Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Mutiara Damansara Food: Minori Japanese Restaurant Royal Chulan Damansara Hotel - Specialty Japanese Food.


Japanese is fond of eating exotic and prized seafood as it is. Little wonder when +BestRestaurant ToEat was invited to taste some of the special menu offering of MINORI Japanese Restaurant located The Royal Chulan Damansara Hotel 1st Floor No.2 Jalan PJU 7/3 Mutiara Damansara 47810 Petaling Jaya.


Minori Japanese Restaurant is a multiple MIGF award winner restaurant that has showcase some of the authentic and traditional Japanese dishes that captivate its' customer to continue to patronize the restaurant for some seasonal fare from time to time.


Set in a modern Zen style Japanese decorations, the restaurant has an elegant dining ambiance that are suitable for business and family dining. 


For this review; Chef Takahiro will be showcasing four of the dishes under his Omakase set. The first dish on the table was the Cod Fish Sperm Sashimi style which is the best way to eat it as you can taste its natural taste. This is the first time, we are tasting the Cod Fish Sperm. 

This Fish Sperm has a slippery soft white texture which is a popular delicacy during the winter season in Japan. When bitten it; together with a dip of the sauce, you can feel the bursting feel followed by a soft texture tau foo like musky taste of the cod fish. This Sashimi is complemented with chilled shredded radish, seaweed and scallion. 


The second dish is the Foie Gras Chawanmushi. Chawan mushi is one of yours truly favorite dish. The eggs texture are silky soft and was perfectly enhanced with the flavour and taste of the Foie Gras. Topped with a special sauce it was indeed a delight to slurp this velvety savoury egg dish. 


Next comes the in-house signature Minori Rolls. Using fresh ingredients such as soft shell crab and grilled eel was an interesting combination for this maki. Rolled it in with the natural sweetness of the avocados and dressed with a mayo based dressing, it was a delight to be eaten.


For dessert, we had the Fish Collagen Mochi Japanese Rice-Cake Dessert a.k.a Water Mochi. Water Mochi which has a soft and bouncy gelatin like texture; are made from fish bone and fish scales. You can then add in the Japanese Gula Melaka syrup; followed by the Finely Roasted Soya Bean powder and you have a dessert that is simple and delicious.


Make a date with Minori Japanese Restaurant to try out their Omakase style set and be prepared to be surprised with the offering of the chef.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Bangsar Food: Rendez-Vous French Restaurant - A Traditional French Food Love Affair


French people are very particular with the quality of ingredients used but also the way the food are prepared and served. A serving dish usually consist of different taste, aroma and texture specifically to tantalize your taste-bud. With that +BestRestaurant ToEat was invited to review this traditional French cuisine at Rendez-Vous French Restaurant located at 100 Lorong Maarof, 59000, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.


The concept of the restaurant is to make authentic French cuisine affordable and also to offer a laid-back ambience in a truly relax environment where patrons can enjoy great French food and drinks with family and friends.


To appreciate a full course French meal you first start with a cocktail and the one that we had is the Le Kir Classique (RM26.00). It is a cocktail of white wine & choice of Creme de Cassis, Raspberry and others.


Next we had the Amused Bouche - a single bit size pre-meal appetizer. It is a dish not found from the menu and are served gratis and according to the chef's selection for the day to all present at the table. Our Amused Bouche was the sauteed onion with mushroom.


For starters, the chef recommendation was the Escargot Snails With Parsley and Garlic Butter Sauce in Vol Au Ven (RM34.00). At most restaurant Escargot are commonly served as Baked Cheese Escargot but here we get to taste out this traditional style of cooking with a light crust pastry (Vol Au Ven) which absorb the garlic butter sauce to give a nice texture and taste to the Escargot.



For the Soup, we had the "Soupe De Poissons Facon Laurent" which is Fish Soup Served With Rouille Sauce from Sete (RM26.00). The Rouille is a sauce that consists of olive oil with breadcrumbs, garlic, saffron and chili peppers. It has that special strong taste and when mix with the rich fish soup was excellent that it tasted more like lobster bisque. Served with crouton and extra cheese on the side for those that loves their soup to be extra cheesy with the Rouille Sauce as an add on.


French people have a craving for Pate and the next chef recommendation is non other than the signature Pâté de Chevreuil" Deer Pâté With Hazelnut (RM30.00) - Pâté (French forcemeat) is a mixture of cooked ground meat and fat minced into a spreadable paste and bake in a terrine. The Deer Pate has a firm texture; had a nice flavour and taste which goes well with the gherkin, caramelized onion and fresh cherry tomatoes with lettuce that makes a good companion to the Pâté.


After the Pâté, next comes the special salad, French people has an acquired taste quite similar to the Chinese as they are fond of cooking and appreciating innards dishes. For this salad, we had the "Salade Perigourdine" a.k.a Breast Smoked Duck (in-house made) with artichoke, gizzards, bacon, sundried tomatoes and topped with a thin slice of Foie Gras. The dressing is a mustard with red wine reduction.


For the main course, the chef recommendation is the Mussel in White Wine. There are 3 type of cooking style that you can choose from. This White Wine style comes with a pot enclosure and when it is opened, the aroma of the white wine and steam from the broth exudes out.



We like this style of cooking with garlic, onion and white wine as it brings out the natural flavours of the mussels.


