Dinner In The Sky @ Malaysia Tourism Center (MATIC)

An Unforgettable Aerial Dining Experience!

Never had I have ever thought that I would be brave enough to take on Dinner in the Sky! Since young, my fear of heights has always been my nemesis in going to places with heights. So it was actually a peculiar thing when I actually accepted the invitation to Dinner In The Sky without much thoughts recently.

Dinner In The Sky, an aerial dining experience that one should try, at least once-in-your-lifetime. Strung 50 feet above ground, diners gathered on the long table to enjoy an unbelievable dining experience amidst the city skyline and skyscrapers. The Belgian-based dining concept has been operating in our city since 2015 and has continue to attract everyone from local to tourist for a fine course dining experience.

One is encourage to make your reservation in advance to secure a seat as well as pre-book your choice of dishes. Dinner In The Sky operates daily with two sessions in the evening. The aerial dining concept offers 3-course meal with your choice of starter, main course and dessert.

Accepting the invite without so much of an afterthought, it was only when it was time for the dining experience that I finally realize what I was in for. We arrived early, thinking to beat the city traffic. Dinner In The Sky is now located at the Malaysia Tourism Center (MATIC) and there’s plenty of free parking available.

There was a dinner in session already when I arrived. Looking up at hydraulic crane that strung the table in the sky, suddenly I felt weak in my knees. The fact that I am about to face my nemesis if heights hit me like a ton of bricks. And so I kept chanting to myself that I would be ok and that it would be worth it like a song through my head.

To be fair, it was a beautiful night after a light down pour earlier. The sky was clear and lovely. The evening traffic was bustling in a distance but it was certainly peaceful and serene at the location. I can hear lots of laughter and cheers from the Dinner In The Sky table above. There was also music piped from the main building, adding elements of liveliness and fun. It was a perfect evening.

My session was at 8pm and so I strolled to take some pictures and also headed to the main building to fill up the forms and waited comfortably in the lounge area. One can order some drinks to chill while waiting for your turn.

Before going up, we were told that we are not able to take much up with us and so we had to store away our bags in the prepared lockers available.

Then the first session was ending and so I took the opportunity to catch the table slowly descend.

I could see the diners leaving with happy faces and satisfaction. Somehow that was pretty reassuring to me to see diners enjoying the experience.

I must say, the technology and design concept of the table is pretty amazing. The long covered table seats 22 pax in a circle. The middle of the table is the work stations for the chefs to prepare our meals. The glass roof was also decorated with fairy lights to emit a magical experience.

The chairs are design to echo bucket seats with safety straps so one actually gets seated very tightly and near the table. There are no flooring except for a tiny square to place your feet.

I am glad I took the second session as the evening has turn dark and the city scene is now filled with glittery lights everywhere. If you prefer a brighter ambiance, the first session will be better.

It was time. I was guided to my seat. Honestly, any of the seats are good because the table also rotates when it’s up there so everyone gets the same view. There are assistants to make sure I am strap in tightly with my seat adjusted to fit me snuggly to the edge of the table. This is it… the whole table was buzzing with excitement.

Apparently I am not the only one with fear of heights as I started talking around to people seated near me. The chef and kitchen crew, wearing safety harnesses, were already on board and busy with preparations of the food. Then the evening kicked off with the chefs and emcee presenting their piece on the Dinner In The Sky.

While I was so engaged with the emcee and the people at the table, I didn’t realize that we had actually lifted off the ground!

Suddenly, it dawn on me that I was already 50 meters above the ground when I saw the glorious city lights shimmering in the distance. And to say that I didn’t even feel the lift off, that’s an amazing feat from the Dinner In The Sky team. The emcee also managed to distract us I suppose, seeing how nervous most of us were.

So now I back to feeling nervous again after knowing I am already above ground. Then I shift my focus to the chefs who are now busy prepping our food. With quick actions, the plates were laid out and the food was artfully being placed on them.

The table is now rotating slowly and I can see what a beautiful evening it was. I am truly blessed. Clear sky allowing us gorgeous views of the city, not a wind in sight. It was quiet too. The night was near perfection. I began to relax a bit though I still didn’t have the courage to look down.

