UNDERGROUND SOCIÉTÉ'S TASTY SECRETS UNCOVERED

Underground Grenade (RM26) is Underground Société's signature dessert that caught our imagination on our maiden visit there recently. Apparently, this house speciality is the toast of new and regular patrons...unsurprisingly since the mound of chocolate chip and mint ice creams layered with chocolate under a fluffy coating of meringue is served with great fanfare. Shutterbugs will have a field day, trying to catch the leaping blue flames once sambucca is poured over the dessert; lightly scorching and browning the meringue. Be forewarned though a 30-minute wait is normal should you wish to order this.

Tucked away in the light industrial labyrinth of Sunway, this trendy wood & glass accented Underground Société cafe/bistro is so discreetly situated we had a hard time locating it. To soothe our frazzled nerves on arrival, a glass of the house Coffee On Tap (RM16) was in order. Crowned with a thick layer of creamy foam on top, the dark, cold brew could easily be mistaken for one world famous stout - it packed quite a punch too, leaving me abuzz throughout the eve.

Few people including us can resist the yummy option of Smoked Salmon Scramble on Sourdough (RM18) - one of the many brunch/lunch dishes (served till 6pm) listed. Prettied up with tiny edible flower petals, the fluffy scrambled egg strewn with smoked salmon slices atop thick sourdough only led us to allow our cameras and smartphones to 'devour' it first. Glad to report the serving tasted as good as it looked.

There's another variation which floored us with its hefty pile of poached eggs and smoked salmon smothered under a blend of Hollandaise sauce and pureed avocado, resulting in Eggs Atlantic with Avodaise (RM18). A tad messy to tuck into but the runny yolks made for richly indulgent mouthfuls with the house avodaise. Great choice if you don't mind getting your hands dirty ;p

Avocados starred in the Platter of Avocados (RM26) once again; each quarter of the buttery fruit augmented by tempting toppings of couscous, Jamaican pineapple salsa, egg mash and feta. Strictly for avo fans, the quartet piqued our interest with its mesh of varied textures and delicate tastes.

 

Crowd-pleasing pizzas are big here too. We can vouch for the Thin Crust Pizza with Smoked Duck, Pesto, Mozzarella, Parmesan & Arugula (RM28). Thin but sturdy, the crisp crust slathered with fresh pesto had sliced smoked duck and jalapeno, melted mozzarella and parmesan as well as some fresh arugula to ramp up its delectable appeal. Its swift disappearance down our guts was proof enough.

Steak fans will relish chewing on the scrumptious Grain Fed Australian Beef Tenderloin with Asparagus, Roasted Pumpkin, Broccoli, Beetroot & Sauteed Herb Potatoes (RM49). Cooked medium rare as instructed, the beef was juicy to the bite; a complete meal on its own paired with crunchy vegetable and tasty potatoes. It came with Robert sauce - a concoction of mustard and brown sauce to enhance the dish's meaty richness.

Slightly fattier but equally delish is Grilled New Zealand Lamb Rack with Mint Crust (RM45) accompanied by side servings of asparagus, roasted Pumpkin, broccoli, herbed potatoes & the house Robert sauce. It was deftly prepared so we thoroughly enjoyed polishing every bit of meat off the bones.

Not a red meat person? Fret not, you can always plump for the Grilled Cajun Chicken Breast (RM33). A surprisingly agreeable slab of moist white meat, it's perked up with smoky Cajun spices; complemented by the same sides of earlier mains we had.

We love the luxe dimension of twirling strands of garlicky pasta while feasting on Slipper Lobster Aglio Olio with Asparagus &Chili Flakes (RM34). Despite the scant meat one can extract from those impressive looking shellfish, nobody will complain...after all, it's not everyday we eat lobsters right?

Salmon fishing in Underground Société will land diners this noteworthy Grilled Atlantic Salmon (RM36). Teamed with some lightly chewy pesto-clad Gnocchi and sautéed red & green capsicum, the best part was the fish's pink core - the spot-on doneness for this oily fish. Some folks throw their hands up in horror over what they see as supposedly raw or uncooked state but trust me, it's the right way to savour salmon. Despite my misgiving, the coating of Foyot Sauce (the cafe's version of bernaise sauce) went well enough with it. Those softened capsicum strips played a key role in lending some sweetness and muted fresh acidity to the fish.

If you're a sucker for Nutella like moi, you must sample the signature French Toast with Nutella (RM15). Although I deplored the inclusion of minty ice cream, the luscious taste of that mound of thickly sliced French toast with scatterings of fresh summer berries, floral petals, sunflower seeds and liquid Nutella dressing more than made up for that niggling element.

The Underground Fireball (RM12) turned out to be another 'bombshell' of the chocolatey kind. Set alight after a splash of alcohol is poured over the spherical chocolate, we broke into the crisp shell to find thick milky chocolate lava mingled with dark chocolate biscuit crumbs around a ring of scorched meringue. A decadent dessert guaranteed to melt the steeliest dieter's resolve. Live it up I say and just succumb already.

