The Barn - 1 Mont Kiara(MK) - Wine - Small Plates - Firegrill - A Nice Place to Wine and Dine Review By Best Restaurant

There is a new restaurant in Mont Kiara that was opened just a couple of months ago where the concept is to be able to buy a bottle of wine from the New Wine World (Australia and New Zealand), dine in the restaurant while listening to the Live Band Performance while enjoying the delicious food especially the pork dishes served at the restaurant.

Best Restaurant To Eat was invited to review The BARN @ 1 Mont Kiara which is located at Lot G-2, G-3 & G-26, Ground Floor, 1 Mont Kiara No.1, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara 50480, Kuala Lumpur.

The concept of The BARN @ 1 Mont Kiara; in that it has its own retail wine room/shop with a wide selection of wine at one side of the restaurant; where customer can either shop for a bottle of wine or choose a bottle to be consumed at the restaurant for their meal.

The ambience of the wine shop gives you a feel of a wine cellar decor. Customer who choose to consume the wine at the restaurant only need to pay for the service charge and not the corkage charges unless you bring your own wine/liquor.

The BARN @ 1 Mont Kiara is section out; into the main dining area,

a cigar corner with soft sofa settee

with a cigar cabinet that is filled Cuban Cigar,

a bar lounge area with live band music

 an al-fresco area outside the main restaurant

and a coffee and desserts counter i.e. DRIP @ The BARN which serves a special blend of coffee from Coffex. DRIP @ The BARN is open in the morning, so you can grab your coffee fix for breakfast over the counter.

Also, the kitchen that serves the Tapas is based on an Open Kitchen Concept where you can watch the food being prepared and served.

Our food review started with the signature Tapas which is the Bacon Wrapped Sausages - the premium sausages have that bouncy, firm texture and was a good pairing

to the Classic Margarita which was concocted with Tequila, Grand Marnier, Cointreau and Lime Syrup.

 

Next, we had the Crackling Skin Crispy Roast Pork Belly, which uses a secret recipe and technique that ensure the skin is as crispy when roasted while the layer of fats and meat was very well balanced.

With the slight salty taste of the roasted pork belly, it was superbly paired with the

Luis Felipe Malbec (Chile) Red Wine which has a smooth texture and taste.

followed by the Garlic Prawns which was firm, succulent and bouncy. The garlic, herbs and butter taste was of the right balance without being too overpowering each other.

One of the nice things about dining in the Barn @ 1 Mont Kiara, is that they serves a wide variety of Tapas which goes well with the wine, beer or liquor drinks that are served here.

The next Tapas that we had was the Belacan Chicken Wings. The marinate of the concoction of belacan was very balanced where you can taste a tinge of it right to the bone. It was fried until light golden brown and has a crisp skin while the meat was still juicy.

The meat within the crispy surface was surprisingly tender as opposed to tough, which is common for most deep-fried items.

The last Tapas for the night is the Skewered Pork Satay. Here, each skewers of the satay contains a layer of fats and then meat and then fats and meat.

We were quite surprised why it was so: after checking with the Chef, it was purposely set in that manner, so that when the skewered are grilled, the juice from the fats layers will flow to the meat thereby making the meat to have a softer texture and covered with the fat juice to make it succulent. The peanuts sauce has a very strong peanut taste which was good as the dip for the Satay.

For the Cold Cut we had the Barcelona Platter which came with an assortment of premium choice cuts of milano salami, gypsy ham, iberico ham served with mix of olives and balsamic vinaigrette and ciabatta bread.

After our tasty Tapas, we then proceeded to have our main dish, the first of which was The BARN Original Pork Ribs. The pork ribs are cooked till tender and grilled with the BARN special fresh BBQ sauce.

The Ribs was grilled enough to be flavourful without tasting the carbon while the meat was tender and came off the ribs without much efforts. The BBQ sauce also has a smoky, tangy and sweet flavours.

Our next main was the Slow Roasted Pork Belly served with asparagus and Spanish salad mix. The Pork Belly is first roasted and then slowly cooked with Chinese herbs and spices. The aroma of the dish was it has this distinctive smoky aroma.

The verdict: the Pork belly was very tender, while the broth which has a very unique smoky taste was very tasty and delicious. Perfect if eaten with some white rice. It was so good that we finish the broth up to the last drop.

For our coffee fix, we had the AFFOGATO with Kapiti ice cream. The espresso has the right kick and the after taste still lingers in the throat which was matched with the super smooth Kapiti ice-cream, it was one of the best Affogato in recent time that I have tasted.

The coffee machine used in DRIP @ The BARN; extracted out the full flavours from the coffee beans is the La Cimbali - one of the premium range of coffee machine.

