Do you hear the people sing? Mediteca started out as a no-pork restaurant (forget the phrase 'pork-free'; we only need to be free of foul things), but from this month onward, this has become a pork's-welcome place. Customers want to get piggy with it!
Beginning June 1, Mediteca has totally revamped its menu; let's hope this helps revive business. Weeknights here seem too barren of customers, all of whom are missing out on complimentary bread served with Lodigiano cheese freshly grated by the table.
The ideal introduction to what Mediteca has now become: Cazuela-style stewed pork jaw with tomato & thyme (RM15++). Soul food in every sense; we have a hunch that if our grandmother had been Spanish, she'd have wholly approved of this.
Fowl-hog fusion: Chicken wings prepared with garlic & rosemary, wrapped in luscious pork lard (RM16++). Bar snacks elevated to new heights.
Beef cheek is passe; try Mediteca's pork cheek instead (RM58++), stewed to spectacular succulence with star anise & pumpkin chutney. Caveat: this is both pricey & somewhat salty.
Honey-glazed roasted suckling pig. Scarily though, this slice here costs RM88++.
Is it breakfast, brunch or lunch? Arresting, anytime of the day: Gateau of potatoes & mushrooms (RM28++), with poached egg, onion jam & bacon (pork of course, not beef).
Addicted to albumin? Mediteca's baked eggs with pork belly pancetta, spinach & bechamel sauce (RM22++) might save the night. Rehab, tomorrow.
Of course, other non-porcine meats aren't shunned here. Veal lovers can check out this tapas-sized serving of veal tongue (RM12++) with cress pickle & red onions.
Veal carpaccio in hay & white chamomile (RM38++). Evidence that Mediteca isn't just another restaurant; every recipe here is carefully selected, creatively concocted.
Mediteca remains, at heart, a Mediterranean restaurant, so Italy remains reasonably represented. But banish any hope of seeing the words 'bolognese,' 'carbonara' or 'aglio olio' here; instead, feast on unorthodox specialties like this 'fregola,' a bead-like semolina dough pasta evocative of Israeli 'ptimtim' couscous, baked in paper with seafood.
Or try the 'culurgiones,' little bundles of pleasure from Sardinia, reminiscent of ravioli, with fresh tomato sauce & 'bottarga' cured fish roe.
Can't leave without light bites: Deep-fried potato cubes with garlic & salsa brava sauces, alongside practically perfect croquettes of gorgonzola cheese & bacon.
Mediteca now serves a limited number of cocktails too, with indisputably cool names like Blue Diamond & Honey Moon.
There's a pork launch party for this new menu next week. Seems like everyone can sign up.
Mediteca Wine Tapas,
Fraser Place, Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2181-2426
Open Mon-Sat, 1130am through late.
This looks like such a bright, happy place! I love the colour scheme and decor. I would probably enjoy the roast suckling pig. Although I have had loin pork roast many times, as I have made it myself and it is quite good, I haven't tried the suckling pig, per se. I really enjoy roast chicken, pork, lamb and turkey, and it looks as if their roast suckling pig would be a winner. Thank you so much for sharing, Sean, great review, as always. I think that the restaurant owners are very fortunate to have someone like yourself!
ReplyDeleteLinda: oh yes, this would be really a nice place to have dinner with the right sort of friend! thanks for the kind words; it's a lot of hard work to start a restaurant, and i think it's important for us to be appreciative of eateries that try to do a good job =) you're right, i love roast meat too, especially when it's cooked just right, so it's juicy and flavorful enough. pork loin's one of my favorite roasts too, particularly the home-made ones! =)
DeleteThere's pork.. and VEAL! :D
ReplyDeleteTNG: yaaa, the pork alone would be a nice attraction, but the veal is an interesting bonus! =)
DeleteAha...pork jaw...lots of interesting textures there :D
ReplyDeleteThe baked eggs seems a teeny small for the price...hehe =)
Ulric: yeah, i like the pork jaw and the pork cheek dishes here. they're really succulent, much juicier than other pork cuts =) you're right though, the price is a bit steep for some of the dishes. i guess rental here is high, but ya, a dinner here will definitely cost above RM50 (though with a hong leong bank credit card, there's a nice discount) =)
DeleteToo bad u missed the pork jaw with chestnuts n mushrooms at Ozeki Italian...tat was really an eye-opener...hopefully they will bring it back soon into the Chef's Recommendations menu =)
DeleteUlric: here's crossing our fingers that pork jaw will pop up on more menus in KL! =)
Deletethe potatoes and mushroom one seems nice! ^^
ReplyDeleteit's really not right to view this post at night, I'm feeling hungry already. HAHAH
Heaven Knows
Chiew Nee: yaa, i'm actually not a fan of mushrooms, but the egg and the bacon on that plate helped to make it delicious! :D heheh, i hope you have a good breakfast in the morning! =)
DeleteHoney-glazed roasted suckling pig~ mouth watering again~ XD
ReplyDeleteMr lonely: hard to resist ordering suckling pig, it's always tempting :D
DeleteOooo...bacon *going all weak in the knees*!!! Slurpssss!!!! RM88??? That slice of pork sure looks kind of small... Had pork when I was in KL - watch out for the post in my blog...no so soom though, too many things to blog about.
