Showing posts with label duck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duck. Show all posts

Sunday, May 07, 2023

A MICHELIN-STAR DINING EXPERIENCE AT AU JARDIN


No visit to 1-Michelin starred Au Jardin is incomplete without sampling the Cognac & Jay Aged Duck. We were told by the service team the Butterworth-sourced ducks are aged 6-14 days with hay, cognac and orange, and this main course has to be pre-ordered at least two days prior to your visit (with a supplementary charge of RM75).


Presented with some fanfare in a specially designed case filled with smoked hay at the tableside, the delectable duck came served alongside fig gel, figs rehydrated in balsamic, pomme purée, and yuzu split jus. Once we had a taste of the juicy duck breast, we realise why this speciality remains a popular mainstay.

However, the Wild Caught Barracuda with watermelon radish, konbu, cilantro root emulsion, pandan oil was the unheralded show-stopper. The fish’s inherent sweetness was exquisite and the attendant ingredients’ delicate flavours simply amplified it further. I wouldn’t mind a bigger portion of it though.
Even before the Michelin Guide recognition, chef proprietor Su Kim Hock is already making waves among fine food connoisseurs with his artisanal menu designed to showcase the freshest local and seasonal ingredients; shining the spotlight on the culinary traditions of Penang and Malaysia through beautifully crafted dishes.
The 18-seater Au Jardin is located in a quaint repurposed warehouse within the former Hin Bus Depot in Georgetown. As we stepped into the elegant restaurant’s little courtyard adorned with potted orchids, towering palms and a leafy tree, we found its high ceiling let in plenty of light. After ascending a flight of stairs, we found ourselves in a cosy dining space outfitted with a bar and a trio of origami bird-shaped light fixtures serving as the focal point.

 

Au Jardin’s menu degustation (RM388++ per person) not only adheres to Chef Kim Hock’s ‘buy local first’ philosophy, but also showcases with aplomb his skilful culinary expertise, artistry and inspirations drawn from his own culinary journey and past travels.
Our lunch started with two beguiling amuse bouche: dainty nests of dehydrated glass noodles – deep-fried to crunchy crispness – topped with lumpfish emulsion, orange mascarpone and salmon roe, and little charcoal choux pastry balls filled with bacon and truffle cream and crowned with a sliver of white truffle shaving on top. Suffice to say, these left us in eager anticipation of what to expect.

 

Warm, crusty slices of lacto-fermented bread came next, accompanied by house-made tomato chutney butter and curry leaf oil – a flavoursome pairing inspired by thosai.

 

That paved the way for Hericium Mushroom Remoulade, a lush and creamy monkey head mushroom broth dusted with cep powder. For textural contrast, we savoured a diminutive boat-shaped feuille de brick (light lacy-satiny Tunisian pastry dough) with chopped Hericium mushroom, black garlic espuma and kaffir lime leaves.

 

The quenelle of Century Egg Ice Cream served atop diced Hokkaido scallops and century egg ‘white’ was sublime. Tiny coral horn-shaped gingerbread added a touch of playfulness to the ensemble.

 

For a supplementary charge of RM250, the Grand Caviar Au Jardin lent a touch of extravagance to our lunch. Twisting open the tin lid, we dug into the sturgeon caviar-topped picked lobster with cauliflower crémeux using a mother of pearl spoon. It was an indulgent treat but heck, we only live once.

 

A fleeting burst of tongue-prickling heat from the zingy Sichuan pepper emulsion hit our tastebuds when we sampled the Cured Red Snapper Tartare with salted longan jelly and Nashi pear. The cohesive flavours were delicate yet palate-pleasing.


We also opted for the A3 Wagyu (A5 is the other choice) with Celeriac Purée, Jus Maison and Grain Mustard (supplementary charge of RM280). No surprises here as the steak was on-point   - it was a failsafe albeit unexciting choice.


Our faith was restored by the delicious Mussel Parfait Beignets which dialled up the big, hearty flavour quotient. It was a nice teaser before we segued into enjoying the ephemeral sweetness of the Braised Chinese Cabbage.

 

Topped with lumpfish roe, we found a smoky-sweet steamed mussel tucked inside the rolled cabbage. Savoury-sweet braising liquid dotted with parsley oil completed this splendid dish.

 

We adore the Magnum Sorbet – ice lollies made from blended guava and kaffir lime leaves, sheathed in a shell of red wine-infused coconut oil touched with sour plum powder and popping candy. Delightfully refreshing, kudos to the chef for making such ingenious use of our local fruits.