Some of the braver diners been to swirl their seats around to get better views and some even pull the lever to allow their seat to fall slight back to enjoy the sky view. Not me, I was just perfectly happy in my seat and my view, sipping my Tequila Sunrise cocktail, which I pre-ordered earlier. Cocktail is not included in the meal.

First course is Smoked Salmon Salad with Glass Noodle and Oriental Sesame Dressing. Beautifully presented, the salad, though not spectacular, was surprisingly delicious. A little noodles, crisp greens with tomatoes and bell peppers, luscious slices of salty and creamy smoked salmon with dressing was a good starter since my tummy was full of butterflies from the nervous earlier.

The second course was mains and there were four options to choose from. While I opted for the Baked Seafood Lasagna with Garlic Roasted Prawns, my friend had the Roasted Chicken Cutlets with Tennessee Glaze.

My Baked Seafood Lasagna with Garlic Roasted Prawns was served on a bed of wilted spinach and tomato sauce. The lasagna was soft, ooey gooey with cheese and creamy while the plump prawns were cooked well. It was very tasty and definitely comforting. Glad I ordered this dish as it was comfort food that I could enjoy, especially when I already high on adrenalin from this experience. Despite thinking earlier that I don’t think I could swallow a bite, I was doing pretty well since I enjoyed my lasagna.

My friend who had the Roasted Chicken Cutlets with Tennessee Glaze was generous in sharing her dish with me so I could get a taste. I must say, this dish outdo my expectation. It was a scrumptious dish with beautiful succulent and tender chicken served on a bed of chicken ham mashed potatoes, French beans and a savory and lightly sweet sauce.

The other two mains were Beef Stew with Sour Cream, served garlic rosemary infused rice and roasted cherry tomatoes and Twice Cooked Lamb Leg Slices with Ginger Soya Glaze served with pickled cabbage and cold spaghetti. Vegetarian option is available upon request. Dinner menu prepared by Teaffani Catering.

Our final course was dessert in the form of Strawberry and Kiwi Shortcake. At first sight, the cake looked dense and dry but when I tried it, it was really a moist and fluffy cake. Nothing to shout about but really nothing to complain either as it was decent, light and tasty. Thanks to Chef Sufiz and team!

Food certainly outdo my expectation and while one may think it’s not worthy of the price, do remember that it’s the entire experience and not just the food when you’re having Dinner In The Sky.

Somewhere between course, I even managed to take a selfie of myself, which is quite rare and considering I was nervous from my fear of heights!

That said, we landed safely back on the ground. The whole experience takes up an hour thought it felt shorter than that. See how time flies when you’re having a good time?

It was truly an unforgettable dining experience in my journey. The moments when I was up in the sky was literally priceless and the fact that I even conquered my fear of heights that day was another thrill factor for me. At least I can now say… been there, done that!

It’s worth an experience if you have not tried it, at least once in your lifetime… Dinner In The Sky will end this June 2017. Do make your way there to try this before it ends. It is perfect for a little adventure of a lifetime or you may want to bring someone special up there for a priceless moment.

More information about Dinner In The Sky:

Time: 6:30PM and 8:00PM daily

Price: RM 229 (weekdays) & RM249 (weekends)

Food: 3 course meal with Starter, Main course and Dessert

Duration of experience/ Dinner: 1 hour

*Reservation required

DINNER IN THE SKY

Malaysia Tourism Center (MATIC)

No. 109, Jalan Ampang,

50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: +60 3-2282 6413

Website: www.dinnerinthesky.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/skydinnermalaysia/

Hawk and Fish @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Hawker Fare Meets British Pub Grub

Wow, it’s a first for me to devour our Malaysian favorite hawker fare on the same table as British pub grub. Hawk & Fish, which stands for hawker and fish (fish & chips that is…), is located at TTDI right beneath The Pound Pub and is set on bringing both gastronomical worlds of street food and pub food together under one roof. Sharing the same management as The Pound, which has been operating for 2 years already, Hawk & Fish is barely few months old but has garnered quite a reputation of its unique name and concept. I like the concept. In some ways, our street food is right up the alley along pub food where a mug of beer and some hawker fare may be the perfect partnership to unwind at the end of a long work day. Its comfort food for both in many ways where hawker is our Malaysian comfort fare as British pub grub is to the British.

