Valentine Set Menu @ Em by Tedboy, Hotel Transit

5-Course Valentine Dinner to WOW your Date!

Romance is in the air in the month of February as Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Take your loved one on a delicious evening of affordable French delights at Em by Tedboy on this special day to set the mood for romance.

Em by Tedboy, located in the bustling area along Jalan Pudu, is the sister of the famous Tedboy Bakery in Bangsar. Named after Matilda, the owners’ other child, Em by Tedboy serves an honest menu filled with Mediterranean with a dash of Asian flavours as well as Breakfast treats.

The quaint bistro, set in Hotel Transit, sets out to attract the tummies of foodies, local and travelers with its variety of dishes. Helming the kitchen with the culinary team is Consultant French Chef Pierre MC, whose former Croisette Café had us all enjoying affordable French dining in the city. Chef Pierre has whipped up a special 5-Course Valentine’s Dinner Menu priced at RM168+ (for 2 pax) to set the mood for romance.

The interior at Em by Tedboy reflects the raw industrial outlook. Cement walls left bare in its natural form are dressed up with posters of food and murals. Insta photos of diners from all over the world are set on one large mural of world map. Eclectic mix of furniture, artsy lightings, chalkboard menu and an open kitchen sums up the interior.

We like how the bistro has various sections of dining area so that one has more privacy as well as privacy for private functions. The mood is casual and yet eclectic chic as one dines in comfort at Em by Tedboy.

Since it’s a day for romance, the bistro will be set with special settings befit the mood for some love.

The Valentine menu comes with Pink Lady Cocktail to kick off the evening. Our giggle juice may sound feminine but rest assured, this one is pretty potent with cranberry, lemon, triple sec and vodka. Pretty at sight and gutsy in taste!

Accompanying the cocktail is a four canapes of Prawn & Mango Salsa, Mushroom Soup, Pesto Rice Salad and Olive Tapenade. Savor little bites of deliciousness to whet the appetite. The prawn and mango is enjoyable and fruity while the mushroom soup is superb with its rich, earthy and intense mushroom flavour. The pesto rice on crisp lettuce was light and the rich and moreish olive tapenade is yummy on toast.

There are two choices for the appetizer course. The first one is Fresh Salmon Tartare with Mirepoix in Blood Orange Dressing. Raw cubes of salmon, smoked salmon and butterfish are mixed with chopped gherkin served on a bed of salt cured cucumber. The result is a creamy and sublime tartare of savory, smoky and tangy flavours. Finished with a colorful sprinkling of chopped hardboiled egg, tomatoes and fresh dill, the tartare is delicious if you are a fan of salmon.

The next choice of appetizer is great for vegetarians with the Beetroot & Feta Chantilly Mille-Feuille with Pomegranate Dressing. I adored the bold flavours of feta cheese with the tangy beetroot. The feta has been whipped into a fluffy creamy lightness that is very enjoyable while the crunchy bits of pomegranate and micro herbs added delicious bites of textures to the dish.

For a palate cleaner, the Tomato Vodka Granita is gorgeous. The bold punchy notes of fresh tang of tomato with hits of vodka does wonder for the senses as well as the soul!

There are also two choices for mains with the first one being Pan Fried Duck Breast with Raspberry Sauce, Potato Gratin & Vegetable Tian. Slices of duck breast, cooked medium rare, goes nicely with the luscious tangy raspberry sauce. The sides of vegetables makes great fillers. If you prefer your duck more cooked, do let the wait staff know in advance.

The Butterfish Fillet with Red Capsicum Coulis, Potato Gratin & Vegetable Tian featured a lovely thick butterfish cooked till just right and served with a savory and sweet red capsicum sauce. I enjoyed the butterfish a lot and it also goes really well with the vegetable and potato gratin.

Dinner ended with Chef Pierre’s desserts with a choice of Em’s Signature Pavlova. For those you haven’t been to Chef Pierre previous eatery, he does such amazing desserts! The Em’s Signature Pavlova has just the right sweetness for my palate. Crispy meringue with a soft center is heavenly with thick berry coulis, fresh cream, fresh berries and kiwis.

If pavlova is not your thing, then opt for the Mille-Feuille Strawberries. Layers of golden puff pastry sandwiching velvety custard with fresh strawberries and berry coulis are layers of sweet love meant to be shared with your loved one.

Coffee or Tea will be served as well.

Do call for reservation for this 5-Course Valentine’s Dinner Menu priced at RM168+ (for 2 pax).

EM by TedBoy

Ground Floor, Hotel Transit

42, Jalan Pudu

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Website: www.tedboy.com/em

Facebook: www.facebook.com/embytedboy

Business Hours: 10am to 10pm

Valentine 2016 at Signature, The Roof

A Romantic Interlude with a View

Get cosy and intimate this Valentine’s Day at Signature by the Hill, located at The Roof. Though it’s a peak festive season, many should not forget to spend a romantic moment with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day. A perfect and romantic ambiance with a gorgeous view of the city in the evening, Signature offers lovers an unforgettable dining scene. One can enjoy the city night scene through its glass windows as well as the elegant and modern ambiance set to the mood with soft low dim lightings.

Signature is offering a Romantic Dinner with a View this Valentine’s Day at RM488 nett per couple. Available at 13 and 14 February, this special promotion set offers lovers an entrée buffet with a choice of one main course and dessert for sharing. A complimentary Champagne cocktail is also included for the couple.

In the Entrée Buffet, diners can help themselves to an assortment of canapés, fresh seafood, salad, soup, while the choice of mains and dessert will be served to your table. Some of the highlights of the entrée buffet include creamy mushroom soup, a wide spread of garden greens with various dressing, oyster shooters, smoked salmon & dill, prawns al plancha on crackers and more.

Creamy Mushroom Soup was thick, creamy and beautifully aromatic with loads of earthy mushroom flavours. A swirl of cream and croutons completed the delicious dish…

The Smoked Salmon with Dill on garden greens was lightly dressing in a tangy vinaigrette, letting the greens, cherry tomatoes, olives, smoked salmon and dill shine with much simplicity and tasty flavours.

For main course, diners have four options of Spring Chicken, Duck Linguine, Herb Crusted Ocean Trout and Blue Cheese Tenderloin.

The Spring Chicken was juicy and tender with a light crisp and goes well with the porcini mash. Sweet and soft cloves of caramelized garlic added much depth to the dish.

Steak and cheese lovers will rejoin with Blue Cheese Tenderloin. A gorgeous thick fillet medallion is cook to your preference, in this case, mine was medium rare. Smothered with pungent blue cheese sauce, the flavours are unctuous and tasty in a positive outcome. The sides of creamed spinach, roasted baby carrot and roasted potatoes rounded up the balance with its vegetables.

Celebrate your Valentine’s Day with a sweet ending of Trio of Dessert. Savor Mud Pie, Petite Pavlova and Blueberry Cheesecake and simply create a new romantic and sweet memory with your loved one!

Signature by The Hill Valentine’s Day promotion is priced at RM488 nett per couple and is availale at 13 and 14 February.

Stratosphere - Dining under the stars

Get fancy with your beloved under the stars at Stratosphere, Asia’s first and only green helipad bar. Exclusive to only 10 couples, Stratosphere’s 4 course meal consists of a heart-warming soup, a starter platter featuring exquisite seafood – prawns al plancha on crackers, smoked salmon & dill and oyster shooter, a choice of mains from Signature as mentioned above and lastly a beautifully crafted special dessert, “Lovers Chocolate Sphere” - a wonderful chocolate ball that slowly melts when hot caramel is lured on top, revealing another wonderful dessert within. Priced at RM988 nett per couple, the meal comes with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot.

Make a wish for your other half or write a love poem on The Roof helium balloons and have them released in the sky in conjunction with their Lovebirds Balloon release this Valentine’s Day.

Each pair dining at The Roof for Valentine’s Day may also stand a chance to win a 1.5 litre Magnum bottle of Veuve Clicquot by the end of the night. Dinner meals will be available only on the 13th and 14th of February, 7pm onwards. For more information, kindly log on to www.facebook.com/TheRoofMalaysia. For reservations and further inquiries, please call 03 – 8605 3388.

