TRACE Restaurant and Bar @ Element Kuala Lumpur

New Menu by Chef Man

A new journey of flavours has begun this September at TRACE Restaurant and Bar. With a gorgeous skyline view of the city stretch across the distance, dining at TRACE Restaurant and Bar at Element Kuala Lumpur is a delicious sensory dining experience not to be missed.

Located on 40 floors, TRACE is spaciously designed to incorporate an element of modern contemporary dining with comfort. The name TRACE speaks for itself; the objective is to create transparency around what is in the food and where it came from. Committed to serving fresh and local produce in support of our local farmers, TRACE offers bold local and international flavours with a twist in their menu.

Executive Chef Man and his culinary team takes on inspiration from Marriott International’s Go Local Concept and created his latest menu that offers more local dishes. With an open kitchen placed centrally around the main dining area, diners can catch whiffs of deliciousness as well as Chef Man’s culinary kitchen actions while dining at TRACE.

A Sangria to kick off the evening…

The Kerabu Mangga Isi Ketam (RM23) is a crowd pleaser. Simply irresistible, this delicious concoction of sweet crab meat chunks with spicy and sour mango kerabu salad is a match made for each other. Lots of flavourful oomph of savory, sweet, spicy and sourness whets the appetite for more to come.

The Live Well Salad (RM27) offers a healthy and tasty salad with a light dressing. Lots of fruity notes from the beetroot, orange segments, berries and crisp salad greens that makes this salad so fresh and delightful to enjoy.

For a single light meal, the Wrap & Roll Sharwarma (RM32) is your best bet. Thin sliced roasted chicken breast with light salad greens, cucumber and onion served with sides of Tzatziki sauce and special sauce along with thick cut fries is great for any time of the day.

The classic Malaysian oxtail soup (RM38) is beautifully cooked and presented. Served with crispy toast, lime and kicap sauce, these condiments are perfect with the rich and robust spiced up soup filled with tender chunks of oxtail. Finished with fresh coriander and fried shallots for that aroma, the soup is hearty and tummy warming.

TRACE's signature pizza (RM40) is slathered with local flavours. Thin and crispy crust, blanket with organic tomato sauce before being topped with spicy chicken, chicken floss, thinly sliced onions, cheese and lime wedges, the pizza is deliciously tasty.

If there is one dish to call it Chef Man’s signature, it would have to be Rempah Kuzi Kambing (RM58). A recipe from his Great Grandmother with different spices from India, Arab and Malaysia, the braised lamb shank is served with ghee rice and crispy pappadum. The lamb flavours are decadently rich with bold spices cooked into thick tomatoey sauce finished with cashew nuts. Its fork-tender and has soaked up all the deliciousness of the sauce as well as the wonderful aroma. Certainly, a dish not to be miss!

Crispy Yee Mee noodles drenched in silky egg laced gravy, crowned with large prawns with chicken, fishcake and greens, it’s a jazzed up comfort dish that is much enjoyed by many daily. The flavours of Egg Noodles "Yee Mee Kung Fu" (RM32) are well-balanced, with hints of savory sweetness pairing so well with the egg noodles and sweet fresh prawns.

Besides the above, there’s also Mee curry laksa (RM32), Mee mamak (RM32) and Nasi Goreng Kampung (RM32). The Nasi Goreng Kampung is a lovely sight. Fried rice ala kampung style is accompanied by satay skewer, little bundles of pandan chicken, fried egg, crunchy ikan keropok and fruit chutney sambal. A little mini buffet of flavours to jazz up the fried rice.

Other international dishes to try includes Lamb Chop with potato au gratin (RM72 for 350g), Salmon fillet with saffron cream sauce (RM69 for 200g), Australian tenderloin with truffle mash and balsamic black pepper sauce (RM120 for 200g), Corn-fed chicken with spinach a la creme (RM51) and more. Our tasting platter of all four dishes is impeccably cooked and presented well. The lamb was superb and succulent and so was the tenderloin. The chicken roulade is moist and served on creamed soft spinach while the pretty pastel saffron creamy sauce complimented the salmon deliciously.

Desserts are not to be missed as there are quite a few choices of familiar classic desserts such as Cheese Cake (RM30), Pandan Tiramisu (RM28), Bread pudding (RM28) or Dark Chocolate Volcano Lava Cake (RM36). Whichever dessert one chooses, it will surely leave a lasting sweet note while dining at TRACE!

TRACE RESTAURANT & BAR

Element KL by Westin

40th Floor, Ilham Tower

8 Jalan Binjai,

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603-2771 3388

Website: www.elementkualalumpur.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElementKualaLumpur

Business Hours:

Breakfast - 6.30am to 10.30am

All-Day Dining - 11am to 12midnight

15 Street Food to Eat at Malaysia Boleh!

Affordable Malaysian Hawker Dining Shoppes at Four Seasons Place KL

Malaysians are blessed with plenty of good eats always. Adding to the list of good eats in our metropolitan city is Malaysia Boleh!

