It took us a bit longer than expected to finally hit Nathalie's Gourmet Studio, mainly because of its inconvenient hours: it's only open at 9am-6pm and closes on Sundays.
Nevertheless, this smallish, well-hidden outlet is well worth a visit. If you live around Mont Kiara or Sri Hartamas, chef Nathalie Arbefeuille currently whips up some of the best food in your neighborhood. Head here soon, before the crowds discover it.
The menu is compact: 5 starters and 5 main courses, alongside a smattering of desserts.
Roasted vegetable mille-feuille. Chunky and creamy. Still light enough to be an appetite-whetter, but much more substantial than a leafy salad.
Fennel soup with tomatoes, basil & parmesan. Tummy-warming comfort food. Seemed more like frothy, fragrant milk instead of soup.
Cheese tart with tomato chutney, poached egg & tapenade. Break the runny yolk and mix everything up for spoonfuls of savory scintillation.
Cod fillet in cremolata with hazelnut dressing & pumpkin puree. Meat is scarce on the menu, but even a hardcore carnivore might be temporarily appeased by this fleshy, flawless fish.
There's an entire display counter filled with about a dozen types of macarons, ranging from caramel and nougat to chocolate and coconut, from lime and blackberry to vanilla and passion fruit. Absolutely impeccable, with crisp crusts and airy yet luxurious centers.
Strawberry succes. Kinda like a cross between meringue and ganache, if that even makes sense. Tasted like the best kind of candy, but stay away if you despise very sweet desserts.
Vanilla "mystery" with caramel & praline sauce. Turned out to be dense, nut-covered mousse. Extremely addictive, even if you aren't eight years old.
Mango & passion fruit profiteroles. A far cry from ones sold at shopping mall bakeries.
Veggie juice and house red wine. Alas, alcohol options are severely limited here.
Nathalie's Gourmet Studio,
Solaris Dutamas.
