Monday, November 16, 2015

Kepong Steamboat: 4Get Hotpot Restaurant - Premium Seafood Steamboat


For steamboat lovers in Kepong, there is this restaurant that serves premium fresh seafood with a special Assam Laksa steamboat broth that you can't find elsewhere, what's more, they also served fresh Seafood BBQ too. +BestRestaurant ToEat was invited to taste this special steamboat at 4Get Hotpot located at 3 & 5, Block E, Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 2, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. Next to Aeon Big (Carrefour) - Kepong (behind the open air food court).


This is a no-frills restaurant setup and its main mission is to let customers enjoy top quality ingredients with some of its exclusive premium broth to take the steamboat to the next level especially for Kepong folks.


There are many premium steamboat set that is served here but for lobster lovers especially yours truly, you can taste this fresh lobster set at RM49.90 per pax. The picture above is for a 2 pax set which includes meatballs, tofu, seafood, vegetables and etc.


At 4Get Hotpots @Kepong, you can also order ala carte wafer thin meat slices; which includes pork, beef, lamb or fish slices to add on; the one we had is the thin sliced pork belly at RM13.90.


or you could order the simple looking but delicious chunky in-house made Hearty Dumpling (RM13.90) which was made by the owners' mother herself. 


or try out the boneless Chicken Meat at RM10.90.


For the noodles, if you were to order the Assam Laksa broth, make sure you try out the special beehoon as shown above. After putting it into the broth it looks like lai fun (the type which is for assam laksa) i.e silky smooth but has a more slippery texture compared to that; even if you have overcooked it. Loves slurping it with my assam laksa broth.


For the soup base you can choose either the normal Clear soup broth and Tom Yum soup based. There is no charge for these 2 soup base.


The other 2 soup base we tasted was the premium soup based i.e the Szechuan Spicy - half pot (RM15.00). 


and the Assam Laksa - (RM7.00 half pot). The Assam Laksa broth was very flavourful and we had most of our delicacies dipped into this broth. A truly authentic first of its kind steamboat broth and all of us just love it.

At 4Get Hotpot they also serve an array of BBQ seafood which you can read from our next blog. Click Here to go to CEO BBQ.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Cheras Food: Haru Japanese Bakery Cafe Ikon Connaught - Your Japanese Neighbourhood Bakery Review


Japanese have perfected the fine art in terms of creating nice bakery and pastries; as can be seen by the many Japanese inspired bakery cum restaurant in the Klang Valley. With that +BestRestaurant ToEat was invited to taste out one of the latest bakery produce from Haru Japanese Bakery Cafe located at G-08, IKON Connaught, Jalan Cerdas, Taman Connaught, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur


What makes Haru Japanese Bakery Cafe different is the type of flour that is used to prepare the dough? The flour that is used at Haru Bakery is the High Protein Flour which are imported from Japan.


Using the right technique to prepare the bread dough will determine the fluffiness, soft and moist texture of each buns. There are many flavors of bun that are served at Haru Japanese Bakery Cafe and the following are the one that we tasted.


The first is the Amazing Chestnut Bun (RM3.80).  For chestnut fans, you will find the filling very nutty. Nice to be eaten with a cup of coffee.


Next is the Butter Croissant (RM 3.80). For those that love their croissant to be less buttery, you will find this just nice for you. It has that crisp layers and fluffiness texture.


Caramelised Apple Bun (RM 3.40). Balance of sweetness of caramelized apple filling with the soft sweet bun texture. 


The above is the Cranberry Cheese Bun (RM3.60). 


Fruity Red Bean Banana. This bun is banana flavoured with a red bean paste filling. 


Mexico Cheese Bun. This is a fusion of the popular Mexico bun but with a topping of walnut and almond chips.


The above bun is called the Mini Pizza (RM 5.90). Why this bun is called the mini pizza is because the fillings of this bun are tomatoes, sausages, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and topped with a sliced cheese are all the ingredient that made up a pizza.


Spring Lady (RM 3.80) has spring onions, cheese, mayonnaise and ham as its filling.


Japanese Curry Onigiri (RM 3.40). A fusion bun which consists of bonito flakes, mayonnaise and seaweed on top of the bun with a Japanese curry sauce.


