1919 @ Yap Kwan Seng

Round Two at 1919 @ Jalan Yap Kwan Seng. Earlier entry: March 14, 2012.

Chicken floss-coated pumpkin strips. These hot little babies very nearly melt in the mouth, flooding the taste buds with sweet savoriness. We wish we could cook up a batch at home and munch on them on the couch while catching up on "The Walking Dead."

A riot of flavors: mango kerabu salad in fried yam ring. Also a textural treat; the crunch of the kerabu is a delicious counterpoint for the yam's yielding softness.

Battered eggplant. Crispy without being chewy, juicy but not the slightest bit greasy.

House-made bean curd stuffed with shrimp and veggies. Tofu fans will like this healthy choice.

Mutton in a surprisingly sweet mint sauce. Interesting, but the bony meat remains gamy.

Yes, we have wine. At reasonable rates too, if memory serves.

1919 Restaurant,

15A, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2161-9919

Open daily for lunch & dinner, except Sunday (open for lunch only)

California Cookie Co & Marbles Bread Express

With convenient locations at The Curve and Mont Kiara, California Cookie Company could become the sweetheart of everyone who enjoys sinfully buttery cookies and brownies.

Soft-baked sensations, made fresh daily, for the fair price of RM4 apiece. Cali Cookie Co's kiosk at The Curve's overhead bridge to Ikano is open 10am-10pm everyday, and it also runs a stand at Plaza Mont Kiara on Thursdays, 3pm-7pm.

These chunky cookies, with plenty of chocolate chips, strike a pleasant balance between crunchy and chewy, leaning toward the latter.

Brownies are also available, the luscious kind in which each melt-in-the-mouth bite offers a deep, decadent creaminess.

Our next starchy stop: Marbles Bread Express, a nice bakery in Taman Seputeh.

Come in the morning, when everything's fresh and fluffy. We like the creative creations here, including marble "lollipops" and marble "churros."

Oreo-topped and chocolate-stuffed buns, delightfully dense.

California Cookie Company,

The Curve and Plaza Mont Kiara.

Marbles Bread Express,

62-4, Jalan Bukit Raja, Off Jalan Taman Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur.

Open 7:30am-10:30pm.

Mulberry @ Ming Annexe

Returning to Mulberry, where we leave no leaf unturned in hopes of reviving our salad days.

Earlier entry on Mulberry: April 23, 2012.

Roast beetroot, feta, buffalo mozzarella, pomelo, asparagus, walnuts and honey lime dressing. Crisp? Check. Tangy? Totally. Satisfying? So.

Nicoise salad, with peppered white tuna, baby potatoes, baby beans, olives, tomatoes and honey mustard mayo. Always terrific to taste a well-executed rendition of this classic.

Sabine salad _ smoked chicken, cous cous, romaine hearts, tomatoes, cucumber and coriander. Could probably be more flavorsome, but it feels like a healthy pick.

Avocado, tomatoes, sweet basil pesto and balsamic glaze. Would be even better with some soft cheese to impart a little creaminess.

A melange of mushrooms, tossed with arugula, semi-dried tomatoes, asparagus, bresse bleu cheese dressing and garlic croutons. Prettily plated.

Dr S (vodka, lemon juice, lime juice, blue curacao, tonic) and Frozen Margarita.

B52 (kahlua, baileys, grand marnier) and Singapore Sling.

Pina Colada and Long Island Iced Tea.

Mulberry Restaurant and Bar,

Ming Annexe (off Ming Building, near Jalan Bukit Nanas),

9, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

Closed weekends.

Khao by Rama V Setia City & My Elephant Aman Suria

The cult of Thai cuisine is setting the suburbs on fire, with two of the Klang Valley's top tom yam specialists _ Rama V and My Elephant _ burning brighter with new branches at Setia City Mall and Aman Suria respectively.

First up, Khao by Rama V is one of the better eateries at Setia City Mall, which features mainly predictable outlets that range from Tony Roma's to TGI Friday's, Secret Recipe to Starbucks and Papa John's to Pappa Rich.

More excellent news for Rama V fans: there'll likely be a THIRD branch opening this year, named Fa Ying, located at Paradigm Mall.

Khao's starters are perfect for sharing: the mieng kham is loaded nicely with the necessary shrimp, peanuts, lime, shallots and chili, while the crispy fried prawns are cutely constructed and the tom yam chicken with coconut milk will spice up everyone's lives.

Can't complain about the crispy catfish salad ...

 ... or the red beef curry ...

... or these shrimp and minced chicken wrapped in fried egg noodles.

Duck and lychee curry, the crowd-pleasing choice.

Larb kai. Portions and prices are fair; a meal for two here shouldn't exceed RM80.

Fried rice. Khao's menu is familiar, with no surprises, which can either be a comfort or a curse.

Complimentary hot Thai tea. Unfortunately, wine is unavailable at Khao.

Next up, My Elephant is embarking on its third branch, which should easily repeat the success of its Section 17 and Hartamas outposts.

Expect all of My Elephant's signature recipes, like thick, tongue-tingling tom yam ...

... and creamy green chicken curries ...

... and outstanding omelets here, located somewhere in between Rosemary Bites and Chatime

Crunch crunch, munch munch; these platters were part of a recent meal for friends and family. My Elephant at Aman Suria might open either Tuesday or Wednesday this week.
Note: there's no signboard yet for My Elephant.

Khao by Rama V,
LG 21, Setia City Mall.
Tel: 03-3358-3159

My Elephant,
22, Jalan PJU 1/43, Aman Suria Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Flavours @ Telawi & Suanson @ Bangkung

Fourth time's the charm? Chef Riz Redz has opened Flavours Restaurant at the Telawi address where Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa, Nasi Lemak Tanglin and Heritage Food consecutively lived and died since 2009.

One thing remains constant: there's always nasi lemak here. Flavours' nicely presented rendition (about RM6) tastes fair, thanks to a satisfyingly savory sambal, though the rice could be much more moist and fragrant.

Flavours offers traditional side dishes to accompany the rice: have some rendang ayam nagori (RM6), or choose from the selection of ayam kampung goreng bumbu, dendeng daging balado, sambal tumis sotong kering and paru goreng.

Western fare sits alongside Asian recipes on Flavours' menu. For a pasta that partners the best of both sides of the culinary world, this spaghetti flooded with buttermilk garlic sauce, cili padi, curry leaves and crispy calamari is absolutely addictive.

Our visit to Flavours last week was during its trial run, so only rice and pasta were available. But in the weeks ahead, expect to see familiar favorites from Chef Riz's original outlet, On The Table _ such as his signature beef burgers and beef goulash pie _ surface at Flavours.
Entry on On The Table at Solaris Dutamas: June 9, 2010.

Seeking sweets, we took a three-minute jaunt to Jalan Bangkung, where Suanson's Specialty Cakes sells some of Bangsar's most voluptuously creamy cupcakes.

Besides the chocolate mousse and red velvet cupcakes, it's worth trying Suanson's madeleines, muffins, eclairs, cream puffs and everything else that's on the shelves. To trot out a cliche, each bite is a delight.

Pineapple tarts, mini ones that are no less mouthwatering than bigger varieties.

Flavours Kitchen,
51G, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

Suanson Specialty Cakes (closes early in the evening),
Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.