To supplement your meal at Garibaldi, there is also a full bar and an excellent wine list at Garibar downstairs.

Our degustation menu of the day was carefully crafted by Chef Giuliano Berta.

Bread Sticks

Freshly Baked Foccacia – I love the buttery/salty crust with a soft, chewy crumb!

We started our meal with Ostrica, Irish Oyster with Poached Quail Egg & Caviar. Plump, juicy and briny; the freshness of the oysters were further enhanced by runny egg yolk. I also like the luxurious addition of caviar on top!

Cappasanta, Sea Scallop with Saffron Crispy Cauliflower and Tarragon Saucet.  Coated in a sweet and slightly zesty sauce; these big and succulent scallops were really good.

Vitello Tonnato, Italian Cold Cuts Veal in Traditional Piedmont Recipe with Tuna and Caper’s Creamy Sauce. The cold cuts have a milld taste, with slightly grainy texture. The capers creamy sauce is one of the tastiest ways to do up a nice mild cut like this.

Brodo Ristretto, Clarified Beef Broth with Egg Yolk and Truffle Bigne. Clarified with egg white; the beef broth was delightfully delicious. Some of us stirred up the egg yolk together with the beef broth while some preferred to have it separately.

Fagottino, Black Ink Squid Ravioli with Crab Meat and Sweet Dried Tomato on Potato Emulsion. The black ravioli was certainly an eye catcher! Generously filled with crab meat, the ravioli was impressive in both taste and presentation department.

Orata, Pan Seared Line Catch Sea Bream Fillet with Apple Black Rice Puree and Whitebait Omelette. This is probably my favorite way to eat sea bream. The delicate sweet flesh contrasts nicely with the crunchy skin. The slightly tangy apple black rice puree helps to reduce some ‘jelakness’ as we were going into our last course.

Agnello, the Roasted Tobacco Smoked Lamb Rack with Purple Potatoes, Celeriac Mash and Berries Sauce. I love my rack of lamb the way it is; it was a particularly tasty version.

Meringata, the Crispy Italian Meringue with Chocolate Chip Parfait & Dark Cherry. It was so airy, sweet and crispy that they seem to almost melt in my mouth the moment I put them in!

Sorbetti – Raspberry & Passion Fruit

Petit Four

Meet the affable Chef Giuliano Berta who has more than 10 years of experience in fine Italian cuisine.

Garibaldi is still the indisputable champion of Italian cuisine in Kuala Lumpur. However, pricing could be on the higher side. It’s degustation menu changes from time to time and is priced at RM250++ per person. Thanks Sonia, for the kind invite!

Garibaldi Italian Restaurant and Bar
Lot. 10 & G22, Bangsar Village
Jalan Telawi 1
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
03-2282 3456/57

means

(1) coming from or relating to Australia or New Zealand

(2) Ancient Greek: anti “opposed” pous “foot” opposite points on the globe.

Antipodean is a kiwi style cafe that has taken the city by storm.Serving good coffee and delicious breakfast spread, this little premise is packed to the brim almost every morning. Expect to see expats with kids and/or their pets in tow, as this place is extremely child/animal friendly. Hence securing a table can be a difficult matter, so it is better to come in a group of 2-4 as they have only 2 tables which catered to a bigger group.

Antipodean Cafe carries an Aussie vibe – filled with lifting coffee aroma, cramped but cozy interior and buzzing with activities.

Antipodean Cafe has got their menu all scribbled on the chalk board that spans across the wall. How I wish they have a hand out menu because I have to keep turning my head around to study it carefully.

sweet pastries on display

freshly baked cookies on display

Flat White – RM 8

Uses quality coffee beans roasted by Indonesia’s top specialty roaster, Merdeka Coffee; one can be assured of a good cuppa over here. My coffee packed a punch with its pungent coffee aroma.

Iced Mochachino – RM10

Cappuccino -RM8

Cafe Latte- RM8

Croissant Scrambled eggs with bacon – RM18

Snuggled up neatly inside the croissant was scrambled eggs (done right) and rocket. Every forkful of the trio combination revealed a pleasant taste and texture.

Smoked Salmon Omelette – RM20

Brimming with luscious smoked salmon, this sumptious and decently portioned omelette is a perfect brunch dish.

