The Daily Grind Brunch Menu @ Bangsar Village

Nine Enticing Brunch Pleasers

Touted to be one of the few best burger joints in the city, The Daily Grind has been serving gourmet burgers at Bangsar Village for years. The diner makes everything from scratch from grinding their own meat for patty to all the condiments such as sauces, pickles and more. I have yet to make a visit for their burgers but my foodie friends have been raving about the burgers here.

One fine Saturday, I was invited to The Daily Grind to catch a sneak preview of the new brunch menu. I love brunch. The thoughts of the word brunch usually means some lovely indulgence since I am going to combine my breakfast and lunch into a meal. I also love surprises because brunch menu is pretty creative and always involves eggs, bacon, waffles and other goodies.

The Daily Grind’s brunch menu is available weekends from 9am till 2pm. The diner offers nine brunch dishes, plenty of choices for everyone. Enjoy hearty comfort dishes from eggs, bacon, pancake, waffle and burger to healthy and fruity treats.

Latte and fresh Apple Juice to kick start the day!

If I have to pick a favorite on the brunch menu, it would have to be the Smokin’ Seaside Scones (RM28). The dish takes the much beloved eggs benedict version and jazzed it up to such a scrumptious and creative dish. Featuring two house made crumbly and moist onion scones served with perfectly two poached eggs, smoked tuna, smoked snowfish, rocket leaves and finished with a generous lashing of hollandaise sauce.

What I really enjoy the most is the onion scones with the egg and hollandaise sauce. The flavors just worked so harmoniously. The smoked tuna and snowfish is a bit unusual but pretty good and makes a nice change from the usual smoked salmon. I like how the rocket leaves and crisp radish lighten up the dish.

Napolean & Churchill (RM25) may sound to be the odd pairing but savory crepes with house made chicken sausages turned out to be a great duo. The soft thin crepe with cheese is made savory with the juicy sausages. The sausages has a surprisingly solid bite and the flavors goes well with the lightly sweet and creamy romesco sauce. Again the dish is balanced up with dressed rocket leaves, crisp apple slices and radishes.

Burgers are their specialty and without a doubt, there is a burger option for brunch too. Burger Me Breakfast (RM27) has a thick and juicy beef patty, beef bacon and poached egg with hollandaise sauce and tomato jam served on toasted brioche bun.

It seemed to be healthier burger version with the delectable oozing poached egg instead of the usual fried ones. The luscious hollandaise is nicely balanced by the tangy and sweet tomato jam. It’s breakfast on a bun!

More savory brunch dish and this one happens to be the one I would order at a glance. It’s been a while since I have had Waffle & Chicken (RM22) and I couldn’t be any happier to know that now I can get my waffle and chicken fix at The Daily Grind. The fried boneless chicken thighs are so crispy and moist as well as tender and tasty. The savory flavours goes well with the aromatic eggy waffles and sweet maple syrup. While some may think its odd on adding maple syrup, I love the sweet and savory combination of flavours. Beef bacon and tomato jam are also added for more oomph.

Herb Brioche Pudding (RM29) is another showcase of sweet and savory. The fact that the younger generation seemed to enjoy sweet and savory together, this dish will certainly do well on the menu. A warm and egg brioche pudding is served with salty air fried beef, generous drizzle of salted caramel and rum (yes, alcohol for breakfast, how lucky can we get!), finished with rocket leaves, sultanas and walnuts. The dish is really rich and sublime so sharing it may be a good idea too. I enjoyed the decadent savory and sweet flavors a lot, especially that salted caramel with rum sauce!

When I saw my next diner’s stacked Pancake Souffle (RM23), I thought it was such a pretty dish of pancakes. Although the pancake was thick, it was one of the lightest pancake I have ever had. The soufflé pancakes are served with lemon cream, crunchy honeycombs, berries, nuts and chocolate bits. Quite the unusual pancake but it’s delicious with its medley of flavors and textures.

Captain Morgan’s French Toast (RM23) ain’t no ordinary toast! Thick eggy toast sandwiching luscious cream cheese of sort before being crowned with caramelized bananas, rum & raisin ice cream and finished with pistachio nuts, blueberries and maple syrup. How sinful can one get for brunch…

If the earlier bunch proved to be too sinful for you, then opt for the pretty and healthy Goddess Bowl (RM22). House made yoghurt packed with textural goodness of pumpkin seeds, goji berries, crunchy oat, coconut flakes, fresh mango and berries and berry coulis sounds too good to be true but is beautifully delicious and perfect for a weekend treat.

Last but not least, we are left with The Mockery (RM18). A full English breakfast may not be what it seems on this plate but nevertheless, who can resist this adorably disguised breakfast dish. I don’t think I want to disclose what The Mockery offers so you’ll just have to order this to enjoy it. Hint… it’s sweet and not savory!

