Eat Drink KL: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

2 Scones 1 Cup @ Petaling Jaya & 77 Mayford @ Kota Damansara

Four friends who recently wrapped up their studies abroad have come back to Malaysia & combined forces to launch one of PJ's most cheerful cafes; curiosity surrounding 2 Scones 1 Cup's name might be the initial lure for some customers, but it's worth heading here to meet the cafe's founders - Horng Qing, Eugene, Natasha & Nicholas - & check out what they're serving.

Start with two scones & a cup of tea - that's what the outlet's name is supposed to mean; its resemblance to a pop-culture phenomenon is coincidental. The scones (RM9 for two), served either plain or raisin-laced with clotted cream, prove well-made - the light & fluffy sort, to suit most patrons' preference, though crumblier scones might be available on request. You'll also find marble & banana cakes (RM4.50 per slice), as well as quiches, tarts & cream puffs (RM6.50 per serving).

We like the Malacca-inspired Jonker Street Curry Chicken Rice, which comprises powerfully fragrant nasi lemak with chicken & potatoes in a flavoursome curry, personally made by the mom of one of the cafe's founders. Other local specialities include mee rebus & loh shi fun; an additional Western selection of soups & pastas will be introduced soon.

Second stop for scones & tea: Kota Damansara's 77 Mayford, a cafe with humour & heart that promises 'tea on the loose.'

Crumbly scones are available, alongside brownies, carrot cakes & a cool-sounding 'Matcha Pichu' dessert.

From Camden Lock to Kota Damansara: 77 Mayford's highlight is English-blended loose leaf tea by London's Yumchaa, who proclaim themselves the 'curators of immodest tea' in flavours like Walk In The Woods, Wanderlust, Regents Park, Chelsea Chai & Chilli Chilli Bang Bang.

2 Scones 1 Cup
627 Jalan 17/8, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Daily, 12pm-10pm

77 Mayford
6-1, Jalan PJU 5/17, Kota Damansara. Tel: 03-6151-0609

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Monday, March 30, 2015

Prologue @ Taman Paramount & Kisyu @ Desa Sri Hartamas

This ivory-white space beside PJ's Awesome Canteen may look forlorn & forsaken for now, but before the end of this week, expect to see some customers strolling in & out for bowls of ramen & rice - this Prologue is future to Awesome Canteen's past.

We're previewing Prologue by introducing Jack Weldie, one of the nicest chefs we've met this year - Jack's the main man in the kitchen of Prologue, a Japanese-focused spin-off of Awesome Canteen. Originally from Tuaran in Sabah, the 28-year-old moved to peninsular Malaysia more than a decade ago & worked hard to hone his craft in various Japanese restaurants, from Shun & Tomoe in Subang to the now-closed Ninja Jones in Mid Valley. Brace to hear more about Prologue in the weeks to come; Awesome Canteen was a fab place even on its first evening, so we have our fingers crossed for Prologue.

Update: Prologue has opened for business, retaining the casual feel of the kopitiam it took over, but with a leafier look.

Ramen is the cornerstone - the one with the works is this prodigiously hearty Prologue Ramen (RM27), with pork char siu, tender roast Aussie beef strip-loin, sake-steamed red snapper, marinated egg, spinach leaves, green onions & bamboo shoots in mild-tasting tonkotsu broth. An interesting variation is ramen in fish broth, subtle but well-tuned in flavour (RM20.90).

Prologue's forte is no-nonsense fare that's both well-executed & well-priced - we're predicting that Prologue will satisfy most customers with offerings like this gyu-yakiniku don (RM18.90), a rice bowl bountifully heaped with tender & tasty sliced beef.

Prologue's other speciality is its 'otsumami' snacks selection, meant to pair with beer. We couldn't stop munching on the crispy deep-fried shrimp & the momotaro tomato in fish broth, both delicate but indelible in flavour; for future visits, we'll probably check out the grilled potatoes mixed with fish roe mayo & wrap up with a soft, textured mango pudding with a real-fruit taste.

While waiting for Prologue to open, there's time to check out another new Japanese joint: Desa Sri Hartamas' Kisyu Ramen.

Kisyu specialises in ramen, with varieties like curry ramen, garlic ramen & butter-&-corn ramen (mostly RM22+ to RM24+). There is also Maze-Soba, a ramen preparation that's served hot & dry with bean sprouts, pork belly slices & minced meat, meant to be mixed together before being eaten. Slick & savoury, absolutely addictive; RM19.80+.

Looking like a bowl of bee hoon, these 'yam noodles' supply a crisp counterpoint to the creamy raw egg they're immersed in. RM8+; Kisyu seems to have a solid claim to authenticity, judging from its exclusively Japanese clientele on a recent evening.

Protein-powered pleasure: Roast pork, thin but tender, partnered with an onsen egg. RM12+; tasty enough for us to contemplate returning to check out the remainder of the menu - lots of kushikatsu & yakitori, rice bowls, & no lack of fried fare.

For dessert, skip the regular green tea ice cream & snack on the fried sweet potatoes with a honey-butter dip. RM11.80+.

Dry, crisp sake starts from RM35+ for this serving that should suffice - barely - for two people for, say, twenty minutes.

Prologue by Awesome Canteen

17, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Kisyu Ramen

32, Jalan 30/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6201-8866