Walking into Hawk & Fish, the ambience projected minimalist raw appeal. Lots of grey, slate and black are seen all over. A mural of Uncle Chee, the chef that whips up the hawker fare, is boldly displayed at one corner. The jovial chef prepares economical rice and dishes (local chap fun) for lunch and other hawker dishes for the regular a la carte menu served throughout the day. Diners can expect over 20 dishes for the chap fun and other street favorites like Bakuteh, Herbal Wine, Char Kway Teow and more in the menu. The pub grub side of the menu features fish & chips, burgers, pasta, snacks and more. Basically, diners can also order the menu from The Pound Pub as well if you are dining at Hawk & Fish.

Dinner commence with a cute named snack called Dogs in a Blanket & Quilt (RM25). Its Hawk & Fish’s own take at the western snack of Pigs in a Blanket which is sausages wrapped and baked in puff pastry. Dogs in a Blanket & Quilt is essentially one super large sausage wrapped in chive omelette and bacon, then fried till crispy and golden and served with yellow mustard. I swear my heart skipped a few heartbeats when I saw this awesome looking snack.

The savory and smoky sausage really paired up well with the oniony chive omelette and salty moreish notes of the crispy bacon. It is juicy and has an overall good bite. When dipped into the mustard, more flavours of the tangy hit of nostril-tingling sensation of piquant mustard worked extra wondrous on the taste bud. Damn shiok bar snack… I could easily wolf this down by myself and maybe order a few extra ones…

We were immediately attracted to The Pound Pork Balls (RM18) when we saw it in the menu. Meatball is such a universal favorite food all over the world. This one is oozing with cheese when we cut it open. I enjoyed the flavours of the juicy meatball as it is tasty. This one is also served with yellow mustard.

Spicy Wings (RM20) are not really spicy in heat but has lots of spices in its marinade. The wings are a good choice to order anytime. Crispy skin, juicy inside and delicious, sinking your teeth into a few of these wings are simply a no-brainer when you visit The Pound or Hawk & Fish!

I always enjoy a good recipe for fish & chips. Hawk & Fish Red Snapper Fish & Chips (RM30) had all the good intentions of a delicious fish & chips with its golden crispy beer batter, thick cut fries, tartar sauce and mushy peas but the snapper didn’t taste right. It was a little chewy for some reason. We did feedback and were assured that they will look into this. If the snapper was good, this would have been an awesome fish & chips as everything else was good down right to the batter.

The Pound Pork Burger (RM30) is quite a hefty dish. Half pound pork patty nicely seasoned and grilled is topped with melted cheese, ham, fried egg sesame seed bun and the usual suspects certainly make a full meal on its own. The pork patty is pretty decent with a nice moist note while I certainly attacked the thick cut fries happily as well as the burger.

After all the pub food, we were ready for the hawk part of the restaurant. Leading the pack was a delish Char Kway Teow (RM15). This version is different from my usual preference but nevertheless really scrumptious. It has a good wok hei and the kway teow is nicely moist and bursting with a lovely soy sauce flavour. The kway teow was adorned with seafood and sidekicks of chicken wings and fried egg. We asked for the normal heat version but were told that we could always amp up the heat level with the sides of cili padi sauce and a kickass dry chili sambal. That kickass chili is super-hot and rocks in flavours!

Homespun Fried Rice (RM20) has three variations from Pound Special to Thai style and Chinese style. We opted for the Pound Special and were delighted with it happily. The fried rice had nice fluffy grains with a good breathe of wok. I can taste lovely spices and heat as well as bits of bacon bits. I added the kickass dry chili sambal again to take this fried rice to another level of taste. Together with the chicken wings and fried egg, the fried rice makes a great single dish meal anytime of the day.