The Daily Grind may not have started their brunch early like others but I don’t think it’s too late to join the brunch wave. We enjoyed the generous portions and creative nuances of their brunch menu tremendously. The brunch menu offers something different and delicious so it definitely warrants a few visits to try them all.

The Daily Grind’s brunch menu is available weekends from 9am till 2pm

Psst… I heard that The Daily Grind Gourmet Burgers is opening a second outlet in Jalan Ampang soon… stay tune!

THE DAILY GRIND

LG 8 Lower Ground, Bangsar Village

1 Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru 59100

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: +60 3 2287 6708

Fax: +60 3 2287 6707

Email: burgers@thedailygrind.com.my

Website: www.thedailygrind.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Thedailygrindbangsar

Open: Everyday 11:00am-11:00pm

Epicuro @ USJ, Taipan Subang

Porky Brunch at Epicuro New Branch in Subang!

Following after its successful outlet of Epicuro in Uptown Damansara, Yugin and team has now opened their second outlet of Epicuro in USJ, Taipan area in Subang Jaya. We visited this new branch when it was only a few weeks old for brunch and also got a taste of some of the new dishes to be feature in their menu.

Words has gotten out pretty quick and the new branch was pretty filled up when we arrived. The restaurant was decorated differently from its original outlet but kept to simple, modern and a minimalist décor, sharing the same similarity to its original outlet in concept. The themed here was neutral and bright with spots of tiles on wall and bar to give the whole place a modern retro ambiance. This outlet also seats more with 60 pax as well.

The menu had a lot of repeats from its original outlet but we were assured that more new dishes are coming soon as they were still tweaking the menu. Though choices are not plenty, the ones available are sufficiently satisfying and scrumptious enough to warrant a return as always.

Cappuccino (RM10) is always a good start in the morning to get some adrenalin going…

Health conscious folks can opt for the healthy Crush Pure Fruit Smoothies that comes in Banana Pineapple, Citrus Goji-Ra, Jackfruit Twist, Super Spinach, Mango Fresh and Gua-Pel. I tried their Super Spinach and love how refreshing, thick and smooth the beverage was.

To kick off our brunch, we had their Big Breakfast with Scrambled Egg (RM26.90). A platter of hearty porky bacon, pork BBQ sausages, crispy hash browns, scrambled egg, sautéed cherry tomatoes and mushrooms and toast. Each element was well cooked, an effort that showed on the dish. The bacon was also not over crisp and had a good bite while the scrambled egg is creamy soft and delicious. One can also opt for Sunny side up egg if scrambled is not to your fancy.

Another wise option for brunch is Epicuro’s Waffle Brunch (RM18.90)! Yugin has nailed his waffle recipe to a T. Golden crisp waffle with a lightly chewy and tender inside is perfect with savory breakfast treats of bacon, pork BBQ sausage, Sunny side up egg and some greens. The light sweetness of the waffles goes so well with all the salty and savory ingredients, rendering an unforgettable brunch sensation for me.

Pasta is another wise choice at Epicuro as I had previously raved about how good their pastas are. At this outlet, one simply must try their Prawn Aglio Olio with Sauteed Spinach (RM24.90) and Mixed Mushroom & Bacon Aglio Olio (RM23.90).

Prawn Aglio Olio with Sauteed Spinach is a sublime treat of juicy sweet prawns jazzing up the classic aglio olio. Epicuro’s version also had cherry tomatoes, lots of herbs and a liberal sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes and garlic. Flavours are big in this one and we all really enjoyed this a lot.

Another version of aglio olio but this round catered to bacon lovers is the Mixed Mushroom & Bacon Aglio Olio. This one is earthy with all the assorted mushrooms and bacon crisps sautéed with lots of added herbs and the usual suspects. The pasta here has a solid al dente bite too. At Epicuro, foodies like me will always be pleased as the pasta here are well-studded with lots bacons and other ingredients besides just pasta.

Kids and adults will also adored the Fish and Chips (RM19.90). Two thick pieces of crumbed fish are gorgeously crispy and golden with a moist inside. Served with the fish are spicy stick fries that turned out to be such a hit with us, so much so, we had to order this as additional side serving. It may not be the classic version but we are certainly enjoying this version a lot.

Our star of our brunch turned out to be Epicuro’s new item of Seared Pork Shoulder Loin. Now the first outlet already won our hearts with their creamy pork chops but we are still glad that Yugin is now offering another recipe of his famous technique for succulent and tender pork chops. This one uses pork shoulder loin and is pan seared till just right. The salty and moreish pork shoulder is divine in flavours and textures. A side of seared onions and potatoes together with steamed broccoli, carrot and radish gave the dish a healthy boost. Make sure to ask about this dish as it is still fairly new!

