HENING: A SERENE MALAY FOOD OASIS

Ikan Pekasam Utara (RM15), traditional Perakian fermented ikan loma (river carp) with ground roasted rice and salt is one of the must try dishes at Hening. Sautéed with sliced chillies and onion, the slightly funky, acidic sour-salty and gritty pekasam fish isn’t for the faint-hearted. I love it precisely due to that distinct taste.

We are stoked to savour this and other Malay dishes at Hening, one of the handful of Malay cuisine outposts in the city. Housed in a repurposed old bungalow, three enterprising young men (pic above): Mohd Syariman Zulkifli (centre) and brothers Irham Shah bin Azhar (left) and Ehsanuddin Shah bin Azhar (right) strive to raise Malay cuisine beyond no-frills stall setting into classier environs aimed at locals and tourists.

Banking on their collective strengths and F&B experience coupled with guidance from Syariman’s father and former hotel chef Zulkifli Aziz, the partners aim to draw city folks, urban families and foreign visitors to Hening.

Hening which means serenity or peaceful in Malay, exudes charming old-school vibes thanks to its terrazzo floors and vintage elements. Ehsan relied on his architectural expertise to update the all-white interior with colourful artworks by local artist Rahim Ismail.

Chef Syariman who has 17 years of industry experience is responsible the restaurant’s food and kitchen whilst Irham takes care of marketing and financial matters, and Ehsan, manpower.

Menu-wise, Johor and Perak specialities take centrestage. Lunch dishes are ideal for communal sharing, served alongside Nasi Putih Daun Pisang (RM4 per portion), steamed basmathi rice wrapped in banana leaf.

Aside from pekasam, the appetising Thai-inspired Kerabu Limau Bali (RM15), is a notable spicy-tangy-salty pomelo salad. We recommend accompanying the rice with robustly flavoured mains such as Masak Lemak Daging Bakar (RM40) or Masak Lemak Siakap Goreng (RM45), smoky grilled beef slices or fried whole seabass in rich, turmeric-accented curry prepared following Negeri Sembilan style.

Subtly spicy-tangy tamarind sauce, chopped tomatoes and onion boosts the appeal of Daging Batang Pinang Bakar Air Asam (RM40), grilled tenderloin skewers. Mellower but no less tempting is Johor-style Asam Pedas Jenahak (RM45), fleshy whole snapper in piquant chilli-tamarind gravy.

To wrap up your meal, try nostalgic sweet treats of Pisang Madu Tiga (RM12), caramelised bananas with vanilla ice cream, and Sago Gula Melaka with fresh mango dices. Local tea-time treats such as Curry Puffs, Onde Onde and Bubur Cha Cha are available from 3pm onwards.

Alternatively, sample thirst-quenchers: Hening Pagi (RM12) using fresh pomegranate, Hening Senja (RM12) with crushed strawberries, soda and lemon, or Hening Malam (RM12), fresh watermelon juice with soda.

When it comes to good, comforting Malay food, Hening rules the roost.

For reservations, call Hening restaurant at tel: 017-331 6964. Address: 56, Lorong Damai 1, Jalan Damai, Kuala Lumpur. Business hours: 8am to 6pm daily

PRAWNING AND STEAMBOAT SPOT IN BANDAR UTAMA

Prawning or prawn fishing looks deceptively easy but it’s trickier than it seems. A stone’s throw away from 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Prawning Utama reels in enthusiasts who are game at landing their own catch here from 3-6 pm.

Tucked between a petrol station and an office tower, the prawning spot and urban vegetable farm exude a ‘far from the madding crowd’ vibe once you park onsite.

Hungry prawning patrons who feel famished need not go far in search of food as Utama Farm Steamboat serves one-dish meals (think fried rice, mee goreng and fried chicken wings) and Muslim-friendly steamboat with a small selection of complementary cooked-to-order dishes.

Despite its spartan setting, the decorative fairy lights and fairly secluded surroundings managed to conjure up a laidback dining atmosphere at dusk.

Steamboat naturally gets top billing here with a choice of soup going for RM15 per pot. We chose Superior Fish and Mushroom Soup as the soup base for our steamboat. Distinct in flavour, both soup bases soon acquired greater depth as more ingredients were tossed in to cook.

Some of the recommended items for steamboat here include Fish Paste (RM18), Prawn Paste (RM28), Chicken and Mushrooms Paste (RM24), and Premium Fish Balls (6 pcs RM15). For textural interest, servings of Prawn Wantan (6 pcs RM22), Chicken & Mushroom Dumplings (6 pcs RM15), Stuffed Tau Pok (4 pcs RM9) or Stuffed Fuchuk (RM9) won’t go remiss.