 

It nearly eclipsed the dessert of Over Ripen William Pear with Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream. Admittedly, this creative treat was enticing in its own right, thanks to the myriad of airy-light textures and sweet subtleties bestowed by vanilla sponge, sugarless meringue, canalé royale and brulée.
Service was personable and attentive – the team took time to explain each and every dish to us, and capably answered our queries. They also anticipated and swiftly attended to our needs throughout the lunch so we had no room for complaints. 

For reservations, contact Au Jardin, tel: 012-428 9594 or book via TableApp. Address: The Warehouse @ Hin Bus Depot, 125, Jalan Timah, Georgetown, Penang. Business hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 1130am – 230pm; 5pm – 10pm.

 

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

A GALORE OF GOODIES FROM FOODIES GOURMET MARKET & CAFE

Not many restaurants come with a delicatessen and food retail section but Foodies Gourmet Market & Café (GMC) embraces this concept. It fulfills a niche where discerning gourmets can shop for quality Halal beef and lamb, imported German sausages, and premium seafood products, while home cooks searching for ready-to-cook burger patties, truffle and extra virgin olive oils, Kikkoman sauces, imported spices, cooking ingredients, condiments, and kitchen knives can buy them here.




The austere interior is practical and casual; its laidback vibes put patrons at ease and eager to discover Foodies GMC’s range of ready-to-eat fare. Once satiated, perhaps they’d be inspired to buy the ready-to-cook range home.



Foodies GMC serves wallet-friendly steaks: notably tender Australian Grilled Ribeye Steak (RM53, approximately 200g) with a choice of black pepper or mushroom sauce, and a juicy grilled Pure Grass-Fed Aussie Striploin Steak (RM42, approx. 200g) with rich mushroom sauce. Mixed salad and potato wedges are the standard accompaniments.


Raising the several notches above the fast-food bar is the Awesome Wagyu Burger (RM32). The winning formula lies in Foodies’ choice of using brioche as the base and a Wagyu beef patty as its core ingredient. For palate-pleasing allure, sautéed mushroom, tomato, lettuce, caramelised onion, katsu mayo, and cheese are piled on.

 

Another comforting house speciality to try is Boss’s Favourite Beef Goulash (RM21), a Hungarian-style stew with tender cubes of Australian beef. The Chef Signature Smoked Duck Quiche (RM20) is memorable for its deliciously custardy filling studded with pieces of smoked duck in it.


Hallyu fans will take an instant liking to the Spicy Korean Style Lamb Chops (RM36). Marinated in gochujang sauce, the grilled hot and mildly sweet lamb shoulder chops are guaranteed to tantalise the tastebuds.


If you prefer tamer but equally pleasing flavours, the slices of roasted Smoked Duck with Caramelised Apple Chutney (RM30) should hit the spot. The intermingling of savoury-sweet accents are stimulating and nicely balanced by the mixed salad with citrusy sweet dressing.


Family-friendly and crowd-pleasing fare such as Grilled Lamb Sausage (RM30) – this spiral, herbed sausage comes with toasted tortilla pieces, mixed salad and Siracha mayo dip, or grilled German Chicken Sausages (RM31) on mixed vegetable bed with ketchup mayo and mustard dip will find favour with both young and old alike.



Instead of dory, New Zealand perch coated in crispy batter is featured in FG Style Fish & Chips (RM29). Served with Chef’s signature tartare sauce and potato wedges, it’s a hearty serving enough to leave a light eater replete.

 

Looking for Japan-inspired specialities? Possible choices include Japs Chicken Chop (RM19) glazed with garlic teriyaki sauce, and Japanese crispy fried Chicken Fillet with Katsu Sauce Sandwich (RM21) pass muster.


A failsafe option like Meatballs Pasta (RM20) with house-made chicken meatballs in creamy tomato sauce is available too so Foodies GMC has all the bases covered when it comes to family dining.


Dessert is simple but delightful. Tempting choices range from soft XL Berry St Doughnuts (RM10) with caramelised apple dices, chocolate sauce and cream to crispy fried Banana Foster (RM10) drizzled with sweet soy and buttery sauce.



For more information about Foodies Gourmet Market & Café, call tel: 012-213 5277. Address: No. 29, Jalan BK5A/3A, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, Selangor.

 



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