Yeast finally rose in Bangsar over the weekend, a triple threat of a bistro, boulangerie & wine bar that brings a slice of Paris to Telawi, courtesy of Frenchman Christophe Chatron-Michaud & his Malaysian-born wife, Lissan Teh.
Rustic bread & pastries baked with natural yeast form this winsome cafe's raison d'etre, with farmer's bread, baguettes & brioches flooding the counters.
Sure, there are teething troubles; one-tenth of the menu was unavailable throughout our visit, including the bahn mi & savory tarts. But here's hoping that Yeast will knead out the kinks & knots before long.
Classics like quiche lorraine (RM12++) litter the menu here, served with wide smiles by a team that merits hurrahs for its warmth & tireless work.
Croissant aux amandes (RM6++), chausson aux pommes & pain au chocolat might be a pain to pronounce but they'll prove a pleasure for the palate.
Time for eggs: kick off with a mix of poached eggs, frisee salad & smoked duck (RM22++).
Poached eggs on brioche toast with smoked salmon (RM18++), a quintessential brunch dish.
Baked eggs in a cocotte with smoked duck & gruyere cheese (RM16++), runnier than they need to be, but Yeast's people pledge to get it right eventually.
Smoked salmon, cream cheese & onions in a viennois roll (RM22++), paired with fries & salad, is one example of Yeast's set lunches, fairly priced for this street.
Not sure what's the French equivalent of 'la dolce vita,' but a sweet finish at Yeast is assured, thanks to the pear frangipane (RM9++) ...
... as well as crispy-rich chocolate sable cookies (RM3++).
While waiting for the food, look for staff members who might hand out samples of Yeast's bread. We like the ones laced with olives as well as those with white chocolate.
Lots of coffee to handle the spillover crowd from Antipodean, two doors away at Telawi.
From Spain's Cava to Normandy's Calvados, there's no lack of liquor here, thankfully.
Red & rose, all available by both the glass & the bottle. Abstinence is avoidable.
Cruzan Aged Rum & Muscat dessert wine.
Yeast now opens 8am-6pm but will serve dinner by mid-December. Expect tried-&-tested favorites like duck confit & salmon with bearnaise sauce.
These photos were taken before Yeast's first lunch service Saturday, minutes before a multitude swamped the tables. Best to come here before noon or after 2pm.
Yeast is a no-pork outlet, unlike Antipodean, so both complement each other. Kinda.
The resumes of Yeast's Christophe & Lissan stretch far & wide, from Daniel & Jean Georges in New York to The Mansion & Shibuya at Las Vegas' MGM Grand. It'll be exciting to see whether Yeast is only the start of what this couple will do in KL.
24G, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2282-0118
This restaurant is available for bookings under TABLEAPP, which enables customers to make instant reservations at Malaysia's top restaurants, while saving time and money in the process. Reserve your table at this restaurant by clicking here.
