea mash and Diane sauce which is made from cream, brandy & mushrooms.
This was our favourite as it was just such a hearty dish! The sauce went with everything – the roasted potatoes, green pea mash and of course the striploin. Our recommendation? Ask for extra sauce as you won’t be able to get enough of it!
Char grilled Black Pepper Striploin
A striploin cut which is almost entirely lean meat cooked tender over a charcoal grill, served with an aromatic black pepper sauce, french fries & green salad.
This one comes with black pepper sauce which is a Malaysian favourite. Even though the cut was pretty lean, the meat was still juicy and tender while the fries were nice and crispy!
Charsiu Curry Cream Pasta
A spicy & creamy pairing of curry and char siu brings together a combination of spicy and sweet with a very soft and melt in your mouth char siu.
A terrible sinful yet amazingly delicious dish. However as it’s pretty rich you might want to share this one.
Carbonara
A white cream based pasta dish served using linguine pasta with bacon and parmesan cheese
Another very sinful pasta dish and as with the char sie pasta above, we recommend that you share this one as it’s pretty rich!
Valrhona Chocolate Delice
– ANTE’s signature dessert, a chocolate slice made from Valrhona Dark Chocolate, rich and smooth, it has a feuilletine base for a crispy bite and served with Earl Grey tea cream and fresh fruits
No girl can say no to this decadent rich dark chocolate dessert!
Apple Crumble
A comforting dessert with a crumbly top and base holding a warm sweet & tangy center of cooked apples. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and salted caramel syrup.
Crème brûlée
A smooth and silky vanilla custard served in a glass jar topped with a crunchy sugar coating of caramel torched ala minute
Our girls loved this one as it was creamy and elegantly served in a little jar.
Just look at that fabulous spread!Many thanks for hosting us ANTE!
We can see why ANTE is so popular with diners as their food is scrumptious while there are also good happy hour draught beer and bucket packages on offer making this an ideal choice for a family dinner, happy hours session, and casual dining.
银丝椰汁年糕