For reservations, call UNDERGROUNDSOCIÉTÉ, tel: 03-5613 3851. Address:

68, Jalan PJS 11/7, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, Selangor.

JOM BALIK KAMPUNG TO BREAK FAST AT PULLMAN PUTRAJAYA

 

A bazaar of 'streetside' eateries serving up hearty kampung delicacies, multi-racial Malaysian fare and popular specialities from all 14 states will take centrestage for this year's 'buka puasa' dinner at Laguna, an outdoor lakeside dining venue in Pullman Putrajaya.

Dinner preview was held at B's Cafe but the set-up will be replicated at Laguna for the fasting month

Serenaded by a live ghazal band, diners can revel in the festive atmosphere; a timely precursor to the impending Hari Raya celebrations in mid-July. After fasting from dawn to dusk, the recent preview gave us some inkling of what the hotel chefs have in store for the fasting month.
 
While most folks can't fill up much for dinner, the trick with buffets is to be selective and keep your eyes for the great choices; dishes each hotel is known for. For Pullman Putrajaya, we recommend the curries. Ranging from fiery red to sunny yellow, our personal faves include the aromatic spice-laden Fish Head Curry (pix above), turmeric-scented Prawn Curry, fiery Rendang Minang and Kari Kambing (goatmeat curry, depicted below). It goes without saying they are best enjoyed with servings of fluffy plain rice.

 

One of the best-selling items in many Ramadan bazaars is murtabak. When the supple yet crisp doughy skin has the right thickness and comes packed with spiced beef or chicken filling, it's scrumptious. Pullman Putrajaya's was top notch as the perfectly cooked Murtabak yielded a flavourful filling which left me returning for repeat helpings.

Other tempting choices that caught my eye were assorted local kerabu salads with traditional condiments & dips, hot-off-the-grill satay and some crispy, cereal-flecked deep-fried garoupa pieces generously garnished with curry leaves. It was picture-perfect but I can testify it was one of the best specialities we tried.

No buka puasa buffet is complete without Bubur Lambuk - that customary porridge enhanced with local spices, cubed beef & potato. I like the heady aromas evoked by the savoury, easily digestible gruel which is gentle on the tummy while invigorating the palate.

Meaty offerings to feast on would be Roast Lamb and Roast Leg of Beef; both rich-tasting and guaranteed to satisfy voracious eaters. Chefs are at hand to carve and slice the portions requested for so take your time to enjoy thoroughly.

Spicy Squid, Stir-fried Bamboo Clams with Chilli and Lala as well as Grilled or Fried Fish should reel in seafood lovers in droves. You'd have to survey the line-up as the different seafood dishes are spread out according to the various cooking styles.

The assorted fried items section enticed us with Fried Chicken, Cucur Bawang, Fried Fish & Squid Balls, and Whiting. Diners with a yearning for Western fare will be delighted to know a pasta cooking station and some Tex-Mex specialities form part of the lavish menu.

Remember to save ample tummy space for dessert. I was impressed by the date selection and vast array of seasonal local fruits laid out. Local and Continental sweet treats were aplenty too, leaving us spoiled for choice.

 

The Jom Balik Kampung Buffet Dinner will be served from 7pm-10.30pm from 18 June to 14 July at RM128+ per adult. If you book before 31 May, enjoy a special Early Bird rate of RM113+ per person.

For reservations, please call Pullman Putrajaya, tel: 03-8890 0000 x 6802/6804/6850 or email: news@pullmanputrajaya.com. Address: No.2 Jalan P5/5 Presint 5, Putrajaya.

THE GALLERY OF GOOD TASTE

Risotto is a tricky dish to get right. But the chef's special we sampled at The Gallery in Taman Tun Dr Ismail hit the mark...crowned with plump Seared Scallops (RM48) and crispy leek, the risotto accentuated with parmesan fondue, brown butter and gremolata (classical condiment of lemon zest with finely chopped garlic and parsley) seduced our palate with its soulful creaminess; the grains retaining minute nuttiness at the core.

Don't let its posh looking signboard deter you from entering as The Gallery is at heart a family-run concern headed by the hospitable Latifah Abdul Latiff and her daughters, Natasha and Nabila. We love the many artworks mounted on the restaurant walls; the colourful canvases serving up a feast for your eyes while you wait in anticipation for the resident chefs - Nabila and hubby to work their culinary tricks in the kitchen. According to Latifah, The Gallery support local artists so there's always different pieces on display and for sale.

Slurping on cooling thirst-quenchers such as Peach Twist (RM13), TG Sunrise (RM16) and Raspberry Mint Tea (RM15), we had a hard time deciding what to eat as everything in the menu sounded irresistible.

