KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Benjaming Yong has done it again, Ben’s General Food Store being his latest venture replicating the success of For Goodness Sake, Ben’s, Canoodling, Plan B & T Forty Two.

Occupying almost one third of the menu, Ben’s General Food Store specializes in both sweet and savoury wood-fire pizzas. The simple one page menu also features salads, hot deli item and some dessert selection.

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Gourmands celebrate the opening of Samplings on the Fourteen in Berjaya Time Square Hotel six months back. It wasn’t until recently that we finally stepped into the restaurant upon Siew Yee’s gracious invitation.

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KL is to welcome a new member to its dining scene with Upper Deck, a chic restaurant and bar in G Tower Hotel that is barely one month old.

Commanding unparalleled views of Kuala Lumpur’s famous skyline, the restaurant emulates the elegance and simplicity one experienced in a dining room with its sleek wooden floor, floor-to-ceiling large windows and simple yet stylish furnishings.

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F is a big, bad word, some says. So much so that mentioning the “F-Words” is enough to cause a person to be looked at with suspicion, disbelief, and disgust. However F means fun-filled food at this little dining gem located above the ever bustling Chawan on the corner of Jalan Telawi 3.

Don’t let their obscure location or quiet weekday ambiance fool you because the aesthetically decorated restaurant has a charm and aura of its own.

First, we were first fascinated by the steps leading up to the restaurant which were chalked with various “F-Words”.

Then we push through the door to be greeted by an open kitchen with Buffalo brand pots and pans hanging on top.

There’s a sophisticated cheeriness about the in door dining area, with its polished floors and light-wood dining tables.

We were seated at the “library area”, an intimate corner donned by books and magazines.

F Concept has expansive outdoor seating, making the area good for people watching too!

The sleek and functional bar, where all the action is (when nigh falls), with flair bartenders, flaming cocktails and a killer menu.

The menu, like the restaurant, is compact, but that doesn’t make it any easier to decide what to order.

Kampungboy is contemplating a spring roasted chicken, a thick chunk of grilled beef or just a simple pasta dish.

gotta love free water!

The wait staff brought out a warm, fluffy basket of bread after we placed our order.

2 Way Crab (RM 18) – Fresh herbs, fish sauce, and chili sauce are combined with crab meat to create this Asian-inspired crab cakes that is bursting with flavor. The soft shell crab, on the other hand was crispy, juicy and non oily. My only complaint here was the meager portion size.

Potato Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce (RM 25) – The gnocchi were not too soft, not too chewy, almost creamy in texture. Paired with a tangy tomato sauce, it was heavenly made! Who could ask for more at the end of a hard day?

Our main course sea bass, had been equally impressive. Perfectly cooked, spiced, and sauced with a beautiful presentation and over the top delicious!

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.

Private Kitchen, Speakeasy, Underground Dining, Home Cafe……Call it whatever you like, because these terms generally refer to a restaurant-like setting tucked away in some neighborhood housing area or apartments. Reservation is almost mandatory due to limited seating capacity. Advertising is usually by word of mouth; coming from friends and families who have been largely impressed by the food quality. And in most of the time, the chef will decide what to cook for you, based on the best of the market for that day.

That’s a really intriguing idea. And it is already taking place around the world especially in HK, where rentals are exorbitantly priced. Restaurateurs found a new way to market for their food. And here in Malaysia, private kitchen is something that I’ve never known of until my colleague introduces me to Huck’s Cafe, a home cafe located in a beautifully crafted two-storey corner lot at Jalan Gasing.

The house is beautifully converted to a cafe like setting, with beautiful garden and Balinese theme man made pond.
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After hearing SO MUCH of good things about Sage, TWO failed attempts in securing a table for two, and getting rejected for walk-in ONCE, we were here finally (drum roll please).

We took a lift next to Isetan Departmental Store and my heart jumps, thinking that we were just a few steps away from Sage – the talk of the town. Initially, we were rather surprised to see that The Sage is tucked away at a secluded corner next to the parking lot. Once I shoved through the heavy glass door, a young lady greeted us at the door with a welcoming smile and a jovial presence. We were promptly seated near to the open kitchen where Chef Takashi and crews were busy creating superb rendition of dishes. The ambiance is perfect – classy, lush but not intimidating, with the occasional melody of glass clinging, soft whispering and sizzling at the background.

We were taking our own sweet time in reading through the one page menu. Read aloud some of the names in the menu and you’ll be condemned to a near eternity of grueling tongue twisters (Is it just me?). We settled for Sage Dinner at RM 140 nett because it offers more value for money than ala carte pricea as such: Starters at rm58, main course at RM78 and desserta at RM30. Do the math. One can opt for an additional course (Chef Special )at RM160 nett or the degustation menu at RM240 nett where advance booking is required.

Complimentary Bread. The breads were all good; crusty, warm and soft.

For starter, I chose the Feuillete of Anago with Foie Gras and Duxelles, loosely translated as puff pastry with salt-water eel, foie gras and mixture of finely chopped mushrooms, shallots and herbs. The dish offers a myriad of flavor and texture! Think crispy layers of sweet and caramelized puff pastry, soft fatty salt-water eel and velvety smooth foie gras that leaves a trail of bovine juice in your mouth. Mmmmm…

Carpaccio of Wagyu with Sesame Vinaigrette and Asparagus. He had the wafer-thin slices of raw wagyu beef served cold, seasoned with sesame vinaigrette. The wagyu slices melts on your palate like the most sublime foie gras, and leaves a rich flavor behind.

What a great start to our meal!

My choice of main is the Lightly Salted Cod with Foie Gras, Roasted in Wood Paper (not foie gras again?). The cod and foie gras are impeccably fresh, with chock full of fragrant juices. Sauces are subtle, accentuating the natural flavor of the lightly salted cod and pan seared foie gras.

Rump Steak with Carrot Puree and Anchovy Sauce goes to KampungBoy, who is a steak person. The rounder pieces of steak with pink centre are actually the medallions, a cut of from the wagyu beef type. It is succulent, tender and very very tasty. On the side, we were given the braised ox shank topped with carrot puree. It is pleasingly tender and not at all gamey.

I was not entirely blown away by the Roasted Kougyoku Apples with Vanilla Ice Cream. Immediately, my face was contorting into a frown and later found out that Kougyoku apple is a kind of very sour apple from Japan. Sorry, I’m just not a fan of all things sour.

He made a smart choice by ordering the Ricotta Souffle served with Espresso Sherbet. Light, fluffy and airy, with a barely perceptible brown crust on top, the souffle is a perfect sweet ending.

The End – Coffee/Tea ?

What can I say? It was a very satisfactory dinner, the starters and mains were beyond excellence while we think that we are going to give it a pass to the desserts the next time (wrong choices maybe, as other floggers raved about the desserts).We will definitely be going back and would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. Ooo yes, Sage is perfect for Valentine’s Day celebration and to impress your dates as well. Reservation is a must, unless you want to try your luck and get turn down.

Sage Restaurant & Wine Bar

The Residences Level 6

The Gardens, Mid Valley City,

Lingkaran Syed Putra,

59200 KL.

Tel: 03-22681328

Email: sagekul@gardenshtlres.com