Lunching @ Koryo-Won Korean Restaurant, Suria KLCC

One fine afternoon, a few old friends and I made plans to lunch in KLCC. Usually, I tend to think that the dining options at KLCC are not what I would call “exciting”. However, a friend suggested a “new Korean place” that according to her, had just opened not too long ago at KLCC so we decided to give it a go.
Upon arrival, the “new Korean place” turned out to be Koryo-won, not exactly a new place as there’s one (not sure if it’s still around) that had been around for a long time just across the road.

Entrance
Browsing through the menu, I could see standard Korean fare. As it was lunch, some set lunches options were also available. In the habit of sharing food, we ordered a few dishes.

Banchans (mini appetizers)
A customary prelude to most Korean meal is the serving of a variety of banchans (mini appetizers). This is one of my favourite parts of a Korean meal; and the fact that since most restaurants generously offer “free refills” too. Not so for this restaurant however. I couldn’t recall what we were told but after having 3 refills (not 3 rounds), we were told we couldn’t have any more unless we pay for it. I think the reason had got something to do with the number of ala-carte main dishes that we ordered. Nonetheless, we weren’t too pleased with their reasoning, nor the manner we were told.


Beef Bulgogi
The Beef Bulgogi was alright. Tender thin slices of grilled beef fillet in saltish-sweetish sauce, it tasted best when paired with plain white rice.


Kimchi Chigae
Another favourite dish of mine and which I usually ordered at Korean restaurants is the Kimchi Chigae which is some sort of a spicy vegetables stewed in kimchi broth. The serving size of this is really miniscule (the photo you see above is misleading as it's just a close-up) although not uncommon. Again, it tasted just mediocre. It just didn’t have the right “zing” for us.


Bibimbap in Hot Stone Bowl
I love Bibimbaps! There is something about tossing plain white rice with a variety condiments topped with a raw egg in the sweetish spicy bean sauce that proves to be really addictive! Even better is having it in a hot stone bowl. The slightly charred rice at the bottom of the bowl provides a delicious crunch.

Aside from the above, a friend who came later ordered their beef bulgogi set lunch which came served in a bento box not unlike what you see (here) except for the fact that it is almost 3x the price as compared to the latter. (eeks!) Then again, this is in KLCC-lah so one can hardly expect the price to be cheap. Still, I find paying RM8 for a glass of cold green tea to be too much although it came with free refills (however it seeems like they refill the glass with just plain water).

Also, we were less than amused with their service. We weren’t in the mood to put up with sulky waiters and waitresses who bordered on being rude. During the course of our lunch, one waitress actually broke something twice, one of it being rather near to our table with nary an apology. Geez! No prize in guessing that we would definitely not be in a hurry for a revisit!

Koryo-Won Korean Restaurant
Level 4 Ramlee Mall (418/419)
Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tel: 603- 2171 2189/ 603- 2166 6189

Link to this article published in Sunday Star, Metro 11-01-2009

Korean Street Food @ Ccozi & Friends

Yummy Tuna Kimchi Rice Balls (RM8.00)
Truth to be told, I love street food/snacks. When travelling, put me in an area lined wth local street food and I will be extremely delighted. Similarly, I was delighted to have discovered this little outlet that specializes in Korean street food. Nestled in the maze-like Asian Avenue in Sunway Pyramid, it is not exactly easy to find. I could only describe its location as being somewhere on the 'right-hand side', in the 'middle' of the avenue.

The outlet itself is rather small, more like a stall. There are a few small tables with "not exactly comfortable" bar stools. It is hard to imagine how a group bigger than 3-4 persons could dine there comfortably.

Ccozi & Friends offer quite a variety of light eats ranging from various meat skewers, ddok bok ki (korean sliced rice cakes), stuffed rice balls, student lunch boxes served in metal tins, noodles and meals in hot stone bowls. The Tuna Kimchi Rice Balls (pictured above) that we ordered were delicious! I wasn't really expecting that I would like it so much but tuna flakes in slightly spicy kimchi sauce rolled together with the fluffy and slightly moist rice proved to be a delectable combination!


Grilled Chicken Bulgalbi (Korean BBQ Sauce) RM4.50
The Grilled Chicken Bulgalbi (Korean BBQ Sauce) skewers tasted as good as it looked in their menu although I would have preferred it to be served to us in skewer stick as seen in their menu rather than just serve the meat pieces on a plate minus the skewer stick. I reckon the latter is more convenient for the patrons but it just didn't look so good"lah". Fortunately, the chicken was delicious. Juicy, slightly smokey and really flavourful!