All Day Breakfast – RM18
Toast, choice of bacon, chicken, beef or pork sausages, baked beans, scrambled eggs & grilled tomatoes

Big Breakfast – RM18
Toast, choice of bacon, chicken, beef or pork sausages, mushrooms, hash brown & scrambled eggs.

Must order! It is a hearty and wholesome breakfast whereby servings are considered as quite generous even for a guy. The pork bacon/sausage stood out amongst the other for the smokey flavour and perfect texture. The scrambled eggs were so moist, with a nice buttery whiff. I also love the home made hash brown which packed a punch. It is a very substantial dish so I always share  a big breakfast + an side order of pork bacon together with a girl friend.

Pumpkin and Sweet Corn Fritter with Bacon (RM 18)

Somehow, I really like the corn fritters here (which I tried on separate occassion) too.  Soft in the middle and slightly crispy on the edge, every forkful reveals a generous amount of corns.

Kiwi Style Lamb Burger (RM 25). I tried this when I drop by for dinner one day. The patty was so juicy and flavourful but not too overpowering.

It is also a great place to satisfy a birthday girls’s big breakfast cravings. Happy Birthday to our dearest Christine and thanks to Ivy for the chocolate crumble cake.

All in all, Antipodean Cafe has all the makings of a great breakfast joint – great quality coffee and consistently good food. Breakfast is also served all day, so one can actually drop by for dinner to avoid the breakfast crowd. We have seen ourselves going back again and again over the weekends too – our favourite brunch place to date!

Antipodean Cafe
20, Jalan Telawi 2,
Bangsar, KL
Tel: 03-22820411
Open 8am- 10pm on all days

Credits to Chris for most of these awesome photos!

It is a stunning space with a sleek, luxurious interior design. I especially like the soaring high floor-to-ceiling glass windows where one is able to gain a wonderful view of the city.

Warm Asparagus Salad with Duck Prosciutto, Poached Quail Egg & Hollandaise (RM 24++ ala carte)

The duck prosciutto was flavorful and with a definite “chew factor” there. Prosciutto was salty; and the chef has cleverly paired it with asparagus. It was a great combination all in all.

Creamed Brusselss Sprout Soup with Handmade Turkey Meatballs (RM 24++ ala carte)

I normally won’t go near brussel sprout but this one was so creamy and delicious! The chef has also added some Christmas touches to the soup – turkey meatballs! They were tender, juicy and irresistible.

Oven Baked Sliced Turkey with Yam Croquette, Chicken Sausages, Edamame Bean and Caramelised Cranberry (RM 42++).

Slow roasted to perfection, these savory slices of turkey makes a great main meal for Christmas. The portion was really substantial too, with a generous serving of sides such as yam croquette, sausages, edamame bean and cranberries.

Chrissy Pudding Drizzled with Vanilla Reduction, Blueberries, White Chocolate Foam and Crumbles (RM 18++ ala carte)

Flavored with a hint of spices, the chrissy pudding was so moist, but not overly dense- just perfect.

Banana Bread Pudding with Chocolate Foam, Lemongrass Ginger Custard and Caramelised Cranberry (RM 18++ ala carte)

From left: Virgin Mojito, Popcorn Martini and Pure Blonde.

Twenty One is also running a 1 for 1 happy hour promotion for all their loose drinks. Promotion is valid daily from 5pm till 8pm.

Twenty One Tables + Terraces
T1 Level 3, Bangsar Shopping Centre
285 Jalan Maarof,
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-22870021

This cafeteria-like eatery is stunning in every way. The space is simple and clean, with long communal tables, metal chair and vintage(y) milk cartons that remind me of my old school days.

Pizza is No. 1 word search in Google? Is it? Look up and you can see puns, and witty quotes adorning the chalk boards.

Apple Crumble recipe for your perusal

B.I.G Lasagna (RM 18.90). It was huge indeed, with cheese and minced meat layered between lasagna cheese and drenched with a delicious pasta sauce. What an ultimate comfort food.

Every order of hot deli item comes with a side of salad. We chose the pineapple and codfish salad, but it was really bland

Salami Pizza (RM 19.90). It was great. The tomato sauce is neither too sweet nor acidic, the salami has a decent kick and the mozarella is served in a generous manner.

We were stuffed to the brim, but could not resist having something sweet. The carrot cake (RM 9.90) was dry and crumbly, which was disappointing.

There were hits & misses from the menu but Ben’s General Food Store is such a charming price that serves up simple, hearty fare with a decent price tag.

