FoodsmithExpress

By Aiman Azri

From Nasi Lemak Salmon to Guacamole Duck Mantou, FoodsmithExpress' offerings rank among the most playfully tempting by a food delivery service in KL. Crafted in his own central kitchen by Nuriman Jusuf, a Malaysian chef with 15 years of professional experience, these minimal-fuss meals seem certain to brighten up our lunchtime.

The star of the All-Day Take Out Menu is the Nasi Lemak Salmon (RM 15), a sweetish luxe interpretation of the Malaysian favourite - the mildly truffled brown rice pairs pretty well with the crisp-skinned, tender-fleshed 'berempah'-style fish and seaweed-spiked sambal, for a fun change from nasi lemak with fried chicken or rendang. Comes complete with the essential egg, peanuts, ikan bilis and cucumbers for the total, filling nasi lemak experience.

Much of the menu centres on comfort food - substantial boxes of Duck Mantou, featuring crisp buns sandwiched imaginatively with plenty of sauteed duck, guacamole, quail eggs and creamed spinach (RM 18); Mac & Cheese Mushrooms, with wild mushrooms made rich and savoury with melted cheese and a sauce of three cheeses (RM 12); and Fluffy Pancakes, thick and springy, with maple caramel, bananas and butter (RM 10).

Other options include the Lazy Bum (the Big Breakfast), Foodsmith Benedict, Salmon and Avocado Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Thai Curry, and Moussaka. To see if FoodsmithExpress delivers to your area, order through this page: www.getasap.my/food/menu-foodsmith or through Honestbee. Do note that depending on delivery routes, the food might not always arrive super-hot; be ready to heat up your items, just in case.

FoodsmithExpress also does catering and dabbles sometimes in pop-up stalls. Follow them on facebook.com/foodsmithexpress and instagram.com/foodsmithexpress

Thanks to FoodsmithExpress for the midday treat.

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Profile: This Is The Last Straw for Swit Yen

By Aiman Azri

As the Tak Nak Straw community expands in Malaysia, rejecting the prevalence of plastic straws in restaurants, we speak to one consumer, Swit Yen, to learn why she has voluntarily become part of this earth-friendly movement.

EDKL: When did you start practising No Straw? 

Swit Yen: For me, I grew up as somebody who was involved in going green and stuff like that in primary school. I have slacked on this for a very long time, and I feel like now is a good time to create good habits again. It's more about going back to my original principles.

EDKL: So you now use your own straw that you bring with you whenever you eat out?

Swit Yen: I've been doing no-straw for about a month now. It was difficult to transition, especially when it came to people (waiters) having the norm of just automatically putting a straw into your drink.

I have this thing where I collect paraphernalia from cinemas, and there was a drink barrel that came with a straw. So I use that. I didn't buy a special straw, glass or anything like that. I used whatever I already had.

The least I can do for the next couple of months to make sure I strictly practise this.

EDKL: Do you practise any other initiatives that are similar to No Straw?

Swit Yen: Gwen, one of my friends from the poetry scene, started a minimal-waste campaign for lunchtime last year. It was a pro-dining-in kind of thing. But unfortunately for the industry I work with, events and productions at the time, I had to tarpau everything, all the time. It irked me so much that I was creating so much waste.

When she started the campaign, I wanted to support her as a friend. But it goes beyond a campaign. You want it to be more, to include it as part of your lifestyle.

I use my own container when I go to take away food. I also carry around a reusable cup, especially when I order takeaway for cold drinks and hot drinks. So you reduce the use of plastic bags and string.

I also carry a recyclable bag, to pack items and groceries. I also try to take the LRT as much as I can.

Check out facebook.com/TakNakStraw for helpful local information on this movement, including practical alternatives to accepting plastic straws at eateries. This interview was conducted independently in support of this movement; EDKL is not affiliated with the community, and this interview does not necessarily reflect the official views or perspectives of the movement.

Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits. Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/5106C196432BB23D

SHIN Tamagoyaki @ The Starling

By Aiman Azri

Egg enthusiasts are flocking to the Starling mall's new purveyor of tamagoyaki, Japan's beloved rolled omelette. What makes SHIN Tamagoyaki stand out is how its signature offering is prepared fresh to order, kept for no longer than a few minutes before being handed to customers, unlike commercially mass-produced, shelf-stored versions often seen elsewhere, This feat results in tamagoyaki that's consistently warm and fluffy, accomplished through Japanese custom-made equipment that simulates the layering and grilling of top tamago chefs.

