Macarons by Madeleine: Gifts that bring artistic beauty to any occasion

Macarons handcrafted into your favourite Pokemon and comic-book characters, or shaped like a laughing emoji, or resembling kittens, bunnies and even unicorns, complete with hand-painted illustrations in edible icing: Macarons by Madeleine transforms basic macarons into memorable artistic marvels, a beautiful gift for any occasion.

Founder Madeleine Lew has perfected the craft of macaron masterpieces over the past few years, turning a self-taught, part-time labour of love into a profession that has provided joy to many Malaysians.

If you've received customised macarons for Aidilfitri etched with portraits of ketupat or Christmas macarons that looked like Santa and snowmen, you might have already had a first-hand look at Macarons by Madeleine. If you're seeking a fun but thoughtful present to brighten up someone's month, let Madeleine make you some extra-special macarons, personalised with playful themes, words and images.

Madeleine makes sure these macarons not only look fantastic, they taste fabulous, with six standard crowd-pleasing flavours - vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, lemon and mango - that start from RM40 per box of 10 macarons.

Seasonal flavours are also available: Past varieties include matcha, coconut yam, lychee rose, pandan gula melaka, peppermint, red velvet, blueberry, and peanut butter. 

Customers have ordered these gorgeous gems for celebrations, such as birthdays and anniversaries, for corporate gifts, and for their own casual, cheerful consumption. Heart-shaped macarons? No problem! Panda-faced macarons? Totally cool too.

Macarons by Madeleine is also a platform for Madeleine, a former banker, to express her creativity through colours, drawings and patterns. Whether you prefer your macarons pretty in pastel or punchy in vibrant hues, these lovingly handmade cuties will charm and cheer every recipient.

For the full experience, order the gift boxes (starting at RM65 for nine pieces), which come in the ideal design for your occasion, neatly packed in boxes with a ribbon, gift card and paper bag. Other premium gift set bundles with flowers and other accessories are available by request.

Going more elaborate? The majestic, multiple-tiered Macaron Towers, stacked up as a Pinterest-friendly statement piece for the dessert table, are elegantly perfect for weddings, bridal and baby showers, housewarming gatherings and full moon parties (RM148 for a small tower or RM198 for a large tower).

Contact Madeleine for orders, to be placed at least one or two days in advance of delivery - convenient if you need a fast, fuss-free gift that goes beyond a store-bought cake. These freshly piped macarons are best consumed immediately but can be refrigerated for a week.

All photos are courtesy of Macarons by Madeleine. 

Macarons by Madeleine
Facebook: facebook.com/macaronsbymadeleine
Instagram: instagram.com/macarons.bymadeleine
Tel: 018-202-1050

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Kimasu by N97, Bangsar

Bangsar's new hidden Japanese restaurant conceals intriguing chambers of secrets, including a crimson teppanyaki counter surrounded by samurai, plus private rooms with nature-loving themes of bamboo forests and cherry blossom mountains.

If you enjoy dinner with a show, Kimasu's friendly crew is eager and enthusiastic to please, bringing out the fire and smoke, plus the spatulas-in-the-air acrobatics.

The corn-fed Teppanyaki chicken is capably cooked, fleshy with a bite, rounded out with mushrooms, zucchini and negi (RM55). 

What makes it extra-special is the choice of flavoured butter to grill the meat with - truffle, kombu, garlic, or our personal pick, uni, bringing a lightly briny sweetness of sea urchin to the butter.

As a bonus for customers who love a lot of taste in their teppanyaki, the meat also comes with three kinds of salt - truffle, kombu and binchotan - plus truffled shoyu.

Teppan white toast, stuffed with medium-rare MB9 wagyu beef, sprinkled with dashi-marinated ikura, is Kimasu's signature katsu sando, a solid snack (RM98). 

Other enjoyable orders include the sashimi salad, a hearty heap of fresh cubed fish tossed with a wasabi-goma dressing (RM35), and the Kimasu 97 Roll, a satisfactory maki layered with sole belly and unagi, complete with chives, ikura and tobiko (RM78).

If the chef offers you a complimentary creamy custard for dessert, say yes, please, and thank you.

Kimasu 97

Lorong Kurau, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Currently open 6pm-11pm by reservations. Tel: 011-1230-6697

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Arabic Tea & Ayran, Saudi Arabia

Arabic hospitality is potent enough that strangers strolling by might be invited to enjoy a glass of hot tea or cool ayran yogurt beverage to refresh them before they continue their travels.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Kuwaiti Seafood

Kuwaitis love seafood, so it's easy to find the fresh catch from the Persian Gulf here, from the sea's signature fish of moist and flaky hamour to lobsters and prawns. 

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com