Bangsar Village I,
G17 & G18, Ground Floor,
No 1, Jalan Telawi Satu Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2284 8790
Website: http://www.thebiggroup.co/

Opening times: Open daily, 10.30am-10.30pm

The passion fruit hazelnut cake (RM 12) was nothing to shout about. We had a mediocre chocolate peanut butter cake before this too. So stick to our advice and skip the dessert.

Despite the limited dessert selection, I didn’t regret coming by for a dinner fix, for the service is fabulous and the ambiance of this place is lovely.

F Concept Dining by Buffalo Kitchens,
69-1, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru.
Tel: 2201-1710
Opening times: Open daily, 12noon-12midnight
Located above Chawan and opposite Bangsar Village.

Seafood Antipasti Platter – baked scallops and prawns, fresh clams in white wine sauce and mussels in arabiatta sauce. Tempt your taste buds with these exotic flavours from the sea. I simple adore the fresh clams in white wine sauce; the sauce was so divine that I mopped up every last drop with the complementary bread!

Spaghetti alla Opus is “the dish that made us famous”, according to Opus Bistro. Brimmed with seafood favourites like prawns, squids, clams and mussels that impart a mild briny flavour of the sea to the sauce, it was an instant hit among us. The flavour was further accentuated by the finishing touch of fresh herbs.

Spinach Ravioli with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce – Paired with a creamy and mildly piquant gorgonzola sauce, this classic Italian home-made pasta dish makes a delicious vegetarian meal.

Linguini aglio olio with smoked duck – The smoke duck was very tender and the intense, smokey flavor goes very well with the plain aglio olio.

Grilled Lamb Cutlet with Red Wine Sauce – I had to give this a pass for having too much mutton with gamey taste in China last week. However, according to KY, it was all good!

Opus Famous Roasted Cod with choice of White Wine Sauce or Lemon Caper Sauce. It is an all time favourite dish of Opus Bistro’s regular. Impeccably fresh and juicy, the cod fish was a flaky perfection! The sauce was refreshing, accentuating the natural flavour of the lightly seared cod.

Bristot Coffee is something for the ultimate coffee pleasure.

We had Chef’s Special Tiramisu to end our meal on a sweet note. The mascarpone cream was right on – not too sweet, rich, creamy. The lady fingers were soaked perfectly and the coffee liquor kick was strong enough.

Remember to save some room for the Chocolate Desire the next time you are here.

One must crack through the chocolate molten cake to witness the hot lava slips down its gooey value. Then dig in and enjoy the juxtaposition of hot lava against cold ice cream in your mouth.

Our revisit has reaffirm the fact that Opus Bistro has got indisputable food quality, just like its reputable sister outlets at Jalan Bangkung. Though ‘glam’ dining as such is not light on the pocket (for us lar), but the food quality more than makes up for it.

Word spreads just as fast as bush fire because Plan B looks like it’s crowded ALL the time, at least in peak hour. Well, what’s not to like about Plan B?

It is an experience to simply browse through the extensive selection of pastries and breads displayed at the island and savoring the beautiful delicacies inside the glass dome cake stand. Tempting customers by the front door is a large glass display of jewel-like displays of mouth watering desserts.

simple menu with dog clips

The furniture and decor had a sort of vintage industrial feel to it. We spotted some old school black round electrical sockets, chandeliers made of steel pipe, and the wall mounted TVs were playing black and white P Ramlee movies.

Watermelon Lychee & Lychee Lime (RM 8 each). These drinks reminds me very much of my favorite thirst quenchers from Delicious Cafe.

Moroccan Lamb Meatballs with Spaghetti (RM 19) in smoky eggplant and tomato sauce. The meatballs were amazingly juicy and delicious, and the pastas were well coated in a delightful tangy tomato pasta sauce. What a tantalizing combination!

Spicy Crabmeat Linguine (RM 19). There’s a lot of briny and sweet crab in our simple pasta dish. The clever use of kaffir lime and lemongrass gives it a subtle yet crisp citrus taste. And the flavor of the spicy prawn oil is very pleasant.

Duck Confit Ciabatta (RM 24) with caramelised onions, radicchio, watercress & toasted walnuts. It was another main course that we thoroughly enjoy but the chef is a little too stingy on the duck confit.