As said earlier, we can’t help but to order a side of Spicy Stick Fries (RM7.90)!

We thought a good brunch should deserve a sweet ending. So we had the Waffles with Homemade Ice Cream (RM15.90). Perfect waffles here again and this was made even better with Yugin’s homemade chocolate ice cream. The chocolate ice cream is also utter delicious as it has intense dark and rich bittersweet chocolate. Waffles are simply a Must-Order!

A new dessert of Homemade Raspberry Sorbet came with a surprise. Homemade, the Raspberry sorbet is intensely tangy and sweet with a burst of raspberry flavour. The additional crunch crushed biscuits, chocolate bits and chocolate sauce took the sorbet to new heights. Not on the menu yet but again, do ask as you may never know if Yugin has made a batch of this…

Tiramisu (with Alcohol) is one of Epicuro’s signature items. We never failed to order this at every visit to Epicuro. The one here is laced intensely with alcohol, making this dessert so addictive and sinful.

Looks like Epicuro USJ Taipan is going to do really well! Crowds are already in, the menu is still as stronger as ever and growing and diners are assured of scrumptious dishes that is pretty consistent on our many visits. With brunch now added, diners can enjoy Epicuro from breakfast to lunch or dinner. Go early as they tend to filled up pretty quick, especially the weekends!

EPICURO USJ

2A Jalan USJ 10/1J

Taipan Business Centre

47620 Subang Jaya

Tel: 03-80811182 (reservations available only on weekdays)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/epicuro.usj

Business Hours:

Opening hours: 10am-11pm (Tuesday till Sunday)

Closed on Mondays

3 Bags Full @ Kota Damansara

Bagging Deliciousness All The Way!

As soon as I walked into 3 Bags Full, I knew I was going to like the place. 3 Bags Full is one of the new kids on the block in the heavily congested Dataran Sunway Damansara and is the brainchild of three partners. The café’s name makes a play on our childhood nursery rhyme with the concept of serving their customers with 3 bags full of indulgence, happiness and flavours. There is something about the inviting café cum restaurant that seem to evoke a sense of warmness through its interior and service.

The place is beautifully decorated with lots of wood and natural elements to give it the chic minimalist look. The overall theme color is soothing in greys, white and neutrals. It is easy to hang out and enjoy a meal there at 3 Bags Full. The service was pretty good when I was there as the wait staff was courteous, fast and friendly.

3 Bags Full’s menu is also just as playful as its name. Taking classics and amping it up with touches of modern twist, I can already see many crowd pleasers in the list. There is also a large chalkboard featuring specials of the day. Now one would think that 3 Bags Full would be serving more regular café dishes but no, Chef Belgian Neo and his team whip up lavish ingredients like escargot, lobster, quail through their menu. 3 Bags Full also serves up brunch menu in addition to its regular lunch and dinner menu as well.

We managed to sample some of the dishes in all three brunch, lunch and dinner menu that evening. For brunch, 3 Bags Full takes pride on their signatures of English breakfast favorites, eggs benedict, Belgian waffles and more. The list has many of my own favorites and is perfect for some hearty brunch indulgence with its beverage list of smoothies, milkshakes, coffee and tea.

From their brunch menu, we savored Salmon Croquette (RM26) and French Toast Kebab (RM17). Now I was expecting a croquette which is a deep fried crumbed roll usually made with mashed potato and some other meat or seafood. However, 3 Bags Full’s Salmon Croquette is breaded French toast crowned with pan seared salmon and poached egg, served with sautéed spinach and mushrooms with grilled tomato and potato wedges. It is finished with a shot glass serving of Guinness and red wine reduction. It sounds like a lot on a plate but every ingredient work well in terms of flavours and textures. I was quite happy with the dish overall as it’s pretty much what I love in a good breakfast.

The French Toast Kebab smells wonderful when it was placed in front of me. Nutella filled French toast is skewered with ham, banana and strawberry and served with a drizzle of red wine reduction and sprinkling of pepitas seed. I love the dish as its comfort food that reminded me of my sweet childhood memories of my mom making me French toast with ham. The hazelnut spread gave the French toast a luscious note and the addition of fruits gave the dish a light sweet note coupled with salty flavours of the ham. I reckoned this dish will be a sure crowd-pleaser for everyone.

