CHASING FOOD DREAMS

A New Age Whisky Pairing Dinner with Chinese Cuisine

Food pairing with wine and liquor is getting more popular these days. It’s a perfect way also let diners enjoy a sumptuous list of pairing without the hassle as the chef would have work with the sommelier on the best pairing for the food and alcohol.

Imperial China Restaurant, from the Tai Thong Group, played host together with FIFTYSIX Degree Scotch Whisky to bring diners a scrumptious pairing of Chinese cuisine pairing dinner with Scotch whisky recently. Imperial China has hosted several wine pairing previously and due to positive demands from diners, the restaurant has organized a creative and unique Chinese dinner courses best paired with whisky.

FIFTYSIX Degrees Blended Scotch Whisky is a new age Scottish whisky with a 40% ABV (alcohol by volume). Blended for our Asian palate in mind, FIFTYSIX Degrees is named after the latitude of the Scottish Highlands where the fine dram is distilled. It is a boutique whisky made with exacting standards of quality through Ian Macleod Distillers’ generations of masters with many accolades under their belt.

As always Imperial China restaurant, located in Subang Jaya SS17, resonates an elegant dining ambiance. Set in opulent shades of bold red, black and cream, the evening mood was also enhanced by a live 3-piece band named The Raw Note that evening.

Cocktails of 56 Escape and Scottish Lass were served, made with FIFTYSIX Degrees whisky of course, with bites of Crispy Crab Dumpling with Wasabi Dressing and Deep Fried Pumpkin and Lotus Root with Salted Egg. I do enjoy the cocktails a lot as I guess it’s sweeter and I for one love my cocktails while the Crispy Crab Dumpling was superb!

The first course of trio appetizer made a grand starter! Leading the limelight was the Lobster with Fresh Fruit Salad with Italian Vanilla Dressing. Standing in full glory, the lobster shell commanded everyone’s attention. The lobster flesh was sweet and succulent though the salad was a bit heavy on the creamy vanilla dressing. A unique inclusion was the vanilla as I can sense its presence in the salad. Lobster with fruits in creamy salad is a crowd pleaser as always.

Next, Sliced Chicken with Foie Gras and Almond, a combination of chicken paste with crispy skin crumbed with almond are served with a spread of foie gras on crepe. It’s a delicious combination but I would have love to taste the presence of the foie gras a bit more. I do enjoy the texture of the chicken with almond a lot.

The third appetizer was Crab with Roasted Sesame Sauce wrapped in Egg Roll, topped with shredded meat floss. Certainly a mouthful but the flavours work harmoniously well. It’s got a good hint of sweetness as well as savory notes with a creamy ending.

The appetizers certainly worked well with the FIFTYSIX Degree whisky as the bold flavours of the dishes are beautifully balanced with the smooth and vibrant note of the new age whisky.

One of my all-time favorite course is soup and ours was a warming one of Double Boiled Village Chicken Soup with Apricot Kernels and Snow Pear. Full of comforting flavours and soothing nutrients, the soup had a gentle and natural sweetness from the snow pears which I really enjoy.

The next course was heavenly, a big crowd pleaser and definitely a great match with the whisky!

Spice Roast Suckling Pig with Chilled Ambarella Juice Shooter had us all savoring crispy skin from the succulent piglet with a dab of hoisin sauce and scallion. Once we enjoyed the scrumptious swine, we were told to down a hot of chilled Ambarella or Kedondong juice shooter to cleanse the palate. Love the idea of this dish…

There would always be a fish course in any Chinese meal as well and ours was the highly prized estuary grouper prepared in two sauces of Yin Yang Estuary Grouper Grilled with Caramelized Onion& Sauteed with XO Sauce, Celery and Apple.

The presentation was definitely an eye-catcher with the whole fish fried till golden and placed in the middle of the platter. The fish was prepared in two sauces, one with more of a sweeter edge with caramelized onions and smoky note while the other was more fruity and delicate in flavour. I definitely enjoyed the first sauce because of the smoky caramelized flavours of the dish.

Our final savory course was the lavish platter of Braised Abalone, Sea Cucumber Stuffed with Tuna and Wanton. It is my favorite dish of the night, not because of its lavishness but because I really enjoyed the stuffed sea cucumber and also the wanton.

The abalone is well braised and smothered in the classic Chinese brown savory sauce. The spiky sea cucumber was tender and gelatinous with a scrumptious bouncy tuna and meat filling while the plump wanton had delectable sweetness of prawns. The dish epitomized Chinese lux and is also a great dish paired with whisky.

Dinner ended with a high note of trio of desserts. The trio of Chilled Layered Dessert of Black Sesame, Mango and Fresh Milk, Mini Pumpkin Dumpling with Sweet Potato and Cheese and Sweet Corn Bun sprinkled with Cocoa Powder looked really unique and interesting. The pairing of black sesame with mango and milk seemed to be decent. It was a sweet and savory one for the mini pumpkin dumpling with its combo of sweet potato and cheese. I adored the sweet corn bun shaped to resemble a mushroom. It’s nice and fluffy with a creamy sweet corn filling.

The Imperial China Whisky Pairing Dinner with FIFTYSIX Degrees is priced at RM1888 nett for a table of ten pax. Each table includes 2 bottles of the FIFTYSIX Degrees Scotch Whisky. Look out for more pairing dinners to come from the Tai Thong Group through their website: www.taithong.com.my and Facebook: www.facebook.com/TaiThong

For more information on FIFTYSIX Degrees Scotch Whisky, please visit their website www.56degreeswhisky.comor at Facebook: www.facebook.com/fiftysixdegreeswhisky

IMPERIAL CHINA RESTAURANT

7th Floor, Intan Square,

No. 3, Lorong Utara C,

46200 Petaling Jaya

Tel: +603-7956 6868

Website: www.taithong.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TaiThong

Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush!

While staying at Dorsett Shepherds Bush in West London, I also enjoyed some really good eats at the two restaurant located in the hotel. From breakfast to lunch and dinner, both restaurants Pictures and Shikumen Bar & Restaurant offers diners a treat from Western and Asian cuisine set in an elegant and stylish ambiance.

Pictures

The all-day dining contemporary brasserie restaurant is located on the ground floor of the hotel. Managed by the hotel, Picturesserves European menu liven up with a touch of Asia from breakfast to lunch and dinner. The restaurant has two dining space. The main dining room is spacious and design with an elegant contemporary flair. Themed in muted grey wall contrasted with rich wood and black tables and wall panels, Pictures also has lots of framed mirrors and black & white photos of yesteryears movie icons. Silver velvet chairs paired with black tables for contrast blended into the theme beautifully.

The second dining space is a private room named Red Room. Located discreetly behind the well-hidden door next to the Audrey Hepburn corner in the hotel. A gorgeous vibrant red lite up the room with the combination of grey, silver, black and white themed colors. The room echoed the classy themed from Pictures’ main dining room with lots of yesteryear movie icons in black and white. This room is perfect for private parties and gathering whether it be business or personal!

Every morning before we start our day, we visited Pictures for the spread of luscious English breakfast. I enjoyed the spread of buttery pastries and croissants, mini muffins, cold cuts and cheese, cereals fresh fruits and creamy yoghurt. From hot buffet warmers are thick grilled Cumberland sausages, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and baked beans. Order your eggs freshly prepared at their egg station.

Since Dorsett Shepherds Bush pride themselves in theming the whole hotel with an Oriental touch, Pictures also serves up some classic Asian breakfast favorites of dim sum, porridge and congee with pickled vegetables and Fried Noodles. The overall breakfast spread may not have a long list like our typical Asian hotels but the spread is definitely delicious and consisted of quality dishes that will leave you satiated happily.

MAB Pilot Parker and Dorsett Bear met for the very first time and joined us for our breakie!

Service is another plus point here as every morning, the staff greets you with lots of smile, perking up your mornings with much pleasantness.

For lunch and dinner, Pictures serve a la carte menu of European dishes. We were hosted by General Manager of Dorsett Shepherds Bush, the gracious Hilary Cross for an unforgettable lunch. The whole restaurant looked even better during noon time as the natural lighting lite up the room beautifully.

We started our lunch with a wholesome and creamy Carrot & Pumpkin Soup. A bowl of thick and comforting flavours of root vegetables served with freshly baked crusty bread rolls did wonder to warm up our appetites for more to come.

Our main course was a delectable Barbary Duck Breast with Red Cabbage & Plum Sauce . Barbary duck, also known as Muscovy duck, is famous for their rich plump and firm meat despite it being leaner that the usual local ducks. A whole duck breast is skillfully rendered on its skin till crispy and finished in the oven for medium doneness. The flesh is so succulent and has a light pinkness on the firm meat. Served with a tangy and fruity marmalade and plum sauce, the duck slices were superb in flavours. Accompanying the duck was fondant potatoes, tangy braised red cabbage and some micro greens. A must- order if you love duck!

For those who prefer a vegetarian option, there is the Pea Risotto. A creamy risotto studded with pea shoots, asparagus, broad bean and carrots cooked in vegetable stock and finished with lots of shavings of parmesan cheese.

Dessert Platter of Pineapple Upside down Cake, Crème Bruleé Cheesecake and Brownie took our lunch ending to the sweetest heights. I couldn’t be any higher on cloud nine! Three sumptuous and sinful desserts won many hearts that day, including mine.

From warm caramelized Pineapple Upside down cake of moist cakey batter with whole cherries and juicy pineapples, each bite of this cake with vanilla ice cream was heavenly on my sweet sense. The star of the plate was definitely the Crème Brulee Cheesecake, another heavenly concoction showcasing the best of both worlds of cheesecake and crème brulee. The cheesecake literally melts-in-the-mouth with rich silky sweetness contrasted with creamy layer of cheese and buttery biscuit layer. The brownie was decadent with dark chocolate notes and went well with the ice cream too.

The culinary team behind Pictures

There are many more dishes on the menu that looks tempting at Pictures. From Crayfish Cocktails, Potted Duck Saladto Slow Cooked Pork Ribs, 28 Day Dry Aged Cattleman’s 8oz Striplion, 21 Day Aged 6oz Scotch Fillet, Point Brewery Grimsby Baby Haddock and more, there are also new age sandwiches with hearty fillings!

PICTURES

Dorsett Shepherds Bush

58 Shepherds Bush Green,

London W12 8QE, United Kingdom

Email: info.shepherdsbush@dorsetthotels.com

Tel: +44 (0) 203 262 1026

Website: http://www.dorsetthotels.com/unitedkingdom/london/shepherdsbush

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DorsettShepherdsBushLondon/

Business Hours:

Daily 6.30am to 10.30pm

Shikumen Bar & Restaurant

If you’re in London and hankering for Chinese, visit Shikumen Bar & Restaurant at Dorsett Shepherds Bush for a feast of fine dining Asian specials. Shikumen, owned by Malaysian born Simon Chai, has already created quite a buzz in the dining scene when it was awarded the Bib Gourmand in the 2016 Michelin Guide. Shikumen (石库门) translates to “stone gate” and is a style of housing blending Chinese and Western structural styles that is unique to Shanghai. Echoing its denotation, Shikumen Bar & Restaurant showcase their Chinese cuisine injected with a touch of modern Western creativity. Serving a list of house signatures and a selection of handmade Dim Sums daily, it is now a popular hot spot of many who enjoys fine dining cuisine with an elegant flair.

The restaurant has 150 covers with a further 16 covers in the bar area, is beautifully designed with a classy and modern Oriental Shanghai theme. The handsome and bold restaurant has an overall cherry wood themed paired with cream, muted greys and black. Oriental art pieces completed the elegant ambiance at the restaurant.

Dinner commenced with the much famed 18-folds of beautifully pleated soup dumpling of Xiao Long Bao. Sufficiently impressive and delicious in flavours, we sip our broth from the dumpling gently before savoring the delicate savory note of the minced filling encased in the thin dumpling skin.

A house signature of Legendary Roast Duck seemed to be a favorite as seen on many of the tables that night. A whole gorgeously lacquered duck carved at our table side with précised knife skills and quickly sandwiched into hot steamed mantao bun and thin pancake with hoisin sauce, cucumber and scallion. I would have certainly love a bit more crispy skin with the duck, nevertheless, the duck was moist and tender. I also enjoyed the option of the pancake skin and mantao bun for a different texture.

As with most Chinese meals, soups are a must and ours was the classically famed Sichuan Hot and Sour Soup. Piquant and spicy in heat, the thick soup has all the usual ingredients of the classic soup. A solid balance of sour, savory, sweet and spicy flavours, whetting the palate for more dishes to come…

Our next dish paid homage to the king of crustaceans in Stir Fried Lobster with Chili & Garlic. A generous portion of pieces of lobster cooked in house signature chili and garlic sauce was definitely a crowd pleaser. Despite the robust flavours of chili and garlic, I can still taste the sweet flesh of the tender lobster. It was certainly a delicious finger-licking good moment while enjoying this dish!

We also had Shikumen’s Legendary Roasted Lamb Rack. A trimmed lamb rack cutlet was well marinated with savory and sweet Asian flavours. Served with an unusual pairing of wine poached pear, I especially enjoyed the caramelized bits of the lamb.

Our last savory course was a big filler of Pan Fried Tofu with Seafood in Pumpkin Sauce, Stir Fried Asparagus, Lotus Root, Mushrooms and Pumpkin and Vegetable Fried Rice with Edamame. While the fried rice and stir fried vegetables was decent, it was the pumpkin that was deliciously yummy. House made soft egg bean curd smothered in a lightly creamy and sweet pumpkin sauce also had the popping sensations of flying fish roes to give this dish another textural component.

Dessert Platter of Mango Grapefruit Tapioca Pearls, Sweet Black Sesame Ball and Green Tea Pudding highlight all the favorite classics of Chinese desserts on a plate.

Highlights for me were their Xiao Long Bao, Legendary Roast Duck and in Stir Fried Lobster with Chili & Garlic. Do call for reservations as this restaurant garners a good crowd with all its scrumptious dishes!

SHIKUMEN BAR & RESTAURANT

Dorsett Shepherds Bush

58 Shepherds Bush Green,

London W12 8QE, United Kingdom

Email: info.shepherdsbush@dorsetthotels.com

Tel: +44 (0) 208 749 9978

Website: www.shikumen.co.uk/shepherds-bush/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ShikumenUK

Business Hours:

Monday to Saturday: 12:00pm to 11:00pm

Sunday: 11:30pm to 10:30pm

This trip was made possible by Malaysia Airlines, UK Visit Britain and Dorsett Shepherds Bush London. All stories and comments in my posts are purely derived from my own experiences through the trip.

*Look out for more posts coming on UK Visit Britain sites!

London Stories

Fly Me To London Part 1- Malaysia Airlines Berhad + KLIA Goldenand Platinum Lounge

Fly Me To London Part 2– Dorsett Shepherds Bush, West London

Fly Me To London Part 3 - Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

A Magical Experience with The Perfect Christmas Roast!

Christmas is my favorite time of the year! It’s also a time to gather with family and friends and enjoy a time of merriment to create wonderful memories. For a merry gastronomic journey, Hilton Petaling Jaya is presenting A Magical Experience withThe Perfect Christmas Roast this festive holiday. Paya Serai, a favorite hotspot for buffets will showcase Hilton Petaling Jaya Master Chefs’ irresistible yuletide indulgences.

Highlights of The Perfect Christmas Roast includes the holiday season’s favorite Roasted Tom Turkey with Chestunut & Sage Stuffings, Garlic Marinated Roasted Leg of Lamb, Roasted Venision with Yorkshire Pudding served with Giblet Gravy, Cramberry-Orange Compote, Beet Chutney and Cranberry-Mustard Relish.

Such a lavish carvery station filled with beautifully roasted and succulent meats, it was a treat as the turkey, lamb and venison was simply scrumptious and perfect for the holiday indulgence. There are plenty of sides to accompany the meats and the only challenge here is having enough tummy space to try all the dishes!

Some of the side dishes available are Buttered Brussel Sprout with Glazed Carrots, Green Asparagus and Button Mushroom, Baked Potato with Broccoli Cream Cheese, Sautéed Mix Vegetables, Corn on Cob and more.

Available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Magical Christmas buffet also has lots of other treats from our melting-pot of cuisines and international ones too. From barbecue dishes from all over the world, there are also a kaleidoscope of Smoked Salmon, Sea Salt & Brown Sugar Marinated Salmon Fillet, Grilled Veal with Mushroom Ragout and Percik Sauce, Turkey Steak with Grilled Peaches & Pineapple, Oven Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chicken Quenelle, Broiled Salmon on Soba & Teriyaki Sauce, Beef Roulade with Walnut Parsley and more.

Japanese cuisine is always a crowd pleaser, so the holiday buffet will also include a selection of Japanese sushi and sashimi as well as lots of cooked dishes such as tempura and teriyaki on their live stations.