Delicious Ddok Bok Ki (korean rice sticks) (RM8 - 9.50)
Ever since I keep seeing the ddok bok ki (korean rice sticks) in korean dramas, I have been curious as to how they actually tasted for they sure look yummy drenched in the vibrant red sauce. So we ordered a plate of ddok bok ki with vegetables to share. Indeed it did not disappoint. The ddok bok ki was not unlike our cheongfun except that it has a thicker and more chewy bite to it. Together with the slightly sweet and spicy sauce, every bite was delicious!

One of us also ordered their hotstone bibimbap. I didn't try so couldn't comment on it. But it didn't really look that irresistable, for otherwise I would not be able to resist trying, would I?


Ccozi & Friends
First Floor, Asian Avenue
Sunway Pyramid
Link to this article published in Sunday Metro, The Star on 30 Nov 2008
Other reviews:
Pinkpainter
LjuN9

Authentic Northern Indian Delights @ Khaana Peena

One of the highlights of being a foodie is the enthusiasm to try different types of cuisine. Speaking of which, it has been quite a long time since I last savored Northern Indian cuisine. Hence, the timing was spot-on when I was invited by FoodStreet for a food review at Khaana Peena in Mont Kiara, that specializes in authentic Northern Indian cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant is tastefully decorated, with lots of wood and open space. My lunch date and I opted to dine alfresco at the patio outside since it was a pleasant and rather breezy Saturday afternoon. The sounds of water cascading from the Balinese fountain in the background further enhanced the rather calming and relaxing ambience.

I took time to admire the artfully-crafted menu (which by the way is amazingly extensive). I admire the fact that the proprietress, Madam Deepanjali through her menu, tries to provide diners with a deeper insight into the rich culture of India as depicted in the beautiful and enchanting photographs pictured alongside each page.

Dishes in Khaana Peena focus on ayurvedic properties which are known to promote cooking and eating for greater balance, better health and bliss. Hence, it is not surprising that a variety of dishes are healthy and low-fat. Freshness is the key word here. Everything is prepared fresh ala minute including the staple complimentary starter, the pappadum. Super light and ultra crispy, we have no doubt over their claim.

Clockwise from top left: Fresh pappadums, Stuffed Naan with Minced Lamb, Stuffed Naan with Cottage Cheese, Stuffed Naan with Dried Fruits

Northern Indian dishes are usually distinguished by the generous use of milk, cottage cheese, ghee, yoghurt as well as lentils. One of my favourite Northern Indian dish is the Palak Paneer. The creamy spinach gravy with cubes of homemade cottage cheese goes perfect with fluffy naan or rice. The naans that we had were stuffed with 3 types of mouth-watering fillings; minced lamb, cottage cheese and the dried fruits, with the last (which tasted slightly sweetish) being my favourite. The stuffed naans are great with the thicker curries and gravies but they are also as delicious when eaten on its own especially when they are still warm. We were also served with a generous portion of Vegetables Pulao. A marvelous blend of exotic Indian herbs and mixed vegetables makes this preparation a rice lovers delight.

Clockwise from Top-Left: Vegetables Pulao, Palak Paneer, Murg Makhawala, Navratan Korma
Aside from Palak Paneer, another dish that goes very well with naan and rice is the Navratan Korma, which is basically a rich cashew nut gravy cooked with nine different types of vegetables. For a meat option, a recommended dish is the aromatic Murg Makhawala, a thick curry-like dish with pieces of tandoori chicken cooked in creamy sauce with hints of masala.

Other Northern Indian cuisine staples include the tandoori meats and kebabs. At Khaana Peena, a wide selection is offered.

Clockwise from Top-Left: Murg Afghani, Garlic Chicken Tikka, Reshmi Kebab, Gobi Aloo
For a slightly different twist to the standard tandoori chicken, the Murg Afghani is recommended. Ginger garlic paste is added to chicken marination before being grilled to perfection. The meat is quite juicy, tender and mildly spiced enough to allow the natural taste of the meat to come through.

Juicy and tender Murg Afghani
In contrast, the paler-looking Garlic Chicken Tikka which is essentially cubed boneless chicken grilled in medium hot tandoor has a subdued taste of smoky charcoal flavour that seeped into the meat while cooking in the hot tandoor oven. For something light, a suitable but no less deserving alternative is the Reshmi Kebab. The extra smooth kebab is made from chicken mince that is delicately flavoured with pepper and rolled along the length of the skewer. Too much meat? Then one must not miss the all-popular Gobi Aloo, a dish that needs no introduction I reckon. Made with cauliflower and potatoes that are cooked with a enticing blend of spices, it was delicious vegetarian dish.


