4 FOOD TAKEAWAY & DELIVERY OPTIONS

With the Covid19 pandemic still omnipresent, restaurateurs and hoteliers have pivoted to a new playbook – offering takeaways and food delivery to survive and keep the business going.

Restaurateurs and chefs have to raise their game, relooking at viable in-house specialities that can withstand the tricky transportation journey to the intended destination without compromising the eventual taste quality too much.

These four ‘tried and tested’ food takeaways and delivery service providers are worth considering if you are tired of the heat and wish to get out of the home kitchen:

Nasi Lemak Lah!

This nasi lemak specialist comes recommended by a foodie friend. Initially I was sceptical until I tasted the offerings myself. From there on I was won over - proof of the pudding being in the eating you know? 

The rice has nice discernible coconut milk aroma, the fried anchovies and peanuts, crispy without being burnt and the sliced cucumber, fresh and crunchy. Most importantly, the sambal hits the spot with its balanced sweet-hot nuances. If you order the fried lemongrass chicken, be sure to sprinkle on those crispy bits from the fried chook to the rice to amp up the deliciousness.

My favourites are Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Serai (RM13.90), Nasi Lemak Chicken Curry (RM14.90) and Nasi Lemak Sambal Sotong (RM14.90) but seriously, my family members who had tried the sambal sotong and mutton curry can vouch they ain't too shabby either.

I have included the menu here for reference. Order yours now via Grabfood or direct through Nasi Lemak Lah! WhatsApp: Simon +6017 779 0115 and make your payment via transfer to:
KASI NASI SDN BHD
PUBLIC BANK
Account no: 321-5577-624

The Oriental Group

While dine-in is now permitted with compulsory SOPs in place, the house specialities of this established Chinese restaurant group can be savoured in the comfort of home.

We tried the excellent Mother’s Day Set (RM398 nett for 6 persons) from Oriental Landmark: Boston Lobster Guangdong Style, Braised Soon Hock with Yam, Smoked Farm Chicken, Fried Rice with Teochew Spicy Sauce and Stir-fried Seasonal Vegetables with Garlic.

Portions were generous and most importantly, the food is packed with care to ensure the taste quality stays close to that of dining-in at the restaurant. Kudos to the culinary team for stepping up their game under such trying circumstances.

 

Also available for takeaway and delivery include the trademark Oriental Group’s Chargrilled Iberico Pork Ribs (RM18/100g), four different preparations of Boston Lobster (RM220, 1.2-1.4kg each) Dim Sum (easy heat and eat) and Premium Japanese Dried Scallop Dumpling (RM48) among others. To enhance noodles or fried rice, served as a complementing dip for seafood and other dishes, you’d find the Teochew Spicy Sauce (RM28) a great condiment for the pantry.

Enjoy 20% takeaway discount when you place your orders now till the end of MCO! https://www.facebook.com/orientalgroupmy/

Xiao Long Kan

It was such a novelty experience, having Xiao Long Kan HotPot at home. This was enhanced by the loan of Xiao Long Kan's signature dual-section brass Hotpot + Induction Cooker (shown in pix below).

We opted for the resto's famous Tomato broth and the Mushroom broth - both are distinctive in their own way when eaten with the various assortment of ingredients: meat slices, chewy noodle strips, lobster and meat balls, greens, etc.

 

 

️All the choice of ingredients comes nicely packed in reusable containers with 20% OFF for all Xiao Long Kan Hotpot Takeaway items (except soup base)

Xiao Long Kan Hotpot is available on Hungry App for delivery within 20km. Alternatively, delivery can be arranged by calling the outlets:

Fahrenheit88☎️: 0124671381/0102209618 (KL outlet)

Penang☎️: 0124789982

Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur

Perennial Malaysian treats, salads, soup, Western, Japanese, vegan-friendly, gluten-free, dessert and beverage can be enjoyed in the comfort of home thanks to the culinary team of Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur.

We give thumbs up to the hearty and filling portions of Nasi Tomato and Ayam Masak Merah with Jelatah (RM18) as well as Nasi Kerabu with Ayam Goreng Rempah, Telur Masin, Kelapa Parut Ikan & Keropok (RM18) featured in Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur's Takeaway Menu.

Each set comes in compartmentalised containers so there’s no mess and the different specialities remain distinctly delicious. The Salmon Teriyaki set with Japanese rice, mesclun salad and miso soup (RM28) also scores well since it is a complete, balanced meal by itself. The huge jarred Chickpeas and Corn Kernels with Feta Cheese & Green Salad (RM23) is substantial enough to feed a family of 2-3 depending on the voraciousness of your appetite. 

Available now until 23 May from 11am to 6pm, Chef Hasbullah and his team will be bringing these comforting eats to your home via Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur's special #takeaway menu through Beep Delivery: www.hotelmayakl.beepit.com or call 012-282 8187 for enquiries. Free delivery for a minimum spend of RM60 (within 5km radius of the hotel) and RM80 (within 10km radius).