Then we hit the appetizer and nibbles menu with a few dishes starting with Sizzling Prawn Platter (RM26). The dish came piping hot with lots of sizzling actions and emitted a lovely aroma. I was pretty happy to see a good portion of golden battered prawns covered in sauce and chicken floss. The few of us enjoyed this happily as one gets a lovely hit of savory and sweetness in the dish. The prawns are very delectable while the garlic butter milk sauce is creamy, sweet and savory. Yum!

Wild Wings (RM15) are super scrumptious! Golden crispy wings were still hot when I savored them. They were glazed in a moreish sweet chili sauce and every bite was juicy, crispy and flavourful. Must order…

The classic French dish of Escargot (RM17) also made its appearance on the menu of 3 Bags Full. The escargots are baked in the usual French herb garlic butter with a twist of cream and blue cheese added at the end to finish the sauce. The dish is beautifully rich and very creamy with a strong aroma and flavour of the blue cheese. I do happen to enjoy blue cheese so it was pretty good for me. It’s a dish only for the brave and adventurous!

The White Bait (RM12) is a safer bet with its classic crispy battered silver fish. The yummy and addictive silver fish is paired with house made tartar sauce. Perfect for snacking anytime…

More cheesy dishes and this time its feta cheese with mushrooms. Stuff Button Mushroom with Feta (RM13) was fresh brown button mushrooms stuffed with feta cheese and blueberry mascarpone filling and served with some berries and almond flakes. It’s decent but nothing to shout about.

Hitting the main courses, 280gms of Black Angus Ribeye (RM87) was charbroiled to medium rare and served with potatoes and a creamy peppery sauce. It was a gorgeous piece of steak well-seasoned with the chef’s secret dry rub. Beautifully tender, flavourful and juicy, the steak was cooked and seasoned to near perfection. Though it didn’t really need the sauce, I didn’t mind as the creamy peppery sauce is very delicious too. The price tag is pretty hefty but its value-for-money as this is premium grade Black Angus that we are talking about.

There really isn’t much lamb dishes in 3 Bags Full but the one we tasted was superb. The Sheep in The House (RM57) has 3 French cut lamb rack nicely chargrilled with a minty herb crust. I like how there are bits of fat on the lamb, making it even more delectable. The lamb is also nicely tender and moist. I enjoyed the crust with the lamb a lot as it is very tasty as well as the side of minty sauce. The dish is served with potato wedges and a like salad.

Griddled Salmon Fillet (RM39) was my favorite main course that night. The salmon fillet is cooked till just right with a hint of medium doneness inside so the salmon just literally melts-in-the-mouth. Everyone agreed that the salmon was very flavourful and scrumptious. Though it came with red pepper pesto, I think it didn’t need it because I love the flavours of the spice seasoning on the salmon. Slices of fresh avocado are another nice touch to the dish. I would definitely order this again!

We also savored Spaghetti Aglio Olio Duck (RM25) and Spaghetti Aglio Olio Seafood (RM28) and found both to be very good in terms of the classic garlic, chili, herb and olive oil. The smoked sliced duck is salty and moreish. It certainly goes well with the Aglio Olio flavours. If you are not a meat fan, then go for the seafood version. The seafood is cooked well and a poached egg to make the pasta even more sinful.

We ended our evening with two desserts of Mochi-Mochi Waffle (RM14) and Sizzling Brownies (RM17).

The Mochi-Mochi Waffle is a messy plate of delicious flavours. The Mochi waffle is very unique in texture as it is chewy. It is then generously crowned with green tea gelato, black sesame sauce, almond flakes, grounded peanuts, pepita seeds and almond biscotti. Though I didn’t care for the texture of the waffle, I really love the flavours of this dessert. Every element worked well together and the intense green tea gelato is superb.

The Sizzling Brownies is served on a cast iron skillet with a side serving of creamy sauce. Simply pour over the sauce and watch as it sizzles and thicken up the sauce to coat the rich brownies. I really enjoyed this dessert. It’s a creative way to serve a classic and in this case, the brownie with the vanilla ice cream is sinfully good!

3 Bags Full certainly live up to its tagline. The menu offers a wide range of dishes with many hits. I like how unpredictable the dishes are and one can enjoy simple dishes to premium dishes using luxurious ingredients. The café has got all my checkmarks of a great place to dine in terms of food and service. It’ got a great easy-going vibe in its ambience and the wait staff was friendly and efficient. Highlights of 3 Bags Full includes Wild Wings, Black Angus Ribeye, Griddled Salmon Fillet, Belgian Waffles and more.

3 BAGS FULL

No. 38A-1, Jalan PJU 5/10,

Dataran Sunway Damansara,

47810 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03 6150 2831

Facebook: www.facebook.com/3bagsfull.my

Business Hours:

Brunch/Lunch – 11am to 5.30pm

Dinner – 5.30pm to 11pm