Seafood lovers will also enjoy the spread of Seafood on Ice with tempting treats of Fresh Oysters, Prawns, Mussels and more. For the ‘Love of Shuck’, there will also be freshly shucked oysters with cucumber jelly, tomato shooters and green papaya relish. Enjoy the live stations all ready to whip up a-la minute delights and freshly prepared pastas.

Though it may be difficult to limit one to the luscious savory spread, don’t forget as there is a host of Christmas sweets tempting one’s sweet tooth. From the majestic and gorgeous French Croquembouche to the heavenly Christmas Yule Log, Assorted French Pastries, Miniature Fruit Savarin with Ginger, Tiramisu & Blueberries Chantility, Miniature Festive Cup Cake, Cinnamon Almond Chocolate Cake, Poached Pear with Ginger Bread Spice, Minced Pies, Christmas Fruit Cake, Apple and Pineapple Crumble, Bread and Butter Pudding and more.

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet

24th December – 7pm to 10pm

RM159nett per adult | RM80 nett per child

Prices are inclusive of a party park for the occasion

Christmas Day High Tea

25th December – 12.30pm to 5pm

RM159nett per adult | RM80 nett per child

To get into the spirit of Christmas and the joyous moments, there is an Advent calendar complete with Christmas socks to countdown and celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas. Diners who spend RM250nett in a single receipt would win daily mystery gifts which consists of dining vouchers, Christmas treats and goodies!

There are also many other Christmas Goodies and promotions available at Hilton Petaling Jaya. Bring home Christmas treats from Relish Hilton’s Christmas Goodies @ Caffe Cinoor check out Christmas menus available at Genji Japanese Restaurant as well as Toh Yuen Chinese Restaurant. Visit their F&B blog at www.ZestPJ.com for the latest F&B promotions.

PAYA SERAI RESTAURANT

Hilton Petaling Jaya

NO 2 Jalan Barat,

46200, Petaling Jaya

Malaysia

TEL: +603 7955 9122

FAX: +603 7955 3909

Hotel Website: www.petaling-jaya.hilton.com

F&B Website: www.ZestPJ.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hiltonpetalingjaya

Asian Art Exhibition by Matthias Dathe and Jared Fitzgerald

While we were visiting London recently, it was also the month for Asian Art in London. London galleries are featuring some of the World’s Greatest Asian Art. Since Dorsett Shepherds Bush pride themselves on their Asian roots, the hotel has set an Asian Art Experience package with Asian Art in London to let hotel guests embark on an exclusive one-off art tour while staying at the hotel.

Through the Asian Art Experience package, art aficionados get to experience Dorsett Shepherds Bush beautiful accommodation as well as enjoy breakfast and a delectable afternoon tea at Jin Bar. Then they are taken on a tour of London galleries led by specialist Kerr McIlwraith of Asian Art in London. Highlights of the tour included visits to Gregg Baker Asian Art, Jorge Welsh Gallery, Marchant Asian Art and Fleurdelys, providing the opportunity for guests to appreciate and learn about Asian art under the expert guidance of Asian Art in London.

Guests were also able to enjoy the Asian Art pop up exhibition that took place at Jin Bar at the hotel from Nov 5 to Nov 14 showcasing two talented artist – Matthias Dathe and Jared Fitzgerald and their Asian Art creations.

Matthias Dathe

Showcasing his forte in fine Asian jewelry, German born Matthias brings forth his talent from his travels to Asia and living in Hong Kong. Inspired by his passion and love for Chinese Jade Art Crafts and the Art of Asian Jewelry design, his pieces marries East meets West where he creates his masterpieces from antique jade, stones and silver as well. He is a self-taught jeweler. When asked why Asian in his jewelry design, Matthias replies that Asian art originates from nature. He is intrigue with the symbols and patterns that evoke strong confidence and conveys stories to everyone.

His creations are truly unique, with pieces that he hunts his material for years before he turns them into this creations. Each piece is one-of-its-kind. His jade collection is gorgeously intricate with links to creatures from Asian Mythology. His silver collections also links to the Asian art and mythology but evokes modern and clean designs. From rings, necklace, bracelets to belts and cufflinks, his pieces command attention with their front and back designs. His objectives is simple, to let the wearer feel confident and sexy when wearing his pieces. His first exhibition was in Berlin, followed by smaller private showcase in Hong Kong and now London.

White Dragon Disc Necklace

Dragon on Swirl Disc Necklace

Nephrite Disc Necklace

Panther on Disc Necklace

The Four Face Beast Pendant

White Dragon Bracelet

The Japanese Garden Belt - antique japanese sword guard buckle tsuba brass with silver inlays, framed in silver on red leather belt with snake skin pattern

www.matthiasdathe.com

Jared Fitzgerald

His art is contemporary Chinese ceramic art. His work amalgamates East and West traditions, using traditional Chinese materials as well as art to convey a contemporary narrative. Jared’s pieces has been featured in solo as well as various group exhibitions in United States, China and now Britain.

Born in Seattle, USA, with an education in Fine Arts and Classical Archaeology from the University of Washington, he has created some of the most interesting Asian Art pieces from classical ink painting to glazed ceramics. The founding director of FitzGerald Fine Arts, he has established an unprecedented international platform for contemporary and modern Chinese ceramics. He produces all his pieces in Beijing and the southern town of Jing de Zhen.

Three Mountains, 2013

Plants Growing, 2014

www.jaredfitzgerald.com

A Night of Appreciation of Asian Art Exhibition

A Night of Appreciation for the Asian Art Exhibition was held on 11 Nov, hosted by Philip Schaetz, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing of Dorsett Hospitality International and Hilary Cross, General Manager of Dorsett Shepherds Bush. Honorary guests and members of the media were invited to be up close and personal with Matthias Dathe with his first showcase at Dorsett Shepherds Bush, London. Held at the Jin Bar, many were seen examining and admiring the pieces from Matthias and Jared while sipping Jin Bar’s signature cocktails.

DORSETT SHEPHERDS BUSH

58 Shepherds Bush Green,

London W12 8QE, United Kingdom

Email: info.shepherdsbush@dorsetthotels.com

Tel: +44 (0) 203 262 1026

Website: www.dorsetthotels.com/unitedkingdom/london/shepherdsbush

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DorsettShepherdsBushLondon/

Dorsett Shepherds Bush Awards

Certificate of Excellence 2015 Winner by TripAdvisor

Hammersmith Society Environment Award – June 2015

Schueco Design Excellence Award – June 2015

Architect’s Journal Retrofit Hotel Award – September 2015

Best New Business by Hammersmith & Fulham Brilliant Business Awards – November 2015

Hospitality Business of the Year 2015 by West London Business Awards – December 2015

*Look out for more posts coming on UK Visit Britain sites!

London Stories

Fly Me To London Part 1- Malaysia Airlines Berhad + KLIA Golden and Platinum Lounge

Fly Me To London Part 2– Dorsett Shepherds Bush, West London

Fly Me To London Part 3- Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

Fly Me To London Part 4 –Asian Art Exhibition at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

Be Spellbound by TRIKSTARS’ International Masters of Magic!

It was a night of magical trickery at Sunway Lagoon Amphitheatre! The Premiere night of TRIKSTARS made its much anticipated debut to distinguished VIPs, honorary guests, members of the media and bloggers. The acclaimed Masters of Trickery show features seven performers from Las Vegas and Europe, seizing everyone’s attention with their magical and comical performances.

TRIKSTARS features internationally acclaimed magicians and illusionists performing their unique blend of spectacular magic, stunts and comedy as they charmed the audiences with entertaining 3D effects, enchanting stage props and breathtaking pyro techniques in the 2 hour show.

Produced and directed by Dion & Randall International, the show captures audiences of all ages with its splendor and glitzy performances by the many performers. The dynamic duo behind Dion & Randall Productions are Adam and Nina Dion Bahoudian. Both Australians have over 35 years of experiences in the entertainment industry and continues to delight audiences of all ages as they push their creative and artistic boundaries through exciting and unique concept, talent, soundscape experiences, creating shows that capture the very essence of imagination and escapism.

Here’s why one should go and experience TRIKSTARS! Their exciting and vibrant performances full of energy takes audiences to a world of great magical illusions injected with touches of comedy and certainly filled with many talented performers.

PHELSTON JONES

A maestro of magic, he captures your attention with his hand manipulation! Brilliant performances from him as well as great entertainment with twist of comical injections, Phelston Jones stole much limelight that evening. Having earned his living previously on the streets of New York City, he has then traveled to many other exotic locales and even performed for princes and paupers alike. He has also starred in prodigious events as NBC’s World’s Greatest Magic V. He kicked off his performances at the beginning where he certainly had loads of fun running around the audiences and giving them his best trickery!

RUBY COLBY

Known internationally as the ‘Coolest Magician on Planet Earth’, Ruby Colby even had his own primetime TV specials in USA, London, France as well as appearing in over 100 television shows around the world. The magician even has his own comic book ‘Labman’ and his full-evening live show has played in over 50 countries. Ruby showed us his many magical talents while evoking many giggles and laughters with his quirky and fun actions. Catch him at his best when he nails himself right in front of audiences with much amazement from the crowd.

SYLVESTER THE JESTER

He makes kids tickle with gusto. He makes adults smile with humor. Dan Sylvester’s cartoonist magic is utterly fun, adorable and explosive. His madcap stage persona, ‘Sylvester the Jetser, A Real Live Cartoon’, is exhilarating, bombastic, hilarious and tickles your funny bones. This Gold Medalist for the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians (PCAM), 1996 was also nominated the Performer of the Year for 12 times in The Academy of Magical Arts from 1995 to 2004. Get ready for a smoky performance filled with hilarious trickery…

KING CHARLES TROUPE

A fast-paced unicycle basketball and comedy group, King Charles Troupe combines talent of sports and unicycle skills. Formerly based out of The Bronx, New York, they have now added Las Vegas, Nevada to their list. 10 extraordinary unicyclists pushes the art of unicyclists with their game of high-energy basketball on unicycles in a ‘Razzle Dazzle’ style as well as performing jump rope actions with the unicycles. Existed since 1969, the King Charles Troupe also has induction in the ‘World Guinness Book of Record’ for being The First All African American Act in Ringling History.

SEBASTIAN & KRISTINA

This quick change dynamic duo are international artistes who have performed internationally for global circus festivals, top rated television shows, exclusive gala events and luxury cruise liners. Sebastian and Kristina’s distinct performance style flawless technique and stylish designer costumes have reaffirmed their status as one of the elite quick change artistes in world. The duo act has also garnered Audience Most Favorite Act Award in the 4th International Circus Festival of Hanoi – Vietnam 2012 and the Excellence Award in the 10th International Acrobatic Art Festival of Wuhan – China 2012. Be awe and wonder as they both charmed many with all the quick change acts, downright to even just a sprinkling of confetti dust. Sebastian also shows of his talent in the art of juggling!

NIGHTMARES BY MAGUS UTOPIA

Magus Utopia, founded by Marcel Kalisvaart and Aquila Junior, has bagged several awards of Best Creativity and Originality Prize in China Circus Festival in Zhuhai 2013, World Champion of Magic in Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) official World Championships 2012 and more. The creative company that creates and performs original magic shows all over the world by taking on a unique combination of storytelling, strong visuals and magic themed with a dark side pumped up with fascinating costumes and tricks.

J’AIME HOLLAND

Australian born songbird J’aime Holland wows the crowd with her magical voice and stunning costumes together with all her dancers. Previously a lead female vocalist with International Corporate act Big City Beat, the singer’s vocal versatility has her belting out a range of various music genre backed by the gorgeous costumed dancers. With an extensive catalogue of her own originally composed music with her band Deep Creek Road, she has released four singles that have charted in the Australian Country Music Top 40 and received high rotation on Foxtel’s CMC Channel. J’aime also has experiences in musical theatre, TV shows, TV campaigns and commercial as well as a recent finish run of the 50’s rock’n’roll show ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.

Sunway Group EXCO members, Sunway Lagoon staff, TRIKSTARS cast members, and celebrities come together at the end of the show for a group photo

TRIKSTARS – Master of Trickery runs every Wednesday to Monday from 5 December to 20 December 2015 at 8.00pm. Ticket prices are available from RM70 for children and RM100 for adults. Book your tickets at www.ticketcharge.com.my

For more information, kindly contact Sunway Lagoon at +6035639 000 or visit Sunway Lagoon’s website at www.sunwaylagoon.comor its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunwayLagoonMalaysia

TRIKSTARS – Master of Trickery is sponsored by Coca Cola, Nestle, Milo and 100 Plus.

A British Christmas with Traditional Oven Roasted Turkey Feast!

This Yuletide season, it always pays to enjoy a feast of festive favorites with family and friends! New to the Solaris Mont Kiara neighborhood is Thyme Kiara Restaurant. Barely three months old is Thyme Kiara, a modern home style kitchen serving European cuisine, the heart and soul of Zyda and her family. Having moved from the cold weather of London to our hot and sunny Malaysian shore, Zyda hopes to let her diners experience what modern European food is all about.

Thyme Kiara is obviously named for a reason. Zyda uses lots of thyme in her cooking and also since she feels it very important to spend time with family and friends over a good hearty meal, she hopes Thyme Kiara will be able to let her diners enjoy the warm and delicious home style dishes her restaurant serves. To her and her family, it’s all abot spending family time over a hearty meal of Sunday Roast or any meals for that matter. Previously in England, Zyda had ran two Bed &Breakfast boutique hotels and hope to be able to do so here one day.

The bistro is beautiful at sight. Sheer simplicity of minimalist modern interior design of bright blue with cream and natural dark wood color theme gave the whole place an elegant and contemporary ambiance. There are two dining sections with a main dining area on the ground level and a private dining area on the next floor up which is perfect for parties and private functions. Thyme Kiara also has a bar area where one can hang out with some beer or wine to catch some sport actions on the TV.

When we were there, Thyme Kiara was already decorated with the festive trimmings and Christmas music was already playing to add further charm to the festive mood. Zyda and her team is set to welcome in the Christmas holiday with her British traditional Christmas home style menu filled with much deliciousness of Mulled Wines, holiday classics and sweet Christmas desserts.

There is a Thyme Kiara Festive Season Set Menufor the adult as well as a Thyme Kiara Children Menu. There is also a Takeaway Menu of the Traditional Oven Roasted Turkey with all the trimmings. More details of this at the end of the post. Reservations of 2 days in advance are required for the festive set menus and takeaway.

Thyme Kiara Festive Season Set Menu

The Thyme Kiara Festive Season Set Menuoffers diners a beverage, a starter, a main course, a dessert and finished with coffee and mint. Diners choose from the various choices from the beverage, starter and dessert.

With festive holidays around the corner, diners can choose from a glass of House Pouring Wine or Mocktail to ring in the festive cheers with this set menu.

There is a choice of starter from Bruschetta, Creamed Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Ginger or Smoked Salmon Salad for the set menu.

The Creamed Pumpkin Soup with Spiced Gingeris pure comfort flavours of sweet and creamy pumpkin jazzed up with hints of earthy spices and light ginger notes in the background. It’s beautifully delicious, tummy warming and very satisfying as a starter.

The Smoked Salmon Salad also proved to be a winner with its salty and smoky flavours of the luscious smoked salmon crowning crisp romaine lettuces and rockets, cherry tomatoes and cucumber all dressed in light vinaigrette and finished with shavings of parmesans. Light, fresh and lovely starter to gear up for the heavier main course to come.

It was truly worth the wait to get to the main course of the menu. A treat of festive tradition, a platter of home favorite roast, lots and lots of smaller platters of sides, rich creamed gravy and fruity tangy sauce is what a Christmas feast is all about at the British table.

Thyme Kiara’s Traditional Oven Roasted Turkey with all the trimmings of Yorkshire Puddings and Roasted Vegetables served with Cranberry Sauceand Chef Crafted Gravy is set to impress diners with a holiday feast cooked with love.

Traditional Oven Roasted Turkey with Cranberry Sauce and Chef Crafted Gravy

Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Peppers, Sautéed Snow Peas, Roasted Parsnips and Carrots, Corn on Cob, Classic British Yorkshire Puddings and Sautéed Bok Choi are all the must-have trimmings to the festive roasted turkey.

For single diners or smaller groups of less than 8, the main course is served by individual portions. For groups of 8 and above, a whole turkey together with all the trimmings and sauces are presented in family sharing platters.

The turkey was moist, tender and delicious with the creamy rich gravy and fruity cranberry sauce. The sides were really a highlight on their own and were beautifully cooked and seasoned.

To end the festive meal, choose your dessert from a choice of Bread & Butter Pudding, Passion Fruit Mousse or Christmas Pudding with Vanilla Sauce. The Christmas Pudding is a very traditional and much-beloved dessert at the British table. It is dark, rich, sweet and utterly divine with vanilla sauce. The beautiful presentation of individual mini Christmas pudding is perfect and pretty!

