Fatty Crabs @ Seputeh

No relation to Taman Megah's long-entrenched Fatty Crab, this casual outlet at Taman Seputeh supplies a fresh alternative to Siu Siu and Robson Heights Seafood Restaurant for customers seeking to satisfy their crustacean cravings.

No fewer than 18 crab recipes are available, from Green Chili Sweet & Sour to Bei Fung Tong Fried Garlic. Our first choice was a conventional one: the creamy salted egg version, irresistible with the restaurant's free flow of fried 'mantao.'

Sea salt-baked 'dong quai' crab, moist and meaty. Fatty Crabs also delivers food daily within a five-kilometer radius, with everything sealed in thermal containers to help these babies arrive satisfyingly hot at your doorstep. Details at www.fattycrabs.com.

Another intriguing concoction: claypot-style shark meat (no worries, no shark fins here, so this seems as morally correct as consuming various other fish). Somewhat similar to Spanish mackerel, swimming in herb-laden soup.

Nyonya prawn otak-otak _ comfortingly soft but not mushy, featuring sweet-savory notes and a gentle spiciness to leave your tongue tingling.

Complimentary dessert: homemade vegan ice cream _ free of milk, sugar & eggs _ with a pleasantly coarse texture and a taste reminiscent of soybeans.

Fatty Crabs,

62-2, Jalan Bukit Raja, Taman Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 1-300-222-100

Eurasia

Promising a fresh epicurean experience in Damansara Heights, Eurasia serves fusion fare that springs several surprises here and there.

Atlantic jackknife clams (or bamboo clams or razor clams) with a pageant of sauces. A quirky presentation, engagingly colorful and fun to eat, with each clam embellished with something creamy, sweet or savory.

Unagi, all rolled up and impregnated with mixed mushrooms & chopped veggies. Also visually appealing, but the eel tasted similar to run-of-the-mill unagi teriyaki.

Foie gras. No complaints, though this won't win major accolades; two reasonably thick slices of well-prepared liver, wedded to tobiko & a chunky potato cake.

Avocado, lettuce, cucumber & asparagus maki. Who knew fish-free, vegetarian rolls were tasty? The avocado's creaminess was the perfect partner for the crunch of the other veggies.

Pan-seared salmon with Massaman curry & bell peppers. The fish was moist and meaty, but the Thai-inspired sauce was too innocuously weak to spawn a lasting impression.

Cocktails galore! Fluffy Duck (gin, cointreau, advocaat, orange juice, lemonade) & Frozen Bikini (vodka, peach schnapps, lime juice, champagne).

Moulin Rouge (brandy, pineapple juice, champagne) & Strawberry Mimosa.

Koala Bear (creme de banana, dark creme de cacao, vanilla ice cream, crushed ice) & Kahlua Cup (creme de cacao, kahlua, vanilla ice cream).

Eurasia Bar & Bistro,

Wisma UOA, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2093-8596

Harmony Life

There's no lack of eateries in Sri Petaling, but this might be the only organic-themed one.

Tri-colored noodles, steamed for guilt-free gastronomy. But of course, not al dente.

Lei cha. As delicious as this recipe gets, blending the crispness of veggies and grainy goodness of rice with an aromatic nuttiness and minty fragrance.

The eggplant was OK _ similar in taste and texture to 'yong tau foo' versions. What made this memorable was a sprinkling of dried rosebuds with a bizarre flavor, both flowery and salty.

Miso bittergourd. Bitter, for sure, but the health benefits might make it worth the effort.

Oatmeal soy milk & Detox juice (apple, organic beetroot, organic carrots).

Harmony Life Organic Cafe & Mart,

Bandar Baru Sri Petaling.

Hummingbirds

Returning to Hummingbirds for cakes, cocktails and more! Earlier entry: May 19.

Macaroons (with a double 'o') _ not to be confused with macarons. These are soft-baked cookies, covered in shredded dried coconut. Sweet and sticky, but an acquired taste, especially for those of us who aren't fans of coconuts in the first place.

Might as well face it _we're addicted to wasabi macarons. Despite returning here repeatedly in recent weeks, we still haven't had our fill of these terrific treats.

Hummingbirds' cakes are among the best in Bangsar _ no mean feat, for sure. The Toblerone cheese cake is breathtakingly smooth and creamy, while the caramel cupcake might leave some customers swooning in the delirium of a decadent dessert.