Start with the Original Tamagoyaki Stick, thick and delicately sweet, MSG-free with a natural softness, meant to evoke the authenticity of how it's served in Tsukiji, each cut proudly bearing the stamp of SHIN's logo (RM 5.90). Simple but satisfying.

Plenty of playfully egg-based, bite-sized snacks to nibble on here: Continue with the Fried Tamago, which blankets the grilled egg in a crisply breaded exterior, for the egg equivalent of croquettes (RM 9.90), as well as the sushi-style Chuka Idako or Potato Ham, in which seasoned baby octopus or potatoes with chicken ham are placed above slices of tamago instead of sushi rice (RM 14.90 and RM 11.90 respectively).

For a heartier bet, there's no resisting the richness of a Japanese rice bowl like the Tamago Mentai Don, sumptuously bolstering the tender topping of tamago with seasoned roe and Japanese mayo, torched on the spot for the ultimate comfort food (RM 13.90), washed down with beverages of Brown Rice Green Tea (RM 4.90) and Japanese Oolong Tea (RM 4.90).

It's nice to have a tamago specialist in town; thanks to SHIN Tamagoyaki for having us.

SHIN Tamagoyaki
Level B1, The Starling Mall, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Daily, 10am-10pm.

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Rocksalt @ Hartamas Shopping Centre

Set amid the sheen of saline walls, Rocksalt offers an eclectic menu with several scintillating highlights. The spicy watermelon rind soup is intriguing, with chunks of rind tenderly simmered in a tasty, well-balanced broth with the briny savouriness of shrimp ragout and tongue-tingling notes of chilli (RM18).

A few Mongolian-inspired lamb temptations seem to stand out - the most straightforward choice would be the meaty barbecued skewers (RM45), but you'll also find a Mongolian lamb noodle soup and even a Mongolian spiced lamb pizza.

To end the meal, the sushi dessert platter is memorable, put together with chilled, fruity components (RM25).

Rocksalt

P-3C, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Same row as Subway and Starbucks.

Open Wednesday-Monday, 12pm-10pm. Tel: 03-6206-3652

Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits. Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/5106C196432BB23D

Neighbourhood Supply Restaurant @ Sungai Penchala

By Aiman Azri

Sedak Doh Wase! Rise and shine for Neighbourhood Supply Restaurant's breakfast and lunch fare, which focuses on its founders' Terengganu and Sarawak home state heritage, showcasing how when it comes to classic local cuisine, East truly might be best.

Naturally, you can't have a Terengganu-loving restaurant without Nasi Dagang (RM7.50), the state staple of slightly sticky rice made aromatic with coconut milk, served with thick, traditional ikan tongkol curry, striving for the satisfying authenticity of what you'll find on the streets of Kerteh and Kuala Besut. A nice way to start the day, in a change from nasi lemak morning meals.

The Nasi Minyak (RM 8) here is a somewhat healthier rendition of Terengganu's typical, marginally less oily, well-complemented by meat that's been marinated for five hours, full of flavour and tenderness.

The Mee Kolok (RM10) spotlights a recipe brought by the Sarawak-born sister-in-law of Neighbourhood Supply Restaurant's main owner, specifically by Kuching's Mee Kolok Haji Salleh. The noodles are the soulful heart of this bowl, with the beef and soup providing a light enhancement.

Since Terengganu is close to southern Thailand, it's no surprise to see the likes of Tom Yum Seafood and Ayam Paprik also on the menu here. Our recommendation: Dig into the Nam Prik Pau Tulang (RM13), a signature dish of achingly succulent beef ribs partnered with a sweet-sour sauce that kicks in with an addictive spiciness.

For beverages, the usual suspects that span the breadth of Malaysia: Limau Ais, Nescafe Ais, and Teh O Ais.

Neighbourhood Supply Restaurant
Lot 3013, Jalan Sungai Penchala, Kuala Lumpur. 
Open Thursday-Tuesday, 8am-6pm (closed Wednesdays; Friday break from 1pm to 2pm). Tel: 019-964 2847

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