For desserts, we had 2 cakes the first of which is the Blueberry Cheese cake,

followed by the Red Velvet.

The Barn at 1 MK - Mont Kiara is truly a place to de-stress; where you can dine or chill with your families, friends and business associates having finger food (tapas) while sipping your favourite wine where you can purchase at their wine shop or liquor drinks in a comfortable setting while enjoying the soothing live number belted out by the live performance.  

SimplyD Cafe - Simply Delicious Grand Launching at Avenue K Rooftop

Best Restaurant To Eat was invited to witness the Grand launch of SimplyD Cafe at Avenue K Rooftop on 12th March 2015.

Simplyd Cafe is part of the Delicious Group which is owned by Eastern & Oriental Bhd that brought you the famed Delicious Cafes.

Simplyd Cafe which means Simply Delicious is a new casual dining concept and is set to change the way the customer feels about fast food. It's motto is FUN, FRESH and TASTY.

Simplyd Cafe was born out of an idea from its CEO Mr Steve Alen and his love for Malaysian amazing array of food. With a simple menu comprising of mix-and-match Pastas, Burgers and Cakes, that infused the local favourite into a western meal; and viola a new fusion dish like the Salted Egg Pumpkin Pasta is born.

With fresh and unprocessed ingredients unlike those associated with fast food, Simplyd cafe is indeed simple, unfussy, fast, fresh, great in value and most importantly tasty.

The signature dishes at Simplyd cafe are very simple i.e. Salted Egg Pumpkin Fusilli, Classic Beef Burger and Coconut Pandan Cake. There is no need for frills at Simplyd Cafe where food and drinks are served in colourful melamine bowl and plates.

The first Simplyd Cafe was opened in July 2014 at Nu Sentral Mall i.e. Lot G9, 201, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Kuala Lumpur; followed by outlets in The Curve, Lot 158, First Floor, Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor and the latest addition is in Avenue K Shopping Mall, C16A, Concourse Level, 156, Jalan Ampang. 

Korean Wang BBQ Centre - SS2 Petaling Jaya - A New Korean BBQ Restaurant Review By Best Restaurant

SS2, Petaling Jaya has a lot of restaurant offering various foods like steamboat, cafes and etc but very few BBQ restaurant; more so for Korean BBQ. Best Restaurant To Eat was invited for a food review at the newly opened Korean Wang BBQ Centre located at 42, Jalan SS2/66, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Speaking of Korean run BBQ restaurant, you will usually find it in Ampang and Solaris Publika; reason being most Korean are living around those areas but Korean Wang BBQ Centre decided to start their business in the food capital of PJ that is SS2; as they want to bring this Korean specialty to be enjoyed by the masses.

The decor is simple and does not really look much like most Korean restaurant. One of the special design is the smoke eksoz chimney which has a vacuum system that extract out all the fumes during the BBQ session. This makes the place less smoky and more pleasurable without getting smoky smell all over your body after the meal.

The BBQ stove uses a special charcoal which is less smoky to grill the meat.

I have tasted quite a number of Korean BBQ and find that the way the meat, Korean Wang BBQ Centre prepared and its serving portion is a step upward ie. the portion are bigger and its taste is comparable if not better than some of their counterpart in Ampang.

For the Korean BBQ, you can order the set which comprises of meat and other food while the ala carte gives you a better option to order the type of meat and dishes that you enjoyed.

As with most Korean BBQ, the waiter will do it for you as they will know the right way to grill your meat to perfection while retaining the juiciness and soft smoky texture of each of the meat portion.

Korean BBQ is usually served with an array of side dishes which includes kimchi, fresh garlic, special sauce, sesame and salt dip, fresh green chillies and of course fresh green lettuce for you to wrap the meat in.

We started with the Grill Pork Belly - Samgyeopsal which has a generous portion. Grilled to a slight smoky and tender texture, the combination of the fats and meats of the Pork Belly, with the fresh lettuce wrap was the great start for a wonderful meal ahead.

the Samgyeopsal being grilled on the stove.

The next grilled that we had was the Grill Pork Shoulder - Moksal - this part is more for those that does not like to eat the grill pork fats as in the pork belly, as the meat are leaner compared with the Pork Belly that we had earlier.

the Moksal looking perfectly grill on the stove.

Followed by the Pork Rib marinated in special Soy Sauce - DwaeJi Galbi - The special sauce enhances the meat and you do not really need any other sauce to dip for this dish.

The last meat that was to be grilled is the Marinated Chicken - it is already flavoured with a special sauce and like the DwaeJi Galbi, you can just eat it after the grilled with no additional sauces dip required as it is sufficiently flavourful.

the BBQ Chicken being grilled on the stove.