For non bun lovers or you would like a more savoury meals at Haru Japanese Bakery Cafe, you can try out the Squid Ink Pasta (RM16.80). This pasta has a light touch of squid ink although I would have prefered a stronger dose of squid ink for this dish.


The other pasta which we tasted was the Wafu Mentai Spaghetti (RM14.80). Loves the ebiko topping on the light wafu sauce. 


For sweet tooth fans, the Go Banana (RM 15.50) dessert is your dream dessert.  Served on a special Haraju Toast topped with slices of cut bananas, a scoop of ice-cream and Chantilly cream drizzled with chocolate sauce.


While the Mary Berry (RM 18.50) is topped with mixed berries, Chantilly cream, vanilla ice cream plus some sweet mixed berries and raspberry sauce was the perfect end to our food review.

Monday, November 9, 2015

A Journey Through Time IX Afternoon Fashion Hi Tea at Newens Tea House London Starhill Gallery Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur

 

Watch and jewellery enthusiasts, please block your calendar for a luxurious and elegant week starting from 20th to 27th November 2015. Starhill Gallery, Malaysia ultimate destination for premium lifestyle, fashion, beauty, art and dining is hosting the ninth edition of A Journey Through Time - Asia's premier watch and jewellery showcase.


Enthusiast can look forward to see all these showcases, rare private collections, first-in-market editions and as well as exquisite pieces from world's leading watch and jewellery brands.


Guests will be treated to an myriads of events from fashion parades by eminent designers, thematic tea sessions and rousing live performances.


For the thematic tea session it will be held at the Newens Tea House London @Starhill Gallery located between the luxury brands Dior and Louis Vuitton, Newens Tea House is Kuala Lumpur's most popular venue for English afternoon tea - the three tier set boasts freshly baked scones, cut sandwiches, Newens signature Maids Of Honour tarts and a choice of 60 types of tea.


While enjoying the fashion parade of this event; which will be held around the Newens Tea House London @Starhill Gallery during the high tea session, guests are able to enjoy their sip of premium tea with the signature 500 years old highly kept secret recipe of the Maid of Honour tarts.


Accompanying your cup of tea served in fine China tea set; is the specially created pastry and cakes which the first tier has; was the Strawberry Dip Chocolate (the coat), Couture Handbag Cake, Designer Shoe, English Trifle and the Red Velvet Hat.


The second tier consists of 2 pieces of Newens Maid of Honour Tarts, Chicken Puff Pastry and a Spinach Quiche.


Newens Tea House London Maid of Honour Tarts has an elaborate history and is one of the most closely guarded pastry recipe in the world. Maids of Honour tarts was first discovered in the 16th century by Tudor King Henry VIII, who was introduced to the delicate pastry-filled tarts at Hampton Court Palace by Anne Boleyn, the second of his six wives.


It is said the King declared the tarts so delicious; he ordered the recipe - and the Maids Of Honour who baked them - to be locked up and only allowed out to bake for the Royal court. The Maids Of Honour recipe remained a secret for over 200 years until it was leaked by a palace cook to John Billet, a baker in nearby Richmond.


In 1850, Robert Newens, a former Billet apprentice, opened his own bakery in Richmond, using the original Maids Of Honour recipe he learned as a trainee baker. Since then the Newens family have continued baking Maids Of Honour tarts to the same recipe through the generations for customers who have included Britain's wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and more recently celebrity X Factor judge Simon Cowell, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.


For the first time, in December 2014, Maids of Honour tarts made a historic 6,000 miles journey from London to Kuala Lumpur - the first time the recipe had been taken outside the UK - when Newens opened inside Starhill Gallery.


Lastly for the final tier of this English afternoon tea set; it features an assorted open sandwiches which has filling of cheese, chicken, and smoked salmon. 


For this A Journey Through Time IX event, Newens Tea House will feature this special English Afternoon Hi Tea set at RM160 Nett for 2 pax. Make a date for this special annual event to dazzle your eyes with the highlight of the showpieces and enjoy a fine cup of tea while enjoying the signature Maids Of Honour tarts at the Newens Tea House @ Starhill Gallery.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Cheras Food: Hot and Spicy Chinese Hunan Cuisine at China Private Kitchen Pertama Residency


Many Malaysian seriously believe that we can eat very spicy food, but your guess and mine is totally wrong. The China Hunan Chinese has a very much more higher tolerant spicy level compared to most Malaysian. With that +BestRestaurant ToEat  was invited to taste another real spicy Chinese Hunan Cuisine @ China Private Kitchen located at Pertama Residency Jalan 3/92B Taman Kobena 56000 Cheras, Pudu Kuala Lumpur. It is located just off Jalan Cheras 4th mile (turn in when you see the Shell petrol station before Taman Pertama roundabout).


