Rendez-Vous Restaurant: Sunday Brunch, The French Way

Affordable French Dining in the City

There are honestly not many French restaurants available here. Not enough anyway but I am glad that Frenchmen Florian Nigen and Arnaud Chappert took their passion and turned it into reality by sharing Rendez-Vous with us. Located in a quieter section in Bangsar, Rendez-Vous is not your typical French fine dining restaurant.

Housed on a corner lot with two levels of dining, the bright yellow exterior of the restaurant sends a wonderful joie de vivre vibe the moment we arrived that Sunday.

The restaurant is set in casual al fresco chic with a bold red interior flanked by dark wood, pristine white table settings and red napkins. A long brick bar held court at one side of the room while a big chalkboard states specials of the day. One can even catch a peek at the kitchen through the kitchen window on the side of the restaurant. Eiffel Tower is seen on walls and ornaments, reminding us of its French origins. Spacious and comfortable, it is certainly a lovely place to enjoy a weekend brunch or a candlelight dinner.

We were told that Rendez-Vous is offering Sunday Brunch! And while many fine French restaurants cater more towards the adults, Rendez-Vous is actually kids-friendly. Every Sunday, Rendez-Vous is featuring their special Sunday Brunch menu for adults and kids too.

And while the adults are enjoying a wonderful brunch, the kids get to play. Being a parent, I was pleased to see that there is a corner filled with games and activities for the kids. There’s nothing more satisfying to a parent than to know than that they can spend time with their little ones and also enjoy a relaxing moment while are kids are kept busy.

Rendez-Vous has recently setup Upstage by Rendez-Vous on the first floor of the restaurant. We paid a quick visit and fell in love with the dim but classy decorated space filled with a bar, lounge chairs, jazz posters and an open sunlit roof. It’s great for private events or a casual relaxing space where diners can hang around to catch some live shows or stand ups.

Hoping to change our perception of French food being pricey, both owners wanted Rendez-Vous’s menu to be affordable and filled with dishes that one can enjoy regularly. One can opt for their 3-course Sunday Brunch menu or their a la carte menu filled with French classics.

Helming the kitchen for the last few months in Rendez-Vous is a young and talented chef from Toulouse in the South of France, Chef Benjamin Reilhes. Chef Benjamin brings a modern touch on French cuisine cooked the classic way in his seasonal menu.

The Sunday Brunch Special is such a steal at RM69++ for a 3-course menu. There are options for a Basket of Viennoiserie and Bread served with condiments or a plank of Starter Assortments. This is followed by an option of main course of Meat of the Day or Seafood of the Day and a finish of your Choice of Dessert from the dessert menu.

Rendez-Vous also has a Sunday Brunch menu for kids featuring a choice of Stuffed Crepes with Creamy Ham Croque Monsieur and Mash or Fish Fingers with Fries, a Mocktail, a dessert of Chocolate Mousse and a little sweet gift pack at RM32++.

The Basket of Viennoiserie and Bread with Condiments looked so inviting at sight. Don’t be fool by that plain looking pastry and bread because these are some of the best ones I have had. Warm crusty bread dipped into salted butter or assortment of jams are heavenly. There’s also a buttery and flaky Croissant and Pain au Chocolat too.

The Starter Assortment is filled with lots of French bites. From the small balls of crispy Gribiche to the mini Onion Mushroom Tart, Tuna Rillettes, Pork Liver Pate, Comte cheese and a soft and creamy Baked Egg with crispy toasted soldiers, the platter is really a masterpiece of French delights.

The crispy Gribiche, made with porky parts of gelatinous bits, gherkin pickle, capers, onion, egg and herbs, is wonderfully tasty. I also adored the pork liver pate with its rich and creamy moreish notes while the tuna rillettes is good on toast. What made this dish a brunch must have is the ooey gooey soft egg smothered in luscious béchamel and cheese sauce…

For main course, there was a chicken and a fish dish of the day. The Poulet Facon Cocotte translated to a pretty looking chicken roulade with bits of stuffing, served with a medley of vegetables. A generous portion indeed of thick coiled of chook cooked on sous vide till achingly tender and smooth. A rich and silky sauce enveloped the chicken nicely. Chef Benjamin’s artistic side of vegetables rendering added art, texture and taste to the dish.

The fish dish was just as pretty as the first dish and the Filet de Loup de Mer showed off two beautiful pieces of crispy skin seabass fillet with a citrus sauce. The fish was firm and sweet, matching really well with the light citrusy tang of the sauce. A dish that is light and easy to enjoy…

The French are famous for their desserts. And since it’s Sunday, there never a better time than to enjoy Chef Benjamin’s beautiful version of Tarte au Citron Meringue. Little florets of torched meringue hides a gorgeous and tangy lemon curd and tart base. This is served with crisp apple slices, lemon sacs, dragon fruit bits and a lime sorbet. And since I love bold fresh and citrusy flavours, this dessert is right up my alley. A great and vibrant ending to a Sunday brunch.

Besides the Sunday Brunch menu, there are also a sumptuous a la carte filled with French classics. One must-have dish at Rendez-Vous is the indulgence of duck liver in Foie Gras de Canard (RM48). Chef Benjamin’s canvas of sublime wedges of duck foie gras terrine with a layer of port wine jelly sat on swipes of creamy puree and a pool of mushroom jus. Bits of mushrooms, herbs and more completed the dish to near perfection. Decadent and delicious… so good that you may not want to share!

My favorite dish of the day had to be the Poitrine de Porc Fondante (RM49). A slab of golden pork belly took limelight on the plate. The dish looked deceptively simple but it takes 2 days to prepare the pork belly itself according to Chef Benjamin. The textural component of tender and unctuous fatty and lean bits, coupled with the crispy edges of the pork belly is marvelous. Well flavoured and tasty, we all agreed unanimously that the dish is indeed top-notched. The pork was accompanied by crispy balls of Gribiche, mushroom cannelloni, asparagus, baby corn, snow peas and more.

Tranche D’Agneau au Jus (RM62) reads pan seared lamb, pissaladière and smoked herring cream. French trimmed lamb racks were cooked to medium pinkness and served with jus. Succulent and tender, the lamb racks are delightful. The smoked herring cream is quite unusual and it gives the lamb a different take of flavours from the usual classic ones that I have had. Served with crispy bread of caramelized onions and anchovy, the dish is rather unique on its own.

From mains, we finished off with more desserts from the a la carte menu. Don’t ask me to choose a dessert here because after sampling all the desserts here, I am literally lost for words at how gorgeous the French desserts are.

Delice au Chocolat et Caramel (RM22) is a dynamic duo combination of dark bittersweet chocolate and salted caramel. Two nutty chocolate disc sandwiched dark bitter chocolate mousse that hides a sinful surprise of salted almond and peanut praline inside. Savor the rich and dark dessert with a nutty ice cream and orange sauce with fresh fruits. The dessert is worth every calorie it has…

The prettiest dessert of the lot, Paris Brest (RM20) is Chef Benjamin’s ode to French pastry. Petit choux with a crusty top is filled generously with hazelnut custard and served with more cream, caramel and fruits. The nutty luscious custard is wonderful and so satisfying. I like the bits of fruits which gave the dish a touch of freshness.

Wine lovers will also be pleased to know that both Nigen and Chappert keeps a solid list of wines, liqueur and aperitifs. We had the house signature Rendez-Vous cocktail, which tasted as good as it looks, as well as a beautiful Le Contesse Prosecco and house white of Pinot Grigio.

Rendez-Vous is certainly place to look out for when one wants to dine French. We like how unpretentious the restaurant and its menu is. Prices are definitely affordable when compared to other French dining eateries. We look forward to more of Chef Benjamin’s seasonal creations as the young chef definitely has great potential to whip up more enticing French dishes at Rendez-Vous.

RENDEZ-VOUS RESTAURANT

100 Lorong Maarof

59000 Bangsar

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2202 0206

Website: www.rendez-vous.com.my/accueil-2/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rendezvousbangsar

Business Hours:

Open daily, 12noon to 3pm, 6pm to 12midnight

Chatz Brasserie, PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur: Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Affair

Egyptian Guest Chef Ayman Ibrahim Presents a Menu of Sumptuous Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Favorites!

A sumptuous Egyptian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu is now available at all F&B outlets in PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur till 31 October, 2016. Proudly presenting Egyptian Guest Chef Ayman Ibrahim, diners are in for an exotic treat at Chatz Brasserie, Hot Gossip, Klix Lounge, Pool Bar and even room service.

With a list of over 37 dishes available daily from 12 noon to 12 am daily, diners should not miss this opportunity to savor appetizers, main course and desserts whipped up by Chef Ibrahim right in the middle of our bustling city.