Coffee and Mints to complete the festive meal.

Thyme Kiara Children Menu

Every little one also deserves their own festive menu! Zyda and team whips up little ones’ favorites completed with beverage, main course and dessert.

Fruit Cordial or Fresh Juices for the little ones.

Children main courses to choose from are kids’ favorites of Creamy Turkey Pasta, Roasted Turkey Pizza, Beef Burger with Fries, Bangers and Mash with Gravy or Roasted Turkey with Mashed Potatoes and Steamed Vegetables.

Tender slices of roasted turkey on marinara sauce and melted cheese on crisp pizza base proved to be a winner with littles one every time.

One cannot also go wrong with pasta with kids. This one has silky pasta strands coated in creamy white sauce with slices of roasted turkey in the Creamy Turkey Pasta.

Bangers and Mash with Gravy is such a British classic and works every time for diners of all ages!

Kids get a choice of dessert of Cheese Cakeor Brownies with Chocolate Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream. Cheese and chocolate is a guaranteed hit with kids… and adults too! We stole a few bites and love these classic desserts…

Thyme Kiara Festive Season Set Menu

For single order (1 pax) for the set menu, it is priced at RM108 nett per pax

For 2 pax or more order for the set menu, it is priced at RM188 for 2 pax and priced accordingly onwards.

Thyme Kiara Children Menu

For children aged below 12 years old, it is priced at RM30 nett per child

Takeaway Thyme Kiara Traditional Roasted Turkey

One Whole Turkey (feeds 8 pax) RM350 nett

*comes with 3 sauces - Turkey Gravy, Black Pepper and Cranberry Sauces

Additional Add-ons - 5 sides for RM100 nett

(Choose from Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Peppers, Roasted Parsnips, Glazed Carrots, Creamed Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Corn, Sweet Peas, Brussels Sprout, Yorkshire Pudding)

The festive set menus and takeaway are available from 1 Dec 2015 to 5 Jan 2016.

Thyme Kiara will be opened for business on 25 Dec 2015, Christmas Day and 1 Jan 2016, New Year Day. Do call for reservations at least two days in advance.

THYME KIARA

J-0G-14, SOHO KL, Solaris Mont Kiara

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 6206 3023 / +60111 447 2225

Website: www.thymekiara.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/THYMEKiara/

Business Hour:

Monday to Friday 11.00am to 11.00pm

Saturday & Sunday 11am to 1am

Celebrate Christmas The Nobu Way

Nobu, a name highly praised in the gastronomic world, goes all out to join in the festive cheer of the Christmas season with a gourmet Japanese Christmas Omakase. Opened late last year, Nobu Kuala Lumpur has been serving premium new style Japanese cuisine to many of their avid connoisseurs. Set on level 56 of Menara 3 Petronas tower, Nobu dining experience is further enhanced by the majestic and breath-taking 360 degree view of the cityscape. Designed by brilliant architect, Severine Tatangelo from Studio PCH, Nobu’s space is set with an open kitchen, Sushi bar, main dining room as well as Nobu lounge and bar.

Themed in rich cherry wood colours set with natural muted beige, the various sections of the restaurant are gorgeously lite up with soft warm lightings throughout the space. Japanese elements with plush greenery and rows of house Sakes completed the décor with modern elegance.

At the Nobu Lounge and Bar, a stunning bar is set in the center of the dim lite room, offering diners exclusive high-end sake and masterfully crafted cocktails. Spacious and inviting, this area is perfect for private functions as well as a place to indulge in a piece of the Nobu haven.

Celebrating Christmas the Nobu way, adventurous diners are invited to celebrate this festive holiday with Nobu’s Chrismas Omakase menu, available for lunch and dinner. Helmed by Ipoh born Executive Chef Philip Leong, Nobu’s Christmas Omakase is a creative set of new-style Japanese dishes injected with Nobu’s signature of Peruvian inspirations. The Christmas omakase is a 7-course dinner of newly crafted dishes complemented by a glass of Veuve Clicquot to ring in the festive cheers.

The first course was a joyous presentation of Botan Ebi Tartare with Caviar & Wasabi Soy Gelee. Botan Ebi or Botan Shrimpis a favorite in the Japanese community. The natural sweetness of the shrimp is much beloved by many and Japanese loves to enjoy them raw when they are fresh. It is minced finely into tartare and wrapped with zucchini before being topped with avocado and black caviar. Though it tasted really sweet with a light bouncy jelly texture, the tartare flavours are boosted to another level of flavours with the wasabi soy gelee. The delicate presence of wasabi enhanced the sweetness of the shrimp beautifully.

The next course is an ultimate one for sushi lovers. Nobu Matsuhisa is famed for his creative touches on sushi. While maintaining the true flavours of the Japanese delicacy, he still manages to get in his creative twist of raising the bar on the flavours of sushi by pairing them with his unique touches. Our Assorted Sushi of Chu-Toro, Kampachi, Ajiand Hotate had the whole table in silence. Paying full homage to the beautiful and perfect sized sushi, each piece had its own little finishing of flavours. Completed with imported maple leaves to add to the presentation, we worked our way from the lavish to the sweetest.

Chu-Toro, medium fatty tuna looked utterly divine with its pale pink marbling. Its taste was just as supreme as its fame. Kampachi or Amber Jack paired with a thinly sliced jalapeno chili and herb tasted sublime in the mouth with its after hint of heat while the Aji or Horse Mackerel has a tiny dot of grated ginger and scallion to counter the bold aroma and flavour of the fish. The ending was sweet and fresh Hotate scallop enhanced with a torn leave of cilantro and a tiny droplet of Rocoto chili paste. I am in sushi heaven…

More sashimi and this course cleverly incorporated thinly sliced Madai or red seabream into a salad. The Madai Sashimi & Baby Spinach Salad with Yuzu Dressing had fresh and vibrant citrusy notes from the yuzu while maintaining a delicate flavour. Crisp garlic slices, bonito shavings, micro pea shoots and twirls of beetroot completed the dish with finesse and more flavours.

Our third course of Seared Hotate with Shiso Salsa was pretty and colorful. Plump scallops beautifully seared till just cooked, is paired with a Shiso salsa of minced sweet onions and peppers. Unctuous and salty thin slices of Bottaga or cured fish roes gave a unique note to the scallops. I adored this course for its bold but well balanced flavours of salty, sweet, sour, spicy and very subtle hint of bitter note from all the combination of the ingredients. The salsa sauce was so good, we asked for a spoon to enjoy it!

After all the seafood courses, it was time for a meat course. Taking on the lux Kobe beef, Chef Leong’s creation of Kobe with Anticucho Miso with Baby Vegetables proved to be a crowd pleaser. Melt-in-the-mouth tender Kobe beef was grilled to perfection and sat on a bed of quinoa, dotted with pumpkin puree.

The smoky and moreish Anticucho Miso sauce, which has the Peruvian chili paste of red Aji Panca and orange Aji Amarillo combined with Saikyo miso, resulting in a unique and luscious earthy flavour. The pop of colors from roasted beets, peeled cherry tomato and roasted brussel sprout leaves gave the dish its wow presentation factor. One can add a gentle squeeze of calamansi lime to height up the sweet and sour notes. A stunning dish in presentation and flavours!

If you do not take beef, do let them know and Chef Leong will adjust the menu accordingly.

Ending the savory course was a light and refreshing Cold Inaniwa. Al dente flat Inaniwa udon is served simply in a sweet and refreshing broth with seaweed and scallion. Slurping the chilled noodles is simply delightful!

The Apple Compote & Azuki Mille Feuillelooked simple and yet complex. Thin green tea wafer brushed with gold dust, sandwiched yuzu cream with sweet and spiced apple compote to complete the mille feuille. On the side, creamy red bean paste and a quenelle of yuzu ice cream are paired to give the dish an East meets West finale. This dessert took me to cloud nine. It was not overly sweet and the green tea wafer really worked well with the tangy yuzu cream and sweet apples.

It’s definitely a different Christmas but what an impressive one!

The Christmas Omakase Dinner, priced at RM630 per person, will be open for two seatings with the first seating between 6.00pm – 6.30pm and the second between 9.00pm – 9.30pm. These seatings are open for reservations a month before.

The Lunch Menu on the other hand, will offer a 5-course Omakase set featuring selected dishes from the 7-course menu. The Christmas Omakase Lunch is priced at RM250 per person and is available during regular lunch hours on December 24 and 25, 2015. A la carte dishes will also be available to order, however lunch sets – apart from the Matsuhisa Bento, will not be.

For enquiries of to make reservations, please call 03 2164 5084 or Whatsapp 019 389 5085

NOBU KUALA LUMPUR

Menara 3 Petronas

Level 56 KLCC 50088 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +60 3 2164 5084/ +60 19 389 5085

Fax: + 60 2164 5085

Reservation: nobuklreservations@noburestaurants.com

Website: www.noburestaurants.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nobukl

Eat, Drink & Shop Till Drop!

As Malaysians, we love to shop when traveling abroad. There’s something about shopping overseas that seem to be our next favorite pastime besides eating! During my recent trip to London, we had some time in our schedule to do quite a fair bit of shopping. Though the high exchange currency did not help, it certainly also did not deter me from doing my share of shopping…

Bicester Village was on our schedule during our trip as organized by VisitBritain. The village style outlet shopping is simply a must when in London as one can shop for leading fashion brands at discounted prices. When I checked out Bicester Village over the web, I was thrilled to bits at the thoughts of having the chance to do some shopping while in London. Bicester Village, located at Oxfordshire, is one of the Collection of Chic Outlet Shopping Villages owned by Value Retail. It is also the biggest and oldest outlet shopping village in the Value Retail group with over 130 luxury brands congregated at one area, making perfect to shop till one drops.

While staying at Dorsett Shepherds Bush, I found out that hotel guests are entitled to enjoy an extra 10% VIP discount at Bicester Village. Music to my ears, this means more shopping with the savings! Make sure to visit the Hotel Concierge to get a VIP card for this extra discount and exchange it at the Bicester Village Visitor Centre to get the book for the extra 10% discount applicable to all brands except Prada.

Now as a tourist, one might wonder how to get to Bicester Village. Ever since the launch of the new Bicester Village Station, shoppers can now travel with ease and comfort to the outlet shopping by Chiltern Railways. There are two locations to travel in London to get to Bicester Village Station – London Marylebone or Oxford Parkway.

Since our nearest was Marylebone, we started out pretty early in the day and arrive at the Marylebone Station. Everyone was excited at the thought of shopping that we pretty much couldn’t wait to be there. However, we did stop to admire the Marylebone Station at all its bustling actions. Marylebone Stationis a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. Built in 1899, there are now six platforms at the station. This is the youngest and smallest of London’s main line terminal stations and the only one to host only diesel trains as it doesn’t have any electrified lines.

To get to Marylebone Station from Dorsett Shepherds Bush, simply use the Underground Tube Station which is only 3 minute walk away from the hotel. Take the Tube to the Marylebone Station to connect your trip to Bicester Village.

One can purchase your ticket at the Marylebone Station while you are there or one can also purchase them online prior to your travel. A round trip ticket from Marylebone Station to Bicester Village is priced at estimated 49 pounds and above, depending on your traveling time at peak and non-peak hours. It is a comfortable 46 minutes ride on the Chiltern Railways train. There are two trains running every hour daily from this station.

The train is very comfortable and clean. The interior is well-kept. Choose from the rows of seats or head to the carriage with seats and table where one can do some work while traveling. There is even a quiet zone area if you wish to not be disturb. There are power plugs for your electronic items as well as Free Wifi from Chiltern Railways.

Our 46 minutes flew by without us even realizing it and soon we arrived at Bicester Village Station right on the dot as per schedule. Right at the station, there is the Bicester Village Visitor Centre at your service. Simply head on over there for information and tips on shopping. Bicester Village also provides plenty of services to make your shopping easier such as Hands-free Shopping, Free Wifi, Tourist Information, Luggage Drop service, Tax Refund and Money Change, Children’s Play Area and more.

Now before you start your shopping, you would need to recharge up with some food. Because once you start, you may not want to stop... and that’s why I would like to share that there is this really awesome place to grab a bite at Bicester Village. There are quite a few places to eat there but I highly recommend The Farmshop Restaurant & Cafe.

The Farmshop Restaurant & Café is an all-day dining restaurant from Soho House & Co. It is a beautiful space that is casual and chic, comfortable and spacious. Seating 200 covers, the restaurant has cobblestone floors, barn doors and shabby chic décor. There is the main dining room as well as two private rooms and an outdoor terrace seating. Serving rustic British food, The Farmshop menu has lots of classics to hearty farmhouse dishes made from locally sourced produce.

Our lunch that day was one of my favorite meal in London!

The salads are simply amazing in flavours and textures. Using the freshest produce, each salad is also vibrant in natural colors. The sweet and fresh flavours are hearty and healthy as well. I would love to be able to replicate these salads at home.

Halloumi, Roast Vegetables, Basil

Mixed Grains, Feta, Cauliflower, Mint

Roast Squash, Puy Lentils, Basil

Red and Golden Beetroots, Endive, Goats Curd, Walnut

The main dishes we had were rustic and classics of British food. The roast chicken was moist and jam packed with flavours from the spice rub while the poached salmon was tasty and melt-in-the-mouth goodness. The food was cooked in a wood oven so there is a smoky and rustic flavours which makes the dishes extra delicious. Simple ingredients but cooked perfectly well…

Spitroast Chicken, Coleslaw, Aioli

Scottish Salmon, Butter Lettuce, Lemon Mayo

Dessert also ended on a high note. From refreshing tart lemon posset, which is a creamy and smooth chilled custard to hearty classics of Bramley apple pie with ice cream and a decadent flourless chococate cake, I had wished that I had more tummy space to enjoy all these amazing desserts. Never a fan of apple pie, I even enjoy their Bramley Apple Pie with its gorgeous short crust pastry blanketing a wonderful spice apple filling. The hot pie was contrasted with scoops of cold vanilla ice cream… heavenly!

Lemon Posset

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Bramley Apple Pie with Ice Cream

After a wonderful meal, we were ready to shop. With over 130 luxury brands at the outlet village, one really needs a lot of time to browse through all of them. Bicester Village continues to grow and add more luxury brands over the time.

There are friendly assistants all over the village to assist at any time!

GUCCI

LALIQUE

LE CREUSET

BURBERRY

Other major brands include Michael Kors, Mont Blanc, Prada, BOSS, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, DKNY, Coach, Calvin Klein, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Longchamp, Ralph Lauren, Timberland and more. Visit their website for the full list of brands.

Don’t forget to ask for your Tax refund forms while buying as the outlets will individually print out tax refund forms for you for your claim at the ChangeGroup for instant refunds or at Heathrow airport.

It’s best to go early as there are plenty to see and buy. After our shopping trip, we took the Chiltern Railways train back to Marylebone Station and the Underground Tube back to Dorsett Shepherds Bush. Tired but utterly satisfying with lots of packages filled with happiness…

CHILTERN RAILWAYS

Contact: +44 (0)845 005 165

Website: www.chilternrailways.co.uk

BICESTER VILLAGE

50 Pingle Drive

Bicester

Oxfordshire

OX26 6WD

England

Bicester Visitor Centre Contact: 01869 366 266

Bicester Village Reception on +44 (0) 1869 323 200

Email: BicesterVisitorCentre@BicesterVillage.com

Website: www.bicestervillage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BicesterVillage

Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday 09:00 - 21:00

Sundays: 9:00-20:00*

THE FARMSHOP RESTAURANT & CAFE

Unit 135, Bicester Village

50 Pingle Drive, Bicester

OX26 6WD

Contact: +44 (0)1865 686400

Website: www.farmshopbicester.com

Opening Hours:

Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 10.00pm

Sunday 9.30am to 10.00pm

VISIT BRITAIN

Website: www.visitbritain.com

*Look out for more posts on Shopping in London!

London Stories

FlyMe To London Part 1 - Malaysia Airlines Berhad + KLIA Golden and PlatinumLounge

FlyMe To London Part 2 – Dorsett Shepherds Bush, West London

FlyMe To London Part 3 - Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

FlyMe To London Part 4 – Asian Art Exhibition at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

FlyMe To London Part 5 - Bicester Village Outlet Shopping by Chiltern Railways +Lunch at The Farmshop

A New Refreshed Kopitiam at Café Aroma!

To finish the year with a big bang, Dorsett Grand Subang’s Café Aroma takes on a refreshed new concept of ‘Kopitiam’ through its menu and its ambiance. Starting this December 2015, Sous Chef Shabani Md. Akhir and team has whipped up a new kopitiam menu with a 5-star twist of classic street food favorites.

Café Aroma is set with small touches of kopitiam décor and diners can even catch actions of bread being toasted before butter and kaya are slapped on. Enjoy light snacks, quick lunches as well as dinner of Kopitiam faovrites served every Monday to Friday from 12.00 noon to 10.00 pm at Café Aroma.