One of the house signatures of Hawk & Fish is Uncle Chee’s Ancestral Orinigal Bakuteh (RM15). Though it may not win any big ravings in my books, it is still sufficiently comforting. The hot herbal soup has a good calming effect while the cuts of pork belly are well braised in the soup. It has a nice balance of lean and fat, tender and yet has a good bite. The accompaniment of tau foo pok, enoki mushrooms, greens and coriander added more flavours and textures. It is still kudos to Uncle Chee for his effort in this favorite street food of mine…

I am also a huge fan of Dry Style Bakuteh (RM15). I am always on a look out for this version as I really enjoy the deep dark richness of the lightly sweet and caramelized notes of dark soy sauce with herbal soup and tainted with dry chilies and bits of ladies fingers. I felt that this one was missing an ingredient of dried squid to add more pungent flavours. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this happily with my rice. I am glad Uncle Chee used a fatty cut of the pork belly because it really makes this dish taste even better.

Though the BKT & dry BKT was decent, the Herbal Wine Chicken (RM15) was super yum! Don’t be fool by this ordinary looking pot of chicken. It is gorgeously intense in flavours as the herbal wine is powerful in flavours. The rich herbal wine broth is what makes me lust after it as I keep spooning the broth for pure satiation. The chicken was decent together with the red dates and coriander but it was the broth that took center stage in this dish. A must order if you love bold punchy broth laced with strong Chinese wine like this one!

Apple Pie was nothing to shout about but it did make a nice ending with the crispy pastry and sweet apple pie filling.

Hawk & Fish has certainly more hits than misses. The concept of hawker and pub grub is pretty unique and they seem to nail it all pretty well. Price is decent as well. Head on over for their spread of Chap Farn during lunchtime to sample Uncle Chee’s dishes or during the evening for a spread of hawker favorites and pub grub. Highlights for me are the snacks of The Pound Pork Ball, Dogs in a Blanket & Quilt, Spicy Wings, Homespun Fried Rice and Herbal Wine Chicken.

HAWK & FISH

No. 50, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1,

Taman Tun Dr Ismail,

60000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +60 11-3738 8993

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hawkandfish

Business Hours:

Lunch –11am to 2.30pm

Dinner – 6pm to 11pm

The Local by Gastro Project, Jaya One: Malaysian Favorite Street Food!

Local Dishes, Perfect for Any Day and Any Time!

Growing up in Malaysia, I consider myself really lucky. With all the culture and races we have, our melting pot of cuisine is one giant ocean of gastronomic lusciousness. We love to eat and we proudly show it all the time, or anytime in the day as a matter of fact!

 

When I was studying abroad, the first thing I missed was Malaysian food. Nothing beats the familiar and comforting flavors of our cuisine, easing away any hardship on those days of stress and unhappy days. And to add further to this, our list of Malaysian favorites is long enough to cater to all our gregarious appetites. Having said this, what are your top 5 Malaysian favorite dishes?

Leading us to The Local by Gastro Project located at Jaya One, Jalan University. TheGastro Project already did something right with their unique combination of combining food and movies. And so, they have boldly ventured out once more with The Local, a restaurant serving up Malaysian favorite dishes. The Local is a no frills restaurant, dressed with minimalist, serving up recipes of Malaysia dishes with affordable prices. It caters to everyone’s appetite whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner.

We recently gathered there with some foodies to grab a taste of what The Local has to offer. The menu is simple, a two side menu featuring TL specials, Noodles, Rice, Western, Sandwiches, Light Snacks and Desserts with Beverages. Its tight and sufficient as there are also specials of the day.

Pink Nectar is a new addition to the menu and is a play on our local Syrup Bandung jazzed up with cincau and mixed fruits. It’s simple and creamy and the fruits and jelly makes a nice touch to the drink. We finished this drink before our meal was half way through.

Tangerine Mandarin Fizz is fresh, fruity and frizzy while Apple Asam Boi is fresh apple juice localized with a sour and salty preserved plum of asam boi. Another foodie had the Banana Shake and like it with the addition of chocolate sauce.

Rojak Buah was a nice way to whet our appetites. Chunks of fruits and vegetables are soaked in the pungent prawn paste sauce with hints of chili and finely shredded kaffir lime leaves before being covered in crushed peanuts and served with pieces of emping, crispy crackers made from rice. I like the emping as it works well, providing a lovely texture to the rojak.