The next dish is the "Filet Mignon De Porc" which is Pork Tenderloin With French Cepes Mushroom Sauce (RM46.00). The Pork Tenderloin is slow cooked in a vacuum pack and then lightly pan fried and topped with the Cepes Mushroom sauce. This way of cooking ensures that the pork tenderloin has a soft texture while it engulf the pork taste into the meat. The Cepes Mushroom sauce which is made in-house using porcini mushroom leaves a taste so wonderful you are still fantasising about it hours afterwards.

To truly enjoy this particular dish, it would be great to chew the pork tenderloin a little longer, so that it gets contact with more of your taste buds.


The next dish according to Chef Flo is a very authentic traditional French delicacy which is the "Boudin noir aux pommes" i.e. Soft Pork Blood Sausage served with apples and French Style mashed potatoes (RM44.00). The pork blood which are specially source are cooked with herbs and spices and stuffed into the sausage. It is then boiled, fried and ready to be eaten. This dish is a real challenge for many Malaysian; I would say it will be an acquired taste to many which will leave you either a love it or hate it after the meal.


For dessert the Chef recommended that we try out the popular "Crepe Suzzette" aka French Crepe flamed with Grand Mariner (RM26.00). When the dessert arrived at our table; the waiter will first flame the Grand Mariner before pouring it into the Crepe.



After the flame is doused off, upon the first bite of the crepe, we can taste the strong Grand Mariner that is embedded into the crepe which is mix with the orange sauce and vanilla ice-cream.


The last dessert that we had is the Marquise au chocolat which is Densed Mousse served with mint ice cream (RM20.00). We love the Chocolate Mousse as the densed version which is firm have a stronger chocolate taste and blended well with the ice-cream.


Not to be left out, Rendez-Vous French Restaurant is celebrating the Year of Fire Monkey with a few specially created dishes with a French flavour to welcome the prosperity.


For this year Rendez-Vous is also having a special Valentine dinner for you to romance with your loved one the French style. Book early for this Valentine Special today.



For me, at Rendez-Vous French Restaurant Bangsar; one can really enjoy the experience of the flavours of the dishes which are prepared using traditional methods and natural ingredients to retain its authenticity of its taste. 

TAMARIND Restaurants Festive Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day 2016


Welcome to the year of the Fire Monkey with the special CNY Festive Menus from now until 22 February 2016 at all Tamarind restaurants. Featuring dishes inspired by the season, each restaurant’s CNY Festive Menu highlights seasonal ingredients and specialties without departing from their unique palettes and cuisine, resulting in a mouth-watering adventure! 


The highlights of Tamarind Hill, Tamarind Spring Restaurant menu; is the in-house made Yee Sang With Fresh Salmon priced at RM68+ (small) or RM88+ (large). Feast in a pack, with every group of 10, and get a complimentary large serving of Yee Sang With Fresh Salmon worth RM88+. 


Also on the menu are favourites such as Sang Choi Pao - Lettuce Cups filled with a Thai twist of Spicy Chicken


Or try out the Crispy Sea Bass With Tom Yum Paste, Himeji Mushrooms And Cherry Tomatoes


Or the succulent and firm texture Tigers Prawns in Orange Sauce with Eryngii Mushrooms

In addition to the homemade Yee Sang With Fresh Salmon found in Tamarind Hill, Tamarind Springs’ delicious festive dishes also include the Fish Maw And Crab Meat Soup, Stir-Fried Sea Cucumber With Mixed Mushrooms, Smoked Duck With Fresh Yoghurt Sauce as well as Assorted Tong Shui (Red Dates), among several other lip-smacking options.

Expect elegant dining in the heart of the city this Chinese New Year at Neo Tamarind, Kuala Lumpur with unexpected combinations specialty dishes, such as the Cold Soft Tofu Served With Shaved Boito, Spring Onion and Soy Jus, Deep-Fried Oyster Mushrooms With Salted Egg Sauce and Bird’s Nest Panna Cotta.

While in Penang, dine like a Chinese tycoon at the turn of the century nowhere else but at Cheong Fatt Tze’s Restaurant, George Town, Penang.  Special dishes specially crafted by the chef are the Winter Melon And Seafood Soup; or try out the Braised Neptune’s Treasure Served In A Golden Pumpkin, where you can feast grandly with the restaurant’s take on exquisite modern Cantonese cuisine.

For Valentine 2016 which happen to fall on the seventh day of Chinese New Year, Tamarind restaurants will feature it's special Valentine’s Day Set Menus. Enjoy an evening filled with romance, ambience and of course, good food.

According to Tiffany Teoh, Sales Manager of TAMARIND Restaurants, “We are excited to share our unique flavour combinations this Chinese New Year. This time of the year gives us the opportunity to use seasonal produce that we have been looking forward to savouring and combine them with our authentic IndoChinese flavours, textures and preparations.

The results are a delicious celebration of what people continue to love about TAMARIND restaurants– a beautiful blend of cultures, coupled with authenticity and innovation, that go on create unexpected and immeasurably delightful experiences.”

*** Book Your Table Today ***

TAMARIND HILL Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 - 2148 3200

TAMARIND SPRINGS
Tel: 03 - 42569300

NEO TAMARIND
Tel: 03 - 2148 3700

CHEONG FATT TZE Restaurant
Tel: 04 - 2620 006

On behalf of +BestRestaurant ToEat , we would like to wish our readers "Gong Xi Fa Cai" and Happy Valentine Day.