After the BBQ, we were served with other side dishes which you can order ala-carte or as a special lunch set; the first of which is the Kimchi Jigye (Kimchi Stew). It is a Kimchi soup which has small pieces of pork belly cooked in it. I find that this Kimchi Jigye was to my taste as it is not too overly sourish.

Next, we has the DoenJang Jigye (Soy Bean Based Stew) which has some seafood and taufoo added into it.

Followed by the Tteokbokki. I am not a real fan of Tteokbokki as most of the restaurant, that I had eaten previously, they tend to be a little too hard, but at Korean Wang BBQ, the Tteobokki served here has the right texture and the sauce was just right without being too overly sweet or sourish.

The chef has also cooked up some new dishes to be introduced, which is the special Cheesy Pork Rib in special Korean Spicy sauce. The sauce tasted much like the "Pie Kat Wong", and the soft firm texture of the meat was gel and wrap in the melted cheese topping.

and the Chicken Thigh in Cheese Sauce. similar in taste but with chicken thigh as the meat base.

One other dish is the Cheese Omelette which has a layer of cheese wrap in the omelette. The eggs were very fluffy while each bite; you could savour the cheesy and smooth soft texture of the egg.

Some of the offering of the Special Lunch set.

For folks in Petaling Jaya especially SS2, you need not have to travel all the way to Ampang to savour Korean BBQ, you can just pop by to Korean Wang BBQ Centre at SS2 to savour this delicacy.

For more Korean Food Review By Best Restaurant To Eat. Please click on the link below.

Jang Gun Korean Buffet - Fahrenheit 88 Kuala Lumpur  KL Best Restaurant To Eat

Choi’s Don & Dak @Kuchai Entrepreneur Park Old Klang Road, Korean Teppan  BBQ Table Review

Authentic Korean BBQ and Traditional Korean Home Cook Jal-Dae-Ji at One Ampang Business Avenue

Special Post: 10 Key Products and Services Goods and Services Tax (GST) impact on Malaysian consumers.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be implemented effective April 1, 2015 in Malaysia and the rate is fixed at 6%. Sales tax of 10% and service tax of 6% will be replaced with GST.

Under GST, most of the goods and services (except basic necessities) will be charged at every stage of the supply chain – even the ones that was previously not charged with Sales and Service Tax (SST). This means we will likely be paying more to purchase or use these goods and services, which were not taxed previously.

As consumers, you must be aware how the Goods Services Tax (GST) will impact on the things that you buy. Being conscious on it allow you to better plan your budget and spending patterns.

Here we list the 10 key products and services i.e. credit card, books, housing, fuel, electricity, used cars, banking services, tuition fees, beauty services and insurance fees on GST.

1. Credit card

The RM50 government tax charged annually on credit cards and the RM25 fee for supplementary cards, will be abolished from April 1, 2015 when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented. Instead, the 6% GST will apply on the credit card’s annual fees – which can range from RM70 to RM1,000 or more annually, depending on the type of card.

However, there will be no GST charges if the annual fee is waived, for example for free-for-life credit cards or those with annual fees waived, with stipulated minimum spending or transactions on a monthly or yearly basis.

To reflect the changes, the GST charged will be reflected as a separate item in the credit card statement. However, purchases will be reflected as a total amount inclusive of GST. There is some good news though, loyalty points or cash rebates will be given based on the 6% GST paid when using the credit card for retail purchases.

2. Books and e-books

The standard 6% GST will be imposed on all types of books except for dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers, texts, references, works and religious books. These books will be zero-rated and not be subjected to GST.

Local e-book suppliers like e-sentral and MPHonline will also be charging GST whereas foreign firms such as Google Play and Apple iBookstore would not be.

3. Housing

GST will also see basic construction materials such as cement, bricks and sand being taxed the standard 6% GST rate for both residential and commercial properties. Currently, these raw materials are not taxed under the existing SST. Heavy machineries such as cranes will be taxed too. Property developers normally do not buy such heavy machineries but rent them from other contractors – and it typically is factored into the construction cost.

Steel, bricks, and sand make up 44% of the construction cost and with these being charged GST, the cost of building a property is inevitably going to increase. Property companies expect GST to result in a maximum of 2.6% increase in house prices.

When the GST is implemented in April, residential property including SoHo (small office/home office) will be exempted. However, commercial properties including SoFo (small office/flexible office) and SoVo (small office/virtual office) would be subject to the 6% GST.

4. Fuel

RON95, Diesel and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) will be exempted from GST implementation. However, RON97 will be subjected to the new 6% GST.