Light snacks are great at any time of the day. Glad to also say that our Malaysian cuisine has a large array of snacks that I always enjoy whether it be breakfast, lunch, tea or any other time of the day. Café Aroma has quite a few Malaysian favorite snacks such as Homemade Egg Curry Puff (RM12) and Deep Fried Spring Roll (RM12).

The Homemade Egg Curry Puff is big in size. Stuffed with lots of spiced potato and chicken filling and boiled egg, the curry puff has got decent flavours. My only grip would be that I would wish for a thinner skin. The Deep Fried Spring Roll was stuffed with lots of vegetable, give the crispy rolls a fresh and delicious sweetness. Both makes decent snacks any time of the day!

Some classics just never go out of demand. Simple as it is, toast or steam bread is always a crowd favorite, especially during breakfast or tea time or supper. At Café Aroma, diners can also enjoy these with cups of hot coffee or tea. Enjoy their Roti Apollo with Kaya and Butter (RM7) or go for the standard toast or steamed White or Whole Meal Roti sandwiched with creamy butter and eggy kaya jam. There is also Half Boiled Eggs (RM4) to go with the toast or steam roti.

For a fancier sandwich, go for the Hong Kong Style French Toast (RM12). Sandwiched with chicken ham and cheese and dipped in egg batter before being fried, this one also makes a nice light lunch.

Our nation’s all-time-favorite dish of coconut rice with sambal is also available. Chef Shabani uses three types of rice in his Nasi Lemak Bungkus with Sotong Sambal (RM9) to achieve the light, fluffy and creamy grains. Served packed in banana leaf, the whole package is deliciously authentic.

The rice is very ‘lemak’ yet not heavy and the sambal has a good balance of savory and sweet with strips of brown squid. A wedge of boiled egg, roasted peanuts and fresh cucumber slices completed the package. This one is so good that one packet may not be enough!

There are also plenty of noodle choices at Café Aroma. Chef Shabani and team whips up a mean bowl of Mee Rebus Mak Limahas well as Nyonya Curry Laksa.

The Mee Rebus Mak Limah (RM12) has a bowl of yellow noodles topped with cucur, boiled egg, taukua, sotong sambal, fried shallot, spring onion, lime and a thick rich unctuous kuah mee rebus. It’s the gravy that make this bowl so piquantly delicious. It’s savory with hits of heat as well as lots of spices that gave the gravy the punch of flavours. Yum…

The Nyonya Curry Laksa (RM25) had a spiced laden gravy that is also decently creamy. There’s lots of beancurd puff, blanched vegetables with chicken char siew, boiled egg and mint leaves together with noodles that goes into this bowl. Add a squeeze of calamansi lime and savor the noodles with the side of robust and pungent sambal.

There is also the northern hit of Penang Asam Laksa (RM18). It may not be perfect but the rich fish gravy with sour notes is decently close in flavours. It has got a good hit of tangy notes from the tamarind with lots of fish flakes. Add on a drizzle of prawn paste to boost up the piquant and bold flavours of this classic dish.

For diners seeking more comfort food, a bowl of Claypot Loh Shi Fun (RM15) might just be the bowl. Drenched in aromatic dark soy sauce and other seasoning, the Loh Shi Fun is also topped with minced meat, mushrooms, fried shallot, spring onion and an egg. Mix them all together to create a slippery and smooth textures of soft and chewy noodles with a sweet and savory taste.

Café Aroma is perfect throughout the day for bites of Kopitiam favorites as well as a place to unwind with cups of coffee or tea. Enjoy Chef Shabani’s signature dishes set in a posh kopitiam ambiance today…

For reservations, kindly contact: +603 5031 6060 ext 1919

CAFÉ AROMA

Dorsett Grand Subang

Jalan SS 12/1,

Bandar Sunway,

47500 Subang Jaya,

Selangor, Malaysia

Tel: +60 3-5031 6060

Fax: +603 5031 8686

Email: info.subang@dorsetthotels.com

Website: www.dorsetthotels.com/malaysia/subang/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DorsettGrandSubang

Business Hours:

Lunch: 12:00 noon - 2:30 pm

Dinner: 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm

Have Yourselves a Merry La Risata Christmas!

More merriment awaits at La Risata Bar Pizzeria Ristorante and it’s a delicious one too. This festive month, make sure to visit La Risata at Medan Damansara for an unforgettable holiday feast filled with lots of sumptuous Christmas or New Year dishes. Time is precious and holiday seasons do kept everyone exceptionally busy. With little time left for festive dinners, diners can now enjoy a feast at La Risata or at the very comforts of their own home with La Risata’stakeaway festive menu.

La Risata is one of my personal favorite places to dine. Opened since 1996, the restaurant also has another branch in Ampang. After my first visit last year, I really have a soft spot for this restaurant serving Italian cuisine. I was absolutely smitten with their pizza and pasta and had return on my own with my family to enjoy the dishes here.

This evening, a few of us gathered here again for a sneak peek at their Christmas and New Year’s menu. Going traditional, La Risata is offering a range of holiday classics where diners can mix and match to create their very own feast.

Pizza Mozzarella

As mentioned again, La Risata’s pizza is superb! Made in their wood oven, the pizzas here have a really scrumptious rustic crust with their house made tomato sauce and choices of ingredients. We had their Pizza Mozzarella with a topping of homemade smoked mozzarella, anchovy and marinated grilled sweet peppers. Though it looks simple, the flavours are spot on. Lots of various sweetness from the tomato sauce and grilled peppers worked well with creamy and smoky mozzarella cheese with hints of salty anchovies.

Tonno Pinna Blu Alla Griglia Con Gnocchi Nero Di Seppia

The next dish of Grilled Blue Fin Tuna with Squid Ink Gnocchi in Lemon Butter Sauce showed off the chef’s creativity where he makes the softest and fluffiest gnocchi stained with squid ink. Smothered in a pool of citrusy creamy sauce and crowned with grilled tuna slices and rocket leaves, the dish had all the flavours of salty, sweet, tangy and finished with a hint of bitterness from the rockets leaves. I adored the little pillows of gnocchi so much I did had a few more than my serving.

Insalata Razzo E Pera

Minimal ingredients on a dish reaffirms that one only needs a few to make a dish stand out. The Rocket and Pear Salad with Lemon Dressing & Shaved Parmesan is one of such dishes. The light citrusy and bitter rocket leaves paired with sweet crisp pear slices and robust salty parmesan has great flavours and is further enhanced by a vibrant lemon vinaigrette.

Tacchino Arrosto

What’s a Christmas feast without the classic turkey? La Risata’s Roast Turkey with Traditional Chestnut Stuffing, Roasted Vegetable with Cranberry Sauce and Giblet Sauce (RM338++) is certainly a treat for many. The Roast Turkey is beautifully moist and comes with lots of beautifully roasted Brussel sprouts, carrots and potatoes. The vegetables were cooked just right with a tender but firm Brussel sprouts, fluffy and creamy potatoes with a light crust and soft baby carrots. What makes this extra special is their house made giblet gravy and tangy cranberry sauce which we all cannot get enough off!

The Roast Turkey with Traditional Chestnut Stuffing, Roasted Vegetable with Cranberry Sauce and Giblet Sauce is available for dine-in or takeaway with advance notice. A 4kg turkey serves 10 to 12 persons. Should diners want individual servings instead of whole turkey, do call and ask as La Risata may have smaller servings available depending on availability.

Cosciotto D’Agnello

La Risata’s Roast Leg of Lamb with Root Vegetable & Rosemary Sauce (RM228++) is simply the best lamb I have had this year. It is just cooked to perfection in my book. Cooked to medium with a lush pink inside, the lamb has a very moreish spice crust that really takes the flavours to a lusciousness. The meat is so juicy and tender that it was a crowd favorite that evening. The 3kg roast leg of lamb comes with sautéed chat potatoes, mixed vegetables and fresh rosemary sauce.

Every festive feast is never complete without desserts. La Risata is offering their festive signatures of Tiramisu (RM160++), Zucotto and Torta Di Zucca (RM80++).

Tiramisu

Enjoy the classic Italian favorite of Tiramisu with its layers of coffee soaked sponge fingers and fluffy creamy mascarpone cheese. Finished with hits of bittersweet cocoa powder and fresh berries, it’s a dessert that continues to win many hearts all the time at an Italian meal.

Zucotto

Zucotto, a beautiful semi frozen dessert from Florence, Italy, also makes a show stopper in presentation. The dome is made from layers of cake and ice cream. There are alcohol versions and none alcohol ones too. The version here is gorgeous as we enjoyed the frozen fluffy and icy treat after a meal of meaty dishes. It really doubles as a palate cleanser and is refreshing as a finisher.

Torta Di Zucca

Saving the last and the best of dessert is Torta Di Zucca or Pumpkin Pie. This dessert took me to cloud nine. Not the ordinary pumpkin pie that I always enjoy, La Risata version is simply divine. A beautiful almond crust with a layer of spiced pumpkin finished with more almond crumbles, I fought hard for a second piece of this awesome pie. A must-order if you love pumpkin pie as this version really is fabulous and perfect for the festive holidays!!

The above selections are available from 5 December 2015 till 10 January 2016 (or while stocks last) from all La Risata outlets. Make your reservations and orders at least 3 days in advance to avoid disappointment this holiday!

Besides La Risata, do visit the group’s other restaurant, The Daily Grind for their festive menu of Xmas Burger (RM38), Roast Spring Chicken(RM48), Roast Mustard Lamb (RM48), Roast Turkey with Trimmings (RM338 – 5kg), OMG! Burger (RM380 – serves 8 to 12 pax) and more. Desserts of Red Velvet Log Cake (RM65 - 1kg), Salted Caramel Log Cake (RM85 – 1kg) and more are also available for dine-in or takeaway. Call 03 2287 6708 for reservation and orders. (Festive dishes take 3 days to prepare)

LA RISATA BAR PIZZERIA RISTORANTE

Medan Damansara Branch

128, Jalan Kasah,

50490 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03 2095 9572

Fax: 03 2095 9589

Email: info@la-risata.com

Ampang Branch

16, Persiaran Ampang,

55000, Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03 4252 6269

Fax: 03 4257 9503

Website: www.la-risata.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/larisatarestaurant

With all the festive cheers around the corner, parties and potlucks are here! Festive seasons are the perfect excuse to indulge, have fun and create happy and delicious memories with family, loved ones and friends. I for one, loves to throw parties. In fact I still do every year during festive times. It’s also my excuse to cook up a storm and get together with everyone to catch up. I have had endless parties where I have cook everything from scratch and it takes time and planning for it. Over the years, I have also learn to make things that are simple and can be prepared ahead. No point in slaving over the stove on the day itself and get yourself so tired that you cannot enjoy your own party.

This festive holiday, I would like to share a very simple recipe that even the most novice cook can whip up in no time at all. Not necessary the healthiest recipe but let me reassure you how yummy this one is. It’s great as an appetizer or snack at small or big parties or potlucks. Diners of all ages can’t resist picking up one to try. Once they tried, they tend to go back for more. And since I have made this several times at my parties, this dish is always the first to be polish off. It probably takes less time to devour this dish than for me to make it!

Bacon, it’s like the ultimate porky ingredient of most foodies. I swear that bacon can make any dish delicious when cook right. For this holiday, I am combining my favorite LINGHAM’S chili sauce with bacon in LINGHAM’s Mini Chili Honey Bacon Dogs! You get familiar taste of LINGHAM’sspicy and sticky sweet flavours working its magic with salty and moreish bacon notes. It’s also great with cocktails, beers or anything for that matter.

The recipe is super simple and has only 5 ingredients. You can even prepare this in advance and baked it on the day of the party. You can also switch up the ingredients easily. If it makes you feel better, serve them with raw vegetables of carrots, cucumbers or cherry tomatoes. The recipe can also be easily double or triple up. Easy, effortless and pretty addictive. Serve them hot or cold, they still taste yummy… take my advice, make a big batch of this and it still won’t be enough!

For more recipes and information, visit LINGHAM’swebsite www.lingham.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/lingham.sauces

LINGHAM’s Mini Chili Honey Dogs

Ingredients

12 cocktail hotdogs (or sausages)

6 bacon rashers

2 tbsp LINGHAM’s Original Chili Sauce

2 tbsp Honey

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Toothpicks

Method

Preheat oven to 200 degree Celsius for 10 minutes.

Coat hotdogs with Worcestershire sauce. If you are not using this, just skip the step.

Cut bacon into two to wrap the hotdogs.

Secure the bacon with toothpicks to the hotdog firmly so it doesn’t unwrap when baking.

Drizzle honey all over the bacon wrapped hotdogs.

Drizzle on LINGHAM’s chili sauce over the bacon wrapped hotdogs.

Mix well to coat all the hotdogs.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Take them out and turn them over and spoon the sauces from the tray over the hotdogs again.

Bake them again for another 10 minutes, watching during the last few minutes to make sure they don’t burn.

Remove and serve. If there is access sauce on the tray, spoon the sticky sauce over the hotdogs.

Extra Notes and Tips

Try it with LINGHAM’s other variation of chili sauces – Thai, Garlic, Ginger or Extra Hot
Use Maple Syrup instead of Honey for richer sweetness
Use your favorite sausages instead of hotdogs
Add more honey and chili sauce to your liking
Each oven is slightly different so adjust your oven temperature accordingly
Try making them for BBQ party where you prepare everything and grill them over fire

A Christmas Menu plus The New Delicious Menu

With Christmas just around the corner, everyone is looking forward to a feast of Christmas flavours and indulgence. Delicious’ CEO, Steve Allen, has created a new Delicious menu in conjunction with their A Delicious Christmas specials available at all their six Delicious outlets starting December 2015.

No stranger in our F&B scene, Delicious, owed by Eastern & Oriental Group, started out as a tearoom at 1 Utama Shopping Centre back in 2004. It has long grown in many ways from expanding its menu to a wholesome spread of dishes as well as its famous dessert menu. Today, The Delicious Group has a chain of 6 Deliciousand 3 Simply d Cafes as well as a catering service in the Klang Valley.

We visited the original 1 Utama Shopping Centre Delicious Café one weekend for a taste of their Christmas menu as well as their new Delicious menu. The café is cosy with a very relax and stylish ambiance. Themed in their signature turquoise blue interior throughout the café, there are also the quirky birdcages and stylized trees that represents the cafes’ signature looks.

First up, the Delicious Christmas Menu!

Roasted Turkey Breast & Stuffed Leg with Cranberries, Roasted Vegetables in Chili & Herbs

CEO and Chef Steve Allen and team is serving up their version of the classic roast turkey with a creative touch. Diners can enjoy the Roasted Turkey Breast & Stuffed Leg with Cranberries, Roasted Vegetables in Chili & Herbs (RM36.50) at all Delicious outlets this festive month. Presented simply with minimal touches and allowing the turkey to be the center of attention, it was a lovely plate at sight.

Turkey is prepared two ways with the breast being roasted and the dark meat of the leg is stuffed into a roulade. The breast meat is beautifully tender and moist, the roulade tasted even better with its richer dark meaty notes and delicate stuffing. The bed of tender roasted potatoes, carrots and Brussel sprouts are yummy too. Coupled with a beautiful dark and robust turkey jus and fruity tangy cranberry sauce, this plate rocked in flavours and textures.

One can also order the whole Roasted Turkey Breast Y& Stuffed Leg with Cranberries, Roasted Vegetables in Chili & Herbs for your party. A 5-6kg turkey with all the trimmings are priced at RM445. This is available till 28December 2015. A minimum of 3 working days (excluding public holidays & weekends) advance notice are required.

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Creamed Mushrooms, Asparagus & Roasted Vegetables

Next festive dish to be savored was a classic of Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Creamed Mushrooms, Asparagus & Roasted Vegetables (RM50). Cooked to your preference, the beef fillet was tender and paired so well with the creamy mushroom sauce. I enjoyed the earthy notes of the chunks of mushrooms as well as the charred asparagus. It’s a dish that carnivores will definitely enjoy.

Salmon Gravadlax with Walnut, Lemon & Horseradish Salad

Salmon is always a crowd pleaser and Chef Allen has dishes up his version of Salmon Gravadlax with Walnut, Lemon & Horseradish Salad (RM18.50). The lightly salty cured salmon was creamy and quite the indulgence. It was balanced up with a light tossing of romaine lettuce, walnuts and herb in a citrusy lemon dressing with a horseradish kick.

