SKY HIGH TEA AT NOBU

It seems like only yesterday when I took Mom, sis and bestie to Nobu for afternoon tea. Perhaps it’s time for a revisit since Nobu has just refreshed and updated its Sky High Tea menu. Especially now, with new Pastry Chef Jackie Teo sweetening the experience with his delicate and inventive creations.

The young chef’s pastry prowess shines through in the Premium Menu (RM138 per person). Some of the irresistible treats we sampled were playful whilst others artfully blended French-Japanese influences. 

 

Teo’s youthful flair was evident from the offering of Caramel Mousse with Miso & Butterscotch Glaze. We loved the mini dramatic touch of having hot sakura sauce (sakura tea, milk and cream) poured over the chocolate disc with an edible dab of gold on top to reveal the contents inside the cup.

His attention to detail also emerged in the tiny sugared white flowers perched atop the flawlessly smooth domes of Chocolate Miso with Chocolate Sponge. Our palate welcomed the dessert’s lush savoury-sweet flavour combination.

Crisp and soft textures tangoed on our tastebuds when we bit into the Yuzu Mango Mille Feuille, sandwiched with mango cream and tiny dollops of cinnamon curd. For the Matcha Cake with Adzuki Bean Paste & Crispy Tuile, the chef paired it with honey as sauce for the mini green tea cakes, to lend moistness. Apart from the dainty portions, we enjoyed the muted sweetness of each dessert thus ensuring no undesirable cloying aftertaste.

Nobu KL is also known for its range of mixology tipples. Nothing adds further refreshment to sultry afternoons than the well shaken and stirred house Mocktails (RM28 each). Recommended choices include Lychee Passion (pineapple juice combined with passionfruit & lychee), Calamansi Shisho (calamansi lime juice jazzed up with shiso and ginger ale) and Yuzu Pina Cooler (pineapple and yuzu juice infused with ginger and ginger ale).

A somewhat off-beat drink is Strawberry Matcha (RM26) – an interesting, tri-coloured concoction of soya milk layered with freshly blended strawberries and green tea. It sounded kinda whacky but surprisingly, the cold drink proved more than agreeable.

On the savoury front, a joyful riot of vibrant accents and differing textures tickled our tastebuds. While a classic temptation of Smoked Salmon with Sour Cream Roll hardly rocked the culinary showboat, newer nibbles of Snow Crab with Ricotta Aioli and Lobster Tacos with Tomato Salsa managed to up the ante for the touted premium afternoon tea experience. These left us craving for more so I reckon that was a good thing.

I also wanted more of those wickedly delish Toro Tartar on Pumpkin Biscuits. Diminutive in size but chockful of bright, voluptuous nuances and nice textural contrasts, they were delightfully sumptuous. Although I’m not big on fried softshell crab, I was charmed by the on-point Softshell Crab with Watermelon Ponzu as it hit all the right flavour and texture notes. Such tastiness was complemented by delectably hearty Wagyu Gyoza dumplings.

Need more dishes to supplement the tea morsels? Then peruse the menu for samplings of Nobu KL’s house specialities such as Padrón Pepper with Shimeiji (RM28). Known as shishito pepper in Japan, the mild green pepper came slightly scorched and blistered, teamed with earthy shimeiji mushrooms and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds – a sublime appetiser to tease the discerning tastebuds.

A fun way to wrap up your Sky High Tea outing should include a serving of Coffee Jelly (RM20), a light, splendid coffee jelly and cream treat. Just the presentation alone should pique your Instagram interest, trust me.

Nobu KL’s Signature High Tea is priced at RM93 per person while the Premium Menu is priced at RM138 per person, inclusive of complimentary green tea.

For reservations, call Nobu KL, tel: 03-2164 5084.

A BUBBLYLICIOUS SUNDAY EASTER-VAGANZA AT EL CERDO

Cheers! It's Good Friday and I wish Jom Makan blog readers of the Christian faith a Happy Easter ahead. Meaningful occasions such as Easter is best celebrated with family, friends and loved ones...preferably over a feast of epic pork-portions of course ;p

 

To get you into the mood for this Sunday's Easter-vaganza, El Cerdo will lay out a sumptuous Bubblylicious Sunday Brunch from 12 noon to 2.30pm. As the first European eatery in KL city to give local Chinese restos a run for their porky specialities, you can expect an unrivalled 'nose to tail' eating experience - washed down with loads of bubbly, beer, soft drinks or juices.

 

For porcine fans, it'd be love at first sight (and bite) - just the Cold Appetiser Buffet (pix above) alone would warm the very cockles of your heart and leave you weeping with joy. Choice pickings worth savouring include sliced Serrano ham with honey-sweet diced rock melon, pig's head jelly, lomo (Spansish cured pork tenderloin), smoked black pepper ham, chorizo, trotter terrine, roast pork salad, pork liver pate and pork rillette amongst others.