My all-time-favorite snack, I once took on the challenge to make this myself. And that’s when I realize it’s a lot of work to stand over the stove to make the pancake. Roti Jala with Chicken Curry has four lovely golden yellow pancake rolls served with a very creamy curry chicken. This one makes a great small snack to hold one over till meal time. There is also an option of mutton curry.

The Nasi Kerabu here is delicious! Pretty on a platter, the blue tinged rice had a nice balance of herbs and ingredients. Served with a nutty and creamy Ayam Percik, a wedge of salted egg and crispy crackers, simply squeeze the lime over the rice and savor it with the scrumptious percik sauce. It’s a plate of salty, spicy, sweet and slight tangy flavors with lots of textures. For only RM10, this one definitely makes an affordable meal anytime of the day!

Fried Rice with Chicken Chop is another local take as every one of us loves our fried rice. Here, it is cleverly jazzed up with crispy fried boneless chicken smothered with mushroom sauce, fried egg and steamed veggies. It’s simple and hearty, completing a full quota of carb, protein and greens in a meal.

It is expected that our nation’s most sought after Nasi Lemak to make its mark here. Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken is beautifully executed here and gets a tick of approval with its fluffy coconut rice, aromatic spiced up fried chicken and rich spicy and sweet sambal with all the normal condiments. I especially enjoyed the fried chicken laced with so many aromatics and spices, rendering a very flavorful chook. The sambal is also pretty good with sufficient richness of pungent chili toned down with a balance of sweetness. A side of crispy Pappadum makes a nice addition. A cup of hot Teh Tarik completed this meal nicely…

When this pot arrived, everyone immediately complimented how wonderful the aroma in the air was. The Claypot Chicken Paratal is a sight to behold. Thick rich creamy, the chicken paratal looked and tasted divine. It has a really great balance of spices and flavors. The claypot kept the rice and curry hot so it was a great idea as one can really savor this slowly. A large piece of chicken was tender as can be while chunks of potatoes are definitely much appreciated in my books. A side of pickled vegetables is just perfect to lift up the richness of the paratal. Highly recommended!

In the noodling department, Curry Laksa and Asam Laksa reigns supreme at The Local. Enjoy piping hot bowls of creamy Curry Laksa filled with chicken, egg, bean curd puff, long beans and more for only RM9 a bowl. The version here is not overly creamy and is redolent of spices. I did wish for the beancurd puffs to be soaked and cooked in the curry, just my matter of preference. The dollop of chili is awesome and aromatic. The Asam Laksa here leans towards Malay version. I loved the laksa gravy so much, I literally polished off most of it. Tangy, spicy and bursting with bold moreish flavors, the gravy is so addictively and satisfying for me. I can taste the bunga kantan and the laksa leaves flavor and aroma distinctively. Shiok!

Sizzling Yee Mee is also available. It has all the usual ingredients but they serve roasted boneless chicken on this instead of the braised chicken on the day we were there.

By now, I was heavily maxed out of tummy space. However I did managed to taste a little Nasi Goreng Kampung TL and found it hearty in flavors. The dish makes a great one dish meal with crispy fish crackers. There are also lots of ingredients like anchovies, prawns and vegetables in the fried rice.

We ended on a high note with a beautifully fried Banana Fritter sprinkled with icing sugar and served with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Never was a banana fan but I do like the fritter as it was lightly coated with the crispy thin batter and the banana was ripe and sweet.

There is also a chunky ABC for dessert! Sweet, fruity and filled to the max with lots of condiments, a great ABC always makes a refreshing ending…

The Local showcases what they do best, Malaysian favorites prepared well and with care. For a restaurant like this, their prices are decent considering the air conditioned ambience. The Local also serves some Western dishes like Fish and Chips and Chicken Chop. I also spied the Bubur Pulut Hitam on their dessert menu which is one of my favorite local desserts.

THE LOCAL BY GASTRO PROJECT

Block D, Unit 7 Level G

Jaya One

72A, Jalan University

46200 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 603 7491 9141

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelocalbytgp

Business hours:  8am to 9pm

More photos available at my Facebook: ChasingFood Dreams