MODERN INDIAN APPEAL AT GOA BY HUBBA

Right off the bat, the cracker of an opener, Papadum with Peanuts & Moong Dhal Salsa (RM10) hints at what lies in store at GOA by Hubba. Heaped with the Goan-style salsa of diced tomatoes and onion, peanuts and lentils, the round, blistery discs of Indian crackers deliver a sampling of celebrity chef Sapna Anand's modern Indian delicacies.

After tasting success with her Modern Indian Kitchen cookbook, Sapna has gone on to helm her own cooking show on the Asian Food Channel. Serendipity soon led the celeb chef and cookbook author to collab with the Soul Society Group, resulting in GOA by Hubba, a restobar nestled within Tujo at the Ascott Kuala Lumpur. The rustic haven boasts bright floral arrangements and tables set with copper crockery, creating a convivial stage for Sapna’s curated menu to shine.

 

Even the cocktail list features inventive spice-infused concoctions, a bid to evoke the ebullient spirit of Goa, Sapna’s home turf. I’m thoroughly smitten by the tastebud-tickling Rasam Shooter (tray of 6, RM38) — raveworthy shots of tequila, rasam mix, lime juice, mint syrup, tabasco, honey, pop rocks and salt.

 

Mama Manca (RM38) — a rockin’ blend of lemon juice, ginger syrup, turmeric syrup & a dash of cayenne pepper is a riotous slew of warm, robust flavours. Other bona fide faves include flavoured martinis and mojito variants.

 

Mumbai’s famous Chowpatty Beach with its profusion of beachside snacks is the inspiration behind the faintly smoky-sweet Chowpatty Fire Roasted Corn (RM16). Daubs of herbed cheese dip spiked with chilli lime salt amp up the appeal of those slightly charred corn cob.

 

Pillow-soft Chinese steamed buns form a sensuous alliance with shredded, slow-cooked spiced mutton, fried shallot & coriander to create the distinctive Mutton Floss Mantou (RM26). The Vegetarian Mantou (RM20) isn’t shabby either as the tasty spiced cauliflower, pepper, caramelised onion and coriander in similar buns grab its fair share of gustatory interest.

 

Hot on the heels come toothsome Goan Stuffed Squid (RM28) in which whole grilled squid, stuffed with minced prawn in housemade Goan spice paste, jostle for equal attention.

 

 

Presented at the tableside with blazing fanfare, the Grilled Cauliflower with Smoked Sauce (RM28) is a literal conversation-stopper. Once the server singes the mound of cauliflower, a tide of lush savouriness and fresh green sweetness floods our palate thanks to the mildly smoked fennel tomato sauce and a sprinkle of parmesan on top.

 

The sensorial overload continues when we sample the Kashmiri Lamb Chops (RM95).

Redolent with the deep-seated accents of Goa’s housemade spice blend, the meaty cutlets are delectable when smeared with mint chutney.

When the Garlic Butter Prawns (RM58) reach our table, the offering seems a tad underwhelming although we can’t fault the freshwater prawns in creamy garlic butter sauce. Surprisingly, the Stir-fried Bhindi (RM20) holds its own possibly because the jumble of crispy okra, chickpeas, onion, dried chilli and spices proffer more distinct textural variations.

The complexities of Indian spice blends can never be underestimated, requiring years of practice and in-depth knowledge to master. All we know is the Goan favourite of Beef Vindhalho (RM28) requires yet another multitude of traditional Vindhalho spices to spark off the dish’s cachet of big, stimulating flavours.

Likewise, an aromatic and punchy tandoori spice marinade left a deeply nuanced imprint in the Tandoori Chicken Chop (RM33). Served with mint chutney, every mouthful of the tender chook sets our tongues a-tingling with subtle hotness and zingy spiciness.

Our meal epilogue centres on Homemade Ice Cream (RM16) which runs the gamut from mango or rose to candied peanut & caramel. Top of the picks goes to the sweetly scented Rose Ice Cream. The Candied Peanut & Caramel is decent too although its allure pales slightly in comparison once you savour the floral flavour.

For reservations, call GOA by Hubba, tel: 017-786 7611. Address: 9, Ascott Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur. Open daily from 6pm to 1am.

HAWKER FOOD GALORE AT TERAZZA BRASSERIE

 

BBQ Chicken Wings, Mee Goreng Mamak, Satay, Char Kway Teow and Chicken Tandoori are some popular hawker food to savour at Terazza Brasserie’s newly launched Hawker Fare theme buffet.

An integral part of Malaysia’s food scene, a selection of those familiar favourites from itinerant hawkers can now be enjoyed in the comfort of Dorsett Grand Subang’s all day dining restaurant every Wednesday night.

The sneak preview saw us relishing hot off the grill BBQ Chicken Wings from one of the six pop-up stalls set outside the patio area. Served with a sweetish Thai-style chilli sauce, the tender wings hit the spot and whetted our appetite for more.

Satay – the compelling party food of choice – is also part of the line-up and you can tell how good the grilled skewers of chicken and beef are at the rate they disappear from the chafing dish. No worries though as the culinary team ensures there are plenty to go around.

I could never resist delicious Tandoori Chicken and the version here lived up to expectations. Served with cucumber raita and fresh lime wedges, I thoroughly savoured every mouthful of the moist, juicy meat. 

A posher spin of this is Lamb Tandoori with Cucumber Chutney. Well suffused with aromatic Indian spices, the thick cutlets proved equally delectable.

Carb-loading comes easy with substantial servings of piping hot Mee Goreng Mamak or you can head outside to the stalls for Char Kway Teow which is cooked to order. Both came up to scratch and left us no cause for complaints.

For some green balance to your meal, rustle up a Caesar salad at the buffet where all the condiments and ingredients are laid out. The various appetisers and assorted local kerabu salads presented on multi-tier stands also proved irresistible.

Poached Seafood on Ice: Prawns, Mussels and Oysters should reel seafood-living diners in. Enjoy them with some Thousand Island dressing or keep your eyes peeled for cooked main dishes such as Prawns with Thai Mango Salsa and Stuffed Seafood Tortilla. I found the piquantly flavoured Squid Salad particularly appealing.

If you think no meal is complete without a bowl of heartwarming soup, the hearty Oxtail Soup has the comforting factor down pat. Fragrant with herbs and spices, the rich, wholesome broth with chunks of gristly bones, carrot and oxtail embraced the mild sweetness of fried shallot and the fresh accent of chopped coriander in it. 

The beauty of buffet is food choices are aplenty and there’s always something to please every palate. Apart from the myriad of Hawker Fare served, you’d find other worthy options to sample – just look at our plate as proof.

Local dessert taking centrestage comes in the form of Air Batu Campur (ABC), Assorted Malay Kuih, Indonesian Layer Cake and sweet broth like Bubur Cha Cha and Pengat Durian.

Available on every Wednesday night, the Hawker Fare buffet is priced at RM118 nett per adult and RM59 per child (above 5 years old). Senior citizens are entitled to 50% off the full price.

For reservations at Terazza Brasserie, call tel: 03-5031 6060 x 1912/1913. Address: Dorsett Grand Subang, Jalan SS12/1, Subang Jaya, Selangor. Website: www.dorsetthotels.com/malaysia/subang