Showing posts with label gelato. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gelato. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

LET’S GO MEDITERRANEAN AT MARINERO


It was a Mediterranean-style Mother’s Day celebration with Mom. The venue of choice was Marinero, a newly opened restaurant specialising in Mediterranean fare at LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC).

The food got Mom’s stamp of approval – a good sign as she can be rather picky when it comes to non-Chinese fare. She loves the spacious dining area which is dominated by a circular bar.
 

Eye-catching wall murals depicting scenes of Mediterranean life are Insta-worthy. One corner is dedicated to a modern wine cellar with its cachet of fine wines.


To whet our appetite, we sampled crisp, battered Calamari Fritters (RM30). Served with lemon mayonnaise, the tender squid rings went down a treat. Even better was the heap of zucchini strips - that airy light batter would make any tempura master proud.

 

Mom gamely tried the Trio Dips Platter with Pita Bread (RM49) and gave it the thumbs up. Her favourite was melitzanosalata (Greek eggplant dip) but found both the hummus (chickpea purée), and tzatziki (shredded cucumber with yoghurt) agreeable when spread onto the soft triangles of lightly toasted pita bread.

 

Moroccan Lamb Kofta (RM35) made from ground lamb mixed with spices then grilled on skewers – proved to be another winsome appetiser. The house peri peri sauce bestowed a touch of fiery heat when we dabbed the kofta with it.


The only minor hiccup was the underwhelming Watermelon Salad (RM28): the crumbly bits of feta barely left an impression whilst the chunks of watermelon, too big and the sumac vinaigrette and balsamic reduction, too little. We shared the feedback with the Marinero team who promised to improve on this.



For mains, we highly recommend Moroccan Lamb Shank (RM95) with Apricot Cous Cous (the other option is Biryani Rice). The fall-off-the-bone tender lamb shank was scrumptious; its rich meaty flavours nicely soaked up by the fine cous cous studded with dried apricots. Smooth, thick Greek yoghurt sprinkled with pomegranate seeds enhanced the dish further.

 


Infused with saffron, the Seafood Paella (RM99) came laden with mussels, squid, fish and tiger prawns in addition to red capsicum and peas. What we missed from this deliciously comforting speciality is socarrat, that layer of slightly scorched, crusty rice at the bottom of the pan.


Our meal wrapped up on a high note thanks to the excellent Chocolate Fondant (RM28). Served with a scoop of chocolate gelato, chocolate crumbs and some fresh berries, we were stoked when molten chocolate actually flowed out once we cut into the cake. Few places do this dessert well so kudos to the resto team for pulling this off.

 


A round of buttery phyllo pastry, chopped pistachios and juicy berries crowned with luscious Vanilla Gelato (RM25) proved a tad indulgent but this sublime treat is shareable when you embark on a Mediterranean culinary “cruise” at Marinero.

For reservations at Marinero Mediterranean Dining & Bar, call 012 673 0046 or visit: https://marinerokl.my/

Address: Gourmet Street of BBCC, Lot G-49,50,77, Ground Floor, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport, Jalan Hang Tuah, Kuala Lumpur. Business hours: 1130 am to 11pm; weekends until 12midnight

 

Friday, August 17, 2018

GRAB GOOD BITES FOR LUNCH AT MARBLE 8


Now you can lunch like a boss at Marble 8. Meet your top dog match in a stellar main like Grilled Black Angus Fillet, one of the on-point Elite Gourmand Lunch options. Deftly cooked to medium rare doneness with a scattering of black and pink peppercorns, the scrumptious steak forms an enticing affinity with buttery cannelloni beans, spring onion and beef jus.
 

With an encompassing view of the city towering skyscrapers from inside Tower 3 on level 56, the resto's dark, austere atmosphere is evocative of an exclusive gentleman’s club. The main dining space anchors a long bar with tactile cow’s hide finish and a faux tree.  Groups of tufted, leather upholstered armchairs and dining tables, juxtaposed against marble and timber surfaces are parked throughout.
 
