GREEK FOOD'S THE WORD AT AEGEAN BLUE

Contemporary Euro-Greek dishes takes the limelight at Aegean Blue within the imposing New Ocean Fine Food City, Petaling Jaya. As we set foot into the Greek restaurant, a projected image of Apollo, the Greek sun god greets us at the entrance. 

Inside the cream and sand enclave stands another life-size statue of Apollo amidst several Grecian columns. Modern, sleek partitions, mellow lighting and gauzy white curtains adorned the interior of this newish Greek restaurant. A tastefully decorated private dining room is also available onsite.

The most notable dish to savour IMHO is Ammos Moussaka (RM55), a befitting choice definitive of this Greek restaurant.

Topped with kefalotyri, a salty Cypriot-Greek white cheese made from sheep or goat’s milk, the baked gooey layers of eggplant with potatoes, minced beef and bechamel sauce looked like lasagna at first glance. We found its hearty richness agreeable and not overly cloying.

Another memorable speciality is Kolokythosoupa (RM20), a velvety pumpkin cream soup. Its smooth, delicate sweetness proved memorable, especially when paired with crusty garlicky toast.

Light and refreshing, the Aegean Blue Salad with Smoked Salmon (RM48) comprising fresh garden greens, smoked salmon, crème fraiche, black olives and balsamico vinaigrette is a well-balanced and wholesome creation to satisfy healthy diners. It was a welcoming precursor to our meal.

On a previous visit, we ate outstanding dishes such as grilled octopus salad, pan-fried duck breast and braised lamb shank. Although they aren't no longer in the menu, be assured plenty of culinary gems worth sampling await at Aegean Blue so a single visit may not suffice.

To lure the white collar crowd, there's an Executive Set Lunch at RM55+ per person inclusive of one drink is available from 1130am-230pm.

You can either start with Soup of the Day (think Vegetable Cream Soup with Shrimp or something similar to it) or salad du jour of Mixed Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken and Cheese. The mildly savoury vegetable broth was on-point, and superbly delicious when accompanied by crusty slices of buttery-garlicky toasts.

We also enjoyed the substantial Greek salad that included a sizeable piece of grilled chicken breast dusted with paprika. It sat atop fresh lettuce, boiled potato and carrot dices, blanched cauliflower and broccoli florets, cherry tomatoes, and boiled egg. TBH, this could be a meal itself for light eaters.

Main course was a toss between Grilled Chicken Leg with Mashed Potato and BBQ Sauce or Pan-fried Seabass Fillet with Dill Sauce, Orzo with Mushroom.

Both dishes were deftly prepared although the slab of seabass held extra appeal for us thanks to the fish’s natural sweetness. Perked up by creamy dill sauce and orzo (semolina pasta shaped like rice grains), we fell hook, line and sinker for it.

Juicy and tender, the slightly smoky chicken earned extra points on the deliciousness scale with a most stellar concoction of butter-honey-barbecue sauce.

Dessert fell somewhat below expectations as the Carrot Cake with Vanilla Chantilly appeared a tad too dry for our liking. Hopefully, this would have improved after our feedback. Aegean Blue has many good things going for it so give this resto a chance where Greek food is the word.

For reservations at Aegean Blue, please call tel: 012 988 2790 and 03-8408 8030. Address: L3-12A, Level 3, New Ocean World Fine Food City, 15 Jalan 19/1, Seksyen 19, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

 

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

SKY-HIGH SOIRÉE EATS AT VOGUE LOUNGE KL

Come for the venue. Stay for the view. Event hosts with lofty ambitions may want to consider Vogue Lounge KL as the haute spot for their next soirée - those 360° views of the city’s skyline alone are bound to take invitees' breath away.

Opened in September 2019, Vogue Lounge is part of the Condé Nast group, with sister Vogue Cafes in Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Porto, and Riyadh. This Kuala Lumpur outpost is the embodiment of the Vogue lifestyle, with the aim of delivering an ultra-chic and sophisticated dining experience through a fashionable, luxe lounge and rooftop bar.

Located on the 38th floor of Menara SUEZCAP, Vogue magazine covers and framed portrait shots flank the walkway leading to its entrance. The dramatically designed interior flaunts a soaring high ceiling, adorned with contemporary teardrop-shaped lightning fixtures.

Wraparound picture windows accord expansive panoramic vistas, while within the main dining area a raised screen platform doubles up as a runway underfoot. Plush banquette seats interspersed with strategic clusters of linen-covered dining tables, creating Insta-worthy nooks and corners.

Besides a sleekly designed cocktail bar and a modern well-stocked wine cellar, there's also a private dining room tucked discreetly away behind the latter that seats up to 12 persons. Even the washrooms ooze glitz and glamour with black & white marble floors and Hollywood vanity mirrors with lights.

At the Rooftop Bar, bartenders perform their mixology magic to enliven the evening. For special events such as weddings, birthday parties, launch events, etc, the Rooftop Garden boasts its own dedicated cocktail bar and seating area. Its top-selling point is the spectacular cityscape especially at dusk once the lights come on.

To complement the informal Rooftop Garden setting, Executive Chef Steve Ariffin is tasked with interpreting modern European and Asian specialities for the Rooftop Sharing Menu.

Among his culinary creations we sampled are Crab Tacos (RM42) featuring Soft Shell Crabs with Kyuri, Tobiko and Spicy Avacado. Beautifully presented, the dainty appetisers are designed for casual dining – meaning you can pick them up without creating a mess. We like the co-mingling of soft and crunchy textures and of bold, vivid flavours.

The main course we tried was Roasted Whole Seabass (RM98) stuffed with Lemon & Dill. Complemented with Garlic Aioli, the fish’s natural sweetness is amplified by the tart and herbal accents. The smoky overtone was more discernible once we anointed it with some garlic aioli.

Moreish wedge-cut Truffle Fries (RM28) makes a compatible pairing with your fave tipples. Adorned with a sprinkling of grated cheese and truffle oil, the danger lies in their addictiveness so be forewarned.

 

Simple yet endearing, the rustic Mushroom Risotto (RM32) beguiled us with its no-nonsense ‘less is more’ approach reminiscent of hearth and home. We relished the fungi’s plumpness and rich umami flavour juxtaposed against the soft tender grains, on our palate.

A 'pretty-as-a-picture' Chocolate Pavlova with Passionfruit Sauce was served as the grand finale. Shaped like a mini clump of wispy cloud, we found its delicate sweetness tempered by slivers 0f strawberry tucked within the confection.

Ours was but one of several Rooftop Sharing Menus available. The venue is eminently ideal for weddings, birthdays, special events and corporate functions designed to impress.

 

In addition to a specially curated drinks list with signature cocktails, champagne selection and fine wines, premium spirits and distinctive beers, the Vogue Lounge team can assist with music and whatever arrangements necessary.

For reservations and more information, call Vogue Lounge Kuala Lumpur, tel: +6 016 8466 552 or +6 03 2771 1530/1531. Address: Level 38, Menara SuezCap 1, KL Gateway, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur. Website: www.voguelounge.my