Mincemeat Crumble Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

For a Christmas sweet ending, there is the Mincemeat Crumble Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream (RM14.50). Mincemeat pie is a classic British favorite during this festive holiday. A creative twist had us enjoying a slice of warm and spiced up mincemeat pie topped with a streusel of buttery crumbles together with a contrasting hit of cold vanilla ice cream. It definitely reminds me of Christmas with all the aroma of the spices and sweet notes. Recommended to share as it is very rich…

A Delicious Christmasstarts on 14 December for a limited period up till the 31 December 2015. Along with the festive menu, Deliciousalso has a Christmas Takeaway menu filled with Roasted Turkey Crown, Beef Wellington Tenderloin, Roasted Stuffed Leg of Lamb, Baked Fillet of Salmon and more as well as a list of festive desserts for your Christmas Parties at home. For takeaway menu, a three day advance notice is required.

Besides the Christmas Menu, Chef Allen has revamped his menu to introduce his latest New Delicious Menu from all his recent travels to UK and Barcelona, Spain.

Crunchy Chicken Wing with a Sesame & Seaweed Crust, Mustard Mayonnaise

Kicking of the new 16 dishes list is a few appetizers, starting with Crunchy Chicken Wing with a Sesame & Seaweed Crust, Mustard Mayonaise (RM18). A unique touch with the seaweed crusts but the wings are so tasty. It is very crunchy on the crust and soft and moist on the flesh. I do like this with the mustard mayonnaise as it added a zesty note to it.

Pumpkin Risotto Balls with Mushrooms & Rosemary Risotto Balls with Pesto Mayonnaise

I love the Pumpkin Risotto Balls with Mushrooms & Rosemary Risotto Balls with Pesto Mayonnaise (RM13.50) so much, I polished quite a few of these that day. Crispy golden crust that unveiled creamy soft and tasty risotto rice stuffed with lots of earthy mushrooms. It is very rich and I do like the pesto mayo that gave the heavy and luscious rice ball a fresh herb taste. Best for sharing unless you are a big risotto fan like me…

Duck Arrabiata Linguine in Spicy Tomato Sauce with Black Olives, Capers & Parsley

Chef Allen was definitely inspired by visit to Barcelona and though heavy hearted, he replaced a Delicious signature of Confit Suck Spaghettini with his new creation of Duck Arrabiata Linguine in Spicy Tomato Sauce with Black Olives, Capers & Parsley (RM29.50). The result is a fresh and gorgeous plate of slow cooked shredded duck coked in rich and robust tomato sauce pumped up with olives, capers and parsley. The flavours are rich and has a little heat factor. It’s also very hearty and certainly makes you want to eat more.

Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut & Beef Serunding Salad in a Spicy Lime Dressing

Salads are what Delicious is famous for when they started out. So many diners do tend to visit Delicious for their fresh and creative salads. New to the salad list is Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut & Beef Serunding Salad in a Spicy Lime Dressing (RM26.50). Taking our local dish and jazzing up with creamy and nutty roasted pumpkins, fresh cuts of papaya, crisp greens and a generous sprinkling of beef serunding in a spicy tangy dressing showed us that there no boundaries to a delicious salad. It’s interesting as it has savory, sweet, tangy and freshness of flavours that is a bit unusual but nevertheless enjoyable.

Chicken, Avocado & Pine Nut Wrap with Cherry Tomatoes, Parmesan & Cucumber

For light lunches, try their latest Chicken, Avocado & Pine Nut Wrap with Cherry Tomatoes, Parmesan & Cucumber (RM28). Wholesome, light and definitely tasty with the lean grilled chicken, creamy avocado, nutty pine nuts and all the rest of the fresh vegetables.

Chocolate, Coconut & Pecan Cake

Desserts are a must, especially when they all sound so amazing on the menu. Visit their cakes showcase chiller and you will also have a tough choice in selecting just one. This beauty of Chocolate, Coconut & Pecan Cake (RM14.50) looks and taste divine.

Pineapple, Watermelon, Passionfruit & Lychee Sundae

Else go for a fully loaded sundae of Pineapple, Watermelon, Passionfruit & Lychee Sundae (RM16). A tall icy and creamy treat of ice cream with lots of fresh fruits that will have everyone digging in with gusto!

Coconut Cake with Fresh Thai Coconut

If you are ever at Delicious, you must and I reiterate, must try their signature Coconut Cake with Fresh Thai Coconut (RM13.50). The fluffy and creamy cake has such a wonderful coconut flavour and every bite melts like a sweet dream on the palate.

Enjoy thirst quenching beverages of Apple & Mint Lemonade (RM13.50) and Rose Lychee Frostie (RM12.50) with your meal!

There is a lot happening at Delicious this month and moving forward. Catch their BUY 1 FREE 1 promotions happening every Monday and Tuesday as well as a new Tapas inspired menu featuring 10 small dishes showcasing from January to March. Visit their Website and Facebook for more details of the promotions and the locations of the Delicious outlets.

DELICOUS

Lot G316, Ground Floor, One Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing),

1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama,

47800 Petaling Jaya

Tel: +603 7724 1086

Website: www.thedeliciousgroup.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedeliciousgroup

Business Hours:

MON-THU: 11am - 10pm (last order 9.30pm)

FRI & SAT: 10am-10.30pm (last order 9.30pm)

SUN & PH: 10am - 10pm (last order 9.30pm)

A Mischievous Fun at Prego with Bubbalicious Christmas Buffets

Festive seasons are the perfect excuse to indulge and pop open the bubbly… after all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones. This festive month, The Westin Kuala Lumpur is offering lots of festive deliciousness with an array of different feast from different cuisines in all their restaurants. Whether one choose to dine Italian, Chinese, Latin or a little of everything, there’s something scrumptious happening at all the hotel’s restaurants in December.

We visited Prego, the hotel’s Italian restaurant famed for their Sunday Bubbalicious Brunch to check out what this Christmas and New Year has to offer. Prego is a multi-award winning ‘Ristorante Italiano’ where the artistic flavours of Italy come to life. The multi-level restaurant has an open live kitchen set with an inside and outside dining area. The earthy and warm themed interiors are brighten up by the spots of colors from the various hanging lights.

Italian Chef Vincenzo Sirna and team has set a flamboyant spread of Italian delicacies to satisfy even the most discerning Italian diner. The plethora of Italian spread with over 100 items atop the buffet spread includes elaborated Christmas dishes, gorgeous pasta, festive wood-fired pizzas and heart-warming desserts. It’s a true Italian festive extravaganza that will have you say ‘Mamma Mia’!

If you opt for the free flow Moët & Chandon Champagne, you will definitely be having a bubby good time with the premium champagne and the Italian feast!

Cheers to the festive season!

Do start the feast the Italian way with a large spread of Antipasto. Chef Vincenzo has gone all out and whip up a list of scrumptious antipasto of Squid Ink Arancini witch Crab Sauce, Quiche with Italian Lamb Sausage and Radicchio Trevisano, Vine Ripened Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella Salad with Basil Pesto Emulsion, Black Angus Beef Carpaccio, Smoked Duck with Lentils, Seared Albacore Tuna with Borlotti Beans and Italian Parsley Sauce, Green Asparagus with Black Truffle and Parmigiano Reggiano Crackling, Italian Christmas Salad and more.

Don’t miss the Squid Ink Arancini with Crab Sauce and Quiche with Italian Lamb Sausage and Radicchio Trevisano. Looking unconventional but is absolutely delicious, the Squid Ink Arancini with Crab Sauce has such robust and rich flavours. The Italian Torta of Quiche with Italian Lamb Sausage and Radicchio Trevisano has flaky and buttery pastry with a savory and moreish filling.

From the Seafood on Ice, diners will feast on Live Pacific Oysters, Tiger Prawns, Flower Crab and Blue Mussel served with condiments of Orange Cocktail Sauce, Lemon Aioli, Shallot Mignonette Tabasco and fresh lemon. There are also the Charcuterie of Beef Pepperoni, Turkey Salami, Beef Salami, Beef Bresaola and Traditional Pâté en Croûte.

Enticing pasta lovers are a list of Chef Vincenzo’s signatures of Black Ink Spaghetti with Baby Octopus Ragout, Homemade Chicken Ravioli with Cacio & Pepe Sauce, Orecchiette alla Campidanese (Orecchiette Pasta with Lamb Sausage, Saffron and Wild Fennel Seeds) together with Risotto with Prawns and Caviar and Prego’s Signature Risotto with Wild Mushrooms served by chef at table side.

Fresh hot gourmet pizzas from Prego’s wood oven will please diners of all ages from its list of Margherita, Boscaiola, Diavola, Sondrio and more. Must-tries are Sondriowith its tempting list of Beef Bresaola, Tomato, Taleggio Cheese and Caramelizzed Onions while Boscaiolais perfect for vegetarian with lots of assorted Mushrooms, Tomato and Cheese.

Main hightlights of the festive buffet would have to be the Slow Roasted Christmas Prego’s Signature Truffle Chicken with Truffle and Chestnut Stuffing, Cranberry Compote and Giblet Gravy and the Wood Fired Whole Roasted Lamb with Rosemary Jus. From the spit roast and charcoal grill, there’s plenty of tempting Lamb Sausage, Italian Spiced Chicken Sausage, Beef Sirloin Steak and Mediterranean Seafood Skewer served with plenty of side dishes and sauces.

It’s a tough one but do save some room for desserts! Prego’s Italian festive desserts include the traditional Panettone with Zabbaione Sauce, Christmas Stolen, Chestnut Mont Blanc , Limocello Cheese Cake, Prego’s Tiramisu, Raspberry Panna Cotta, Prego’s Signature Hot Chocolate Fondant, Chocolate Almond Yule Log, Panpepato (Italian Christmas Fruit Bread), Torrone, Biscotti, Italian Xmas Cookies, Chocolates and Candies and so much more. There will also be Prego’s Selection of Italian Gelato and Sorbetti from the frozen bar as well. It will be a ‘Delizioso’ feast at Prego this festive holidays with lots of bubblies and sweets…

PREGO Christmas Eve Bubbalicious Dinner

6.30pm – 10.30pm

PREGOChristmas Day Bubbalicious Brunch

12.00pm – 3.00pm

PREGONew Year’s Eve Bubbalicious Dinner

6.30pm – 11.00pm

Price:

RM198nett per person (food only)

Add RM140nett per person to enjoy free flow wine, beer, sparkling wines, soft drinks and juices

Add RM240nett per person to enjoy free flow Moët & Chandon Champagne, wine, beer, sparkling wines, soft drinks and juices

PREGONew Year’s Eve Party Pack

Be bubbly all the way and continue the celebration for 2016 new year countdown with special price on Champagne and Ala Carte items after 11.00pm.

To make a booking or enquiries for festive promotions in any one of our restaurants, please contact Westin Dining at 03 2773 8338 or visit www.westindining.com.my

PREGO

The Westin Kuala Lumpur

199 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 603 2731 8333

Fax: 603 2731 8000

Website: www.thewestinkualalumpur.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/westin.kl

More Shopping in London…

London is a shoppers’ paradise. Continuing from my previous post on my visit to Bicester Village by Chiltern Railways, we also visited a few other shopping places that travelers should visit when in London. Sometimes it’s not just about shopping but there are plenty of places with more to offer than just shopping. Thanks to UK Visit Britain, we had the opportunity to visit two more places that one should visit while in London for shopping in style at Burlington Arcade and Westfield London Shopping Centre plus some history of London as well as every little kid’s paradise in Kidzania London!

BURLINGTON ARCADE

It started for a number of reasons. It is also England’s oldest and longest shopping arcade. Lord George Cavendish had his architect Samuel Ware designed the now famous covered promenade of shops of Burlington Arcade which opened officially in 1819. While it was said that the 72 small-storey was built for the public, it was also said that this arcade was meant to provide jobs to industrious females after the war. Lord Cavendish also wanted a place where his wife could shop nearby and to keep her entertain and made sure the arcade had plenty for all of her and her friends.

To fully know Burlington Arcade, one should sign up for their bespoke experience through a Beadle Tour. We had the honors of having Mark Lord, Head Beadle, who took us through an amazing and informative experience through Burlington Arcade. The Beadle Guard is a liveried member of the smallest private police force who guards the arcade and who also acts as an informative historical guide of the Burlington Arcade. Mark, with his 13 years of experience, was certainly very knowledgeable and informative throughout our tour.

Burlington Arcade is now a luxury landmark in London. With over 40 exclusive shops and luxury designer brands, it is long been favored by distinguished Royals, mega celebrities and of course, the cream of the British society. The whole arcade is always maintained and kept to its original architecture and interior as much as possible. There are new updates that include new flooring to counter the weather conditions and a new ramp as well to make it friendly for the disabled.

While high end and premium brands made up the tenants at Burlington Arcade, there are also affordable items for purchase. Jewelry made headlines here. From antique or vintage jewellery to modern pieces, it’s all about the glitter, the bling and the gold. Milleperle houses some of the most gorgeous pearls I have ever seen. Strings of lustre pearls in every majestic shades of cream to pink and grey, the thought of owning one is certainly not impossible…

Nourbel & Le Cavelier is another one to seek when one looks for exquisite pieces of or antique or vintage jewellery. Other jewelers are Michael Rose, Carat London, Tessier, Hancocks and more.

Hancocks, a distinguished jeweler by royal decree, was commissioned to produce the Victoria Cross after only eight months since it opened. Today, Hancocks is still entrusted to the design and the production of the Victoria Cross medal, the highest military medal awarded to military individuals in honor of their recognition of acts of gallantry and bravery.

Fashion houses carrying high end fashion such as Chanel, House of Cashmere, Harrys of London, Lulu Guinness and more are also some of the tenants at Burlington Arcade. When one carries a Kwanpen handbag, one is assured of premium handmade crocodile leather handbags made with the finest quality leather and 18K gold or palladium hardware components and craftsmanship. Kwanpen, originates from Singapore, offers limited handcrafted designs so when one is carrying a Kwanpen, you’ll know you’ll be the only few in the world who has this Kwanpen bag.

Handcrafted gentlemen shoes from Harrys of Londonand Church’s provides bespoke experiences during and after sales services with their personal one-to-one fitting services, professional advice on fit and style as well as complimentary shoe shine on their footwear. There is also a traditional shoe shine service at the arcade where Romi and team uses 100% horse hair brushes with the finest creams and polishes in their service so your shoes leave gleaming and looking brand new!

Fragrances from luxurious houses of fragrances like Chanel, Penhaligon’s, Frédéric Malle, Roja Parfums and more continue to inculcate confidence and beauty in the women who wear it. One-to-one fragrance consultation provides the bespoke experience together with beauty as well. Bottles after bottles of fragrances dressed the window, tempting many to go in and purchase these lux fragrances.

Watch lovers will be pleased with the exclusive and prestige century renowned watchmakers who offer pieces of antique or vintage as well as the latest pieces of the finest crafted watches in the world from David Guggan, Bell & Ross, The Vintage Watch Company, Armour Winston, Almar Watches and Somlo Antiques. One can really find excellent and rare watches at Burlington Arcade and the people who owns these stores have been serving here at the arcade for decades.

The only edible store at the arcade is the much-raved around the world and famed Ladurée from France. It all began in 1862 when Louis Ernest Ladurée founded the bakery in Paris and the now famous French Macarons from Ladurée had every dessert lovers succumb to its tempting sweet crisp and lightly chewy macaron shells filled with various delectable fillings. Once you have seen these gorgeous macarons, you’ll know that you simply must try one!

Burlington Arcade carries history as well as exquisite shopping experience. Make sure to sign up for the in-depth 45 minutes Beadle Tour for a full and informative experience here at the prestige arcade. Burlington Arcade is located adjacent to the Royal Academy, between Bond Street and Piccadilly.

BURLINGTON ARCADE

51 Piccadilly

London W1J 0QJ.

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 1764

Website: www.burlington-arcade.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Burlington-Arcade-218175554914104

Business Hours:

Mon to Sat: 09.00 - 19.30

Sunday: 11.00 - 18.00

WESTFIELD LONDON SHOPPING CENTRE

Located only 5 minutes away from Dorsett Shepherds Bush hotel in London is Westfield London, the capital’s ultimate shopping destination housing over 300 stores. From high street to high end brands, it is a huge mall that really is a shopper’s paradise. Opened in 2008, the centre has a retail floor area of

150,000 m² (1.615m ft²). To get there, simply head to the nearest underground rail station which is Shepherd's Bush station.

Westfield London is sectioned into various spaces with high end retails as well as section for the regular high street brands. There is also VUE Cinema, Europe’s most high-tech cinema as well as over 60 places to indulgence in local and international cuisines.

The mall was already dressed up for the festive holidays and glittery trees are spread all over the mall to ring in the Christmas cheers. Some of my favorite must-visit stores are Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, Waitrose and more. For haute couture fashion, visit The Village space for luxury brands of Louis Vuitton, Prada, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Co, Gucci, Burberry and more. We also had a delicious dining experience at Jaime’s Italian restaurant at Westfield mall which I will post on separately.

Westfield London offers tax free shopping services, bespoke shopping services and many more services that allows shoppers to indulge in their hobby at ease and comfort.

