SIZZLING GOOD TIME AT HANAM BBQ

 

Pork cuts cooked at tableside. Unlimited refills of kimchi, lettuce and marinated wild garlic leaves. Fluffy steamed egg and Korean tofu stew on the side. As far as first impressions go, Hanam BBQ knocked it out of the park from the get-go.

My belated birthday treat – an unforgettable, slap-up Korean bbq lunch – comprised a superb good-value set at RM175++. It comprised 360g pork belly, 180g collar butt and 150g jowl meat; ample enough to leave our party of four replete.

We also ordered Soft Tofu Stew (RM30++) and Steamed Egg with Flying Fish Roe (RM20++) in addition to a serving of rice (RM6++). 

Hats off to the service team for taking such meticulous care in grilling the three different pork cuts. It was nice not having to lift a finger.

Not only did they patiently grilled everything in an orderly manner, they even stacked up the pieces of cooked pork nicely. The tilted grill pan had a spout to drain off excess oil; that flowed into a paper cup.

When the kimchi was being cooked, we dug into the fluffy, piping hot steamed egg. So delicious! The two types of kimchi were so appetising we asked for repeat servings.

Two signature offerings stood out at Hanam BBQ: the tangy, refreshing condiment of Calamansabi (calamansi with wasabi) and tangy-sweet Myeonginamul (marinated wild garlic leaves) lent a distinctive dimension to the bbq pork.

All the meaty richness were offset by the pleasantly piquant Soft Tofu Stew. A moderately spicy broth made with gochujang and gochugaru, it had a hodge-podge of sliced cucumber, soft beancurd, oyster mushroom sliced leek and onion, and an egg to give textural substance.

It was fun, slurping up the stew as we took our time savouring the bbq pork pieces wrapped in fresh lettuce. Raw garlic slices, house gochuchang paste, calamansabi and sesame seed-flecked salt dip along with more cabbage as well as chives and lettuce kimchi enabled us to create multiple variations of our little lettuce and pork wraps.

 

Overall, it was a splendid experience as the restaurant’s efficient ventilation system ensured we didn’t leave imbued with bbq fumes.

HANAM BBQ, B-019, The Starling Mall, 6, Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya Selangor

FOOD FOR LIFE

A scoop of healthy Olive Couscous

In response to overwhelming demand from her customers, founder of Woods Macrobiotics June Ka Lim has now opened a brand new café, Woods Bio Marche in the bustling suburb of SS2 Petaling Jaya.

For the uninitiated, the words ‘macro’ means ‘big’ or ‘long’ and ‘bio’ means ‘life’ in Greek so macrobiotics essentially means a ‘long life diet’. The Macrobiotic way believes in eating and living in harmony with nature – food should comprise whole grains and cereals, organic fruits and vegetables, natural seeds, nuts, legumes and other eco-friendly products.

The cheery and streamlined outlet with a simple open kitchen serves organic Japanese, Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western dishes. We were amazed by the versatile selection that was served at the opening bash. If nobody told us the delectable array was meat, dairy and sugar-free, we would be none the wiser!

What a feast! Turmeric-infused Yuba with Sesame (top)
tasted even better accompanied by some Fried Brown Rice Meehoon

The wholesome feast included Organic Tumeric Yuba (bean sticks) with Sesame, Caesar Salad with Vegan Feta, Seeds and Rye Croutons, Fried Organic Brown Rice Vermicelli, Mediterranean Olive Coucous, Green Vegetable Curry and French Toast, Sour Cherry Sliced Cake, and Bread & Butter Pudding.

Piquant Green Curry (top) complemented by slices of French toast made from naturally leavened bread

A selection of organic, vegan and macrobiotic groceries, fresh produce, naturally leavened breads and pastries made without dairy, eggs, butter or trans-fat are also available.

There's no excuse not to eat healthier as offerings are priced from RM3 upwards – perfect for budget-conscious diners on the lookout for healthy and affordable meals. With a seating capacity of 50 seats, Woods Bio Marche is open for brunch, lunch, tea and dinner from 11am to 9.30pm daily except Mondays.

WOODS BIO MARCHE, 54, Jalan SS2/72, Petaling Jaya