We had such a hard time picking a dessert, everything look so good! We settled with a Chocolate Fudge Cake (RM 10) but it was a bad choice! Imagine sweet fudge on top of a very sweet cake, it was just too sweet. And the inside of the cake was stale.

Macadamia Caramel Cheese Cake (RM 13). Light, creamy and nutty, the cheesecake was a crowd winner. However, I find the price a little too steep for its dainty size.

CL, LP & me. My hot friends (on the left) are both single and available!

Plan B is brought to you by the ex owner of Delicious Group, who is currently running the BIG group, who also owns Canoodling and For Goodness Sake. They seems to have the winning recipe in running a F&B business. I love the food, the concept and the ambiance that Plan B creates. However, I hope that the management can do something to improve the quality of the restaurant service. Service was painfully slow, and we had to continuously ask for water, cutlery and menu.

Plan B
Gr Floor, Bangsar Village I.
Opens from morning to 10pm.

I have always had a soft spot for family-run establishments, and as I stepped into the restaurant, I already felt comfortable. The cafe was clean, bright and airy with cute crafts and trinkets everywhere.

The menu may be very limited at the moment, but the cafe serves up a bounty of simple, home-cooked Japanese fare at a very reasonable pricing.

Green Tea (RM 2).

Homemade Chicken Roll (RM 11.80)

Marinated Wakame with Inari and Sesame Seed (RM 3)

Omelette Rice with Curry (RM 11.80)

Miso Udon Noodles with Prawn Tempura

Chicken Katsu Chop and Rice with Curry (RM 14.80)

Miso Soba Noodles with Egg

Tofu Cheese Cake

KampungBoy gave his nod of approval. Like (most) everyone else reviewing, what’s not to love about Poco Homemade?

Poco Homemade
1 Lorong Kurau, Bangsar, KL.
Map on website.
Tel: 03-2287 5688
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays. 12pm to 9.30pm. (Closed Mondays)

I’m glad that we have smokehouse here in KL; a cozy restaurant that exudes old English charm. The Smokehouse has came a long way. They started out in Cameron Highlands as Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant and followed by the Ye Olde Smokehouse in Fraser’s Hill. In 1992, The Smokehouse made its debut in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng and last year Datuk Woo decided to relocate it to Bangsar.

Other than traditional English grubs such as beef wellington and yorkshire puddings, the Smokehouse in Bangsar takes pride in their extensive Thai menu. Our first thought was “Thai food in such a beautiful English setting?” but breathed a collective sigh of relief when we found out that their Thai chefs were previously with Rama V. That would give us some quality assurance.

The interior of Smokehouse screams beautiful taste.

Antique audio player, antique mirrors, antique silver,  fancy pottery, glassware, fireplaces and old pictures are to be discovered in every corner of the premise.

I can just sit here all day, sipping tea and reading a book provided that the fireplace is not lit up (it’s 30 degree Celsius out there!).

Let’s go to the food part, shall we? The restaurant manager, Dennis recommended Mieng Kam (RM15) to whet our appetite before the mains . The parcels were beautifully presented in shooter glasses. We added a bit of sauce on top, ate it on one bite and let the taste explode in our mouths.

Grilled Mushrooms with White Wine Sauce – RM15. The mushrooms were made extra flavorful with a little white wine and crushed garlic bits.

Chor Ladda – RM15. The blue colored flower shaped dumplings were beautifully presented. I loved the sweet-savory taste of the minced chicken and peanut filling but the skin was too thick for my liking.

Poo Nim Tod – RM18. The crispy soft shell crabs were deep fried to perfection. One bite into these crispy soft shell crabs relinquishes a subtly sweet taste and slightly soft centre.

We also had some some highly refreshing Hoegaarden for a hot, sticky afternoon.

“I can haz this beer”

One of our main courses were the Roast Lamb Shank (RM32). It was incredibly flavorful, succulent and fork-tender.

Beef Wellington – RM48. It requires a tedious preparation as the beef tenderloin were coated with pâté and duxelles, which is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked. It is a very special dish on its own but I thought the beef was lacked of flavor and texture.

Roast Sirloin of Steak with Yorkshire Pudding – RM38. Yorkshire Pudding is just so English!! It was light and airy, and the bottom was nice and crispy. The roast sirloin of steak too, was perfectly moist, tender and delicious.

The Chicken & Mushroom Pie (RM28) was one of the crowd’s favorite. The pie filling was so creamy and tasty while the pie crust stayed flaky and crisp. The chef has done his marvel by turning a simple pie into such a beautiful dish.

Signature Thai style Fried Rice.This delicious Thai fried rice features baby shrimp, shredded egg and bits of chicken as well as some healthy greens. Mix everything together, give it a good stir and enjoy the delicious fried rice.

Grilled Cod Fish – RM38. This delicious grilled cod was tender and buttery while the skin came out crackly crisp. Absolutely divine!

a long table feast!

Smokehouse’s version of Mango with Sticky Rice is top notch! The mango had a firm, velvety flesh and oozing with juice. The sticky rice had a creamy texture around a chewy center and the sesame seed gave it a delicate, aromatic flavor.

Bombe Alaska (RM28) is an intriguing dessert. The waiter splashed a generous amount of dark rum over the meringue layer of Baked Alaska with ice cream and sponge cake inside. Lights are then turned down and the whole dessert is flambeed while being served. It was deliciously light, not overly sweet and a perfect finish to be meal.

How could we missed out Smokehouse’s signature afternoon tea set, a three-tiered platter of exquisitely prepared sandwiches, scones and delicate pastries? The scones were light, flavorful and made from real butter. These were amazing! Seriously, the best scones. Try one.

While there are some misses (and more hits!) in the food that we had, I would still recommend this restaurant to any body who wish to have good food at good prices. Smokehouse is a great place to enlighten your taste buds with traditional British food and desserts, as well as some delectable Thai cuisine.

The Smokehouse
67, Jalan Telawi 3,
Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603 2288 1510
Business hours:
Weekdays -11am to 12am
Weekends – 11am to 2am
(located next to Chawan & Madam Kwan’s)

Grand Imperial is one of my favourite dim sum place in KL; you’ll see us stuffing ourselves silly with dim sum when the pay cheque’s out. During days when moolah runs low, we’ll resort to our favourite neighbourhood dim sum restaurant Jin Xuan.

My colleagues have raved about the food, and one of them chose to have his wedding reception here! We took their words for it and dropped by one morning. There was no turning back ever since. Usually we are here early to enjoy a quiet morning sipping Chinese tea and reading newspaper, just before the crazy crowd, otherwise known as the lunch crowd, comes in.

Lotus Root with Fish Paste. We were all enticed by the name so I put a big tick on the order sheet. I love the crunchy texture of the lotus root. The fish paste was really smooth and springy too.

The gun tong gao 灌汤饺 (RM12) is probably one of the most expensive dim sum item in the menu but it was worth every single cents. The huge dumpling was filled with a generous amount of pork meat, shark fin stripes and dried scallops. The soup was so clear and so sweet that it’s almost like a sin if you can’t finish em’ all.

Xiao Long Bao 小龙包. The broth within was sweet and flavorful but the skin was too thick for my liking.

Not to be missed is the fame Century Egg and Shredded Pork Porridge. The congee has a viscous and velvety smooth texture and it was neither too thick nor watery. Even KampungBoy who hates congee gave his two thumbs up, another exception being Mui Kee from Hong Kong.

Stir Fried Raddish Cake with XO Sauce.  Delightfully flavourful but not too oily.

you get what you tick

The grand entrance of Grand Imperial

A meal for two will usually cost RM50 – RM70 but I’m not complaining seeing that the dim sums were made to order and things are less chaotic here, i.e. no table hogging and no fighting for dim sums from the pushing carts.

T5, 3rd Floor, East Wing,
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Tel: 03-2283 1118

Lot No 2.171, 2nd Floor,
The 19 USJ City Mall,
Jalan Persiaran Kewajipan, USJ19,
47620 Subang Jaya
Tel: 03 80248777

Lot F33-F35, First Floor,
Hartamas Shopping Centre,
No. 60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1,
Sri Hartamas, 50480 KL
Tel: 03-6201 3777

Alexis Bistro & Wine Bar, a place that has been blogged to death. Beautiful cakes, extensive wine list, jazz performances; there isn’t any reason to hate Alexis though. I just realized that I have not written anything about this uber cool place despite having numerous tea sessions here.

Thanks to MAS, we had a great buka puasa session one week before Hari Raya with the presence of Red Mummy and Iza. Red Mummy is cute and bubbly as usual, in contrast to Iza’s usual quiet self. :p

Besides desserts, some old flavors such as Sarawak Laksa, Mee Siam and Chicken Rice are really good. Same goes to Jon’s hearty Nasi Campur that comes with almost everything.