Left to Right: Creamy Mango Lassi and Milky Chai Masala
We finished off the very enjoyable and fulfilling meal with the cool and refreshing, yet utterly delicious Mango Lassi. One can also opt for a hot cup of aromatic Masala Chai Tea which will be perfect for winding down. For the coffee aficionados, it is also interesting to note that Khaana Peena serves a rather broad selection of coffee beverages (I counted 18 of them).

Other than ala carte, the restaurant is currently running some very affordable breakfast sets and set lunches promotions. Prices start from just RM8 for breakfast sets and RM11 for set lunches.

This is a food review invitation by FoodStreet Malaysia. Click here for link to article posted on FoodStreet website.

Khanna Peena
E-1-4/ E-1-5 Plaza Mont’ Kiara,
2 Jalan Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
(Tel) 03 62013355 (Fax) 03 62018777

Kissaten @ Jaya One

My favourite dessert at Kissaten
When I first saw the beautiful photography in this blog post, I thought a visit is a must. An opportunity came about when a group of friends were looking for a place to celebrate a birthday recently.

It being my first visit to Jaya One, it took me awhile, a few confusing turns and a couple of frantic calls to locate the restaurant. I was late and most of the main courses had been served. I just took a few bites here and a few bites there and only managed to capture a shot of my own order, the Kissaten Pork Tamago Burger. I am such a suckle for delicious-looking poached eggs and if you are too, I bet you would fall in love with the photos in their menu.

Kissaten Pork Tamago Burger
However, for me, the photography held more promise and anticipation than the actual presentation. Th softly poached egg (1/2 egg) was still good but the entire burger (or should I say sandwich was slightly on the dry and bland side. The patty itself was sandwiched between 2 slices of wholemeal bread (similar to commercial brands). The patty was thick, egg and vege were fresh but that's it. After a couple of bites, I had to request for some sauce to go with it.
Some other dishes were more successful in my eyes. I like the No.1 Char Siew Pizza and their snack plate Cheese Balls. Katsu Don and Tangy Duck Spaghetti were not as appealing in taste. As for beverages, they serve quite a variety of coffee, beers, juices and mocktails. I enjoyed my Iced Ginger Honey drink a lot.

Desserts were memorable for me. Highly recommended by the staff is their No. 1 Baked Cheese Cake.

No. 1 Baked Cheese Cake
It looks ordinary but after a taste, it's not hard to see why it deserved such a prestigious title in their menu. ;-p Light and souffle-like, it was very delicious indeed.

I have a "thang" for pumpkins so I was delighted to see Pumpkin Cream with Vanilla Ice-cream listed in their menu.

Pumpkin Cream with Vanilla Ice-cream
The dessert was alright but I have to confess that I had higher expectations of it. Mixed with the vanilla ice-cream, it tasted more like sweet corn cream rather than pumpkin to me. My favourite dessert of that night has to be their Rich Choco Pudding.

Rich Choco Pudding
Strangely, some of my friends didn't like it at all saying that the texture and taste were "a bit strange" but I thought the pudding which was sublime in taste and velvety in texture, was absolutely gorgeous!

Service although polite, was rather slow that night. Then again, we were quite a big group and the restaurant could also probably be facing some common teething problems being just recently opened. Ambience was airy and comfortable but location was a bit obscure. Pricing is moderate ranging from RM6.90 for the cheeseballs, RM10.90 for the burger to RM23.90 for the pizza (size similar to a personal pan pizza) and beyond . Desserts were priced between RM7.90 to 9.90. Set breakfasts and set lunches are also available with prices starting above RM10, I think.


Image borrowed from their website.
KISSATEN Coffee and Restaurant
L12A-1-1, Palm Square JAYA ONE
Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya, SEL.
Tel: 03 - 7954 1990f
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm daily

**Click here for link to this article published in The Sunday Star (Meto Section) on 20 July, 2008.

"Pholicious Experience" at O`Viet, Sunway Pyramid

I first developed a liking towards Vietnamese cuisine when I was studying in Sydney, Australia. However, when I came back to KL, I was dismayed to discover that there were only a couple of Vietnamese restaurants that I could find in the Klang Valley. Fortunately, since then more and more Vietnamese outlets have sprung up with the growing local appreciation of Vietnamese cuisine, notable mostly for its abundance of vegetables and absence of excessive grease.