 

Live Tiger Prawns (RM10.80/100gm) are also available as additional steamboat items. Sweetcorn (RM9), Enoki Mushroom (RM6) and Cocktail Sausages (RM7) are other choices worth considering.

The 'farm to table' concept allows diners to pick their own green vegetables at RM12 or at RM3 per bundle; depending on what’s available. These could range from siew bak choy or kailan to sweet potato leaves or kangkong.

Should you be more inclined toward having some dishes with rice, the restaurant serves Red Tail Patin or baung merah (almost 1kg) at RM118. Ours was steamed with superior soy sauce – the fish was nice with the garlicky soy sauce.

Remember to check with the service team what fish is available. On our visit, we had Seabass with Sweet and Sour Sauce but there's also an Indonesian curry listed on the menu to go with the fish of your choice.  

Should you feel peckish while waiting for the steamboat to be ready, nibble on Signature Fried Chicken Wings (3 pcs RM12). They are acceptable as appetisers go.

 

We cooled off our steamboat evening with the house Cendol (RM7.80) or milky-syrupy treat of ABC (RM8.80). The finely shaved ice desserts went down delightfully after the slew of savoury dishes, wrapping up our visit to Utama Prawning on a nice sweet note.

For more information, call/WhatsApp Utama Prawning, hp no: 011-5137 4407 and Utama Farm Steamboat, hp no: 012-969 1516. Address: Between Shell Station and 1Powerhouse, Persiaran Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Business hours: Prawning Utama: 3-6pm; Utama Farm Steamboat 6.30pm to 11pm

HALAL HOT POT AFFAIR AT DEMALA

Chinese hot pot or steamboat is increasingly popular in Malaysia hence it’s not surprising to find Demala jumping onto the bandwagon, offering a Halal version to cater to Muslim diners.

Demala Operations Manager, Muhammad Farid Hamidin says diners can opt for the restaurant’s 2-in-1 Soup Base (RM38) or a singular soup base. Choices include Szechuan Mala Soup (RM28), Chicken Collagen Bone Broth (RM28), Mushroom (RM24), Tomato (RM24) and Tomyum (RM18).

For greater value, Demala has Steamboat Set for 2 persons (RM68 and RM88 per set) and 4 persons (RM168 and RM188). These come with free flow of vegetables, fuchok (fried beancurd sheet), mushroom, noodles, eggs, fruit and dessert laid out at a counter alongside assorted condiments and sauces.

Mala which means numbing and spicy is the after-effect to hit your palate once you have a sip of the Szechuan Mala Soup. Demala offers it in three levels of mala spiciness so the mildest version left our tongues slightly numbed from its savoury spiciness.

The broth goes rather well with the tissue-thin Lamb Slices (RM38) and Premium Beef Slices (RM38), in addition to Seafood Taufoo (8 pcs RM9), and Ring Roll Beancurd (6 pcs RM12).

We also intersperse our meal with some Fresh Grower Vegetables (RM8 upwards), while various types of beancurd (RM6 upwards) and mushroom (RM8 upwards) can be ordered separately from the a la carte menu.

The lighter Chicken Collagen Bone Broth is best for dunking in a la carte items such as Handmade Ebiko Shrimp Balls (8 pcs RM38), the fish-shape Premium Ebiko Prawn Paste (RM30), and Seafood Platter (RM128) comprising toman fish slices, tiger prawns, Hokkaido scallops, snow crab stick, and mussels.

Sweet and bouncy, the shrimp balls taste delicious on their own. You can also try sampling them with different saucy concoctions – conjure from the condiment and sauce bar laid out. Thai green chilli sauce, sesame paste, Demala signature chilli, soya sauce, chopped garlic, coriander, and fried minced garlic are some of the items available.

Other notable bites to add interest to the steamboat experience include Handmade Prawn Wonton (6 pcs RM28), and Handmade Chicken Dumplings (8 pcs RM20).

While we waited for the steamboat broths to come to a boil, we shared a platter of Spicy Diced Chicken (RM28). Buried amidst a heap of crisp-fried red chillies, the delicious deep-fried chicken pieces prickling our tongues with slightly salty and peppery accents, and singeing our lips with its subtle chilli fieriness.

To draw the lunch crowd, Demala proffers 7 Sichuan Rice Sets (RM19.80-RM27.80) with free drink and dessert for lunch. If you prefer non-spicy versions, there are 4 choices from RM20.80 upwards.

For reservations, call Demala Hotpot, tel: 03-7499 3705. Address: LG603 & 603A, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor