Mado & Moussandra

Bukit Bintang's new and old share the spotlight in this entry. Returning to current crowd magnet Mado and revisiting former favorite Moussandra.
Earlier entry on Mado's ice cream platters: April 27, 2012.

There's more to Mado than Turkish ice cream; savories here include "borek" _ traditional Ottoman pastries, like this baked one layered with cheese. Softer than lasagna sheets, as smooth as slippery spaghetti and subtly salty like buffalo mozzarella.

A fried, spinach-filled version of "burek." Works as finger food, fun to nibble on among friends.

Omelets here are stuffed with Turkish cheeses too, making them milkier and creamier.

"Turk Kahvesi" _ freshly brewed coffee, nicely presented with a cone of "dondurma," Mado's signature goat's milk ice cream, coated in white chocolate.

"Cay" _ Turkish black tea, supposedly produced with special kettles.

A five-minute walk from Mado, some might be surprised to see that Moussandra is still in business, following a management change sometime before KL Plaza turned into Fahrenheit 88.

Despite the complete absence of any other customers on a recent weeknight, Moussandra's food tasted fresh and as fulfilling as before. Tapas are a treat here; try the hard-boiled eggs with anchovies and pimento mayonnaise.

Rib-eye beef braised in red wine. Prices remain reasonable, substantially lower than La Bodega's and not much higher than Moussandra's circa-2000 heyday.

Chicory leaves in balsamic vinegar. Heartier recipes _ paella to bacalao _ are also available.

Hot and cold: lemon tea and Sangria, pretty much as good as any other in KL.

Mado Ice Cream Cafe and Moussandra Mediterranean Restaurant,
Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
(Mado is at the intersection of Bukit Bintang and Sultan Ismail, at Sg Wang's corner)