Dining at Westfield London is segregated into four main areas of The Balcony, The Loft, The Southern Terrace and The Village. Dining on the basic snacks, fast food and cafes or go full lux with champagnes, oysters and caviars.

There’s plenty to do at Westfield Londonthat one may even need days to be able to fully visit all the stores. So check out the website and plan your time there if you only have limited time as it is truly a shoppers and entertainment paradise as well as a delectable space for indulgence.

WESTFIELD LONDON SHOPPING CENTRE

Ariel Way,

London W12 7GF,

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 20 3371 2300

Website: www.uk.westfield.com/London

Facebook: www.facebook.com/westfieldlondon

KIDZANIA LONDON

For those who have little ones, Westfield London also houses Kidzania London. Kidzania is a world where kids can take on their dream to try out real life role-play activities in Kidzania world. Design with kids in mind, the world of Kidzania allows kids To Be, To Know, To Create, To Share, To Care and To Play. It is a nation where kids take on our daily real world activities as an adult. Kids learn to concept of money, time, responsibilities and many more that goes on when they grow up.

Kidzania London is one of the larger outlet in the world with a staggering 75,000 sq.ft child size city. One checks in through the airport and is taken into the Kidzaniaworld where they will use their Kidzania money, KidZos. Kids above 8 years old may explore Kidzania unaccompanied.

Imagine a world where your little one can be a fire fighter, a police officer, a DJ in a radio station, an actor in the entertainment stage, an artist, a hotelier, a business owner, a chocolatier, a tour guide, a dentist, a paramedic, a news reporter and so much more.

Taking a spot in the Kidzania London is Dorsett Shepherds Bush miniature reception cum check-in and a bedroom modeled exactly to our hotel room in our stay at the hotel. Kids can experience what it’s like to work at the front desk of the hotel and also how to perform housekeeping in the room.

Each role play has information where kids will be able to plan their activities as well as earn KidZos salary. Other activities available are as follows…

Visit KidzaniaLondon website to plan with your little one to ensure they utilized their time well inside!

Head on over to Kidzania London’s website for more information to plan your trip with your little one…

KIDZANIA LONDON

1st Floor, Westfield London Shopping Centre,

Ariel Way, London W12 7GA,

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 330 131 3333

Website: www.london.kidzania.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KidZaniaLondon

VISIT BRITAIN

Website: www.visitbritain.com

*Next up, sightseeing places to visit in London!

London Stories

FlyMe To London Part 1 - Malaysia Airlines Berhad + KLIA Golden and PlatinumLounge

FlyMe To London Part 2 – Dorsett Shepherds Bush, West London

FlyMe To London Part 3 - Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

FlyMe To London Part 4 – Asian Art Exhibition at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

FlyMe To London Part 5 - Bicester Village Outlet Shopping by Chiltern Railways +Lunch at The Farmshop

FlyMe To London Part 6 - Shopping at Burlington Arcade & Westfield London +Kidzania London

Camera, Lights, Action at Blenheim Palace and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal

There’s certainly plenty to see and visit in London. So it’s really important to plan your visit to London wisely. One can spend a week in London and still cannot fully cover London’s hot spots as well as more local places. We spent five days in London and managed to cover only a few places. Now one can sign up for the Hop on Hop off Bus Tours but that won’t let you really fully experience each place. It is still good enough to catch London if time is limited. For this trip, we didn’t visit all the usual top spots in London. Instead, we visited some places that is less in the limelight but definitely should be on your list of places to visit in London!

So check out Visit Britain website here and plan your trip with all the information needed...

*picture credit from www.luvfeelin.com

Thanks to Visit Britain, we also had a Visit Britain Blue Badge guide, Henrietta Ferguson to take us on our tour. Blue Badge guides are the official and highest guiding qualified tourist guides of United Kingdom. They are recognized by Visit Britain and local bodies through UK as Britain’s official tourist guides. We sure had lots of fun with Henrietta as she was so knowledgeable and took us on an amazing experience on what London has to offer. During one of our days, she found out that we haven’t had a taste of fish and chips and immediately made arrangement to take us to Borough Market to try one of the best fish and chips in London!

*picture credit from here

While traveling in London and one is in need of transportation, one can also engage chauffeurs services from Chirton Grange Ltd. We travelled in style and comfort from services from Chirton Grange to Blenheim Palace, Chelsea Stadium and a few more places. They offer various vehicles to cater to your needs. Contact details available below. Our chauffeur was Kevin Willis, whom we made friends with at first sight. He was such a friendly and warm guy and yet professional and humorous. We also had Wifi in the vehicle so it was another added bonus in using Chirton Grange. Our first ride with Chirton Grange took us to Blenheim Palace…

BLENHEIM PALACE

“As we passed through the entrance archway and the lovely scenery burst upon me, Randolph said with pardonable price ‘This is the finest view in England.’ Looking at the lake, the bridge, the miles of magnificent park studded with old oaks, I found no adequate words to express my admiration and when we reached the huge and stately palace, I confess I felt awed.”

Lady Randolph Churchill’s first impression of Blenheim Palace in 1874

A World Heritage Site as designated by United Nations, Blenheim Palace was the gift of Queen Anne and a grateful nation to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill and his wife, Sarah Churchill, for his great victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. It is also the only non-royal non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace was quoted by Wikipedia. Queen Anne appointed architect John Vanbrugh to build Blenheim Palace but the palace was later finished by Nicholas Hawksmoor and cabinet-maker James Moore under supervision from Vanbrugh after some fallout between Queen Anne and Vanbrugh as well as other reasons.

Blenheim Palace architecture was English Baroque as Vanbrugh’s aim while designing the palace was to house a national hero and celebrate England’s new supremacy over the French. He utilized all mass ornamentation, symbolism and drama of the Baroque as well as adhering to contemporary conventions of symmetry and formality.

Britain’s Prime Minister and a national hero, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace to Lady Randolph Churchill on 30 November 1874. Sir Churchill also had his nuptials to Clementine Hozier at the palace, two of his most important decisions in his life as quoted by himself. When Sir Churchill passed away, he was not buried in the palace but nearby in Oxfordshire which you will see later in this post.

At sight, it was simply breathtaking! Acres of land of green backed by lots of trees in all of Mother Nature’s colors and the skyline, the first impression had me echoing Lady Randolph Churchill. Despite it being windy that day, I couldn’t resist capturing the beauty of Blenheim Palace and its land in the many clicks of my camera.

At the entrance of the East Gate, we saw The Clock Tower Arch with the lions of England and the cockerels of France by master craftsman, Grinling Gibbons.

The courtyard alone was huge and as I walked through it, Blenheim Palace came into sight in full glory. My photos did not do full justice to the palace as one should definitely visit the palace for the full effect of its majestic sight. While we were at Blenheim Palace in early November, there was the US conceptual artist, Lawrence Weiner’s exhibition on displayed at the palace, hence the word ‘Within A Realm of Distance’ on the front facade of the palace entrance. More Lawrence Weiner’s pieces are also displayed inside the palace.

As I enter the entrance into The Great Hall, I was in awe of the 67 foot high ceiling of the hall. The Great Hall is one of Blenheim Palace’s architectural glories and features Sir James Thornhill’s painted ceiling and Gibbons’ elaborate stone carvings. The hall was decorated with the holiday festive display.

As I glance at the ceiling of The Great Hall, Thorton’s impressive piece depicted the story of Marlborough kneeling to Britannia and proffers a plan of the Battle of Blenheim.

We signed up for the Lights, Camera and Action tour and our guide, Charlie Edmonds, was very knowledgeable and informative, providing us more than an in depth details of all the history as well as the many events that took place at the palace. Charlie also told us that many movies were filmed at Blenheim Palace, starting from the latest most recent James Bond film, Spectre starring Daniel Craig as well as Mission Impossible Rouge Nation with Tom Cruise. There were also more movies also filmed at the palace such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Gulliver’s Travels, Entrapment, Cinderella, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and more as advised by Charlie.

We went through the state rooms one-by-one, many impressive and well-maintained. Lots of painted pieces framed in elaborated ornamental gold frames and huge tapestries are displayed in many state rooms of the many Marlboroughs who had lived in the palace for generations.

Consuelo, 9th Duchess of Marlborough by Ambrose McEvoy

The Green Drawing Room – the largest piece featuring George Spencer, 4th Duke of who succeeded to the title in back in 1758. On the left is a portrait of Caroline, 4th Duchess of Marlborough with her baby on her knees.

The Red Drawing Room– featuring the large piece painting of the 9t Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and their two sons by John Singer Sargent.

The Green Writing Room– the famous Blenheim Tapestry depicting Marlborough in his hour of triumph after the Battle of Blenheim.

The Saloon– one of the most gorgeous rooms in Blenheim Palace is the state dining room. Used by the family once a year on Christmas Day, a majestically setup dining table set with lots of gold and silver flanked by plush royal red velvet chairs was simply mesmerizing.

The ceiling of The Saloon was painted by French artist Louis Laguerre.

Silver centerpiece of Marlborough on horseback after his victory at Blenheim.

First State Room– featuring more large pieces of tapestry and paintings.

Second State Room– the largest piece of painting above the chimneypiece is portrait of the Sun King, Louis XIV as well as a huge Bouchain tapestry.

Sir Winston Churchill’s Birth Room

The Long Library runs 180 feet and is considered to Nicholas Hawksmoor’s finest room in Blenheim Palace. It has been used as a hospital ward during the First World War, a dormitory for Malvern Boys School in the Second Word War and has been the venue for Sir Churchill Memorial concert every year.

At the library are is the statue of Queen Anne by John Michael Rysbrack.

More Lawrence Weiner’s exhibition were on displayed on the ceilings of the library.

At the end of the library is The Willis Organ, built by Henry Willis & Sons in 1891, installed by the 8th Duke and his American Duchess. Standing tall and beautifully kept, it was even said that one of the organ pipes was mistakenly taken by a young guest only to be returned much later by the young guest’s mother when she found out.

The Chapel– has a huge and dramatic monument of the 1st Duke and Duchess with their two sons. The Duchess chose to portray her husband as a Roman dressed general to depict a victorious hero. The Duke and Duchess’s tombs is behind the monument.

What I didn’t manage to cover was the parks and gardens at Blenheim Palace. To really see Blenheim Palace well, visitors should expect to spend a full day there as it is really huge.

We also had a quick lunch at Oxfordshire Pantry and a visit to the gift shop, The East Courtyard Shop at Blenheim Palace.

For lunch, I had my taste of the British classic Scotch Egg. The lunch café also serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads and soups.

I was also really tempted to buy the many souvenirs and gifts item available at the gift shop.

Blenheim Palace is definitely a must-visit when in London as it is full of history and well as a major location for many films. Its amazing architecture cum interior is equally impressive.

After our visit to Blenheim Palace, we proceeded to visit Sir Churchill’s grave at St Martin’s Church, Bladon which was only a few minutes away from the palace. It was another site to visit as the whole area was serene with lots of greens around. It was Sir Churchill’s request to be buried there in the family plot at this church near Woodstock where he reunited with his wife.

BLENHEIM PALACE

Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PP,

United Kingdom

Website: www.blenheimpalace.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlenheimPalace

BLUE BADGE GUIDE SERVICE

Henrietta Ferguson

Tel: +44 (0) 2078 355 668

Email: info@henriettaferguson.com

Website: www.henriettaferguson.com

CHIRTON GRANGE

Innovation Centre Medway,

Maidstone Road,

Chatham, Kent ME5 9FD

Tel: 01634 823347 / 07725 467263

Email: contact@chirtongrange.co.uk

Website: www.chirtongrange.co.uk

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

When in London, one simply must catch the many musical productions at the theatre district, West End of London. We had the honors of catching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the evening after a quick dinner at Masala Zone Indian Restaurant.

We also roamed the streets of London after dinner and took a short walk to the theatre, passing some other famous theater and landmarks along the way…

Theatre Royal is the oldest theater in London that is still in use till today. Originally built in 1663, it has been rebuilt and redesigned many times over the years. The theatre auditorium features over 2,000 people. It has four levels and the only theatre with two Royal Boxes. There are several rules and regulations with children under 5 years old are not allow to be admitted into the theatre.

Before entering the auditorium, one can visit the many gift shops as well as snacks shops at the entrance for food, drinks and souvenirs.

There are bars serving drinks on the various levels of the theatre.

The auditorium is amazingly beautiful and worthy of a visit to catch its latest musical production of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic. It is directed by Sam Mendes and features choreography by Peter Darling. It is about a boy, Charlie, who wins a golden ticket that will change his life forever. With his golden ticket, he visited the famous Chocolate Factory run by an eccentric chocolate maker Willy Wonka.

* picture credit to www.jommakanlife.com

As camera and filming or photos are not allowed in the theatre, one should just relax and simply enjoy the musical production. It was an unforgettable experience, definitely not to be missed when you’re in London!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tickets are available over the phone, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Box Office telephone number is 0844 412 2707. One can also purchase the tickets online. The official website is www.reallyusefultheatres.co.uk/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane/

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE

Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF

Tel: 0844 412 2707

Website: www.drurylane.londontheatres.co.uk

VISIT BRITAIN

Website: www.visitbritain.com

*Next up, more sightseeing places to visit in London!

London Stories

Fly Me To London Part 1 - Malaysia Airlines Berhad + KLIA Golden and PlatinumLounge

Fly Me To London Part 2 – Dorsett Shepherds Bush, West London

Fly Me To London Part 3 - Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

Fly Me To London Part 4 – Asian Art Exhibition at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

Fly Me To London Part 5 - Bicester Village Outlet Shopping by Chiltern Railways +Lunch at The Farmshop

Fly Me To London Part 6 - Shopping at Burlington Arcade & Westfield London +Kidzania London

Fly Me To London Part 7 – Sightseeing at Blenheim Palace + Charlie & TheChocolate Factory

More Sightseeing in London and A Little Fun Adventure!

Continuing my London escapade, here are few more sightseeing to visit in London. Some of these places are near to each other, so make sure to check and plan them prior to your visit to London. Head on over to Visit Britain website for more information and all the things to do and see in London. Though never a football fan, we was certainly really pleased to be able to visit one of the famous football club in London. We also visited one of the tallest building there and caught the amazing 3t60 degree view of the city. Then we had some fun adventures with an ogre, a donkey and a princess. Our finale was the majestic view of London’s top hot spot by the River Thames…

CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB, STAMFORD BRIDGE

First up, let me just say that even if you are not a football fan, you should still visit Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea Football Club. It’s such an amazing experience to be able to see the stadium where the big leagues play. Located in Fulham, London, the stadium was opened in 1877 to another athletic club until 1905 where Chelsea Football Club was born and took over the stadium. After several remodeling work, Stamford Bridge stadium now has a capacity of slightly just over 40K.

It was a lovely morning as we arrived at Stamford Bridge together with Pilot Parkerand Emma from Visit Britain. We had signed up for the morning fully guided one hour tour of Stamford Bridge and was pretty excited about getting to the stadium, home turf of 2014/15 Premier League Champions Chelsea FC.

It is definitely worthy to sign up for the tour as it takes you behind the scenes at the stadium and gives you access to areas normally only reserved for players and officials. There’s nothing like seeing the stadium from all the best angles through this tour. The tours runs daily on weekdays from 10am to 3pm except on certain specified dates. Find out more on the tour here.

Before we started our tour, we visited the Chelsea FC Museum, detailing over 100 years of Chelsea’s history and many other records as well as trophies and significant wins. There are also collections of famous footballer jerseys and their shoes as well as their footballs.

Stamford Bridge stadium is a sight to behold. Beautifully well-kept and maintained, the vibrant colors of Chelsea blue and lush greens are seen everywhere. We roamed everywhere, the Stadium to the Press Roomto the Home & Away dressing roomsand the dugout areas, our guide kept us filled with lots of interesting information of the team and the rules and regulations of the games.

The lush green grass gets special treatments under specially controlled lighting and environment throughout the year.

Locker room has all the players’ pictures on their own locker. We were told that each player would have two new jerseys for each game and that they would leave both jerseys behind after the games as well… wouldn’t you like to get your hands on the jersey?

Before each game, there will always be a Press meeting held at the Press Room where the coach and sponsors will be present for Q&A to the media. We got lucky and even got to pose at the Press Room too!

If you’re hoping to catch the players, at last you won’t as they do not practice at Stamford Bridge but they have their own grounds for regular practice.

After the tour, no fans of football will ever leave without checking out the various souvenirs or memorabilia at the merchandise store. There are loads of every possible souvenirs for the hardcore football fans and even I was tempted to buy some. It was also here that Pilot Parkermet up with the Chelsea Bear too!