Located at the newly open Shoppes at Four Season Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Boleh! is a non-halal food court that rounds up some of the best street food from all over the country in one place. The new food haven has more than 20 classic street food that is a sure crowd pleaser, especially the working crowd in the city.

Owned by Singapore’s Fei Siong Group, Malaysia Boleh! had a grand opening recently and was attended by many VIPs including Singapore Deputy High Commissioner Mark Neo and other local celebrities.

Malaysia Boleh! food enclave has had its first success in Singapore and is now making its mark in the country where all the food originates.

The auspicious opening ceremony was also graced by the famous Kun Seng Keng Lion Dance troupe for a big bang celebration.

The food enclave has a modern theme, showcasing Malaysian local cartoon mural, white washed walls, mosaic floors, minimalist white table settings, lighting made from bird cages and fish traps and more. It’s nicely air-conditioned and bright, making dining comfortable.

Food at Malaysa Boleh! is very affordably priced. Many dishes start from RM8 for a hearty bowl of street food. Although there are more than 20 dishes available, here are our top 15 street foods to try…

In no particular order, one simply must-try the Yong Kee Char Kuay Tiao (RM9). Expect a good hit of breath of wok with slivers of soft rice kuay tiao well-seared and flavoured with soy sauce and chili paste. Additions of bean sprouts, chives and prawns are much expected as it gave the kuay tiao its delicious texture.

The Penang Fried Oyster (RM12) is also sublime. Starchy bits along with egg and plump baby oysters are best savored with the chili sauce on the side.

Pudu Barbeque Roast Duck + Char Siew Combo (RM15) is a good choice when one cannot decide which roast meat to try. Succulent roast duck and glistening crystal char siew is nicely roasted, make it delicious on its own or with rice and noodle.

Malaysian’s ultimate street food of nasi lemak is also available here. Made famous in the street of Pudu during late night, the Pudu Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken Drumstick (RM9.50) has fluffy coconut tinged rice with spicy and sweet sambal that goes well with the crispy fried chicken.

The Hee Koh KL Wanton Mee (RM9) is sufficiently satisfying with springy soy sauce and aromatic oil laced noodles served with pieces of roasted char siew and plump wantons.

For the full lardy flavours of unctuous crispy lardons, order the KL Hokkien Mee (RM12). A dark hodgepodge of dark soy sauce braised thick noodles with pork slices, prawns, cabbage and chu yau char, this plate of noodles will always be a crowd favorite at any time of the day.

Another good eats that has many queueing up for is the Penang Carrot Cake (RM8). Cubes of rice cakes fried with lots of preserved choy poh and garlic, flavoured with soy sauce and chili and finished with egg is so yummy.

One simply can’t go wrong whether you opt for the Pork Porridge (RM9) or Pork Kuay Tiao (RM9). Both are cooked well with lots of porky delights and flavored with a delicious porky note.

The addition of gelatinous curry braised pork skin is what gave the Jalan Imbi Ah Yen Curry Mee (RM9) its signature flavour and texture. There’s also poached chicken, beancurd puff and long beans in this bowl of slurp-ilicious curry noodle.

Simple and familiar flavours in the Le Qi Ipoh Bean Sprout Chicken (RM10) makes this classic a constant favorite for many that ultimately enjoys a tasty poached chicken on chicken oil laced rice.

The Claypot Chicken Rice (RM10) also makes a solid one pot wonder with well-marinated chicken pieces along with Chinese sausage slices cooked on rice in claypot. Aromatic from the finishing touches of more soy sauce and wine with sprinkling of scallion, the rice is delicious, especially the bottom crispy bits.

Ban Mian evokes homecook flavours like no other. Springy and doughy noodles made from scratch, cooked in soup or dry style and topped with minced meat, shredded black fungus, crispy anchovies and blanched vegetables sums up Yoko Chilly Ban Mian (RM9) in one word… yum!

Calling all Penang asam laksa lovers! Though the Penang Asam Laksa (RM10) is not the best but one is assured that this bowl is pretty decent when it comes to that pungent sourish asam laksa flavour in the city.

The Penang Prawn Mee (RM10) is also worth a try with noodles in tasty prawn stock topped with poached shrimp, pork slices, boiled egg, kangkong and crispy aromatic fried shallots.

Last but not least, the Penang Road Chendol (RM3) is absolutely divine! Make sure to order this dessert to finish your meal at Malaysia Boleh! For a mere RM3, the sweet icy dessert has a rich gula melaka that makes this one of the better chendol in the city. Must-order!!

There’s still more good eats at Malaysia Boleh! besides those mentioned. Make your way there for a taste of many affordable street food all housed in one comfort location…

MALAYSIA BOLEH!

B1-01B, Shoppes at Four Seasons Place,

145, Jalan Ampang,

50450 Kuala Lumpur

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/MalaysiaBolehKL/

Business Hours: Daily from 10am to 10pm.

Café Aroma @ Dorsett Grand Subang

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 Limah as 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