Serrano ham is best paired with rock melon

There's plenty to go around so remember to pace yourself and enjoy the whole plethora laid out. An ample selection of fresh salad leaves, cherry and sliced tomatoes are also available to complement the charcuterie.

 

Before ordering your main course, sample the house Sausage Platter. This is especially great for sharing so you'd have a chance to taste the different types with more than enough tummy space left over for mains.

Served on a bed of potato mash and sauerkraut with mustard on the side, our dining party made quick work of the delicious sausage platter which comprised bacon-wrapped cocktail sausages and slightly bigger Thuringer, German pepper, spicy Lyonner and farmer franks. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the hearty Roasted Pork Loin - the service personnel on duty would gladly proffer thick slices of this meaty delight on request; complete with an irresistible gravy, some veges and potato on the side. In fact, we relished this so much that most of our gang returned for additional helpings.

The day's simplest dish of Pork Belly Fettucini turned out to be a limelight hogger. Suffused with a lush, savoury sauce redolent with tomato and herbs, the fork-tender pork belly chunks were a match made in heaven with the perfectly al dente pasta ribbons. Likewise, the Seafood Spaghetti is well acquitted too with a large prawn and several smaller but succulent ones.

The traditional Austrian Wiener Schnitzel (which means 'meat in a crust') is notable for the crisply breaded coating that envelopes a fillet of moist, tender pork inside. Adorned with a dollop of potato salad, any greasiness is tempered by the accompanying tart berry compote.

Another raveworthy offering that scores highly is Hickory Smoked Iberico Soft Ribs. Mind you, just the thought of that tangy-smoky-sweet sauce smothering those meltingly tender soft bone ribs is droolworthy enough. A 'must try' dish that should have you licking the plate clean.

Other tempting main dishes to pig out on include Pork Steak (pix above), Spaetzle with Cheese & Ham (pix below) and Roast Baby Back Ribs. The luscious tiers of grilled pork and mashed potato topped with fried leek slivers are superbly yummy while the spaetzle - a comforting dish of mini dough dumplings similar to gnocchi in its chewy 'QQ' texture - comes perked up with lashings of creamy tomato-cheese sauce and diced ham. My only grouse about the baby back ribs is the scant bits of meat on them ribs.

Anyway that minor hiccup disappears since there's dessert to contend with. Sweet solace can be found in Mango Tiramisu, Spanish Chocolate Cake or Assorted Homemade Ice Creams & Sorbets.

The chocoholic in me readily vouched for the sole chocolatey option. Never mind if it's slightly dry and crumbly, the deep-seated cacao accent has enough 'oomph' to ensure a lingering impression and keep you asking for more.

If you love boozy ice cream, the Rum & Raisin is simply 'da bomb'. Its closest rivals are mango and raspberry sorbet (we love both flavours' seductively fruity creaminess) while the olive oil variant seems like a quirky wild card in the whole mix. The tiramisu passed muster...despite the dessert's mild alcoholic nuance, the mango component is barely discernible.

El Cerdo's Bubblylicious Brunch is priced at RM149 ++ per person inclusive of free flowing Cava, house red & white wine, Tiger draught, soft drinks and chilled juices. Teetotalers pay RM99++ per person (soft drinks and juices included) while kids are charged at RM49++ per head (6-12 years old).

For reservations, call EL CERDO, tel: 03-2145 0511 / 013-309 4197. Address: 43 & 45, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

RAISING THE ROOF WITH SIGNATURE SPECIALS

Rich, smoky and roiling with big flavours, the Charred Seafood Noodles (RM38) at Signature by The Hill -- the trendy gastro-lounge that's one of the five F&B entities up on The Roof has scores of patrons making a beeline for it nightly with some even calling ahead to book their portions.

Nobody gripes about the princely sum since this dish is fit for a tycoon. Described as Signature's take on Penang's famous char kway teow, the noodles are laden with nicely cooked king prawns, oysters, calamari and scallops. We love how much 'wok hei' the flat rice noodles have; that elusive slightly charred nuance that leaves one hankering for more of those silky, spicy and garlicky ribbons. No wonder this item has become the outlet's hottest seller since opening.

There's lots of things going for Signature as a newish F&B haven. There's the expansive view of course but the extensive menu that includes creative cocktails and premium beverages alongside Asian and international fusion cuisine is worthy of your attention too.

The owners are savvy enough to realise that some of their patrons are bound to hanker for local delights hence they have gotten the chef to put in a discerning selection. Besides the deluxe CKT, you may want to sample the Imperial King Prawns Noodles (RM42) -- yet another upscale interpretation of sang har meen which has crispy egg noodles cooked with fresh king prawns, seared scallops and squid in thick egg gravy. We daresay it is another surefire winner that would go down well with the home crowd.

We also like the outlet's quirky humour when it comes to speciality cocktails. Giving a grown-up spin to Malaysia's most popular drink is such an ingenious move! The runaway winner has to be the rum, Bailey's and Kahlua-spiked Milo Ais (RM28) while those who want to relive their rabble-rousing frat and sorority house days, the Watermelon Slush (RM40) -- a potent concoction of Sminoff vodka, Midori, lychee liqueur and watermelon juice should remind you of those heady times.

