Estilo & Zender's @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

Testing out two eateries with European accents: Estilo, Publika's first Spanish restaurant, & Zender's, where French & Mediterranean cooking calls the shots.

Launched this month, Estilo is the sister outlet of El Meson at Telawi, but there's a potentially polarizing restriction that sets this apart from the Bangsar branch: no suckling pig, Parma ham, Iberico pork ribs or the slightest smidgen of swine will be found here.

Still, Estilo will whip up plenty to please fans of tapas, like melt-in-the-mouth potatoes brimming with crab meat & cheese in fresh tomato sauce.

Estilo's complete menu was not offered when we visited, but El Meson favorites such as paella, suckling lamb & crispy-cheesy croquettes should be available soon. 

Cocktails will come eventually too. Note as well that Estilo might not currently be open for lunch; full operations will commence later this week.

Estilo is located at Publika's open square, neighboring Silver Spoon & The Social.

Next up: Zender's, hidden above Wagaya (the former Ten) at Solaris Dutamas' rearmost blocks.

We retreated into Zender's air-conditioned comfort on a muggy night, but the restaurant also features an alfresco balcony with distant views of KL's best-known towers.

Foie gras is rarer than Frenchmen at Solaris Dutamas, so Zender's is a welcome entry. Two hefty chunks come at a bargain, RM48++ with port wine sauce & prunes.

Zender's kitchen stays open past midnight, later than other Solaris hangouts; supper seekers can head here to savor duck confit (RM48++), substantially meaty but significantly chewy. Love the fruit compote on the side, nevertheless.

Other offerings include everything from an OK Greek salad (RM16++) to a parade of pastas. Sure, Zender's isn't the most innovative restaurant around, but its chef, Eric, is an enthusiastic chap who's clearly trying hard; we hope this place does well.

The sweets list is short; the creamy avocado cheesecake (RM15++) is the main attraction, alongside fruity favorites like raspberry creme brulee & mango tiramisu.

Merlot by the glass clocks in at RM22++; the Gold Margarita (RM23++) is a pleasantly potent combination of Jose Cuervo Gold, Grand Marnier & mango puree.

Estilo @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.
Zender's Restaurant & Bar @ D5-G4-06, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Cafe Berlin @ 1 Mont Kiara Mall

A promising entry into Mont Kiara, serving an array of German, French & Italian bread.

We have trouble pronouncing Cafe Berlin's offerings (vollkornbrot? schwartzbrot?), but even if words won't roll off our tongues, flavors can be relished by our taste buds.

Cafe Berlin supplies everything from simple Vesper mixed wheat bread ...

... to loaves loaded with grainy goodness, great enough to eat on their own.

Dense & heavy with seeds & nuts, making a RM20 ten-slice loaf worth the premium.

Also available: wheat-rye kruestchen & stollen fruitcake (even if it's not Christmas).

Bonus stop: A short drive from Mont Kiara Mall, Swich has opened its dine-in outlet at Publika.

Entries on Swich Cafe at HP Towers: July 20, 2012 & Jan. 6, 2013.

It's a treasure trove of Swich's greatest hits, finally available seven days a week, from irresistible guilty pleasures like butter soft-shell-crab pasta with salted egg yolk ...

... to conscience-appeasing creations like a walnut, fig & pear salad that's vivid with flavors.

The menu at Publika's Swich is only slightly less extensive than the HP Towers outlet's; the cornucopia of comfort food spans pizzas sold by the slice to chunky chicken rendang burgers creamily coated in peanut sauce.

And of course, Swich's now-famed cakes are available too (from time to time, fortunate customers might find Swich founder Cheng Cheng's masterful mangosteen cake up for grabs). The cafe is located on G3, the level above MPH.

Cafe Berlin @ Ground Floor, 1 Mont Kiara Mall, Kuala Lumpur.

Swich Cafe @ G3, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Tumis Teak 5 @ Solaris Dutamas

Not one of Solaris Dutamas' most prominent places, but this outlet run by Singaporean couple Rosli & Yani offers enough enticements for a visit or two.

Tumis Teak 5 is part cafe, part furniture store, which kinda helps explain its name.

The menu comprises Malay & Indonesian specialties like this Javanese favorite, "nasi ambeng," rice accompanied by sotong sambal, serunding, egg, crackers & more.

The rice set comes with ayam lemak cili padi, all for RM15. Satisfyingly flavorsome.

The ominously named Daging Maut proved to be beef cooked in a black gravy with lime leaves. Surprisingly tender, but punishingly spicy.

Murtabak Maggi, a treat for fans of instant noodles seeking more ways to savor their slurps. Fun to munch initially, though its doughy-starchy texture eventually left us longing for the meatiness of mamak murtabak.

Paru, tempe & tahu, a triumphant triumvirate, expertly executed. And there's still much more here to order, from ayam penyet to ikan terutup.

Something cold & santan-based, to finish on a fine, not-too-sugary note.

Cold syrup & somewhat ineffectual Tongkat Ali iced tea.

Tumis Teak 5,

Solaris Dutamas.

Same row as Urbano E Fresco & Espressolab.

Open through at least 9pm, closed Sundays.

Fete Artisan Marshmallows, Zenberi & UGood

As Bing Crosby first sang 62 Christmases ago, "It's a marshmallow world, it's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts." Fete this Yuletide with marvelous Malaysian-made marshmallows, hand-cut & hand-wrapped with artistry & assurance.

Fete Artisan Marshmallows have popped up at multiple locations in recent months, with their makers, engaged couple Julian & Carmen, setting up stalls at Urbanscapes & other bazaars, as well as running deliveries across the Klang Valley.

Now, there's finally a convenient place to purchase these babies, seven days a week, 10am-9pm, at Publika's Carousel children's toy store (hidden on the same row as Namoo).

Varieties include chocolate chip (our favorite), Tahitian vanilla, Japanese matcha, orange marmalade, cookies & cream, & double espresso. Pleasantly spongy, offering a firm bite, with flavors delicate but true.

Well-presented packages of six cost RM9, with expiration dates at least a fortnight away.

Marshmallow puffs are also available, as well as lollipop-like "marshie pops" with choc sprinkles. 

Marshmallow bouquets, cakes & other creations are possible on order. Brilliant for birthdays, baby showers, weddings & every other celebration in between.

Fete Marshmallows @ G3-14, Publika (in the mall), Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Contact for orders: 012-377-0268

Bonus look at more desserts elsewhere: Fans of frosty treats can have a sweet time at Tropicana City Mall's Zenberi & Taman Tun's UGood.

Zenberi's ice cream is satisfactory, with green tea, black sesame & yuzu flavors that feel natural-tasting. Note: there's also a Zenberi in Pavilion.

An East-meets-West pastry preparation: fresh, fluffy croissants, fascinatingly filled with azuki bean paste & topped with poppy seeds.

Handmade blueberry mille-crepe cake, not the best in town but bolehlah.

Next up, TTDI's U Good, which specializes in frozen yogurt ice cream. 

A smooth, tasty mix of vanilla & mango flavors, with fresh mango cubes for fruity fun.

Customers can also purchase their fro-yo in warm, crisply fried "cornet" bread cones.

Zenberi @ Tropicana City Mall

UGood Buns & Desserts,

Jalan Wan Kadir 2, Taman Tun Dr Ismail.