 

 

The evening's curtain-raisers of TG Crostini (RM15) whetted our appetite nicely. Topped with sweet pumpkin mash, roasted cherry tomatoes and bell pepper & tuna, the toasted baguette slices were an instant hit with us.

Delicious deep-fried risotto balls with mushroom, mozzarella and parmesan known as Arancine (RM18) proved to just as addictive. Personally, I can gobble down the entire lot on my own but that would be overdoing it.

Forget about those sorry excuse of a burger from fast food joints. Yes, the prices are different but if you love burgers, save up and pay for a top notch one like TG Lord Burger (RM32). Our jaw dropped at the sight of the slab of sirloin layered on soft, fluffy sesame buns. Bulked up with fresh mixed greens, juicy tomato slices, onion marmalade and triple cheese: mozzarella, parmesan and cheddar together with a dousing of wild mushroom sauce, this masterpiece floored us with its scrumptiously rich, smoky and meaty taste.

Diners with petite palate may prefer digging into the Classic Caesar Salad (RM25) - a delicate mix of baby romaine, soft-boiled egg, croutons, beef bacon and shaved parmesan. You can request for smoked salmon (additional charge of RM10) or roast chicken (RM8) to be included for a more substantial salad.

Prefer something light with greens thrown in? Then the yummy Grilled Prawn & Scallop Skewer (RM18) should be your choice pick. Complemented by mixed salad with corn puree and lemon chilli vinaigrette, our dining party demolished this instantly, raving over the seafood; wishing there was more to spare.

On second thoughts, that was probably a good thing since we also ordered Prawn Bisque (RM22). Redolent with deep-seated crustacean accent, the broth's creaminess was tempered by the zingy touches of salsa verde (blended parsley, basil, garlic and capers), garlic and shallot whilst several poached prawns lent textural interest.

Reclining on a bed of basil potato mash, we took turns to admire the sexy angle proffered by the Roasted Spring Chicken (RM38). Accompanied by sauteed greens and orange thyme sauce, the chook was one of the more notable ones we had encountered.

Propped atop a mound of peperonata (stewed mixed bell peppers) and a side serving of rosemary sauce, we picked the bones clean off the Grilled Rack of Lamb (RM55). The chef deserved applause for rendering the juicy meat to medium doneness, retaining the full flavour.

Just in case you think it was a fluke, our medium rare Black Angus Ribeye (RM95 for 250g) cemented our belief in the kitchen team's capable skills. Paired with rustic sweet potato mash, sauteed mixed mushroom and fresh arugula, the trump card in this dish was the sublime vin cotto sauce - essentially reduced fig vinegar to viscous caramelised thickness.

An avid duck meat lover in our midst was full of praises for the Seared Duck Breast (RM42). Sliced and placed on crisp yet soft potato pancake, the cranberry sauce that came with it evoked an unexpectedly Christmassy feel to our dining experience. Crunchy garlic flakes and mixed greens provided the finishing touches which we took to like...well, duck to water.

Carbo lovers won't be left wanting either as The Gallery has five pasta options available. Pick of the pasta heap was Farfalle alla Ragu di Manzo (RM28) made swoonworthy with a superbly rich tomato-beefy sauce that brooked no resistance. Forkfuls of chunky and meltingly tender beef ragu ramped up the dish's flavourful appeal further.

Those robustly stewed bell peppers re-emerged in Linguine de Pepperonata (RM25); their companionable presence seamlessly in sync with a multi-flavoured quartet of tomato, garlic, black olives and onion, suffusing the thick pasta threads with bright, sensuous nuances.

I would equate Petite Orange Madeleines (RM15) with our local kuih bahulu. Although the latter is drier and lighter in texture, both has an enticingly eggy richness. Most bakeries either make them too greasy or hard but the dainty cakes we scoffed down at The Gallery were tres magnifique...they were slightly buttery and spongy with a subtle whiff of orangey note.

Chocoholics will readily succumb to Chocolate Vault (RM26), a decadent dome of choc fudge brownie and milk chocolate mousse enrobed in a silky covering of rich dark chocolate. The supporting cast to liven up the luscious creations included crushed nuts with raspberry and orange coulis to offset the indulgent dessert.

Lately, Baked Alaska (RM26) is increasingly making a comeback. Each version we had tasted was as different as chalk and cheese, and The Gallery naturally added its distinct interpretation as well. While we relished the cottony-soft coconut cake and mango sorbet pairing inside the scorched layer of Italian meringue, the neon green pandan paste threw us a little. Scattered with toasted coconut crumbs, and slivers of strawberries, it was underwhelming for me in the taste department after those excellent madeleines.

The Gallery is worth visiting if you like modern European fare without having to dig too deep into your wallet.

For reservations, call tel: 03-7732 2005. THE GALLERY, 165, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL.