Roast Kitchen, Taman Tun Dr Ismail: The Roast Specialist

Recently, a bunch of us discovered a lovely place to savor scrumptious roast a few weeks ago. Thanks to Merryn, our discovery of Roast Kitchen was no coincidence!  

Our makan gang headed over one lovely Sunday afternoon after a gathering for a movie to check out this roast specialist. It was after lunch time but we still spotted some late diners.

Upon entering, I noticed how bright and clean the whole ambience was in the restaurant. Decorated in contrasting bright orange and white, the whole place had a modern feel and yet comfortable enough for a simple meal.

A few lonely birds were seen hanging in the restaurant window upfront and I couldn’t help but stared at the glistening amber red color of the skin. Such a tempting sight and I couldn’t wait to savor the bird!

Accompanying the bird was a row of barbequed chicken fillets in a lighter amber red hue. The skin was shining in its full glory from the roasted oil and the blacken bits had me salivating… J

I couldn’t help but notice the wall panels along the restaurant proudly displaying what makes a fine roast duck! Apparently there are five important pointers to identify a great roast duck: Color, Aroma, Skin, Meat and The Experience! Let’s check out the roast duck here…

As the restaurant was not busy, the owner Mark introduced some dishes to us and also recommended his Hong Kong chili oil. The chili oil was so good that customers request to buy them; hence they had this bottled for sale. Deep red, the chili had a beautiful aroma from the caramelized chili. I tasted crunchy bits of the ingredients which all melded beautifully. It had a good balance of spiciness without the overpowering heat of the chili.

We started off with the house signature appetizer of Chinese Crueller with Sweet Wasabi Sauce (RM5.80). Great crunch from the pieces of You Tiao was addictive while the gentle sweet wasabi sauce added a lovely hint of tingling sensation to the snack. It was not the strong hit of the wasabi but rather a mild and gentle effect which was a hit among the table!

Our first single serving dish of Exo Seafood Fried Rice (RM12.80) was presented in a long rectangle serving dish giving the modern effect of the overall presentation. I could detect the Hong Kong Chili Oil in the seafood and other additional ingredients to make up the XO sauce. Fried rice had a decent wok flavor with slight moistness but not mushy.

Kam Heong Seafood Mee Hoon (RM 8.80) was delicious! I love the fact that the thin rice noodles were not too soft as it retained an al dente bite. Great flavors of the Kam Heong sauce!

Golden Sand Stir Fried Kway Teow with Prawns (RM 8.80) was average for me although my other makan gang loves this very much. The golden bits of sand on top of the noodles are what make this dish unique. Chicken skin fried to golden crisp is crumbled as the sand to give the dish another texture level.

I love the Fried Black Pepper Udon with Beef (RM9.80)! Lusciously jet black, the thick udon noodles were every bit peppery and slurpi-li-cious! The slightly sweet hint of dark soy sauce may look innocent but the flavors will hit your taste bud with a kick. Simple but scrumptious in my opinion!!

Our star of the meal was the trio of meat platter consisting of Roast Duck (RM15 per portion), Roast Chicken (RM12 per portion) and BBQ Chicken Thigh (RM7.00 per portion)! My favorite of the lot was the Roast Duck and BBQ Chicken Thigh. Roast Chicken was ok for me only. Roast Duck had all the right five elements it should have as described. The meat was firm and the skin was delicious! Good flavor considering this is halal and the owner mentioned that the chef had to tune the flavors many times till they had the perfect recipe in accordance to the halal regulations. BBQ Chicken thigh was every bit as good as it looked earlier. Caramelized sweetness coupled with tender dark meat and skin was so addictive. The moist and juicy aromatic pieces of thigh were just so sinful and satisfying!!

Overall, Roast Kitchen seems to be a great discovery for me! Simple, no frills but just great roast meats and other single meals. Prices are well valued for the portion and quality. Halal is the plus point here and the clean and spacious ambience is another great point to add. I also spied Honey Roasted BBQ Beef which they ran out that day so I ll have to come back for that!

Roast Kitchen

23 jalan Wan Kadir,

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

60000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 7732 0006

Email: roastkitchen@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Roast-Kitchen/209682505722758?sk=info

Planter’s Inn, Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur: “Citarasa Al Mubarak” Ramadhan Buffet

This year, I believe I had outdone my entire life of visiting gorgeous and bountiful Buka Puasa and Ramadhan buffets! From traditional kampong to 1Malaysia feast, every offering has its own unique attraction right down to the sambals. Let me take you down another sumptuous Ramadhan buffet featuring “Citarasa Al Mubarak” at Planters’ Inn, Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur.

The “Citarasa Al Mubarak” themed buffet made up of 400 items, presented to you from the 13 states of Malaysia, all certified halal. A sea of dishes representing each state in Malaysia is definitely a spectacular plus point to enjoy our country’s melting pot of cuisines!

From the moment I walked towards the restaurant, various action stalls were set up all over and around Planters’ Inn restaurant. These stations were simply alluring as it features freshly prepared dishes such as Grilled Lamb, Chicken Sharwarma, BBQ Fish and seafood, Char Kuey Teow, Roti, Briyani, Gulai Kawah Kokdiang and so much more… J

Chef Alham, Chef Ishak and talented team have put together a delicious mix of some of the most exquisite traditional Malaysian recipes from all over Malaysia, just for you!

Let’s drool over the gastronomic pleasures of the buffet!

Gulai Kawah Kokdiang is just as good as it looks! Creamy and full of aromatic spices, the curry with braised beef and potatoes was just oh-so-good with roti and briyani rice.

Assorted Grilled Fish in banana leaf had an alluring aroma and many were automatically allured to this live station! Check out the amount of various fishes, seafood and even otak otak at the station.

Another stall to watch out for is the fire breathing wok of Char Kuey Teow. The chef performs an outstanding job for the fried noodles with great searing effects!

Funny thing this year as I did not see much beef rendang around in the buffets I have sampled. Lucky me saw this glorious thick Rendang Tok and I couldn’t be any more happier! Redolent of lemongrass and loads of spices, the beef was so beautiful when I savored it with pieces of Lemang. Tender and bursting with savory flavors, this is a must try!!

Another gem is the Chicken Sharwarma. I enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine and this was a lovely sight with its chunks of meat being slowly grilled to bring out the savory and sweet flavors of the meat. I topped my pita with the lovely Herb Salad, Hummus and Sour Cream. Yummy… J

Decent satays as I spied Chicken, Lamb and Beef. The meats were well marinated and disappeared faster than a speeding bullet!!

There is just so much more food like pasta, BBQ meats, noodles, various soups, fried station, dim sum station, seafood on ice and raw bar. I also spied a luxurious array of mouthwatering salads, kerabu, small canapés and appetizers

Did I mention some of the mouth-watering desserts to top off this wonderful spread? Traditional sweets from Cek Mek Molek, Akok to Lompat Tikam and a selection of bubur will be available, so do save some space for them!

If you like variety, rest assured, you will get it here! A key highlight is the 13 special dishes representing Malaysia’s states for those with a hearty appetite! Some dishes to look out for are Bubur Lambok, Murtabak, Piaren Ah-Manuk, Rendang Tok, Nasi Biryani and Gulai Kawah, Ikan Pekasam, and Laksa Johore. More varieties come from our mouth-watering Otak-Otak Gelang Patah, and Nasi Kerabu.

The “Citarasa Al Mubarak” Ramadhan Buffet is priced at RM78++ per person with Early Bird Vouchers available for purchase until 31 July 2011. During the month of Ramadhan the buffet will be specially priced at RM80++ per person (Adult) for the first week of Ramadhan and then regularly at RM98++ per person (Adult) for the rest of Ramadhan. Children aged between 4 to 12 years old dine at half the regular price.