STAMFORD BRIDGE

Fulham Rd, London SW6 1HS,

United Kingdom

Email: tours@chelseafc.com

Website: www.chelseafc.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Stamford-Bridge-155616251147810/

THE VIEW FROM THE SHARD

Next place is another must-visit when in London! After all, its got the best views of London from its 72 floor with unparalleled 360 degree views for up to 40 miles… yes, I am talking about The View From The Shard. The 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark is London’s new emblem. Besides its extraordinary and exquisite architectural design, The Shard houses many occupiers including the fame Shangri-la Hotel as well as retail, restaurants, offices, education, medial and more.

It took 12 years to complete this Vertical City and The Shard, developed by Irvine Sellar, was finally opened in July 2012. Shimmering against the sun light, The Shard’s designer Renzo Piano was inspired by the spires of London churches and the tall ships depicted by Venetian painter Canaletto. Visit The Shard website for the full details of the architectural design that includes ‘eight sloping glass facades’, the ‘shards’, the architectural shape and visual quality of the tower, the unique design of the glass to reflect the lights in unpredictable ways and more.

The main reception area is designed with contemporary minimalist. Its dark interior exudes a sense of the unknown thrill of heading up The Shard. There are over 300 languages translation available for visitors as well. Service was excellent and efficient!

Visitors are transported by super-fast elevators to the three levels of viewing deck – 68th, 69th and 72nd floors. We did change elevator half way and even the elevator had soothing music gearing us up for amazement. The whole experience is well planned out and there are plenty of staffs around to guide the many visitors going up The Shard each day.

Once we arrived, our group disperse right away and everyone was just amazed at the gorgeous view of London! My inner shutterbug passion took over and I went nuts clicking away. The endless views of London from The Shard was breath taking. We even had several weather change from sunny to rain and then it was back to sunny again.

I started at the 68th floor and slowly made my way up to the 72th floor. Even though I had fear of heights, the view was worth it. The 72th floor had a small drink and snack bar. This floor had open spaces and we had a light breeze sweeping across the room, making the whole experience even more surreal.

One can see the Tower Bridge that crosses the River Thames as well as the other bridges such as the London Bridge too.

The London Eye stood out too besides all the skyscrapers…

We also caught views of the trio of the Cheesegrater(The Leadenhall Building) and the Gherkin (30 St Mary Ax).

The Shard is utterly impressive and certainly a vision of inspirations. End your visit with a quick stop at their gift shop as I did to bring a little piece of The Shard home…

THE SHARD

32 London Bridge St,

London SE1 9SG,

United Kingdom

Website: www.the-shard.com

SHREK’S ADVENTURE

Our last adventure in London was a fun one. A Dreamworksfilm that soar to fame came to life in this indoor walk-and-ride attraction located in the Riverside Building. This 75-minutes interactive adventure brings out the fun in the young and the old. Quirky characters in Shrek are played by many talented artists and certainly had everyone enjoying some honest-to goodness fun.

From our Mis-adventures in the kingdom of Far Far Away with witches on the 4D ‘Dreamworks’ Tour Bus driven by Donkey to Shrek’s Swamp to finding your fortune with the Esmeralda and her crystal ball, getting lost in the Mirror maze, The Poison Apple Pub encounter with a witch, The Wheel of Torture with Pinocchio and Muffin Man’s bubbling cauldron episode with Gingy, it’s going to be a thrill ride all the way.

So grab on to your inner fun self and let Shrek’s Adventure bring out the little kid inside us all….

SHREK’S ADVENTURE

Riverside Building

County Hall

Westminster Bridge Road

London SE1 7PB,

United Kingdom

Website: www.shreksadventure.com/london/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shreksadventurelondon

While visiting Shrek’s Adventure, we were also thrilled that this attraction is located by the River Thames and The London Eye! So we did get to take our photos of Big Ben by River Thames as well as London Eye…

Oh course we couldn’t resist taking more photos and the rest as we say is history but definitely an unforgettable experience in every possible sense… missing London dreadfully as I am writing this post and looking at all the photos of our visits….

This is trip was made possible by Malaysia Airlines, UK Visit Britain and Dorsett Shepherds Bush London. All stories and comments in my posts are purely derived from my own experiences through the trip.

*Next up, let’s eat London!

London Stories

FlyMe To London Part 1 - Malaysia Airlines Berhad + KLIA Golden and PlatinumLounge

FlyMe To London Part 2 – Dorsett Shepherds Bush, West London

FlyMe To London Part 3 - Good Eats at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

FlyMe To London Part 4 – Asian Art Exhibition at Dorsett Shepherds Bush

FlyMe To London Part 5 - Bicester Village Outlet Shopping by Chiltern Railways +Lunch at The Farmshop

FlyMe To London Part 6 - Shopping at Burlington Arcade & Westfield London +Kidzania London

FlyMe To London Part 7 – Sightseeing at Blenheim Palace + Charlie & TheChocolate Factory

Fly Me To London Part 8 – Sightseeing at Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge + The Shard + Shrek’s Adventure

Authentic Udon and a little more…

When it comes to noodles, the Japanese seemed to master their signatures of udon and soba to a perfect bite. Joining the list of udon specialist in the city is Udon Kobo Min Min. Opened since June 2015, Udon Kobo Min Min is an udon restaurant serving delectable strands of house made udon and a few additional Japanese items.

Lead by Japanese Chef Hideaki Nakajima with Operation Chef Eric Leong and his team, Udon Kobo Min Min’s menu is filled with lots of authentic udon varieties, a few rice dishes and some sides. The restaurant is decorated with minimalist and is comfortable, bright and spacious. While one side is the open kitchen, the other side is basically set with lots of booths as well as bar dining where diners can catch kitchen actions of chefs making bowls after bowls of piping hot and cold udon.

The chefs make their udon fresh daily using this udon machine to control quality and consistency.

Before we try their udons, we opted for some appetizers first. The list may not be as many as some Japanese places we know but diners will be pleased at the classic choices available. Quality is a prime focus here so the chefs uses possibly some of the best grades available such as their Salmon Sashimi (RM18.90). Five thick slices of succulent and creamy cuts of salmon is so good, it can rival some of the higher end Japanese restaurants and yet price is very affordable.

Something so simple but when executed to the right flavour and texture can make a meal very memorable. We definitely loved their Atsuyaki Tamago (RM8.90). Six pieces of beautifully fluffy and creamy Japanese egg omelette with just the right tinges on sweetness won my heart and my little one’s heart too. Made in house, this dish is a must order as the chefs has really perfected this simple but utterly satisfying appetizer.

More snacking follows in Koebi Karaage(RM11.90). Baby sweet shrimps are given the thinnest batter and deep fried to crispy little critters. We certainly can’t stop at one as these were highly addictive…

I have always love Japanese fried chicken. The version of Tori Karaage (RM13.90) here is worth an order too. Well marinated in the usual garlicky salty notes, the pieces of Tori Karaage were crispy on the outside and beautifully juicy inside. A squeeze of lemon brightened up the flavours, lessening the blow of the savory level. Though not needed, a side of mayo is also added for those who love this creamy condiment.

Shishamo is a favorite of many here and Udon Kobo Min Min serves their as Shishamo Tempura (RM16.90). Opting for larger Japanese pregnant fish, these were coated in light and crispy tempura batter. A bite of this has your mouth filled with lots of creamy and umami flavours of fish roes. Light and easy to devour for sure!

The Gyoza (RM8.90) here is also decent. Tender and juicy filling, the dumplings were encased in thin gyoza skin and fried to a crisp on one side. Dip these in the special chili oil provided for extra flavours… not that it needed it.

Our noodles arrived and at that point and bowls of familiar strands of thick udon in various soups and sauces. When asked for recommendations, we were told that curry is one of their signatures and best sellers. The Curry Udon (RM18.90) here may looked pale but has a solid base of flavours of spices. It is very aromatic and has a good balance of savory and sweet notes set in a light thick consistency. The curry has slices of tender and lean pork pieces with lots of sweet soft onions and finely shredded spring onions.

Udon Kobo Min Min’s udon has a solid bite with a touch of springy texture. Cooked al dente, the udon texture is how I would normally love my udon to be. I was indeed happy slurping the udon that lunch!

For a lavish note, order their Umi No Sachi Udon (RM24.90). Seafood topped udon, in a clear broth made with base of bonito and seaweed, may be just what one needs some days. The broth tasted of a well-balanced sweetness derived from the ingredients of the sea. Topped with slices of salmon, scallops, shredded crab, seaweed and spring onions, it’s a bowl of satisfying udon for seafood lovers. There is even a sprinkling of citrus peels to give this bowl a fresh and aromatic note as we all know that citrus paired with seafood beautifully.

If you are game to try cold udon, try the Nikujiru Tsuke Udon (RM17.90). Cold udon have a firmer texture with a bitey note. Noodles served perfectly coiled on a noodle plate with seaweed, a side of room temperate dark broth filled with pork slices and onions as well as side servings of two types of spring onions, grated radish with ginger and crushed toasted sesame seeds.

One is encourage to first enjoy the noodles dipped gently in the broth and savor them with the pork and onions. Then one can opt to add on the rest of the condiments to tweak it to your liking. The dark broth is delicious. It has a robust savory and sweet notes. After adding the condiments, the flavours takes on a different level of taste but is equally still tasty and enjoyable.

Since curry was their signature, we also opted for the Katsu Curry Don (RM10.90 mini | RM17.90 big). A Japanese favorite, this one has the classic deep fried pork cutlet served with steamed rice and smothered in thick, creamy and aromatic curry sauce. The curry sauce was superb on this rice bowl. It seemed that the curry sauce on the rice is thicker in consistency as well as more robust in flavours compared to the one served with udon earlier. I really enjoyed this rice bowl a lot and would certainly order this upon a return.

There is also a version of the Curry Don with pork slices and onions in the curry topped with rice if you prefer non-fried stuff.

Another rice bowl dish we tried was the Yasai Kakiage Don (RM9.90 mini | RM16.90 big). Though nothing special, the vegetable fritter was well fried and tasted decent. A light splash of sweet soy sauce added a touch of savory note to the rice as well as the sweet crispy vegetable kakiage. I guess if you want something without meat, this one would be a good choice.

Mizu Mochi (RM6.90) and Yuzu Sherbet (RM5.90) was our sweet endings for that meal. Mizu Mochi is a signature of Udon Kobo Min Min. It is a clear Japanese jelly with a wobbly and firm texture served with brown sugar syrup and roasted soy powder. It is quite unique with the pairing of sweet flavours enhanced with a unique toasty and nutty soy note. I really enjoyed this dessert for its simple but delicious combination of flavours.

The Yuzu Sherbet is a good choice if you prefer something more refreshing and sour.

Udon Kobo Min Min is a good place for authentic udon and some Japanese dishes. It may not be as fancy as some are but it has a nice ambiance, good food with decent pricing for its quality and decent service too. Parking may only be the problem here but then it has never stop me from dining if the restaurant is good. Highlights include their variety of udon, Curry Katsu Don, Atsukyaki Tamago and Mizu Mochi.

UDON KOBO MIN MIN

72, Jalan SS 21/35, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tel: 60 12-319 0228

Facebook: www.facebook.com/minminudonkobo

Business Hours:

11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

A Beautiful and Delicious Mediterranean Experience

There aren’t many Mediterranean restaurants around but luckily for us, the few ones like Moussandra Mediterranean & Tapas Restaurant have been around since 1996 and is continuing to serve up authentic Mediterranean dishes to cater to our adventurous palates. Having been relocated from its original location to Publika at Solaris Dutamas, Moussandra is one of those restaurants that diners can count on. When a restaurant has stand the test of time in the F&B industry, you know they are very good, it’s as simple as that!

Moussandra’s owner Alphonse takes pride in Moussandra. I can certainly see why. It’s a restaurant that really evokes a place to relax and enjoy a good hearty meal with family, friends or even businesses. Walking into Moussandra, diners are greeted warmly by their staff. The family-style ambiance is set with much warmness of earthy browns and reds to evoke a casual and warm Spaniel home. From his travels over the years, Alphonse displays his collections of Mediterranean items at the restaurant. Green vine leaves are also added for some charm as well as large posters of European artwork.

The restaurant also has a large private room perfect for functions. That private room is nicely decorated with a Greek theme. From the Greek status to the bright blue door and Grecian ornaments, it would certainly be nice to dine in for any occasion.

Moussandra’s menu features a long list of classic Mediterranean favorites from tapas to the usual appetizers, pasta, pizza, mains and desserts. We had a few of everything and kick started our evening dinner with glasses of Moussandra’s Red Sangria. Simply a must when dining Mediterranean as Sangria is the perfect wine and fruit concoction to go with all the rich dishes to come. There is also a white version at the restaurant.

Tapas first with a very delectable Chicken Liver Pate (Terrina De Pollo) kicking of the evening’s meal. It’s a darn awesome pate. Silky smooth, creamy and rich buttery notes spread on baguette worked wonders as a starter. I can’t get enough of this pate, simply because I do happen to enjoy pate. Give this a try before you make any decisions about this dish because it’s a darn delicious pate!

Garlic Bread is also good here. Quite the unusual cut, one gets long strips of toasty and crispy baguette fused with lots of buttery garlic and herb notes.

During my college days abroad, I have been exposed to a lot of Greek food as my sister married a Greek. My brother-in-law’s mom would always cook or take us out for Greek food. So when I saw that Moussandra has Saganaki, I was pretty stoked. Our order of Egg coated Feta & Mozzarella Cheese, flamed with Pernod, served with Pita Bread (Saganaki) was set in flames right before our table!

Saganaki or flaming fried cheese is usually Greek cheese fried in hot pan and flambéed with alcohol at table side with a big warming shout of ‘Opa’! I have had Saganaki with Halloumi cheese and flambéed with Greek Ouzo. The version here uses sheep’s milk feta cheese and mozzarella with an egg wrap and flambéed with Pernod. As soon as the flames died out, dig into the melted oozing cheeses with fluffy pita bread. It’s a cheese lover’s dish plus one gets some tableside flaming actions for some thrill. Cheesy and great for sharing…

The next tapas features Lamb Meatballs in Brown Sauce (Cordero Albondigas En Salsa De Café). Juicy tender meatballs cooked in a tasty brown sauce is always a favorite on the tapas list. I can’t quite figure out but when I see meatballs on a menu, I tend to associate it with comfort food. This one too was deliciously comforting and great as snacks with wine or beer.

I think this one is one of the most ordered tapas on the list. Who can resist a scrumptious Garlic Prawns in Olive Oil (Gambas Al Ajillo). Moussandra’s is indeed what every garlic prawns should be. Lots of rich savory and garlicky flavours with succulent sweet prawns is a sure crowd pleaser. We happily savor this and almost wish for bread to mop up that flavourful garlicky oil fused with crustacean flavours.

The next two tapas are vegetarian treats of Pan-fried Eggplant with Chili & Tomato (Berenjenas Picantes) and Mixed Mushrooms Sauteed with Herbs (Setas Salteadas). Both are decent with good hits of flavours. The eggplant is very soft and has soaked up all the piquant tomato sauce. The mushrooms have earthy and garlicky notes. These two makes a good balance for all the other heavier meat, seafood and cheese tapas.

Alphonso recommended the Beef Bacon wrapped Dates stuffed with Almond (Datiles Con Bacon), saying this one rocks. True enough, after I tried one, I found myself echoing his words. The salty and smoky bacon was countered with a burst of sweetness from the dates as soon as one bites into it. It is such a pleasant bite of flavours and textures. The sticky sweet dates paired so well with bacon and there was also a hidden element of surprise of almond inside. A must order unless you don’t take beef!

I love the Greek Spanakopita. When my sister’s mother-in-law first made it for me, I thought it was such a great pastry. Using phyllo pastry brushed with melted butter and stuffed with a filling of spinach, cheese, eggs and cream, it was baked till golden and crisp. It’s been a while since I had this and when the dish arrived, it was so aromatic that everyone raved about it immediately. Beautifully coiled and baked, the Spanakopita was indeed tasty with lots of spinach filling. My only gripe is that I wished for more feta cheese as I cannot seemed to taste the cheese in this one, which I did feedback. It is still worthy of an order as the Spinach Pie with Feta Cheese (Spanakopita) here is well made and makes great tapas for sharing.

Lamb Dolmades (Dolmades de Cordero) is another Greek dish that is well-known in the cuisine. I was also surprise to find this dish on the menu and can’t wait to try this. The lamb dolmades is served cold with tangy pickled vine leaves wrapped with a minced lamb and rice filling. It is usually cooked in stock with lemons so one gets a vibrant fresh citrusy note to balance the heavy lamb flavours. Moussandra serves their lamb dolmades with a creamy red pepper sauce.

Mains arrived and we had two pizzas of Pizza Primavera and Pizza de Salmon. Pizza Primavera has lots of grilled eggplant, roasted sweet peppers, spinach and anchovies paired with oozing melted mozzarella cheese and herbs while Pizza de Salmon has salmon and mushrooms with cream on a tomato sauce and cheese pizza. It’s a thin-crust version here, making the pizza just right and not overly heavy from too much bread base.