Make no bones about it, Marble 8 is an upscale culinary pedestal befitting the city’s captains of industry and ladies who lunch by day before the posh, see-and-be-seen set ascends by night. Stepping up to the power lunch plate, the resto has refreshed its weekday Elite Gourmand Lunch (RM78++ for 3 courses, RM118++ for 4 courses) and unveiled a new Grab & Bite deal.
Breaking bread goes up to a new level here. Only sheer willpower and good manners dictate one doesn’t overdo the stuffing down of those crackly sheets of lavosh, chewy sourdough slices, rustic sundried tomato buns, soft potato foccacia and crunchy taralli (Italian bread rings).
Like proverbial matches made in baking heaven, a quartet of alluring Italian dips: kalamata olive tapenade, sundried tomato & garlic, red capsicum and oregano-garlic vinaigrette stands ready to ramp up the appeal of that bready bunch.
 
A sobering choice of Virgin Mojito or Ice Lemon Tea helps to wet the Grab & Bite whistle while you weigh up the temptations available. Headline billing goes to the Wagyu Beef Burger — a no-contest choice for serious meat lovers who won’t have any beef with the hearty serving.
Switched up with melted vintage Cheddar cheese, caramelised onion, fresh rucola (rocket leaves) and sliced tomatoes, the delectable wagyu patty in pillowy sesame seed-flecked charcoal bun proves on-point. Unabashedly big, savoury flavours tinged with mildly sweet-peppery nuances burst through on each bite of the burger. By the time you make short work of the steak fries on the side, I guarantee you’d be grinning from ear to ear with gluttonous self-satisfaction.
Delicious alternatives from the Grab & Bite menu include Steak Sandwich with fresh rucola, mustard, parmesan and tomato confit; Crab Sandwich with Japanese momotaro tomatoes, fresh lettuce, truffle aioli and steak fries; or Polenta Fries with Truffle Butter with chicken financier and sour beetroot pesto.
Ambitious souls with loftier dining goals may do well to set their sights and palate on the Elite Gourmand Lunch. Get to grips with the 3-course appetiser, pasta and dessert deal or be a risk taker and roll with all 4 courses.
Depending on personal preferences, we reckon the ace appetiser is a tussle between Crab Salad and Burrata Cheese with Momotaro Tomatoes and Asparagus Salad. Prepped with fresh papaya and lemon mayonnaise, the former boasts lightly creamy sweet-tangy accents melding with winsome, whisper-light textures. Fresh, clean vegetal-fruity flavour and textural dimensions define the latter; paying homage to the ‘less is more’ maxim.
 
Pasta still has pride of place among lunchers here with four choices proffered, keto-diet be damned. The sublime Angel Hair Aglio Olio with Crabmeat is worth waxing lyrical over; the natural crabmeat sweetness is discernible when you bite into the endearing tangles
 
More downhome with countryside charm, the bankable Pappardelle with Mushroom and Capsicum Salsa underscore the timeless appeal of Italian food done right. Those broad pasta ribbons simply opens up to embrace the mushroom and capsicum’s lush, sweet earthiness.
 
 
The failsafe but no less delicious Chicken Leg Confit with sautéed mushroom and chicken jus, and Lemon Sole Milanese with sautéed vegetables and lemon rosemary sauce stand up to tasting scrunity too.


Sealing the gastronomic lunch deal is dessert of the day. It may range from the house signature of wobbly but divine Panna Cotta to an arty creation of Meringue with Yoghurt Gelato, Balsamic Reduction and Strawberries. Luscious, ephemeral textures and bright, pleasurable nuances that slip and slide across discerning palates — a nice curtain-call to galvanise the mind, body and spirit for the rest of the day.
For reservations, call Marble 8 on 56 Restaurant, tel: 03 2386 6030. Address: Level 56, Petronas Tower 3, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
 

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