The buffet is from 7.00pm to 10.30pm daily. Do call ahead for reservations to avoid disappointment! Please call 2146 3820/3821 for bookings and enquiries. Drop by for an unforgettable experience, only from Malaysia, only in KL’s City Centre and only at Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur – The Place To Meet!

Planters’ Inn

Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur

Jalan Sultan Ismail

50250 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 2146 3820/3821

Website: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/

* Thanks to Sagina & Kenny for the invite!

Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with Unique Starbucks® Experience: The Art of Giving

Calling to all coffee & tea lovers out there… you can now enjoy a unique experience this Mid-Autumn Festival with a gorgeous variety of coffee and tea mooncakes!

Mid-Autumn Festival, better known as the Mooncake Festival is a yearly tradition celebration for the Chinese community around the world. This year Starbucks® provides you with a unique experience that will enhance and tantalize your taste buds to a brand new level of excitement!

The brand new Starbucks® Mooncakes comes with four delightful treats with flavors that will tickle your senses.  Starbucks® has set the benchmark once again with a unique blend with a twist of fusion Japanese and modern Western Mooncakes.

Our mooncake party had everyone gossiping about the coffee & tea inspired mooncakes that night! Check out what Starbucks has to offer this year…

Caramel Macchiato Mooncake that is inspired by the premium offerings gives the coffee lovers a delectable savor that they will never forget. Wrapped in a mixture of ground coffee centre with Swedish Caramel and Butterscotch Chips, this exciting treat adds in a touch of indulgence in every bite. 

The pronounced caramel and butterscotch chips is the heart of the mooncake, giving it the body of the sweet and perfumed aroma of caramelized sugar while the macchiato coffee stained the mooncake paste with its distinctive aroma of espresso and a hint of milk. Pretty awesome as I love my macchiato ice blended at Starbucks!

Hazelnut Latte Mooncake, is certainly a perfection of taste that brings you the familiarity of the premium brand. With the blend of Starbucks® Coffee and chunky hazelnuts, this scrumptious mooncake taste brings you more than joy with every single bite!

Hazelnuts have a sweet, buttery flavor that pairs so well with the aromatic coffee bean, hence this match was almost made in heaven… J

Filled with the sweet taste of zen, Green Tea Chocolate Mooncake gives you a healthier choice that satisfy your cravings during this auspicious season. This refreshing recipes centre with luscious chocolate filling and balanced up the outer layer of Green Tea and lotus. With a combination of traditional and contemporary that soothes and entices your senses, this unique lip-smacking and mouthwatering creation will defiantly be the talk around town!

Chocolate is already a proclaimed aphrodisiac food, therefore when combined with the soothing green tea, it reflects a sensual and warming combination perfect over a cup of hot tea to further enhanced it. I like the balance of this combination as it renders a sultry feel in the mouth with the cacao and hint of the bitter green tea.

Tiramisu Mooncake, perfectly wrapped up with Starbucks® Coffee and lotus paste entices your taste buds.  This sweet delicacy centres with the taste of cheesiness combined with mung beans.  A loving treats that everyone will enjoy!

What could be more brilliant that the ingenious idea of turning a favorite national dessert into a mooncake? The notes of the roasted bean are so luscious against the slight creaminess of the cheese while the contrasting appearance was so attractive in sight. My favorite and apparently the majority’s vote that night as well.

Starbucks Mooncakes comes in two options with both presented in traditional Die Cut Hard Board Boxes. Regular Package consisting of two scrumptious mooncakes is priced at RM32.80 each.

One can also opt for the Premium Package priced at RM148.80 for four precious mooncakes in elegant chiffon casing plus an exclusive Limited Edition Ceramic Starbucks® Logo Coasters. The box is simply reusable and stylish as a keeper!

Cherish the mooncake celebration now by heading down to the nearest Starbucks® outlet.

For more information on Starbucks® Baked Cantonese Skin Mooncakes, please visit www.starbucks.com.my, Facebook.com/StarbucksMalaysia and Twitter.com/StarbucksMY.