Kazan Dessert by The Volcano: Pocket Cheese Toasts

It's a big stretch: Penang's Kazan Dessert by The Volcano recently brought its Pocket Cheese Toasts to the Klang Valley for a one-day-only delivery special, so we had to seize the chance to test whether these Chiang Mai-origin temptations are as stretchy as they seem. The result: Absolutely!

These toasts will next be available for delivery exclusively in Petaling Jaya on Saturday, 5th September. Pre-order before 12pm, Friday, 4th September at thekazandessert.com.my/special-delivery - Kazan is only taking 30 orders for Saturday, so be fast.

Kazan Dessert currently operates its sole outlet in Queensbay Mall, Penang, with the concept for its toasts originating from The Volcano dessert shop in Chiang Mai. 

We hope Kazan will eventually offer a permanent service in the Klang Valley; for its recent delivery, Kazan recommended that we reheat the toasts in an oven at 170°C for between three to eight minutes, depending on the type of toast. We didn’t have an oven handy, so we made do with a toaster oven - the results were still delicious for all of Kazan's six varieties of toast.

The Original Super Cheese is our initial introduction - like most of Kazan's toasts, this uses its special sweet butter recipe, for a milky-sugary flavour that’s balanced by the savouriness of mozzarella (RM10.90). The Supreme Super Cheese relies on a more premium butter and requires a longer baking time; the outcome is a crustier-textured toast that tastes purely savoury (RM11.90).

The Spinach Cheese (RM11.90) and Corn Cheese (RM11.90) contain those actual ingredients mixed into the cheese, giving the toasts extra dynamics to make the experience even more enjoyable, with a wholesome boost of fibre from the vegetable and grain.

The final two flavours would be photogenically perfect for your Instagram feed: The Murasaki Imo Cheese’s colour comes from purple sweet potato, transforming the cheese toast into something slightly creamier (RM12.90), while the Matcha Cheese turns the entire toast an enviable green, swapping out its usual sweetness with the subtle bitterness of green tea instead (RM13.90).

Can Kazan return to KL for a third delivery session soon? We sure hope so! Keep an eye on them at instagram.com/kazandessert.my

Kazan Dessert by The Volcano

GF-128, Queensbay Mall, 100, Persiaran Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

MinangKapau, Bukit Damansara

Inspired by masakan padang that has proved enduring from West Sumatra to Negeri Sembilan, MinangKapau is a lip-smacking spot for spicy fare simmering with full-bodied flavours and succulent textures.

True to Minang traditions, customers can build their own version of nasi padang here, with small dishes galore to partner with pandan rice. It's easy to go overboard with ordering, but thankfully, everything we tried was worth tasting. 

Our favourites might be the splashier, gravy-doused Udang Harimau Salai (RM8) and Telur Itik Mangga Muda Masak Lemak Cili Api (RM7), but the Rendang Daging Minang (RM7), Ayam Salai Goreng Bumbu Padang (RM7) and Paru Balado (RM7) aren't far behind. While each is precooked, there's no compromise in quality - the seafood and meat are all fresh and tender, distinctively robust-tasting without being over-seasoned, alluringly aromatic but not excessively fiery, making it easy for us to polish every plate clean.

If you prefer single-bowl sustenance, the Bubur Podeh (RM10) works well for a light lunch, blanketed with everything from bawang kering to daging dendeng. Sides of ulam and sambal are also worth exploring, a testament to tantalisingly sourced produce and time-honoured preparations.

MinangKapau
67G, 70B, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 1130am-7pm. Tel: 011-3902-0132

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Chicha San Chen Malaysia, Pavilion KL

This could be our favourite bubble tea in KL: Chicha San Chen is a two-decade-old Taiwanese brand that has found a foothold in recent years in Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore - it now embarks into KL with its first branch in Pavilion, serving up tea that truly kept us returning for more.

We initially ordered three servings, then came back to the counter for another two, before finishing the night with one more.

The trick is in the tea, each freshly brewed to order, one cup at a time, with patented high-tech precision of temperature to bring out the best in flavour and fragrance, relying on Chicha San Chen's naturally cultivated, own-harvested leaves from Taiwanese mountain farmlands.

Plenty of customisation choices are offered, but the two ideal introductions are the basic Black Tea with boba and cream (RM15.90) and Dong Ding Oolong tea latte with milk (RM14.40), which both taste beautifully nuanced, their lush aromatics flowing through every soothing sip - befitting of a full-fledged purveyor of tea, not merely a boba brand.

Other options like Cassia Black Tea with a milky mousse (RM14.40), High Mountain Pouchong Tea with lemon juice (RM12.90) and Osmanthus Oolong with mango (RM12.90) are also confidently calibrated. Service sparkles with warmth and enthusiasm.

Chicha San Chen

6.01.01, Level 6, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 10am-10pm.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Fowlboys KL

This could be our favourite fried chicken sandwich in KL: Fowlboys offers deliveries and pop-ups for what feels like the perfect formula for pure poultry pleasure.

Buttermilk-fried chicken thighs, cooked in small batches, laced with your preferred level of heat, stuffed into fluffy, lightly flavoursome potato buns, layered with the right proportion of sauces and toppings - every component tastes impressive on its own and even better with each other. 

The chicken is fresh, succulent and superbly seasoned, chunky with a crunchy-craggy coating. Customers have a choice of Neat, Mild, Hot or Xtra Hot for the spice - Mild is ideal for most of us, packing sufficient firepower to fan a friendly flame, while Hot is stinging, nearly overwhelming the chicken with intense, guns-blazing chillies.

The Motherclucker (RM18) piles the meat with garlic mayo, jalapeno slaw and a 'fowl jam' of tomatoes and peppers. We tried this straight from the deep-fryer at one of Fowlboys' recent pop-ups in a cafe, so our only worry is it'll lose a little of its lustre after a 30-minute delivery - but it should still be an extremely enjoyable chicken sandwich.

Batter Up (RM15), a classic chicken-and-waffles combo, is also easy to recommend, with the kind of capable, confident execution that makes us wish there were a Fowlboys joint in our neighbourhood. The Chickbits (RM10), popcorn-style chicken with spicy mayo sauce, makes for a fun, can't-stop-munching snack.

Order at fowlboyskl.com - delivery hours are Monday-Friday, 12pm-8pm.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com