Showing posts with label sorbet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sorbet. Show all posts

Sunday, May 07, 2023

A MICHELIN-STAR DINING EXPERIENCE AT AU JARDIN


No visit to 1-Michelin starred Au Jardin is incomplete without sampling the Cognac & Jay Aged Duck. We were told by the service team the Butterworth-sourced ducks are aged 6-14 days with hay, cognac and orange, and this main course has to be pre-ordered at least two days prior to your visit (with a supplementary charge of RM75).


Presented with some fanfare in a specially designed case filled with smoked hay at the tableside, the delectable duck came served alongside fig gel, figs rehydrated in balsamic, pomme purée, and yuzu split jus. Once we had a taste of the juicy duck breast, we realise why this speciality remains a popular mainstay.

However, the Wild Caught Barracuda with watermelon radish, konbu, cilantro root emulsion, pandan oil was the unheralded show-stopper. The fish’s inherent sweetness was exquisite and the attendant ingredients’ delicate flavours simply amplified it further. I wouldn’t mind a bigger portion of it though.
Even before the Michelin Guide recognition, chef proprietor Su Kim Hock is already making waves among fine food connoisseurs with his artisanal menu designed to showcase the freshest local and seasonal ingredients; shining the spotlight on the culinary traditions of Penang and Malaysia through beautifully crafted dishes.
The 18-seater Au Jardin is located in a quaint repurposed warehouse within the former Hin Bus Depot in Georgetown. As we stepped into the elegant restaurant’s little courtyard adorned with potted orchids, towering palms and a leafy tree, we found its high ceiling let in plenty of light. After ascending a flight of stairs, we found ourselves in a cosy dining space outfitted with a bar and a trio of origami bird-shaped light fixtures serving as the focal point.

 

Au Jardin’s menu degustation (RM388++ per person) not only adheres to Chef Kim Hock’s ‘buy local first’ philosophy, but also showcases with aplomb his skilful culinary expertise, artistry and inspirations drawn from his own culinary journey and past travels.
Our lunch started with two beguiling amuse bouche: dainty nests of dehydrated glass noodles – deep-fried to crunchy crispness – topped with lumpfish emulsion, orange mascarpone and salmon roe, and little charcoal choux pastry balls filled with bacon and truffle cream and crowned with a sliver of white truffle shaving on top. Suffice to say, these left us in eager anticipation of what to expect.

 

Warm, crusty slices of lacto-fermented bread came next, accompanied by house-made tomato chutney butter and curry leaf oil – a flavoursome pairing inspired by thosai.

 

That paved the way for Hericium Mushroom Remoulade, a lush and creamy monkey head mushroom broth dusted with cep powder. For textural contrast, we savoured a diminutive boat-shaped feuille de brick (light lacy-satiny Tunisian pastry dough) with chopped Hericium mushroom, black garlic espuma and kaffir lime leaves.

 

The quenelle of Century Egg Ice Cream served atop diced Hokkaido scallops and century egg ‘white’ was sublime. Tiny coral horn-shaped gingerbread added a touch of playfulness to the ensemble.

 

For a supplementary charge of RM250, the Grand Caviar Au Jardin lent a touch of extravagance to our lunch. Twisting open the tin lid, we dug into the sturgeon caviar-topped picked lobster with cauliflower crémeux using a mother of pearl spoon. It was an indulgent treat but heck, we only live once.

 

A fleeting burst of tongue-prickling heat from the zingy Sichuan pepper emulsion hit our tastebuds when we sampled the Cured Red Snapper Tartare with salted longan jelly and Nashi pear. The cohesive flavours were delicate yet palate-pleasing.


We also opted for the A3 Wagyu (A5 is the other choice) with Celeriac Purée, Jus Maison and Grain Mustard (supplementary charge of RM280). No surprises here as the steak was on-point   - it was a failsafe albeit unexciting choice.


Our faith was restored by the delicious Mussel Parfait Beignets which dialled up the big, hearty flavour quotient. It was a nice teaser before we segued into enjoying the ephemeral sweetness of the Braised Chinese Cabbage.

 

Topped with lumpfish roe, we found a smoky-sweet steamed mussel tucked inside the rolled cabbage. Savoury-sweet braising liquid dotted with parsley oil completed this splendid dish.

 

We adore the Magnum Sorbet – ice lollies made from blended guava and kaffir lime leaves, sheathed in a shell of red wine-infused coconut oil touched with sour plum powder and popping candy. Delightfully refreshing, kudos to the chef for making such ingenious use of our local fruits.

 

It nearly eclipsed the dessert of Over Ripen William Pear with Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream. Admittedly, this creative treat was enticing in its own right, thanks to the myriad of airy-light textures and sweet subtleties bestowed by vanilla sponge, sugarless meringue, canalé royale and brulée.
Service was personable and attentive – the team took time to explain each and every dish to us, and capably answered our queries. They also anticipated and swiftly attended to our needs throughout the lunch so we had no room for complaints. 

For reservations, contact Au Jardin, tel: 012-428 9594 or book via TableApp. Address: The Warehouse @ Hin Bus Depot, 125, Jalan Timah, Georgetown, Penang. Business hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 1130am – 230pm; 5pm – 10pm.

 

Monday, December 02, 2019

COOL HELLO KITTY CREATIONS AT CREME DE LA CREME


Global icon Hello Kitty turns 45 in cool, sweet style at Crème De La Crème (CDLC) with ultra-cute Hello Kitty themed ice-cream, petits gâteaux, and CDLC's “Bloop! Bloop! Bloop!” beverages.
 
A first-of-its-kind collaboration between Sanrio and CDLC to mark Hello Kitty’s 45th birthday resulted in a selection of delightful treats specially created for Malaysian fans. Us privileged few walked in to the debut party, to find CDLC walls and table tops adorned with cute and colourful decals of the ultra-lovable icon.
Inspired by Hello Kitty’s favourite things, CDLC teased our tastebuds with two artisanal ice cream variants: Apple Pie Crumble and Strawberry Fantasy.
The first interprets Hello Kitty’s favourite apple pie as a delectable scoop of Madagascar vanilla goodness, swirled with homemade fresh apple compote, cinnamon and crumble. 
 
More delicate but no less delicious is Strawberry Fantasy – a sublime combo of strawberry-centric flavours: luscious strawberry ice cream with housemade strawberry jam and fresh strawberry bits. 
 
Passionate Hello Kitty fans will go gaga over the petits gâteaux named after Hello Kitty herself. The whimsical Kitty White treat is crafted from Madagascar vanilla ice cream, strawberry passion fruit sorbet, passion fruit crème, crumble and chocolate.


As a tribute to Hello Kitty’s favourite word “friendship”, cream-cheese ice cream is artfully melded with strawberry ice cream, strawberry jam, peach sorbet, citrus crumble and chocolate to create the Friendship Ring.
 
You can also raise a toast to the kawaii occasion with two Bloop! Bloop! Bloop! beverage. Named after Hello Kitty’s pet hamster, Sugar comprises a mixture of fresh strawberries, fresh sweet basil leaves, freshly squeezed lemonade and raspberry sorbet. 
Referencing Hello Kitty’s pet cat, Charmmy Kitty blends fresh milk with strawberries, complemented by toppings of strawberry ice cream and peach chunks.
Lio Lim, the managing director of CDLC said: “We are madly in love with Hello Kitty and it’s such an honour to be chosen by Sanrio for this special collabora- tion. CDLC’s Hello Kitty creations promise to be a multi-sensory experience for everyone who savour them!”
Caroline Tsang, COO of Sanrio Wave Hong Kong enthused, “Sanrio strives to bring people together and create happiness to make the world a better place. We are excited to partner with CDLC to bring our Hello Kitty fans this once-in-a-lifetime experience. With CDLC’s premium, one-of-a-kind artisan ice-cream creations inspired by Hello Kitty’s favourite things and CDLC’s Hello Kitty Land, it will be an unparalleled treat for the senses.”

The CDLC Hello Kitty selection will be available until end December 2019.

For information, please call Crème De La Crème, tel: 03-7494 0735.  Address: 35G, Ground Floor, Jalan SS21/60 Damansara Utama. Business hours: Sunday – Thursday: 12pm – 11pm, Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 12am

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