5. Electricity

A household will have 6% GST charged to the electricity bill for usage above 300 units.

6. Used cars

Currently, used cars are not subjected to SST and is not a GST zero rated item either. Therefore the car industry predicts that used cars will be subjected to an extra 6% tax after the implementation of GST in April.

7. Banking services

The RM1 MEPS fee charged when we withdraw from another bank’s ATM will increase to RM1.06. No GST will be charged if you make a withdrawal from your own bank’s ATM.

Similarly, other services offered by the bank, such as money transfers (e.g. cashier’s order and demand draft), telegraphic transfers, money exchange, loan, cheque, credit card, and debit card will see 6% GST charged to its service, commission or subscription fee.

8. Tuition fees

Beginning April, 6% GST will be imposed on tuition fees, as tuition centres are not categorised under educational institutions.

9. Beauty services

The price of beauty services like manicure, and hair and facial treatments will be subjected to 6% GST too. Massage services are also chargeable with the GST if the annual turnover for such businesses is RM500,000 and above. Aside from beauty services, cosmetics and other products for skin, hair and body care will also be charged GST.

However, operators registered to implement the GST will be able to lower their costs by claiming the input tax credit for premises rental fees, electricity costs and equipment purchased to carry out the services. Input tax refers to the GST paid by businesses on the purchase of goods and services used to perform their businesses.

Beauty products sold at airports as duty-free items will not be subjected to GST.

10. Insurance fees

All insurance policies except for life insurance will be charged 6% GST from April. GST would also impact all traditional and investment-linked policies which had medical, critical illness or personal accident benefits attached.

For traditional policies, the GST is imposed on the premium, while for investment-linked policies, it is charged on the insurance charges. For investment-linked policies, insurance charges will escalate with age because of higher insurance charges.

While it is still not clear how much prices will increase, or in some instances, decrease, it is prudent to know your exempted and zero-rated items to avoid opportunist merchants who may be profiteering on GST.

With less than two weeks away before GST is actually implemented, it is wise to understand how GST will affect both our daily or seasonal spending. This will help us to plan our spending ahead, to minimise the negative effect of GST.

This special post serves as a guide; based on our interpretation and understanding of the impact of the GST has on consumers. Please check with relevant companies and parties to confirm whether they are applicable to you and might have changed from time to time.

More info at www.iMoney.my

GST -More GST Articles. Pls Click Here

Yoshinoya Hanamaru Malaysia - Mid Valley Grand Opening - A Japanese Food Court Concept Review By Best Restaurant

Best Restaurant To Eat was invited to a special pre launch opening of Yoshinoya Hanamaru Malaysia; a Japanese Food Court concept at Mid Valley located on Lot-T-15B, Level 3, Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur.

The Yoshinoya Hanamaru offers an all Japanese Food Court dining experience where one can enjoys all the Japanese Food like Udon, Tempura, Don, Nabe; all at an affordable price in a comfortable and fuss free dining environment.

Yoshinoya is one of the oldest and largest restaurant chains of beef bowl with over 1800 outlets around the world. Its root can be traced back from 1899 from a small shop selling Gyudon in Nihonbashi Fish Market. Prepared with a secret recipe broth seasoned with savoury herbs and spices together with large sweet onions, served on a bed of fluffy Japanese rice.

While the Hanamaru brand serves the Sanuki Udon with a wide variety of side dishes which are listed as below.

The Udon are made fresh daily at the restaurant; and all Udon at Hanamaru are kept no longer than 30 minutes to ensure the customers are served the tastiest Udon. The use of the first grade quality flour ensures that all UDON served has the consistent firm and bouncy texture.

The dried kelp and sardines (from Japan) broth was very flavourful and prepared to offer a special signature Hanamaru taste. Yours truly top pick was the Beef Udon as above.

and Ontama Bukake Udon with a special Mori-no-tamago.

followed by the Spicy Miso Udon.

while the Cold Salad Udon; which has a tinge of sesame dressing was especially refreshing as it was serve as a cold udon and garnished with a generous amount of leafy green.

Among the tempura dishes that are served at Hanamaru is Ebi tempura, Kakiage Egg, Vegetable (sweet potato, pumpkin) tempura and etc which was all dipped in a delicious tempura batter and deep fried to a golden crisp.

Other notable side dishes served at Hanamaru are the Kaarage, 

Inari Sushi and Ongiri 

Aji Dango Stick, Yasai Age, Boiled Egg and etc.

The Azuki Cafe serves up special Soda based drinks and smoothies to complement your food.

If you are in Mid Valley Megamall looking for some inexpensive Japanese food, you can head over to the Yoshinoya Hanamaru to savours these special Japanese offering.