Roasted Lamb Cutlet with Couscous. As for the cutlets themselves, the meat was juicy and delicious but the cutlets were quite fatty with limited meat. And what happened to the serving size? For RM 68++, we are getting only two small and pathetic looking lamb cutlets.

KampungBoy’s Wagyu Beef Cheek (RM 58++) was fantastic! Slowly braised for long hours, it melted like butter on the tongue with the soft gelatinous layers of fat sliding down.

How could we missed the infamous tiramisu with cognac (RM 15++) ? Coated with a layer of caramelized mixed nuts, it provides a contrasting texture to the soft inner layer of sponge cake infused with coffee liquer. Such a perfect ending to our meal. On a separate note, does SuChan still provide Tiramisu to Alexis? Just curious

Alexis Bistro & Wine Bar
Lot f209 1st Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Lingkaran Syed Putra
59200 Kuala Lumpur
T +603 2287 2281

Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant, a stunning and lavish seafood restaurant that has been one of the number one stops in the city for over a decade for gourmet food lovers. Thanks to Jade for inviting us, Ivy and Vkeong over for a night filled with food and laughter.

If you’re looking for a great ambiance while digging in for food, you couldn’t do any better than BSGR. The restaurant comprises a high-ceiling floor with serene water features that create an unique dining experience.

One of the highlight in BSGR is the elegant dining table with transparent glass top placed next to the water feature.

With a beautiful backyard garden, it is the perfect place to held a wedding party or private function.

Loh Han Vegetables (Large) RM40. We started with loh han vegetables;  the vegetables were  crisp, refreshing and light, and wolf berries and red dates were added to enhance the sweetness of the dish.

Fresh Water Prawns with Special Sauce (RM135/kg). Coated in a sweet and sour special sauce with chips, the sweet and succulent meat gave a bursty and bouncy bite. We also devoured this in a jiffy, nevertheless.

Wok Fried Rice with Pumpkin Cubes (Large) RM40. The rice was fragrant and fluffy, together with the sweetness from the pumpkin cubes, it brings you a “little taste of heaven” in every bite.

Baked Cod Fish with Oats (RM130/kg). This is such a nice way to serve cod fish! The creamy sauce sprinkled with bits of crunchy oats were especially appetizing.

We were lucky enough to try two of BSGR’s crab dishes that have received plenty of accolades. First,  the infamous Butter Crab was presented upon us ( RM53-60/kg).

The crabbies were evenly coated in the liberal thick sauce, with a slight hint of spiciness from curry leaves and cili padi. The accompanying fried mantao is great to mop off all the creamy thick butter sauce. It is simply out of the world!

Salted Egg Yolk Crab. I have to say that BSGR’s  salted egg yolk crab is the best one around. The crabs were laden with lots of gritty salted egg yolk and we like the fact that the dish itself is “dry”, unlike the watery version that is common in other restaurants.

Fried bun/Steamed bun (12 pcs RM6)

Chilled Honey Dew with Avocado and Aloe Vera. The unique dessert was fantastically refreshing and light. Do bear in mind that the dessert is prepared upon special request; so remember to call beforehand to make a reservation.

While BSGR isn’t ideal for those on a budget, it is a great choice if you are looking to splurge a little on a comfortable environment with a great selection of seafood fresh from the tank. You can even make your reservation online at BSGR website, there are set menus and ala carte menus for you to refer to.

Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant
One Bangsar,
No 63, Jalan Ara,
Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: +6 03 2282 2555, Fax: +6 03 2284 4827
Email: customercare@bangarseafood.com
(Lunch: 12:00pm – 2:30pm)
(Dinner: 6:00pm – 10:30pm)

Awareness towards healthy eating is growing and I often find myself torn – to be a granola-eating idealist or of just screw it, eat everything? As time goes by, I do realize that the same old universally applicable principles of variety, moderation and balance still work no matter what. So, here I am, alternating from one to another and most importantly, enjoy my food!

However, KampungBoy is very skeptical towards anything “healthy” or “organic”. He can’t stop rolling his eyes inwardly when I suggested lunch at Yogitree. Sigh, men and their carnivorous gluttony.