GREAT PLACE TO MEAT AT ANNE ELIZABETH

Food writing is an on-going learning journey. A visit to Anne Elizabeth, a deli-style restaurant owned by husband and wife team, Jacob Fong and Sandra Lee, proved enlightening as I grappled with unfamiliar meat cuts like abanico and picanha.

Anne Elizabeth’s best-selling Iberico Abanico (RM39.80 per 250g piece) is a pièce de résistance you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Named after the Spanish hand fan, this fan-shaped cut is the external, thin and well-marbled piece of meat surrounding the Iberico ribs.

Best grilled or barbecued to draw out the big flavour of this prized cut, and render it juicy and crisp, abanico is one of the stellar ‘must try’ offerings at this restaurant.

A sprinkling of sea salt and ground pepper is enough to make this piece meltingly tender, blush pink pork an epicurean delight. Unlike ordinary pork meat, Fong said abanico should ideally be 70% cooked to medium or medium well doneness for best eating quality. Supply for abanico is hard to come by due to its limited availability. According to Fong, his restaurant has a firm grip on the supply thanks to established understanding with his supplier.

Heading into its 5^th year of operation come September, Fong shares he has two decades of European food expertise hence the range of deli and charcuterie offerings are slanted towards British, Spanish, Italian and French-style.

The couple has kept Anne Elizabeth's set-up simple and practical, with display chillers showcasing a wide array of premium meat cuts, gourmet sausages and some fish for diners to select. Wall-mounted chalkboards listing salads, soup and pasta add to the plethora available, leaving them spoiled for choice. Service is cordial, efficient and attentive too; everything runs like clockwork even though the restaurant is packed come peak meal hours.

 

A pair of Black Pig Meatball in a Blanket (RM9.60 per piece) whets our appetite for starter. One is about the size of a toddler’s fist so it’s good to share if you plan to load up on a main course later. Wrapped in streaky bacon, the handmade and slightly smoky Iberico pork meatball is utterly scrumptious.

We temper its rich taste with a serving of Passionfruit Salad & Parmesan Salad (RM11.90). Studded with raisins, the mixed greens accompanied by fresh, tangy passionfruit is perked up by some honey and olive oil dressing. It’s a nice complement to the surfeit of meat we’d be having.

 

Although I’m not inclined to soup, the Creamy Mushroom & Bacon Soup (RM11.90) proves notable. Lots of chopped bacon bits give the creamy, earthy soup additional appeal. Lighter on the palate is Roasted Pumpkin & Tomato Soup (RM10.90) – an interesting combo which seems to work cohesively, taste-wise.

We also pig out on Pork Jowl (RM23.20 per piece, about 180g). Don’t knock its plain and lean appearance as the pork slices are superbly delectable. Each piece is surprisingly moist with an excellent, toothsome bite to it. For some flavour variation, dip it into the house sauces: caramelised roast gravy and pepper cream.

 

Lightly seasoned with grain mustard and sea salt, the splendid rack of Iberico Spare Ribs (RM68.20 per 600g slab) vanishes within minutes it hit our table. I find it goes well with the housemade apple sauce.

 

Another rare cut avid meat lovers will enjoy is the Australian Wagyu Picanha (RM66 per 200g piece). Also known as rump cap (UK) or sirloin cap (US), picanha is the most prized beef cut in Brazil. Again, a dash of salt and pepper does the trick in bringing out the inherent nuances.

 

 

Side dishes to complement mains include hearty baked Portobello, Bacon & Cheese (RM14.90 per piece) and the humongous U.S. Russet Jacket Potato (RM10.90) with sour cream, bacon, spring onion and grated Parmesan.

Fong tells us about 50% of the sausages sold at Anne Elizabeth are made to his charcuterie recipes by his suppliers. “We opt for a combination of European and local flavours, to ensure the end products aren’t too fanciful or foreign to our customers’ liking.”

The quartet of Honey Pork Sausage (RM7.90 per piece), smoky Bacon Bratwurst (RM10.90 per piece), Anne’s Cumberland (RM17.60 per piece) and Spicy Russian (RM7.90 per piece) exemplifies that philosophy. It’s hard to decide which we like best: the subtly sweet honey pork sausage, the smoky savouriness of the bacon brat, the Cumberland’s herb-spice accents or the hot & spicy Russian which is spiked with chopped bird’s eye chilli.

For now most of the resto’s sausages are pork-based but Fong reveals he may introduce more variants with pork-beef and lamb stuffing in the near future. Also in the pipeline will be more varieties of ikejime fish, in addition to the existing salmon and seabass selection.

Should you have room for dessert, try the luscious Banana Crème Brulee (RM10.80). It’s up to scratch and a boon for sweet-toothed diners who cannot bear wrapping up a meal without any luscious treat.

For reservations, please call ANNE ELIZABETH, tel: 03-9130 0319. Address: No.1, Jalan Manis 4, Taman Segar, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Business hours: Mon-Thurs 12noon to 11pm, Sat & Sun 12noon to 11pm. Closed on Friday.