We also tried two pasta dishes of Prawns Aglio e Olio and Linguine Al Pesto. At Moussandra, one gets to choose between the regular pasta or the freshly made pasta. Do check with the wait staff if you prefer soft and tender fresh pasta opposed to the al dente dry pasta. Though the Prawns Aglio e Olio was good, I preferred the Linguine Al Pesto for its bold rich flavours of fresh herbs, strong cheesy notes with garlic and buttery pine nuts.

Souvlaki is a classic Greek fast food of meats marinated Greek flavours and grilled over hot coals. At Moussandra, one can opt for their various souvlaki featuring beef, chicken, lamb or a mixed. We had their Mixed Souvlaki, a long skewer of the three meats well-seasoned and chargrilled. The bbq is Greek Salad, Roasted Capsicum Sauce, Tzatziki & Pita Bread. Flavoured with hints of spices, garlic and lightly sauced up with rich barbeque sauce, the souvlaki here is delicious. I enjoyed the familiar flavours of tender souvlaki and thought it was well prepared by the team at Moussandra.

More Greek dishes followed and we had another favorite Greek dish of mine of Lamb Moussaka. Similar to lasagna except this one has a layer of potato instead of pasta and minced lamb is more often used than beef. The creamy and decadent layers of cheesy béchamel sauce with rich tangy tomato lamb sauce is sinful and pure comfort flavours. Great for sharing but if you happen to love rich cheesy sauces, then go all out for this on your own!

One of their best sellers on the menu is their Paella. A popular Spanish rice dish cooked on the typical paella pan, it’s a well-balanced single dish meal varies within the areas in Spain. Moussandra offers three variations of the paella of seafood with meat, meat alone and a vegetarian one.

We had their Paella Valenciana, a gorgeously saffron rice studded with lots of seafood, chicken and chicken sausages with vegetables and spices. The rice was indeed very flavourful from all the seafood and chicken. It was a crowd favorite that evening as well as we happily savored the rice despite being quite full from all the tapas and other main dishes.

Moussandra has quite a few desserts on their menu but two of their best sellers were Rum & Raisin Ice Cream (Helado del Ron y de la Pasa) and Vanilla Creme Brulee.

Made in house, the Rum & Raisin Ice Creamis such a treat. It’s got solid notes of strong rum in luscious cream and well studded with rum soaked raisins. Heavenly…

The Vanilla Crème Brulee proved to be so good, no one wanted to share this dessert. We had extra orders of the gorgeous thick baked cream set beneath caramelized sugar. A light tap on the caramelized sugar to crack it revealed silky smooth thick cream nicely sweetened. Such a perfect way to end a delicious Mediterranean meal!

MOUSSANDRA MEDITERRANEAN & TAPAS RESTAURANT

A1-1-8 1,, Jalan Dutamas 1,

Solaris Dutamas,

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +60 3-6206 4999

Website: www.moussandra.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/moussandra

Business Hours:

Lunch 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Dinner 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Closed on Tuesdays

Awesome Surf & Turf for Indulgence

Desa Sri Hartamas is an area well filled with lots of good eats. Adding to the good eats list is Steaks & Lobsters.In some ways, this place does remind me of another eatery that took off by storm in another part of the world. That said, I am just glad these owners decided to open a restaurant showcasing the best of surf and turf they boldly named Steaks & Lobsters!

Located in the bustling area of Sri Hartamas, parking might be the only problem when dining here but again, when there’s a will to dine, there’s always a way. The restaurant is pretty spacious and decorated with warm theme filled with bricks and wood and lush terracotta wall panels contrasted with cream. The place echoes a casual and friendly vibe, taking the edge off dining in much seriousness despite serving lavish ingredients. Diners can dining in casual and yet enjoy scrumptious premium steaks and lobsters.

The restaurant is basically what its name state, serving up the best cuts of steaks and lobsters prepared the minimalist way. Besides that, there are a handful of other dishes of appetizers, salads, main dishes of ribs, lamb, chicken and fish together with some pasta, burgers and sandwiches. So fear not, not everything is lavish and there are plenty of affordable dishes too when dining at Steaks & Lobsters.

Diving straight into the signatures, we had their steak and lobsters of course! Each lobster served are estimated about 800 grams and are flown in from Maine or Boston, US. The restaurant also imports premium beef from Australia. Choose from Grass-fed to Angus and even the much highly prized Wagyu and have it grilled it to your liking.

Signatures of any restaurants are always the best bet when it comes to ordering. Steaks & LobstersSignature Flaming LiveLobster (RM110 – Half | RM205 – Full) looked delicious when placed in front of us. I can smell how delicious the aroma was with its light and tantalizing sweet grilled aroma. Chargrilled to a beautiful succulent stage, the crustacean is also topped with house made Ebiko aioli and flamed up. More aioli is served on the side with fresh cut of lemons.

I was pretty satisfied with just the lemon as it really brightened and enhanced the sweet lobster meat. The smoky edge also gave the crustacean an undeniable deliciousness. Even when char-grilled, the meat was still juicy and had a nice firm and bouncy texture.

At Steaks & Lobsters, all their beef and lobsters are serve with unlimited helpings of house made four side dishes. These may change depending on the ingredients available. On that day, we had nice thick cuts of French fries, roasted pumpkin, avocado potato salad and coleslaw. It’s definitely a plus point if you are not full from the lobster!

If you prefer the natural and pure sweetness of crustaceans, then you should definitely go for the Steamed Live Lobster (RM98 – Half | RM195 – Full). As much as I do enjoy the chargrilled lobster, this one would always be my preference as one can really savor how fresh and sweet Maine or Boston lobsters are. It is also juicier when it is steamed. Served with spiced butter sauce, make sure you try this with the lobster chunks as the butter sauce made it richer and buttery.

The owners here take pride in their cuts of wet aged steaks. To them, wet aging makes the meat juicier and tender. All the classic prime cuts of sirloin, ribeye, tenderloin and T-bone are available. There was a special that day that came highly recommended which was the Wagyu Round Sirloin (RM82).

I am impressed. The wagyu sirloin, with a marbling of 7, was really superb. Tender, juicy, bursting with lots of moreish beefy flavours, it’s quite an unusual to have a sirloin this gorgeous. I have always been a ribeye fan and this cut has really changed my mind about sirloin. Because it is a wagyu, the sirloin is well marbled with enough fat to make this sirloin just as good as a ribeye or tenderloin. It is also evenly cooked with a lush pink as what I had requested and there is a nice chargrilled sear too. Can’t ask for anything more… besides that the price is very affordable considering it’s a wagyu with a marbling of 7!

Besides the signatures, there are other dishes as mentioned earlier. We had two appetizers for sharing of Fried Portabello Fries (RM19) and Crispy Hot BBQ Chicken Wings (RM25).

Both are good choices to share. The Fried Portabello Fries is crispy and meaty with a yummy earthy flavour of mushrroms. Dunk these into their Smoky Sriracha Aioli for creamy and spicy notes.

We all thought the Crispy Hot BBQ Chicken Wings was the bomb and is indeed a must-order at Steaks & Lobsters. One gets drumlets and winglets deep fried to crispy perfection and coated with their signature Spicy BBQ Sauce and drizzled with Honey Mustard Sauce at the end. Finger-licking good!!

Warm Buns served with a sweet spiced butter

Fresh Apple Juice, Carrot Juice and Lemonade

Steaks & Lobsters seemed to really have cornered a well-deserved market for surf and turf lovers. We love the casual vibe and the premium quality food they served. We can’t wait to come back to try their 12”Spicy Big Dinosaur Bones (Huge Beef Short Ribs), Premium New Zealand Lamb Leg Steak, *London Cod and Chips and more…

STEAKS & LOBSTERS

42, Jalan 24/70a,

Desa Sri Hartamas,

Kuala Lumpur,

Tel: +60 12-743 7167

Facebook: www.facebook.com/steaksnlobsters/

Business Hours:

Tue – Fri 5:30 PM – 12:00 AM

Closed on Monday

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Celebrate an Auspicious Year of The Monkey with Teo Chew Cuisine

A new year symbolizes a new beginning. This Chinese New Year, Pak Loh Chiu Chow welcomes the Year of the Monkey with lots of auspicious Teochew dishes. Pak Loh Chiu Chow, established in 1967 in Hong Kong, has long established itself for gourmet of authentic Teochew cuisine. This CNY, Pak Loh Chiu Chow at Starhill Feast Village continues to deliver a wealth of scrumptious flavours associated with China’s gastronomical capital of Guangdong Province.

Pak Loh Chiu Chow continues its legacy of serving fine Teochew cuisine and has won many accolades over the years with prestigious awards for the restaurant as well as the chef. The restaurant is designed with an unusual and modern design for diners, offering different sections for privacy as well as functions. The theme color continues from the Oriental touch of using lots of gold, cream and red against wood for exclusive opulent mood.

Executive Chef Alex Au, recently named one of Asia’s Top 20 Chefs, is bringing back his signature and traditional Chiu Chow Yee Sang with Grass Carp for the second year. A chef with an incredible wealth of culinary knowledge, Chef Alex has a solid list of fine Teochew dishes that many diners return for. His Chiu Chow Yee Sang with Grass Carp is unlike any other yee sang in the market and he hopes to cultivate and continue the Teochew legacy of enjoying the savory yee sang version. Besides this dish, he has so much more to offer this festive season in this a la carte as well as set menus filled with an abundance of classic Teochew dishes injected with modern presentation in the fine dining establishment.

While one can savor the more familiar classic Yee Sang at Pak Loh Chiu Chow, I would recommend to try Chef Alex’s New Year Yee Sang with Grass Carp at least once. Truly a refine dish that consisted of freshly sliced grass carp, preserved radish or Choy Poh, leek, basil leaves, raw slice garlic, coriander stalk and leaves, radish, chili, pickled ginger, roasted peanut and a piquant galangal dressing, this savory yee sang epitomize the region’s prized harvest. The dish is available a la carte or in the set menus at the restaurant.

Grass carp is deemed a delicacy in certain regions of China and is said to be one of the most traditional fish used in Teochew yee sang. Beautifully shaped into rosettes, the carp is coiffed with bright orange caviars of flying fish roes. A squeeze of lime enhanced the freshness of the carp with its firm and tender texture.

The New Year Yee Sang features an unusual savory and aromatic sauce of galangal dressing. It has a subtle ginger note together with a robust note of unctuous savory flavours of herbs. The sauce alone already has a good level of aromatic oil so no further oil is needed. Upon tossing the yee sang, the sauce is generously spooned all over the fresh ingredients and fish to be tossed with much gleefulness.

This Teochew yee sang is fully savory and has lots of various aromatics from the herbs used as well as hints of spiciness from the fresh sliced garlic and chili. It is also lightly tangy from the pickled ginger bits and nutty from the roasted peanuts. Though I can’t detect much sweetness, even from the dried pickled radish, there is a beautiful harmonious note of savory pleasures when enjoying this yee sang. The safest bet is never to compare this to our more familiar one as they are both different dishes in many ways from its ingredients and sauce. Enjoy this for what it is as it has a lush pleasure on its own in a savory way…

Chef Alex personally source for traditional Teochew ingredients when he travels back to China. With his recent introduction of Pak Loh Chiu Chow’s new menu in December 2015, there are many dishes to look forward in the a la carte menu as well as auspicious 8-course set menus of Four Season Fortune Set Menu and the Golden Jade Prosperity Set Menu. Below are some of the dishes available in the a la carte menu and also from the set menu.

Deep Fried Prawn Balls with Pineapple and Honey Glazed Hong Kong Dried Oyster proved to be an exceptional starter to any meal. A golden ball of bouncy sweet prawn flesh encased in a crispy crumb is so delicious with the pineapple sauce that I certainly wouldn’t mind a few of these delectable crustacean balls.

Sourced from Hong Kong, the second dish proved that this is not the ordinary dried oysters we are accustomed to from our local markets. The Hong Kong dried oyster, not fully as dried as our local ones nad only available from December to February, has a majestic and deep rich smoky note with a firm tender texture. It is moist and has such a fine note of briny savory oyster flavour heightened with sweetness of honey. Served on evenly fried crouton and flying fish roes, this premium ingredient is really gorgeous and very unusual. The dish is certainly a must-order!

During the festive season, the Teochews are all about savoring premium and lavish ingredients to usher in the New Year. The next course of Double Boiled Shark’s Fin Soup with Dried Straw Mushroom also uses Chinese premium ingredients. Slow boiled for more than 10 hours, the broth is bursting with essence of meat and seafood as well as the unusual mushroom, scientifically named agrocybe cylindracea or poplar fieldcap. The subtle richness and earthiness of the mushrooms gave the soup its warming notes. A soup so delicious, I made extra measurements to slowly enjoy this to the very last drop of it.

We love how Chef Alex creates parcels of surprises. His latest parcels is Dried Oyster Fortune Parcels with Black Moss in Superior Stock. Thin egg white paper held hidden oceanic treasures of dried oyster, roast pork, Fatt Choy, water chestnuts, fried garlic and more, sat in a pool of moreish dried oyster sauce with bits of mushrooms and more Fatt Choy. The presentation look really refine and dainty but the flavours tasted wonderfully comforting, robust and familiar in flavours of another similar dish that appears in other banquet sets.

Back due to demand, Chef Alex’s Braised Pig’s Trotter with Black Moss and Vegetables is simply another must-order at Pak Loh Chiu Chow. The dish is a sure crowd pleaser and many diners even order for takeaway, especially for this festive season. Painstakingly prepared through several cooking process, the final pork trotter is braised in Chef Alex’s luxurious abalone sauce till utterly tender and flavourful. The combination of gelatinous skin and fat with dark meat is simply sensational in textures. The savory abalone sauce infused with porky essence made us all beckon for steamed rice or mantao to do justice to the luscious sauce. One of the best dishes at Pak Loh Chiu Chow in consecutive years…

Even bean curd is given some premium treatment this festive season. The next dish of Homemade Pumpkin Bean Curd Braised with Eel Maw and Sea Abalone is truly a testament to the skills of a talented and knowledge chef. The pumpkin bean curd is silky smooth pumpkin egg custard encased in golden fried skin. Paired with premium eel maw and sea abalone with asparagus and assorted mushrooms, it certainly is a festive dish for some indulgence by diners of all ages.

The dish that never fails to appear every festive CNY season is Clay Pot Mixed Waxed Meat Rice. Many gourmands will even go to buy their premium waxed meat from Hong Kong. Chef Alex also gets his usual order of premium and delicious waxed meat from Hong Kong. After being steamed with rice in clay pot to allow the oils and flavours of the waxed meat to infuse the rice, the waxed combination is presented separately at the table. The rice is then mixed with chef’s special sauce, mixed and served with the gorgeous platter of waxed meat.

The rice is beautifully cooked with fluffy grains aromatic from the oils and sauce. Bits of crispy rice at the bottom of the clay pot also added a contrasting texture to the rice. This dish definitely symbolizes an abundance of goodies from its waxed duck, Chinese liver sausages and Chinese sausages. The waxed sausages are full of unctuous sweet, salty and umami flavours while the duck was more salty and moreish. With this combo, it’s a sure thing that you are going to be loading that carb since the flavours are pretty addictive.

End any festive meal with Nian Gao and other premium ingredients that is showcase in the Crispy Chinese Glutinous Cake Accompanied with Double Boiled Sea Bird’s Nest with Osmanthus Flowers and Chinese Yam. Crispy kataifi pastry enveloping soft and sticky sweet Nian Gao or glutinous cake and sweet potato is a delightful dessert paired with ice cream while the warm sweet broth of infused osmanthus flavour with jelly sea bird’s nest and soft Chinese yam is refreshing and light to clean up the palate.

Celebrate this auspicious season at Pak Loh Chiu Chowwith the above a la carte dishes or their 8-course set menus of Four Season Fortune Set Menu and the Golden Jade Prosperity Set Menu. The set menus are priced from RM 398 and RM 798 respectively, guests will have either the Rainbow Prosperity Yee Sang with Salmon Trout or the Classic Chiu Chow Yee Sang with Grass Carp. The set menus then proceed with seven authentic Teochew dishes. Both sets are available for dine-in in groups of four, six and ten, with individual charges for additional guests.

The Pak Loh Chiu Chow Chinese New Year Special is from 9th January 2016 until 22nd February 2016. All prices are inclusive of 10% service charge and 6% GST.

PAK LOH CHIU CHOW RESTAURANT

Feast Village, Feast Floor, Starhill Gallery

181 Jalan Bukit Bintang,

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 – 2782 3856

Website: www.feastvillage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/feastvillage/

Business Hours:

Operating hours: Daily 12.00 noon – 11.00pm (Last order at 10.45pm)

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