Tucked at a corner near to Isetan’s departmental store, Yogitree has never failed to caught my eyes. Mismatched furniture in a uniform color tone, chalk blackboard with specials written all over it, gorgeous cake showcase – these items blend in with the entire restaurant’s soothing atmosphere.

Yogitree emphasize on going back to basic cooking and the use of fresh, natural and largely organic ingredients. They also boast daily blackboard specials that will make your mouth water! On another side of the restaurant, there is this yoga specialty shop where yoga fanatics can find themselves busy picking and buying attires and equipments over here.

I spotted some other interesting items with Asian flavors such as hainanese chicken rice (with brown rice and organic chicken, can you imagine?) and nasi lemak where most the expats around us were having. It does make an excuse for a revisit, no?

Here’s some fruit juices to start our day! Simple and unpretentious, the fresh watermelon juice has a clean fresh taste to it.

Here comes the Full English Breakfast (RM 25) that comes with bacon, chicken sausage, organic eggs, organic home made baked beans, mushrooms, toast, fresh juice, coffee or tea. The portion isn’t exactly big, but just nice for a satisfying brunch. I thought the home made chicken sausage is so tasty and would be a great deal less fat than regular sausages. Compared to canned baked beans, our home made baked beans are considerably tangier and the beans are firm. Those baked beans were cooked from scratch and it sounds so intimidating to us (given up hopes to replicate it at home!)

KampungBoy secretly loves it because he stops offering me his food after I took a small bite on everything.

Quiche Lorraine with Bacon (RM 15). Even if it is ridiculously expensive at such small serving portion, I love it to every bit. It was creamy, rich and flavorful with tiny strips of bacons here and there.

Famous for their desserts that use real butter and organic flour, you definitely want to leave room for that wonderful homemade cakes/pies – churned right there! Our Pure Chocolate Truffle Torte (RM 12) is excellent, dense and moist but not cloyingly sweet. KampungBoy ended up having more of it than me!

Cute lil Girl – not for sales

All in all, Yogitree is a very charming, relaxing restaurant with excellent food so go with an empty stomach because you will leave with you belt open. It has totally changed KampungBoy’s perception towards healthy eating too. Healthy food can be as mouthwatering as creamy pasta or a sumptuous pork burger if it is done the right way.

The Yogitree
F-237B, Level 1,
The Gardens, Midvalley City,
Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 03-2282 6213 | Opening Hours: 10 am –10 pm daily

To celebrate a friend’s birthday, we decided to splurge on some hearty Chinese food. The choice is rather obvious because we chose to meet at Mid Valley, which house the two of the outlets from Crystal Jade Restaurant chain in Malaysia – Amuleto & Crystal Jade Restaurant. Crystal Jade has been expanding. Other than the existing outlets – Crystal Jade Lai Mian at Lot 10 and C-Jade Express in Mid Valley Megamall, we now have Crystal Jade Kitchen & C Jade Meal 3 at Pavilion too.

Each restaurant carries different concept and serves different kind of food. Crystal Jade Restaurant at the Gardens is beautiful and swanky where one will be immediately be struck by the impressive interior upon entry – fitted with wood paneled walls, red velvet chairs, and rows of red terracotta warriors displayed low-key music in the background.

Since the restaurant is fully seated by the time we arrived, the seven of us were led into one of their private dining room with magnificent view overlooking mid valley city.

Feeling rather famished and greedy, we ordered two dinner sets for four. The serving portion is just nice for us to taste a little bit of everything.

Special Four Person Set Meal (RM 208.00)

Roasted Pi Pa Duck in Hot Plate – It is called Pipa Duck because of the resemblance of the butterfly cut to a pipa (Chinese music instrument). The skin is crispy and the meat is very tender and juicy, only to be spoiled by the overly salty gravy.

Double Boiled Watercress Soup – Slow cooked for hours, the hearty watercress soup makes a great tummy warmer.

Three Cup Chicken – Served in a piping hot stone bowl, it is very aromatic, with abundant amount of Thai basil and ginger. The gravy (made of soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil, 1 cup each) is great to be eaten with rice.

Deep Fried Prawn with Butter and Cereal – The shells of the prawn can be eaten as it’s fried to crisp! The prawns were fresh, firm to the bite and sweet, which was well-complemented by slight sweetness of the cereal.

Steamed Egg Plant with Shrimp – A simple dish as such as done perfectly. The delicate and silky egg plant has soaked up the delicious gravy, and the flavor permeate the dish.