SIGNATURE BY THE HILL

The Roof at First Avenue

1, First Avenue,

Bandar Utama

47800 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03-77261588

Website: www.theroof.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Signature.TheRoof

Business Hours:
Mon – Fri             10am -10pm
Sat & Sun             4pm – 10pm

La Risata, Medan Damansara: The Italian Valentine

A San Valentino Romance and more…

I am smitten… totally smitten with La Risata, an Italian restaurant that I discovered recently hidden in Medan Damansara and a second branch in Ampang. La Risata has been dishing out authentic Italian favorites since 1996. I wonder how come I had never visited this Italian bar cum pizzeria before because the food here is scrumptious!

My first visit to La Risata, translate as ‘The Laughter’, was an unforgettable dining experience. The ambience resembles smart and casual Italian eatery with a soft dim lighting, evoking much comfort with a little romance in tow. One can choose from their indoor dining or their al fresco dining. La Risata has a long bar greeting everyone at the entrance and followed by a view of the wood oven at the end of the room. Lots of wood with earthy tones made up the rustic interior. It’s comfortable dining at a glance.

We were here for a peek at their upcoming romance menu themed San Valentino to be available on Valentine’s Day.  The four-course Italian set menu is priced at RM110++ per pax. The value for money Valentine set menu will have many hearts fluttering with its take of an Italian romantic experience this Valentine’s Day!

Kicking off with an amuse bouche of Chilled Gazpacho, the evening took off with a zesty and refreshing start.

The Carpaccio di Salmone arrived, all prettily arranged like art. Home-made Smoked Salmon Carpaccio is served with the luxurious Avruga Caviar, rocket leaves, fennel salad, boiled quail eggs, orange segments and cherry tomatoes. This course is a medley if salty, sweet and tangy flavours beautifully married with a light herb and oil dressing. I enjoyed the creamy rich salmon and pop of salty caviars contrasting with the citrus segments. It reminded me that love is a little bit of everything like its flavours.

The second course was Raviolone, a traditional Bergamo Raviolo stuffed with lamb, pear, biscuit and cheese served in a butter and sage sauce with Mosto Cotto sauce or balsamic vinegar. Sounds complicated but the dish is surprisingly light and rustic. The ravioli was tender and very light. I enjoyed the gorgeous buttery sage sauce with a light drizzle of rich reduced balsamic vinegar. The crispy breaded sage leaf gave the dish a contrasting texture.

Guests are to choose a main course out of the two choices available with one from land and one from sea. The first one of Tonno Rosso features seared red tuna loin served with leek risotto, rose jam and black ink salted butter. The chef has cleverly paired all the ingredients together to evoke the balance of flavours again. I really love the leek risotto which was absolutely creamy and cooked al dente to my liking. The unique luscious black ink butter gave the tuna a bold and oceanic flavour while the rose jam brought sweetness to the overall dish.

The second choice of main course was Ossobuco alla Milanese, a very traditional Milanese style braised ossobuco served with polenta ‘Concia’ and gremolata sauce. It’s a plate filled with bold and rich flavours. The deep rich ossobuco was tender and well braised. It also came with a luscious bone marrow made for digging. The dollop of polenta was a bomb of flavours as it had loads of strong cheese like gorgonzola and parmesan in it while the bright gremolata sauce had a good dose of herbs to cut the richness of the meat and polenta. Though I am not much of an ossobuco fan, I enjoyed this combination a lot.

Every love story should have a sweet and sinful ending. The San Valentino menu ended with Zabaione al Cioccolato, a cold chocolate sabayon on strawberry salad served with whipped cream and hazelnut crumble. Strawberries and chocolate are a match made in heaven so there’s nothing better this Valentine that to enjoy the match as a sweet ending with your loved one!

Besides the Valentine menu, La Risata’s regular menu is a menu to watch out for. The menu is filled with their handcrafted signature pizzas and pasta together with some Italian main courses and a list of delectable desserts.