Born in Egypt, Chef Ibrahim has over 25 years of culinary experience in the food industry. Chef Ibrahim has garnered numerous awards internationally as well as locally through his culinary career. He has also appeared in various television programme shows as well as hosting workshops on Middle Eastern cuisine.

Members of the media and bloggers were treated to a sneak preview of what the sumptuous menu by Chef Ibrahim has to offer during these few months at PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur recently. The evening kicked off with Anab, a Middle Eastern beverage that showcases Hibiscus. Sweet with a subtle tang, it was refreshing and fruity.

For appetizers, there are few classic must-haves when it comes to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The Falafel (RM20) or chickpea croquettes are simply delicious! Great for vegetarians too, these crispy fritters with a creamy and nutty inside are so good when snacking or tuck them into soft warm pita bread for a lovely sandwich.

Chickpeas are used a lot in the Middle Eastern cuisine and the most famous dish that comes to mind would have to be the Hommous (RM16). This creamy, garlicky and nutty dip has such an enticing flavour that it’s quite hard to stop mopping up the dip with warm bread. Chef Ibrahim’s version is superb and delicious.

One should love the freshness and vibrant herb flavours of the Tabouleh (RM20). The dish is one of my favorite as there’s plenty of robust citrusy and herb flavours that really lifts up all the other heavy dips and appetizers in such a cuisine.

Warq Einab (RM22) may not be familiar to many here but this is a classic appetizer that is much beloved in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Brined grape leaves is filled with minced meat and rice and cooked till tender with a lovely lemony tang. It is also similar to the Greek dish of Dolmades.

For soups, we tried a vegetarian and non-vegetarian version of lentil soup. The Shorbah Harirah (RM30) has bits of lamb, chickpeas, assorted lentils and pasta all cooked till very soft and creamy with an earthy nutty note. The Shorbah Adas (RM26) is a vegetarian version and is lighted and has a clean and lighter note of creamy nuttiness.

For mains, there’s certainly plenty of options to choose from.

Lamb is a favorite meat option and so there’s plenty of lamb dishes available on the menu. Savor Lamb Kabsah (RM48), succulent pieces of roasted lamb to be savored with bukhari rice or go for the meaty balls of Lamb Kofta. Both very well cooked, there is really not any gamey aroma but just mouthwatering ones.

If lamb is not your choice, there’s also chicken. Enjoy juicy and well-marinated chooks in Shish Tawook (RM30) or Dajaj Ala Elhaham (RM36). Shish Tawook, skewered chicken cubes are bitey and tasty but it was the Dajaj Ala Elhaham or Grilled Spring Chicken that turned out to be a crowd pleaser. The spices on the spring chicken was moreish and succulent while the meat was tender. Such a great comfort food…

If you prefer seafood, there is also a choice of Samak Mashwi (RM46) or Pan Fried Salmon Fillet with Tahinah or Jambary Mashwi (RM55) which is Grilled Prawns with Saffron Sauce. The crisp fish skin on the salmon is very yummy while the fish was a tad on the dryer side. Nevertheless, the fish is still very tasty. The prawns are superb. Grilled with shells on to retain the juiciness and sweetness of the oceanic note, the prawns are simply a must order here.

All main courses are served with a choice of rice, bread or potatoes.

Stews are quite the popular option in these cuisines and so we also sampled Bamiah Bil Lahm Ejal (RM50) which is Stewed Okra with Beef and Tomato. The stew is not overly heavy and has a nice tang of tomatoey notes. The beef pieces are just as tender as the okra. The dish is great with rice.

Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine does feature lots of lentils and pulses in their cooked and the next dish of Fooll Akhdar (RM28) or Broad Beans stew is a great example. The beans are braised till tender in what looks to be a thin tomato sauce.

To go with all the heavy dishes, there’s choices of Roz Boukhary (RM25) which is Bukhari Rice or Roz Saladiah (RM18) or Fried Onion Rice. There is also Roz Mandy or Smoked Saffron Rice.

One should not end the meal without something sweet. For desserts, there’s the sensational Almond Pudding or Kashul (RM25), the classic and popular Baklava (RM25) or a Semolina Cake called Basbosah (RM18).