ReplyDeleteSuituapui: heh, bacon, the magic ingredient! :D yeah, that slice of pork was probably a one-person portion. Definitely satisfying for one person, though it was still definitely a bit too steeply priced. Looking forward to your porky posts! :D
DeleteYay, good to hear that they are serving pork now. More choices for my lunch!
ReplyDeleteCK: heheh, ya, they have some interesting set lunches here too! Every week the set lunch menu changes, i think, so can try something different each week =)
DeleteWow, first time I see just one slice of suckling pig! Seems like after missing out on the pork for the last year, they're trying to make up for lost time with all these pork dishes! :D
ReplyDeleteDrops of contentment: heh, yeah, the pig's a personal-serving portion, which I guess makes it a bit more convenient to order, though it can't be shared by more than four people =) am glad they made the switch to pork. I hope they don't end up switching back though (the way Il Lido switched from porky to no-pork) =)
DeleteI assumed when they start serving pork...might have better response ;-)
ReplyDeleteMelissa: ya, I hope so too! Unfortunately it prevents them from being able to serve many of the office workers in this area, so it's definitely a risk, but it helps them present more authentic recipes =)
DeleteLooks like a bright cheerful place but that slice of suckling pig for RM88? how big was it? Ahhh... launch party for all & sundry eh? ;-)
ReplyDeletePureglutton: ya, mediteca's a great-looking place, very photogenic :D the suckling pig was probably, ermm, 200 grams? Heh. And ya, Mediteca might be packed next week for its launch party. But must RSVP if wanna go =)
DeleteOoo looks nice. Nice to see different parts of the pig being utilised in the best manner ;)
ReplyDeleteBaby Sumo: yeah, i wouldn't mind seeing pork tail and liver and heart on the menu here someday too, heh! :D
DeleteI like your justification of throwing away the term pork-free! And I'm glad Mediteca has decided to join the porky bandwagon.. however, I do think that suckling pig is crazily expensive too! Was it worth the price, you think?
ReplyDeleteIamthewitch: yeah, i do try to avoid using 'pork-free,' cos i think it accentuates a stigma for pork. i understand why it's used, but i don't think the phrase is necessary, heh =) i think the suckling pig slice was overpriced. but i guess rental in this part of the city has to be pretty high, and there are other factors involved. i'd say skip the suckling pig here though and try the other dishes, heh :D
Deleteim going there next week :D cant wait to NOM through the porky feast!
ReplyDeleteLatest: Lanvin, all about ME
Fish: yay! i think you will enjoy it! have fun :D
DeleteReceived an invitation to the party, seem like this is a BIG party since everyone can register :P
ReplyDeleteChoi Yen: heh, i guess it's a big restaurant, and they'll have lots of porky food prepared to celebrate :D
DeleteHoney-glazed roasted suckling pig costs RM88++!!
ReplyDeleteso terrible! but I love pork!!
十六: yaaa, i couldn't resist ordering the suckling pig! i love it too, heheh =)
DeleteVEAL!! Say no more! :P
ReplyDeleteCiki: veal seals the deal! =)
DeletePork and veal... And that poached egg look so beautiful....
ReplyDeleteSycookies: yeah, two delicious types of meat. and i definitely try to order any dish with poached eggs =)
DeleteCertainly looking forward to checking the oinky goodness soon! Its too near my office to not visit:D
ReplyDeleteMissyblurkit: oh yeah, there's so much on the menu here! There's also an Iberico pork paella that sounds pretty promising! :D
DeleteLiking everything I see here! Specially that pork cheek! Yum! :D
ReplyDeleteKelly: the pork cheek's really tender and flavorsome :D
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