Hagen Bake & Brew

Bake bread, brew beer: that sums up this cafe's philosophy, though we were equally intrigued by the Japanese skewers that accompanied our booze.

Pork bacon wrapped around asparagus. As all-out addictive as food can possibly get. Since more than 90 percent of Mont Kiara's eateries are pork-free, this place is a welcome entry to the neighborhood.

Teriyaki pork. The next best thing to Malaccan pork satay.

Lady's fingers. Respectably healthy, but basically bland.

Here comes the bread: Broetchen _ savory German rolls, baked in-house _ with roasted onions in front & poppy seeds in the background. Fresh-tasting, with a pleasantly chewy bite.

Two types of tarts: hazelnut & almond. Alas, too hard and dried-out to recommend.

Crack open the beer: Hopf Ice Wheat, crisp and easy to drink.

111 Zwickl, sparkling and flavorsome. OK, so Hagen doesn't exactly brew its own beer, but we won't hold it against them.

For the teetotaler: hot chocolate, the ideal nightcap.

The outlet opens bright and early in the morning, so be prudent (unlike us) and head here before the sun sets, in order to secure a fuller selection of bread.

Alfresco and air-conditioned dining are both available.

EDIT: Have been informed that the "brew" in Hagen refers to the coffee, not the beer. Oops!

Hagen Bake & Brew,

Mont Kiara Shoplex, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-6201-1628

Riki-Ya

Riki-Ya: Round Three. Earlier entries: May 4 & May 5.

Kicking off one of our healthier meals: Hiyashi-style tomatoes _ fleshy, flavorsome ones, sliced into bite-sized pieces and served in all their red, ripened glory.

Mentaiko mania! Intensely savory, but pleasurably so.

Salmon belly sushi. Far from trying to dazzle customers with flamboyant recipes, Riki-Ya hews closely to the fundamentals of Japanese cookery, offering unpretentious recipes that hit the most harmonious culinary notes.

Chutoro (medium-fatty tuna belly). Lip-smackingly luscious.

Eihire. Dried stingray fins, for a chewy, saporous snack.

Charcoal-grilled eringi mushrooms & chicken wing. Smoky succulence.

Simmered radish with seaweed & chicken. Guilt-free in terms of calories and fat, but diabolically delicious nevertheless.

Forgot the name of this fish, but it was moist and meaty enough to recommend. Kinda like a cross between mackerel and pomfret.

Soybean nabe. Bland? Maybe. But this warm, milky broth, abounding with silky bean curd & fibrous veggies, was a testament to how texture can be as crucial as flavor.

Hakutsuru hot sake.

Riki-Ya,

Menara Keck Seng, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2143-3336

J Tean Kitchen

Fusion bak kut teh? J Tean Kitchen's catchphrase might sound scary, but we soon found out that its cooking isn't all that strange.

Pork forms the foundation for the recipes here, with a mild herbal BKT flavor infused in much of the meat _ possibly including these ribs (the menu leaves things open to interpretation, and the service team seemed unsure). Succulent, but fairly similar to regular BBQ ribs, smothered in a sweet, sticky sauce that might have been char siew glaze.

Western-style pork pie, with a surprisingly spicy stew within. Lots of luscious chunks of pork belly buried beneath a buttery, fresh-tasting crust.

Pork belly, stomach & rib BKT. The traditional version, comparable to what Pao Xiang Bak Kut Teh offers at numerous malls. Not bad, though most customers might insist that their favorite decades-old outlets do this better. Still, only a curmudgeon would really complain.

Prices are reasonable; two can have a stomach-stuffing meal for under RM60.

Flower tea & citrus tea.

Cold jujube tea.

Would we return? Sure; we still wanna try the pork fajitas and crispy knuckle!

J Tean Kitchen,

SSTwo Mall, Jalan SS2/72, Petaling Jaya.

Coco.Tei

Coco Tei: Round Three. Earlier entries: May 9 & May 12.

Can't go wrong with the sashimi platter here. Sit at the counter and watch the chefs slice up the raw fish and spread everything in a flawless presentation, remaining poised and cool-headed despite the clamor of customers placing ceaseless orders.

Two types of eel sushi: in front, anago (saltwater eel) & in the background, unagi (freshwater). We're increasingly favoring anago, which swaps the oily sweetness of unagi for a fleshier texture and less one-dimensional taste.

Smoked tuna topped with foie gras. Had a shot at greatness, but fell short; the fish could have been more succulent, while the bits of liver were a little too meager.

Wagyu beef & leek soup. A rich, belly-warming broth, brimming with flavor, though the Wagyu could probably have been substituted with Angus with no discernible difference.

Foie gras with Coco Tei "special sauce." An intriguing recipe, with hints of sesame in the sauce that nicely complemented the liver's fatty flavor.

Wasabi & sesame ice cream. Tasty but pricey, at RM10 and RM12 respectively.

Umeshu plum liquor jelly. Superbly smooth, with a slight, surprising bitterness that made it a nice enough change from the typically sugary jellies.

Shochikubai Sake-Kyoto Fushimizu Jitate. What a tongue-twister of a name.

Suishen Junmaishu sake (15 percent alkie).

Cocotei,

Jalan Delima, Kuala Lumpur.

Songket

Songket: Round Two. Earlier entry: May 6.

Cucur udang. Remember the cold, soggy and overly oily prawn fritters that we've all bitten into and regretted instantly? The ones here will help banish those monstrous memories.

Fried popiah. Crunchy and competently prepared, but completely forgettable.

Kepak ayam (chicken wings). Get your fingers greasy on this tasty meat.

Tauhu sumbat. Never loved this recipe, probably never will.

Ending our exploration of traditional Malay starters: pegedil (or is it spelled begedil? hmmmm). Comfort food for carb-lovers, at any rate.

Two authentically Malaysian flavors of ice cream: durian & pandan.

For novelty value: durian tiramisu. Thankfully, the distinctive taste of the spiky fruit is obvious without being overwhelming in Songket's desserts.

Chardonnay, served chilled. Wine can be paired with Malay food!

Iced coffee & Mojito (cocktails are cool!).

Pick up complimentary chopsticks wrapped in songket before leaving.

And of course, cultural dance performances take place at 9pm, every night except Sundays.

Songket Restaurant,

Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2161-3062

Click here for online reservations.

This restaurant is available for bookings under TABLEAPP, which enables customers to make instant reservations at Malaysia's top restaurants, while saving time and money in the process. Reserve your table at this restaurant by clicking here.