Wine @ Nine

A calm, cosy oasis compared to the rowdier outlets in TTDI Plaza.

Wine @ Nine,

TTDI Plaza.

Cinnamon @ Mid Valley Gardens

The restaurant looks nondescript,  but its menu offers a sweeping spread of Indian favourites. The food is all right, though some might say it's overpriced and forgettable.

The complimentary papadum was light and crispy.

Roomali roti, described as "handkerchief-thin bread." Perfect for curries.

Kashmiri Navratna Khorma (garden veggies in a mild curry with dried fruits). The curry was tasty, but the peas and carrots seemed like they came straight from a can.

Baldi Gosht (lamb cubes cooked with herbs and spices in a small bucket). Slightly too salty, but still a solid offering.

Australian Shiraz. So-so; thankfully we didn't order a full bottle.

Cinnamon,

The Gardens.

El Cerdo @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

When the urge for suckling pig struck us, we knew we'd be bound for El Cerdo.

The ham & asparagus soup whetted our appetite for what was to come.

A half-portion of their famed suckling pig before being sliced.

Ready for consumption within mere minutes! An artery-clogging delight. We devoured every bit of flesh from the tip of its nose to its tail.

We could have happily eaten nothing but the pig, but the salad and potato side dishes added variety to the meal.

Andreas Special of berries in mango sauce with chocolate ice cream.

Rose and red wine sangrias proved a refreshing accompaniment.

El Cerdo,

Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Tel: 2145-0511.

Click here for online reservations.

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Pucuk Ubi @ TTDI Plaza

One of TTDI Plaza's quietest outlets, but possibly its most unique, offering Borneo fare made of ingredients flown in from Sarawak.

The must-try is "singket" (sago grubs) _ the larvae of Capricorn beetles that "live and feed on the starchy pulp of the sago palm trunk" (thanks, Wikipedia!). A high-nutrient delicacy for tribes such as the Melanau, these plump worms were squishy but delicious. Hard to describe the flavour, but it isn't disgusting. Can't think of anywhere else in KL to get this.

The fried tempoyak was all right. It retained the sweet aroma of durian.

Umai udang, a lime-marinated prawn salad. The prawns were fresh and lovely, but there was too much chilli in this. We turned red after a few bites!

Umai Melanau, which used fish instead of prawns. Came with toasted sago pellets that you pop into your mouth with the slivers of fish for a crunchy bite.

Pucuk ubi Bidayuh-style (stir-fried pounded tapioca shoots and leaves). Not bad, but not the highlight of the meal.

Sarawak River Punch mocktail (orange juice, milk, marks & spencer syrup, whipped cream) and Puteri Santubong (mango, banana, grenadine syrup, milk). Pretty refreshing stuff.

Pucuk Ubi,

TTDI Plaza.

Tatto @ Ampang

We stumbled on Tatto by chance while driving around one night. It was a worthwhile discovery; this new outlet deserves a visit by every KL food fan.

If you love Sassorosso and Chiaroscuro, you'll probably feel the same about Tatto. It's a sleek, ravishing place with only one drawback: no pork.

Excellent for romantic dates, business lunches and birthday dinners. Service is warm and professional; they make you feel right at home instantly.

The food lacks the finesse of the city's best Italian outlets, but it still ranks among the top 20. The potato gnocchi alla gorgonzolla was pure comfort food.

Crab risotto with tiger prawns and asparagus. There was an Oriental taste that made this rather unusual, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Strozzapretti with salmon and artichokes in cream sauce. The only letdown, this seemed like a mediocre carbonara pasta.

Homemade mezzaluna stuffed with chicken and ricotta with green peas and almond tomato sauce. A lovely dish that epitomizes everything that's bewitching about Italian cooking. Robust and flavourful.

Penne with sauteed Angus beef tenderloin and mixed capsicum sauce. A tad too much salt in this, but it was a hearty, nourishing dish that would be ideal if you're really hungry.

Negroamaro Cabernet Sauvignon IGT Paiara 2007. Terrific for its price.

Tatto,

19, Jalan Damai, Off Jalan Ampang.

Tel: 2166-5212

Long Feng @ Renaissance Malacca

Our other stop in Malacca was for a good old-fashioned Chinese dinner.

Kicked off with the Peking Duck. Not perfect (the pancake was a tad too thick), but still scrumptious.

The ostrich was a bit too peppery for some of us. Unfortunately, I still can't really tell the difference between the taste of ostrich and venison.

The fish fillet in lemon sauce was disappointing. A very generous serving, but the sauce failed to complement the not-quite-fresh fish.

Prawns. A somewhat forgettable recipe, but the prawns were nice and plump.

Spinach with century egg and salted egg yolk. Everyone raved about this!

Part two of the Peking Duck. We were kinda stuffed by now, but it was tasty.

Sea cucumber with mushrooms and broccoli. A reliable crowd-pleaser.

Part three of the Peking Duck came in a fried rice. This was magnificent! I had two whole bowls. Fluffy, fragrant and expertly cooked.

Long Feng,

Renaissance Hotel, Malacca.

Bai Zhan @ Malacca

Headed back to Malacca on a recent weekend and enjoyed lotsa terrific food. Here was an outlet that I'd never visited before, but it seemed pretty popular.

The pork ribs with buns were delicious. Sure, we could quibble that the sauce was too sweet or that the portion was too small. But the succulent slices of pork ensured that I'd want to order this again.

The braised lo han vegetables were a bit boring. I mostly ignored this.

Fried prawns with coconut and grated spices. Satisfyingly tasty.

Venison with cumin seeds. Very tender, very flavourful.

Beancurd with seafood. Not bad, though the seafood portions were meagre.

Soft shell crab with chicken floss. This was my first time seeing this combo, but it worked surprisingly well. Loved it!

Shanghai-style braised chicken. Very comfort foodish, cooked with wolfberries in what seemed to be a thick black bean sauce.

Bai Zhan,

Taman Melaka Raya, Malacca.