Sober up for your meal with a salad or two but no worries, they're anything but boring. The current hot spell will make you appreciate the Summer Duck Salad (RM23) ever more for the cool, perky ensemble has juicy watermelon cubes, longans, slices of smoked duck breast and crumbled feta cheese clustered amidst mixed lettuce leaves and arugula, tossed with a peach dressing. A delicate play of sweet-briny accents against multiple textural layers, what's not to like?

Italian air-dried beef, Parmesan shavings and sliced mango give the Leaning Tower of Caesar (RM22) refreshing twists; punctuating the classic romaine lettuce and homemade Caesar dressing combo with their distinct mellow saltiness and fruity sweetness.

Personally I'm not keen on Brussels sprouts but the pile of rotund salad leaves drizzled with sesame dressing and adornments of quail egg halves, cherry tomatoes and thick-cut slices of sesame-speckled, seared tuna in the Seared Maguro Akami (RM26) showed cohesiveness of this veg with the correct choice of ingredients can turn it into a delightful offering.

From the Drinking Partners menu which serves nibbles and light bites to line the tummies of those out on night-long drinking sprees, the Drunken Garlic Clams (RM23) would be most appropriate. Soused in white wine, garlic, chilli and olive oil, the white clams and black shell mussels are sublime; tender with toothsome chewiness and the irresistible creamy winey sauce best mopped up with slices of garlic toast.

True to the saying 'once you go black, you never go back', I daresay once you try the Scallops Black Aglio Maki (RM45), you'd never look back either. Served in a sizzling hot plate, the dish proffers squid ink spaghetti sauteed with olive oil, garlic flakes and chilli gilded by several 'maki' (rolls). Upon closer inspection, those turn out to be grilled scallops in disguise, wrapped up in laver seaweed with tobikko topping. This pasta's quite a show-stopper in the taste department while its black on black presentation is oddly memorable.

Both the Signature Grilled Salmon Pasta (RM45) and seared Black Cod (RM55) fillet with braised leek and fennel with tomato jam will easily net their fair share of fans. The former featuring a thick slab of perfectly grilled salmon atop a bed of al dente spaghetti in mildly spicy creamed tomato sauce is piquantly robust; the fish and pasta's voluptuous richness tempered by a heap of fresh peppery arugula. 

The cod's subtler but no less unctuous flavours meld superbly with the braised leek and fennel; their natural pungency mellowed into slick caramelised sweetness which render the tomato jam somewhat redundant.

We like the playful element of how the King Prawns Linguine (RM49) is presented. Instead of piling everything into one plate, the chef has opted to separate the jumbo prawns into an old-fashioned airtight mason glass jar then present it alonside the pasta and a dollop of black caviar on a square plate. You'd have to secure the jar lid and shake the contents up to ensure the crustaceans are evenly coated in its olive oil, garlic and chilli flakes dressing before pouring these out onto the pasta. Trust me, the resultant outcome justifies the expended effort.

Meaty choices to sink your molars into include Black Angus Tenderloin (RM88) served with pumpkin mash, garlic chocolate, arugula and sauteed seasonal vegetables and chargrilled Rack of Lamb (RM58) with roasted pumpkin, Brussels sprouts fricassee and signature mint sauce.

Unlikely as it sounds, the collusion of garlic and chocolate sauce succeeds in giving the beef a unique taste dimension. For the latter, the textural and taste profiles are boosted by the accompanying side of Brussels sprouts, chunky chicken ham and onion fricassee.

Sweet endings appear in the form of timeless Western creations such as cakes and puddings as well as a cheese board. If you are like something light yet interesting enough to tickle the palate, Romeo Y Juliet (RM24) -- strawberry jelly complemented by an elongated crumbly cookie and a lemon curd tartlet should float your boat.

Chocoholics will find the Spicy Chocolate Lava (RM22) swoon-worthy enough since the molten centre cake comes with bursts of chilli hotness and a topping of Kahlua-infused mascarpone, and berries compote.

Besides Signature, The Roof's integrated F&B and entertainment hub has four other crowd-pulling concepts: Stratosphere -- Asia’s first luxury bar nestled on top of an infinity grassed helipad with a 360-degree view of the city and greater Klang Valley, Play -- a premium dance club with guest stints by local and international DJs spinning the decks, The Malt & Leaf -- a cosy haven where vintage malts are paired with the world's finest cigars and Score -- a lively sports bar for post-work tipples and R&R.

For reservations at Signature by The Hill, call tel: 03-7725-3588. Address: The Roof, Sky Level, 1 First Avenue, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.

Summer Duck Salad (RM23), slices of smoked duck breast are served with cubes of watermelon, longan, feta cheese and tossed with a peach dressing.  - See more at: http://pureglutton.com/signature-roof#sthash.7Uw3gRm4.dpuf