We tasted their Antipasti Misti, a platter of a bit of everything Italian. Beef Carpaccio, Deep Fried Calamari Rings, Grilled Mushroom, Chicken Liver Pate with Garlic Crostini is carefully arranged on a platter. The small bites really whet the appetite. What stood out among the plate was the magnificent Chicken Liver Pate which is silky smooth and very luscious with a hint of buttery notes. It was so good, I wanted to order more of this on its own.

La Risata makes possibly the best pizza I have tasted with its signature thin crust and filled with hearty toppings that impressed us all upon arrival. We savored Pizza Frutti Di Mare, Pizza D’Anatra and Pizza Pera E Gorgonzola that evening out of their choices of 19 pizzas.

Pizza Frutti Di Mare has whole prawns, squid, garlic, basil, tomato and mozzarella while Pizza D’Anatra has smoked duck, rocket, anchovy, caramelized and mozzarella and Pizza Pera E Gorgonzola has pear shavings, rocket salad, gorgonzola, mozzarella and walnut. I didn’t bother trying to choose a favorite as all three were my favorites that night.

Each pizza has its own unique flavours and is bold and delicious. High points goes to the how chunky the filling is, making the pizza utterly irresistible. It was high ravings among all of us that evening for these pizzas!

From the pasta section, we had the Capellini Al Nero Con Frutti Di Mare, angel hair pasta with prawn, squid and roasted cherry tomatoes in a squid ink sauce. The pasta is aromatic and cooked well. While most places also tend to cook the seafood in the squid ink sauce, the seafood here is cooked separately, making it prettier at sight. The pasta is very tasty with the interesting oceanic black squid ink sauce while the seafood is cooked well.

From the main course sections, we had Pesce Alle Melanzane Piccante and Agnello Alla Griglia.

Pesce Alle Melanzane Piccante  is pan fried fillet of barramundi with sautéed eggplant, anchovy, garlic, chili and pine nuts while Agnello Alla Griglia is grilled Australian lamb tenderloin with a fennel and black pepper crust served with mashed chickpea and vegetable caponata and a red wine reduction. Both dishes does have a lot of ingredients on a plate but they paired well together. The barramundi had a good crusty skin with tender sweet flesh. I like it paired with vegetables and pine nuts because it had a good lightness for easy savoring. The lamb tenderloin is so tender and delicious as well.

Our evening ended with more desserts from the a la carte menu. From Sicilian Bombe to Cannoli, Zucotto and Panettone Bread & Pudding, there is a sweet list of desserts to please everyone.

Our Sicilian Bombe stole the limelight with its brandied flaming action. Once the flame has died down, we dug into a thick sweet meringue to unveil liquored sponge filled with lemon cream brought together with the brandy. Sinful and sweet…

Cannoli is Sicilian fried pastry shell filled with a sweet ricotta cream dipped in chocolate and pistachio. This dessert never fails to remind me of a precious moment in my life with someone special. The cannoli here is pretty authentic and so good!

Panettone Bread & Butter Pudding was also another favorite of mine. I am a big fan of bread & butter pudding and this one was light as it uses Italian bread panettone. It is nicely studded with raisins and drizzled with caramel sauce for extra richness and is served with vanilla ice cream. Yum…

Another Italian dessert of Zucotto tasted as good as it looks. A wedge of Liqueur dome cake filled with chocolate and vanilla cream with almond, hazelnut and chocolate bits does wonders for the taste as the combination is pretty much classic.

La Risata also has a long list of wines and other beverages in their menu. As most of us decided to go the no alcohol route, we opted for their Italian sodas instead with Passionfruit Cream Soda, Apple Juice, Tangy Blush and Melon Kiwi Soda.

La Risata is my new Italian love this season. There’s a reason why it is still around after more than a decade. Serving up authentic and rustic Italian food with a reasonable price, the bar cum pizzeria is definitely dishing out great pizzas, pasta and other Italian dishes to many foodies like me. I am already planning to head back for their pizzas and pasta with my family…

LA RISATA

128 Jalan Kasah,

Medan Damansara                   

50490 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2095-9572

Website: www.la-risata.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/larisatarestaurant

Lunch: 12.00pm – 2.30pm

Dinner: 6.30pm – 10.30pm