Eat Drink KL: December 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

Emirates Onboard Cocktail Bar

Emirates Airlines' in-flight bar is completely capable of whipping up the essential cocktails - from a Rob Roy to a Rusty Nail - besides serving all the whiskies and wines needed to accompany the meals of a long-haul flight.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Forebidden, Ara Damansara

Forebidden fruit tastes the sweetest: Proving that there's no taboo in offering tasty new takes on traditional temptations, the kitchen here serves up modern Malaysian Chinese cooking with plenty of panache.

Pork belly can be tenderly braised in herb reduction broth that recalls bak kut teh, rounded out by dried cuttlefish, chillies, onions, okra and steamed rice (RM24), or crisply pan-fried with pepper, complemented with capsicum and a splash of aged Chinese wine (RM17), for a satisfyingly soulful meal both ways.

What we especially enjoy about Forebidden's recipes are their deep, layered flavours - the Rings and Heavenly Kings reign through a nuanced combination of grilled squid tossed with long beans, ladies' fingers, winged beans and eggplant, bound together in a rich, complex house-made chilli paste (RM20).

While much of Forebidden's fare is meant for sharing, single-plate indulgences include noodles and rice platters: The former comprises choices of spaghetti and ramen, mingling perhaps with Hakka-style zha yuk, sliced black olives, lemon rinds, sun-dried tomatoes and white wine (RM25) or with smoked duck breast, wild mushrooms, garlic and olive oil (RM20), confidently fusing cross-border inspirations from Guangdong to Genoa. Alternatively, the salted egg fried rice, topped with a sunny side up and shredded salted egg yolk, is a pleasant order, paired with pickled slaw and keropok lekor (RM18 with prawns or chicken).

For a starter or side, have a soup and salad - the crab meat in classic egg gravy is a can't-fail crowd-pleaser (RM14), while the mixed leaves with kyuri, garlic croutons, roasted sesame and ginger plum dressing are a vivaciously textured treat (RM13).

Cocktail fans will be happy to note that at least three types are available here, each harmonised with Oriental-inflected notes. Double Concubine, for example, combines jasmine tea with vodka, Speyside Scotch and cinnamon syrup for a soothing twist on Chinese suet cha iced tea (RM40), The Forebidden Geisha elegantly blends the intensity of sake with delicate ginger and elderflower syrups (RM32), and The Emperor's Jade is a prized potion of vodka and gin with green tea, glutinous rice tea syrup, unsweetened soy milk and whipped egg white (RM32). Not bad at all for a restaurant that's still in its soft-launch stage.

Forebidden

D7-10-G, Dana 1 Commercial Centre, Jalan PJU 1A/46, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Open Monday-Thursday, 12pm-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 12pm-12am. Tel: 03-6736-5119

This feature first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

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Jerry G's, Bukit Damansara

By EDKL Writer A.A.

Japan x Italy: Jerry G's Japanese Curry Chicken Pizza unites the culinary traditions of two countries, with a topping of chunky chicken, onions, carrots and tomatoes in a mildly sweet, creamy curry sauce over a thick, bready base. A constructive change from KL's conventional chicken pizzas, the portion is pretty hearty, easily feeding two persons for RM22.

Cocktails are currently off the menu but certainly on the table; if you're not averse to having pizzas with pineapples, pair your Japanese pizza with a Singapore Sling, a tropical paradise of pineapples, with the sliced fruit floating in a gin base (RM16).

Service is warm and efficient, making Jerry G's a place where customers will feel wholly welcome.

Jerry G's
50-G , Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur.
Open Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm. Tel: 013-356-3550

This feature first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

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Saturday, December 29, 2018

M Cafe & Bar, Desa Sri Hartamas

Marvellously mouth-watering: M Cafe's nasi lemak with beef rendang exceeds expectations for such a ubiquitous dish. The secret rests in the behind-the-scenes effort in its meticulous preparation, imbuing a rich fragrance to the rice and a robust tenderness to the four-hour-cooked sirloin meat; the sambal, meanwhile, is textured and very tasty, its onion sweetness enhanced by the savoury umami of anchovies, aromatic with galangal, ginger and lemongrass, making this hearty platter worth its RM28 price tag - our favourite nasi lemak to be found in Desa Sri Hartamas.

The nasi lemak leaves us optimistic that the rest of the menu, which ranges from curry laksa and Hainanese chicken chop to burgers and pastas, will be equally well-executed. Pair your meal with some of nearly a dozen cocktails available, from the signature Grand Royal Clover Club (gin shaken with lemon juice and grenadine for a fruity kick) to the Whiskey Sour (with lime and a dash of sugar for a sweet punch); alternatively, make like Don Draper with an Old Fashioned. The cocktails cost RM25 each, but for happy hours, three can be enjoyed for a total of RM55.