Fried Rice in Assorted Grain in Hot Stone – The fried rice is lack of a hint of wok hei to make it tasty. The guys, who were skeptical towards anything organic, do not enjoy the assorted grain.

Almond Cream – The Chinese almond dessert is smooth and milky, giving a perfect ending to our meal.  

Premium Four Person Set Meal (RM 318.00)

Crystal Jade Roasted Duck – The roasted duck is nothing to shout about with its not so crispy skin and lean meat.

Braised Sharkfin with Seafood and Bamboo Pith – it was flavourful and rich, with spot on taste. Bamboo pith provided the crunch in this sweetish-savoury soup.

Pan Fried Stuffed Vegetables in Hot Stone – Most of the stuffing were very generous and it was quite a delight eating the fresh and bouncy fish paste by itself.

Steamed Soon Hock in Preserved Vegetables – Fresh from the tank, the meat is lean and moist with a mild flavor. The topping of preserved vegetable make it promisingly delicious.

Braised Seasonal Vegetables with Assorted Mushroom and Shrimp Roe – The vegetables are cooked just nice with a nice crunch, while the assorted mushroom and shrimp roe make the dish “glam”.

Birthday Noodles – A symbol of longevity in Chinese culture, it is a must for us to order the birthday noodles for the birthday boy. The noodles are awful though, mushy in texture and bland in taste.

Chinese Herbal Jelly with Mango & Pamelo – The jelly has a mild herbal taste but thank god that the mango puree and pamelo are added to make it palatable.

The Auditors

Happy Birthday to Jeff! Wishing you all the best on your future undertakings!

The total bill comes close to RM 600++. With most of the food is tasty (but not earth-shattering) and excellent services, this is a great place to take guests, visitors or a date, or just a fine restaurant to choose when you have a craving for Chinese food. Just be ready to spend a fortune!

Crystal Jade Restaurant
Lot T 210
3rd Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Kuala Lumpur
Tel No: 03 – 2283 3129
(Non Halal)

There is no better time for us to titillate taste buds than by touring the various bazaars Ramadan over the country this weekend. So, here we go again, another long pictorial post on the wide array of mouth watering local delicacies available at bazaar Ramadan Bangsar (infront of the mosque and aneka selera Bangsar). This time around, we arrived at the bazaar as early as 4pm to avoid the crowds and queues.

Again, we would love to feature few of the famous stalls here. The first one would be the Portuguese style seafood that Boolicious has featured in her Ramadan post before. Selling at RM 5 per serving, the stir fry squid is very good; the fiery red gravy added a spicy aroma to this dish.

An enticing stall – Raja Murtabak with nothing but murtabaks in sight can be found as you walk along the bazaar. One can choose from biasa (RM2.50), special (RM5.00) or raja (double the size, with extra minced meat and cheese – RM 10.00).

Towards the end of the bazaar is an Indian Rojak stalls managed by a bunch of friendly chatty guys. Assorted fried stuffs are spread across the long table for customers to pick and the guys will cut it into smaller slices. Sometimes, freebies (courtesy of the boss) are thrown into your basket without you realizing.  The fried stuff that we bought came with a big packet of rojak sauce with cucumbers and onions.

The jumbo size prawn fritters are out of the world delicious!  It is selling at only RM 1.50.

This Kelantanese stall has a good scene of folks in the mission. Judging by the number of customers who queue under the hot sun just for a taste of it, we kiasuly bought a packet of nasi dagang and nasi kerabu. To my surprise, the nasi dagang is as good as the one from Kampung Ladang. The rice, steamed together with coconut milk is aromatic, pairs perfectly with the tuna gulai darat.

The first sight that greeted us – Ayam Percik stall.

Sarawak Café came out with something new, rojala – a hybrid of roti jala and murtabak. If you were to ask the verdict, it was too bland for our liking.

Thirst Quenchers Anyone?

There’s quite a number of Ikan Bakar Portugis stall around but our favourite remains as the previous stall with stir fry squid.

Stir Fry Kerang

Kueh Jongkong

Savory Kueh with Chicken and Chili.

Kuih Bakar

Towards the end of the bazaar is the nasi lemak kukus stall that sells piping hot nasi lemak with various dishes.

 Chocolate Cake (RM 2 per slice)

 Have a good weekend everyone!