Eat Drink KL: Preview: Kakigori @ Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Preview: Kakigori @ Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya







Break the ice at Kakigori (opening Sept. 10), which promises Japanese shaved ice desserts that play it cool with distinctively spirited flourishes - a sub-zero remedy for the Klang Valley's perpetual summer, supplying succour like snowfall in the Sahara.




The venue is meant to resemble an ice factory, warmed by the unexpected presence of a garden-like centrepiece that evokes a children's playhouse, surrounded by custom-constructed furnishing inspired by origami motifs, with tables & chairs whose 'feet' mimic those of both humans & birds. You'll also note caricatures of a mysterious mascot nicknamed Yuki, a 'snow lady' whose tale is inscribed on Kakigori's menu (long story short: she needs to consume frosty fare to save herself from melting).



It's ice to meet you: Kakigori's founders are the three Beh siblings, who also spearhead Bangsar South's Thirdwave cafe - these cool cats say they've always loved air-conditioning & chilled treats, so when they discovered Japan's kakigori, they were determined to launch a venue dedicated to this dessert. After scouring Tokyo for all the kakigori they could eat, they're ready to unveil no fewer than ten wintry creations - traditionalists can start with the tea-based interpretations: Hojicha kakigori with candied chestnuts & kinako milk (RM17) & the Uji Matcha kakigori with red beans, own-made warabimochi & kinako milk (RM17), relying on tea cultivated by Kyoto's revered Marukyu-Koyamaen. The Beh siblings uphold exacting standards, sourcing clear, strong ice shaved into smooth, ultra-light shards that melt slowly, complemented by natural, seasonal produce.



Kakigori's versions emulate the most recent wave offered by Japan's speciality stores, imbued with the new-millennium thrill of experimentation. You'll find recipes that challenge perceptions & broaden the horizons of our palates - the Shoyu kakigori conveys an umami resonance that's rare in sweets, made textured with dango rice dumplings & balanced with kinako powder (RM14), while the Japanese pumpkin kakigori is a creamy dream come true, buoyed by a potent burnt caramel sauce (RM15).



Some of these big chills convincingly channel cherished Malaysian flavours - tau foo fah acolytes might be smitten by the Ginger Tofu kakigori, which melds morsels of a super-silky tofu pudding with sweet puffed rice to revive memories of childhood snacks (RM15), while apam balik disciples can find cold comfort in kakigori snowed in with corn puree, a milky coconut espuma & toasted nuts (RM17). Kakigori worked on numerous recipes frozen down to these final ten; you can expect specials to pop up from time to time - perhaps a mooncake-inspired kakigori in 2017, or even a spicy-sour tom yum kakigori?




Fruits are dressed to chill at Kakigori - watermelon puree (strictly no artificial colouring or concentrates here) with the unmistakable floral fragrance of rose espuma, berries & grapes (RM17) & guava with jelly & plum salt (jeruk jambu, anyone?).



Our favourite kakigori is predictable - avocado with pistachios (RM18), its delicate purity shining in every biting-cold spoonful. For an even safer choice, the tiramisu kakigori is a portrait of frigid familiarity, insulated by inventive brushstrokes of coffee espuma & Valrhona chocolate (RM16) - only the tip of the iceberg of Kakigori's capabilities. Pack your mittens, hats & scarves & head to this brrrrrr-and new venue soon - what's cooler than cool? Ice-cold, indeed. Thanks to Kakigori for having us.


 


Kakigori @ PJ Paramount Garden
25, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 
Business commences Saturday, Sept. 10. Will be open 1pm-10pm for the first weekend.
Open Tuesday-Thursday, 1pm-10pm, Fri-Sun, 12pm-12am. Closed Mondays (but will stay open Sept. 12). Tel: 03-7865-8666


The Eat Drink KL mobile app is now available, connecting restaurants & customers to promote a positive spirit of community.
Every restaurant on this app rewards users with a 6 percent discount, instantly & conveniently, everyday, all day long. 
In return, users share photos of their experiences at these eateries, creating a new community of restaurant lovers.
For every transaction, at least RM0.10 will be channelled to a charity of the month.

Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits.
Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link: 
Note to subscribers on Gmail: The newsletter may be in the Promotions folder of your inbox.

Check out the latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favourites, with 100 recommended restaurants 2016. This eBook is available to read or download at this link: http://issuu.com/eatdrinkkl/docs/ebook

Buckle your seatbelts: Eat Drink KL is partnering with Uber to take restaurant lovers on new adventures across KL & Selangor!
If you haven't used Uber yet, it's time to begin! For new users, just follow the steps below to redeem free rides:
1. Download the Uber app from the App Store, Play Store or Windows Store - and register your Uber account.
2. Apply the code EATDRINKKL as your first promotional code & you'll receive 2 Free Rides worth RM30 each.
3. Request a ride through the app and ride for free to any destination (with two ride values of up to RM30 each).