Recently, I was invited by FoodStreet to attend a food tasting at O’Viet Restaurant & Café in Sunway Pyramid. Arriving at dinnertime, what awaits was an authentic and tantalizing palate of Vietnamese cuisine.

Beverages: (Clockwise from Top Left): 3 Colours Delight, Plum in Soda, Hot Lemongrass Ginger Tea, "Optima" Vietnamese Coffee
Starting with an array of beverages, the Plum in Soda, Lemongrass Ginger Tea and Three Colours Delight. The pairing of Plum in Soda, although odd-sounding works to tantalize the taste buds (but probably not for those who despise sour stuff).I liked the refreshing Lemongrass Ginger Tea, served hot or cold although I would recommend the former. The Three Colours Delight is a mix of green grass jelly, cendol and red beans; all blended beautifully together in this rich and creamy concoction.

We were then served a Mixed Grill Platter (RM24.90) which consists of traditional Vietnamese appetizers such as fried spring rolls, sugarcane shrimps, grilled beef and chicken with fresh veggies and comes with 4 paper rolls for you to make your own DIY summer rolls. Dipped in either the clear sweet and tangy nuoc cham sauce (an ubiquitous Vietnamese flavoring sauce) or the brown peanut sauce, they provide a tasty start to the evening.

Appetizers & Starters: (Clockwise from Top Left): Mix Grill Platter, Grilled Lemongrass Fish in Banana Leaf, Beef La Lot, Bo La Lot Platter.
The Bo La Lot (Grilled Beef in Wild Betel Leaves) (RM14.90) is another traditional Vietnamese specialty and should not be missed.

(Clockwise From Top Left): Mrs. Chong showing how to wrap your own Spring Roll, The "finished" spring roll, The Vietnamese way to savour the appetizers, A bite of the yummy Spring Roll
The Vietnamese way to eat these appetizers are to have them wrapped in a lettuce leaf with some mint leaves and marinated carrot and dipped in nuoc cham, or a special brown nutty and slightly pungent sauce with a hint of fu yue (Chinese fermented bean cube) that accompanies the La Lot. According to Mr. Chong (proprietor of O’Viet), most of their dipping sauces are self-concocted. Grilled Lemongrass Fish in Banana Leaf (RM22.90) is another popular dish in O’Viet. The fish is cooked with various herbs, vegetables and spices that the flesh has absorbed a pleasantly savory taste.

Now comes the “Pho-licious Experience” part of the night. O’Viet offers quite a wide selection of noodle/pho dishes. We managed to sample 3. First to come was the “Mieng Ga” (RM12.90), chicken in glass noodle in a rather light and delicate chicken broth tinged with herbs. The“Pho Bo Dac Biet” or O’Viet Special Mixed Beef Noodle (RM13.90) is an aromatic melange of noodles combined with pieces of beef and innards (beef fillet, brisket, tripe and beef balls). I was told that their beef-based broth which was not too heavily laced with strong spices and herbs, was slow-boiled for at least 48 hours.

"Pholicious Experience": (Clockwise from Top Left): "Mieng Ga", O'Viet Special Mixed Beef Noodle, Side Dish & Condiments for Bun Bo Hue, Bun Bo Hue (Hue-style Beef Noodle in Spicy Broth)
However, my vote goes to “Bun Bo Hue” or Hue-style Beef Noodle (RM11.90), described as beef fillet and tender brisket in mildly spicy beef soup. Although lesser known compared to Pho Bo, it was by no means inferior to it. In fact, Hue (pronounced as hu-ei) or Central Vietnamese cooking is widely described as the most unique of all and also the most distinct in taste – being much spicier and colourful than its Northern and Southern counterparts. Hue cooking is also influenced by the otherwise little-known royal Vietnamese style of cooking.
The key of Bun Bo Hue is the rich beef broth. It was bright and spicy, tangy yet slightly sweetish, and highly aromatic. The side dish of assorted vegetables was also slightly different from the usual as it also include banana flower and some pounded dried chili paste. Just chuck what you fancy from the side dish into the soup already heavily-ladened with beef, brisket, noodles, and start digging in!