China Private Kitchen is a strictly a no frill set up; what is more important is the quality of food that are served to its customers.


The chef which hails from Jiangsha Hunan in China motto; first using good quality ingredients, village home style, authentic taste and cooking with passion forms the core values of each of the dishes that are served at this restaurant.


With that, we started our spicy journey starting with the Seaweed Salad (RM 5). This appetizer which is spicy and has a slight sourish sweet taste does whet out our appetite.


The first main dish on the table is the Hunan Farm Chicken (RM 36). Using farm "Kampung" chicken which has a firm texture was cut to small pieces and using fresh ingredients such as ginger, garlic, scallions and fresh red chilli padi to cook this dish which has a spicy pungent fragrant but really appetizing taste.


This is then followed by the Braised Pork Trotter (RM 28). This pork leg are first slow braised for 3 hours to soften the meat texture with spices, ginger, garlic and chillies. Before serving it, the cut pieces of the pork trotter are then wok fried with dried Chillies to infused the spicy flavour and aroma to the meat. The gravy was so addictive that a second helping of white rice was needed to slurp it down to the last drop.


For vegetable we had a Stir Fried Lotus Root (RM 22). The firm and crunchy lotus root are cut to a thin slice and then stir fried together with freshly cut chilli padi.


Next on the table is the Claypot Bullfrog With Hunan Chilli (RM 48). For bullfrog dishes, we are usually more accustomed to either the ginger steamed or Kung Po style. This Hunan style version uses a specially imported preserved chillies from Hunan China. Served on a clay pot, the broth is a clear but spicy type while the other colourful chillies set the spicy tone of this dish. The frog meat was firm with a bouncy texture and it was really delicious.


The Homestyle Fried Pork with Green Chillies (RM 22). This is a dish that every family in Hunan China will know how to cook this dish. It is like the must eat dish in this province of China. Although you see that there are some many green chillies that are used to cook this dish, it was nevertheless not that spicy too and good to eat with the white rice. 


We have eaten a lot of Chinese Carp Fish Head i.e Ginger steam, Assam style and so forth. The version that is served here is the Steamed Fish Head With Pickled Chilli (RM 68). As again the special pickled preserved chillies are minced with fresh ginger and topped with premium soya sauce as the base gravy. The spicy level has been tone down a little for us to enjoy the fresh meat of the fish.


Another popular version of the Hunan style for fish dishes; is using water to slow braise the fish in a pot. This ensure that the fresh fish flavour are immersed with the ingredient to get the most flavour for this dish. For us we had the red Tilapia In Water Broth Sauce (RM 68). Using this method to cook the fish; uses a less salt and less oil style as the fish are cooked slowly to extract its natural fish flavours.


Another traditional village style dish from the Hunan China is the Hand Peel Stir Fried Beijing Cabbage (RM 18). The people of Hunan like to hand peel the cabbage as this gives the cabbage a better texture compared with the knife cut method for the cabbage, It retains a crunch feel and does not becomes soggy too quickly.


The final meat dish is the Sizzling Hot Sliced Beef With Chillies on Hot Plate (RM 36), is topped in terms of strong spicy fragrant level. Before the dish arrives at the table, we can smells the choking super rich and chilli musk fragrant of the Dried Chillies choking us down the throat. The wafer thin slice cut of the beef was well mixed with the coriander and served piping hot with the sizzling sound; was a real treat to this super spicy dish.  


We end our review with a very simple Fried Yee Mee with Prawn (RM 15). Loves the bouncy texture and the pieces of scrambled eggs intertwined between the noodles with the nice aroma of the wok hei of the fried noodles. Simple but tasty.


For desserts, we had the Deep Fried Pumpkin Bun (RM 12 for 6 pcs). Another simple desserts that is 100% pumpkin. Fried to a golden yellow crisp, with a balance sweetness level, it was a good end to our food review.


Spicy food enthusiast will find the dishes serves at China Private Kitchen @Cheras Pertama Residency as a real authentic Hunan style treat in Malaysia.