Besides a la carte, there is also Middle East Specialities Set Menu which includes one appetizer one soup, a choice of Mandy (RM88nett), Dajaj Kabsah (RM85nett) or Samak Saiadiah (RM85nett) and one dessert. It is available from 12.00pm to 12.000am daily.

*Promotion is valid from 22 July to 31 October 2016 only

The Middle Eastern menu is also available for banquet events and Chef Ayaman’s Whole Lamb Briyani is a must try from the menu. For reservations or enquiries, please call 03 2782 8389 or email agnes.kok@parkyoralhotels.com.

For reservations or enquiries for the a la carte and set menus, please call 03 2147 0088 or email chatz.prkul@parkroyalhotels.com.

CHATZ BRASSERIE

PARKROYAL KUALA LUMPUR

Jalan Sultan Ismail,

50250 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2782 8301

Email: chatz.prkul@parkroyalhotels.com

Website: www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/malaysia/kuala-lumpur

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Parkroyalkualalumpur

Chic-A-Boom Fried Chicken @ Taman Ehsan, Seri Kembangan

Street Food Favorites of Golden Crispy Chicken & Nasi Lemak

Who doesn’t love a good crispy golden fried chicken? First in line to such comfort food would have to be me!

Words were out that a good fried chicken stall opened recently in Seri Kembangan area and so I grab some foodies and head out to explore one Sunday morning for brunch. Not hard to locate as it is quite a busy area filled with lots of shop lots, Chic-a-Boom is a stall set in Café Hero Kopitiam.

Nothing fancy but just comfort food stalls in the kopitiam. Chic-A-Boom is barely few months old but we can see them doing a brisk business already when we arrived. Since they do have delivering for lunch box orders, I can see why they are pretty business. Menu is straight forward and simple, lots of variations of fried chicken and Nasi Lemak.

Since our target that day was their fried chicken, we went overboard and ordered their fried chicken and nasi lemak only. Gluttony is serious to a foodie, in this case, I chose to focus on my love for fried chicken and nasi lemak… LOL…

For those who prefer boneless fried chicken, there’s the fillet where long strips of chicken fillet are crumbed and fried to golden deliciousness. We tried their Garlic Fillet (RM5.50- 3 pieces) and Spicy Fillet (RM5.50 – 3 pieces)

One has a slightly more garlicky note while the other has very subtle hints of heat. Barely differentiable if you ask me but both are nicely crunchy and tasty. Can’t go wrong with fillet as they are tender and the ones here are tasty and crunchy, great for little ones too since they are boneless.

Go ahead and order the Fried Chicken Whole Leg (RM7.00) because a piece of thigh or drumstick won’t be enough! The fried chicken here is deliciously golden, crispy and tasty. Juicy and tender, we really enjoyed the fried chicken a lot.

There is also the Chicken Rempah Whole Leg (RM7.50), a variation of marinated fried chicken. This one is made more aromatic with additions of kaffir leave, soy sauce, spices and other aromatics. Flavours are decent but there are room for improvement to boost the flavours on a heavier note. Chicken is still nicely tender and juicy.

One can enjoy the classic no frill Nasi Lemak (RM3.00) on its own or if you are truly a foodie like me, you’re simply not going to settle just for the rice alone when you can elevate it with juicy fried chicken. The Nasi Lemak is passable here though I wish for more coconut flavour in the rice. The sambal is decent and tasted different from the Malay sambal but it has moreish notes that makes this nasi lemak quite unique.

Needless to say, I opted for the Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken Thigh (RM6.80) which I enjoyed with the extra Fried Chicken Whole Leg… a piece of thigh is not going to satisfy me for sure when it is this tasty.

Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rempah Whole Leg (RM10)

Ask for their super yummy curry sauce for extra flavours!

It’s nothing fancy but food one can enjoy daily. If you’re ever around that area, hop on over to Chic-A-Boom to try their juicy and succulent fried chicken. Now only if they served mashed potatoes and coleslaw… one can’t help but to wish for this since their fried chicken is delicious!

CHIC-A-BOOM FRIED CHICKEN

Cafe Hero @英雄茶餐室

No.16 , Jalan PDR 4

Kawasan perniagaan Desa Ria at Jalan Balakong ,

43300 Seri Kembangan,

Selangor

Tel: 012-983 0285

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Chicaboom-Fried-Chicken-125263684544697/?fref=ts

Business Hour:

Tuesday to Saturday       10am – 9.00pm

Sunday                          9.30 am – 4.00 pm

Closed on Monday