Dessert: Chilled Durian Pancakes
It was to my utter delight when I saw what came next. Durian pancakes! Yes, this place serves chilled durian pancake. Fresh soy-based (non-dairy) cream and thick durian flesh encased in a thin crepe skin served chilled. A definite must for all durian lovers! But don’t worry if you do not like durian for it also comes in either cempedak or avocado filling. RM5.90 for 2 pieces. A couple of pieces that I tasted came with a slightly hardened or frozen center. Just slice it in 2 and let it warm a little before consuming.

The scrumptious meal and also the interesting explanations and fascinating tales by the lively Mr. Goh (who by the way, also owns Du Viet and La Lot Vietnamese Restaurant) finally came to an end with a cup of sweet, intense Vietnamese coffee directly imported from Vietnam. There are 4 selections available (according to your preferred intensity). I had the Optima (RM7.50) which is of medium strength and has a combination of 4 beans. Although I would have preferred it served warmer, I still enjoyed the very good cup of aromatic Vietnamese coffee.

Soothing ambience in O'Viet
Besides the dishes mentioned above, O’Viet has a pretty extensive menu that covers a rather large selection of appetizers & starters, ala carte dishes, noodles & congees as well as desserts and beverages.
Link to this article on Food Street

O’Viet Restaurant & Café (Pork-free)
G1.45 (Ground Level, Sunway Pyramid)
03-74920018

KLue RSVP: Market Place Restaurant & Lounge

Amuse Bouche: Sun-dried tomatoes on watermelon (IMO)
Having missed a few KLUE RSVP events for the last few months, I was looking forward to going to this once with a bunch of friends. An evening of dining and trying out a new restaurant with free flow "drinks" in the great company of friends at a very affordable price, it clearly looks set to be an intoxicating (in more ways than one) evening for sure!

This time, the dinner was held at Market Place Restaurant & Lounge at Lorong Yap Kwan Seng in KL. I must admit that I have never heard about this place before this event and neither do I frequent this side of the city. Anyhow, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there are a few more charming restaurants along the road which I will surely return later to try them out.

Back to Market Place. The restaurant is housed in an old converted bungalow. Looking rather chic, it seems to be a good place to chill out for drinks. But let's focus on the food this time. In the promotional leaflet of the event, the amuse bouche (pictured above) was listed as Goat Cheese with Strawberry Compote but what came instead was Sun-dried Tomatoes on Watermelon. The pairing although not extraordinary, was pleasant enough as a starter.


Appetiser: Homemade Mushroom Soup with Cream
This has got to be my favourite of the meal. Thick, rich, hearty mushroom soup. Simple comfort food but yet truly delectable.


Main Course: Pan-fried Cod Fish on Mash and Greens
For my main, I had the Cod Fish. Again, on the initial menu, it was listed as Pan-fried Cod Fish with Wasabi Mash and Fresh Passion Fruit but the chef must have a change of mind again for I didn't detect any fresh passion fruit nor tasted any wasabi in the mashed potatoes although I appreciate the addition of some leafy greens in the dish. Well, it is rather difficult to spoil a cod fish as long as it is fresh and not over-cooked and I happened to love this fish a lot! Other than that, this dish is rather unremarkable, particularly in terms of creativity. It would also have benefitted if served a tad warmer.


Main course: Pan-fried Salmon
All of us, except one chose the cod. This particular friend of mine broke the mold and had the salmon instead. *grin* Again, the chef must be having a fitful day. I guess the "fresh passion fruit" originally planned for the cod fish went to this dish instead, replacing the pernod sauce which was originally planned. Again, this was a rather average dish that could have benefitted if served warmer, as commented by my friend.


Dessert: Chocolate Mousse
Here comes dessert! Martini-glassed Chocolate Mousse. Appearance-wise, reminds one of "you-know-what" but tasted divine although I found the texture to be a bit strange, almost like semi-melted rich chocolate ice-cream that was served slightly warm, not very mousse-like. Would be even better if served colder. But the strangest thing is that quality differed from glass to glass. Some of my friends had theirs in a darker-colored version, lighter texture but tasted bland. Hmm..... I guess that I was lucky mine tasted just fine.

I didn't take any pictures of the drinks this time because they were the same from the last event with the exception of a special creation at the end of the night, Martell in Sour Lemon which was really good! After what seems like endless rounds of drinks (it was a rather warm night and hence we were *ahem* pretty thirsty), we called it a night but not without promising a return trip to explore the interesting-looking restaurants in that area.

Market Place Restaurant & Lounge
4A Lorong Yap Kwan Seng, Off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng,
Kuala Lumpur.