Charcoal cake. Despite how rich-tasting Hummingbirds' cakes are, they also seem relatively low in sugar compared to similar offerings elsewhere.

Tiramisu (with a splash of Kahlua) & Hershey's cupcake (oh-so-chocolatey).

Can you keep a secret? Booze-laced beverages are available _ though the fact is not explicitly trumpeted on the menu _ including the Ooh La La (cucumber syrup, iced lemon tea, vodka) & Strawberry Surprise (five freshly blended strawberries, vodka).

We loved the subtly sweet, satisfyingly potent Mulatto Russian & Daydreaming caffeine cocktails, enhanced with vodka & coffee liquor.

White Russian Coffee (with alkie) & citrus tea (without).

Hummingbirds Coffee Bar,

Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru.

Food Galleria

A hospital cafeteria that supplies a smorgasbord of recipes from multiple continents.

Australian sirloin beef roulade. Succulent meat, stuffed with springy mushrooms and partnered with fresh spinach. Not just another meat-&-potatoes dish.

African casserole of chicken in coconut curry with pita bread. Not spicy, but stunningly creamy. Hospital food need not be bland (though it's unlikely this would be served to patients).

Baked salmon on citrus pumpkin mash with Thai basil salsa. A healthier option; the salmon was perfect, retaining its full moisture and flavor. We also loved the subtly sweet pumpkin mash _ a pleasant change from run-of-the-mill mashed potatoes.

Mexican sopa de arbondigas. Tasted like minestrone soup, but with the addition of rustic-looking braised beef balls. Prices here are reasonable; a filling meal can be had for below RM40.

Louisiana Creole seafood jambalaya. This mound of not-too-mushy rice, laced with prawns & squid and scented with saffron & tomato, should satisfy carb cravings.

Grilled lamb chops with Greek eggplant moussaka, twice-cooked potatoes & mint balsamic. Hearty, but the meat was gamy and fatty. Last orders are before 8.30pm, so come early.

Cosmotail (cranberries, peach, grenadine) & Mango-licious (mango, milk & yogurt smoothie). Alas, no alcohol is available (no surprise, right?).

Food Galleria,

Prince Court Medical Centre, Jalan Kia Peng, Kuala Lumpur.

Four Seas

Less than one year after opening, Four Seas has completely overhauled its concept and menu, transforming from a seafood restaurant into a Chinese one.

Earlier entries on the original Four Seas: August 4, 2010; August 6 & August 27.

One result of the revamp is that Four Seas is no longer pork-free, so customers can now savor sumptuous non-halal favorites such as pork neck "koo loh yoke."

Pork belly in Marmite honey sauce. Irresistibly crisp, with sweet-savory notes.

Wuxi-style braised pork ribs. Heart-stoppingly succulent.

Seafood remains available, of course, in Chinese recipes such as "sang har meen." Beware though: this isn't the version that's beloved at outlets in Imbi and SS2. Not bad, nevertheless, with delicate strands of yee mee that soaked up the prawny pungency, though the crustaceans themselves would be better if they held some roe.

Sri Lankan crabs, plucked live from the aquarium and braised with salted egg yolk. Pretty pricey at over RM100 per kilo. But the reality is, we'd be hard-pressed to find fleshier, more flavorsome crustaceans elsewhere in Bangsar. Perfectly prepared.

Monumentally juicy duck meat, endowed with a rich smokiness that lingers on the tongue. Not exactly traditional Chinese, but why nitpick, right?

Claypot chicken. This combination of tender braised chicken, fragrant coconut gravy & hearty chunks of warm, soft yam is a match made in culinary heaven.

Fried rice with Chinese sausages, prawns & tobiko. Sounded interesting on the menu, but tasted rather forgettable, with not much 'wok hei.'

Chilled fruit jellies make for an excellent ending _ an unusually aromatic dessert , perfumed with bits of barley, lemongrass, mint leaves & water chestnuts for a fun interplay of tastes and textures.

Cocktails in a Chinese restaurant? Coolness! Four Seas Orgasm (baileys, amaretto, kahlua, milk) & Lychee Martini (vodka, lime, lychee liquor).

Eyespy Cabernet Merlot (Australia), available by the glass.

A crisp French Hugel Riesling, the perfect partner for much of the food.

Service is exemplary and the setting is as lovely as ever (but not lively).

Four Seas,

Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.