Another Singapore-bred enterprise is reborn in Malaysia; after roaring through locations across the Lion City _ including Kitchener Road, Vivo City, Marina Square & Resorts World Sentosa _ Putien has landed in our country, targeting the heart of 1 Utama.
Putien's culinary roots lie in time-honored Heng Hwa cooking from the coastal town of Putian in China's Fujian province. Its voluminous photo album of a menu is replete with rustic recipes, focusing on seafood, pork & noodles.
Wine-marinated drunken cockles (RM9.90+), with resonant notes of garlic & chili singing through the mollusks' saltwater essence.
Pork intestines (RM12.90+) _ cut, folded & braised. These taste like some kind of spongy stuffed sausage, free from the stink that sometimes plagues intestines.
Seaweed with mini shrimp (RM8.90+). Slimy & slightly briny, it makes for a minimalist starter; "cucina povera" _ the cuisine of poverty _ adapted for contemporary consumers.
Century eggs, lightly fried in buttery crumbs (RM8.90+). A warm, creamy preparation that breathes new life into preserved eggs. No wonder Putien was once ranked among Singapore's Top 50 restaurants by the Straits Times.
Iced abalone (RM19.90+ per piece), pleasurably plump. Putien's prices won't break the bank; two can eat & be merry for under RM100.
Bamboo herbal prawns (RM8.90+), sunk in a soup seething with wolfberries & Angelica root, both believed to possess anti-inflammatory properties.
Peanut-topped Heng Hwa Bee Hoon, on the house _ perhaps an opening promo (communication with the Cantonese-speaking staff was problematic, even though they were expertly efficient). Thin & chewy, with a deep savoriness derived from a stock of pork bones & aged hens.
Battered sea bass in rice red wine (RM18.90+). And all this was less than a quarter of the menu; there's no doubt that Putien will pull us back soon.
Putien @ 1 Utama,
G213A, Ground Floor, 1 Utama (Old Wing), Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7722-1539
