DELICIOUS NEW TEMPTATIONS

Delicious at Bangsar Village 2

The restaurant business is all about survival. After 9 years in existence, Delicious has grown from a small tea room to 10 full-fledged cafés - expanding beyond the Klang Valley to Penang, Johor Bahru and Singapore under the E&O Group.

Delicious at St Mary's Residences KL

Now under the stewardship of new CEO Steve Allen, Delicious is set to maintain the pace and last the distance with a revamped menu. According to Allen, the new line-up is more streamlined with 20 new dishes and 20 new drinks taking pride of place. Of course, crowd favourites remain and have been given slight makeovers to freshen their presentation.

Delicious at Straits Quay Penang

"There's still a good variety to please diners," said Allen. "From our internal discussions, the offerings now include more fresh and healthier ingredients such as vegetables and fruits. We also use organic Colombian coffee for our Deli'spresso (espresso based ice blended beverage) so the flavours really come through."

Spiced Apple Tea

The cafe chain also has Spiced Apple Tea (RM8.90++), The Delicious Iced Tea - a cool blend of strawberry, mint and English breakfast tea (RM8.90++) and Spiced Apple Chai Latte (RM9.90++) to please tea lovers. Fruitier concoctions to tickle healthy tastebuds include Passionfruit Yoghurt Crush (RM11.90++) and Frosty Lychee & Lime (RM10.90++).

Feeling peckish while deciding on what to eat? Order a plate of Lebanese Bread with Caramelised Onion Hummus (RM10.90++) to share. The warm triangular pieces will be gone in a twinkling believe us.

Snow Peas, Long Beans & Sundried Tomato Salad

I love the Long Beans, Snow Peas & Sundried Tomato Salad (RM23.90++) with Crushed Pistachios in Creamy Dressing. It's a crunchy ensemble that's not overly cloying but redolent with nuttiness and toasty hints of sundried tomato.

Crispy Soft Shell Crab Salad

The Crispy Soft Shell Crab Salad (RM27.90++) with Som Tam seems a tad heavy for my personal liking but the tangy yet crunchy shredded papaya salad is a nice touch. I foresee fans of soft shell crabs will find this Thai-inspired creation worth tucking into.

Chicken Avocado Wrap

Frankly, I'm not a fan of chicken breast or pesto so I'd gladly pass on the Chicken Avocado Wrap (RM24.90++) -  Lebanese bread wrapped and rolled with poached chicken breast, butterhead lettuce and basil pesto mayo. But I'm sure plenty of health-conscious folks out there will consider this heavenly manna.

The Delicious Club Sandwich

Stacked with grilled chicken, turkey bacon, egg and tomato slices on toasted brioche smeared with pesto, The Delicious Club Sandwich (RM26.90++) is more to my liking. I guess such a classic creation really can't go wrong, can it? A notable ensemble of meaty, hearty goodness that you'd never tire of.

Dry Tossed Sambal Linguine

Firing up local palates in the pasta section is Dry Tossed Sambal Linguine (RM29.90++) with Fishballs, Calamari and Tiger Prawns. Should this be too hot for you, the Seafood Marinara Spaghettini (RM25.90++) may prove a viable alternative. Scattered amidst the robustly flavoured garlic tomato sauce are squid, prawns and anchovies that lend the pasta extra textural interest.

Beef Short Ribs Herbal Soup

Malaysia's strong, piquant culinary accents and multi-cultural heritage are evident in the Beef Short Ribs Herbal Soup (RM27.90++) and Chicken Kapitan (RM24.90++). The former is inspired by a popular meat and herbal broth dish; the beefy soup admittedly has greater depth that is soaked up by the other components: chewy soba noodles, shiitake mushrooms and bok choy.

Chicken Kapitan

As for the latter, I personally find the semi-dry chicken curry lacks oomph but diners in general may find it acceptable if they can't stomach overly spicy food. Served with some very good Acar Rampai (crunchy, tangy carrot and papaya pickles), prawn crackers and steamed rice, it's bound to go down well with rice fiends.

Salted Caramel Choc Cake

New cakes on the block to savour range from Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake (a contest winner creation, RM12.90++) and Banana Caramel Cake (RM12.90++) to Gula Melaka Decadence (RM12.90++), Berrilicious Chocolate Pavlova (RM13.90++) and Lemon Meringue Pie (RM12.90++). Just the kind of sweet conclusion that die-hard sweet-tooth diners crave.

Banana Caramel Cake

Find the nearest Delicious outlets to you via http://www.delicious.com.my/

MEXICAN HAVEN TURNS ONE

Colourful serapes, sombreros, paper marche balls and Mexican flags decked the rustic interior of Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar to mark the restaurant's 1st Anniversary celebrations on 11 May 2013.

Local media members were treated to typical Mexican fare at the pre-celebratory bash after Mexican Deputy Head of Mission, Mrs. Lourdes Sosa Marquez (Charge d’Affaires, a.i.) spoke about the wondrous attractions, vibrant Mexican heritage and culture that await visitors. 

Fun facts about Mexico:

• It's 5 times the size of Malaysia with tropical to desert climate

• The country in Americas with most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - 31 sites and 8 elements in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list

Executive Chef BB also demonstrated how to whip up a classic Guacamole while enterprising owner Jan Lim passed around ingredients fresh and dried chillies such as ancho, pasilla, poblanos and jalapenos, and tomatillo for us to take a closer look.

Tortilla chips with the chef's chunky Guacamole soon got us chomping at the bit for more. Interestingly, the chips were thinner and smoother than commercially produced ones and tasted way better. Especially when it's laden with the creamy avocado dip.

The sienna hued Sopa de Tortilla looked deceptively thick and unctuous but in reality was surprisingly light on the palate; its tanginess rounded off by a dollop of crumbly cheese that was added to it prior to serving.

Then delectable servings of Tacos Alambre (warm, fluffy soft corn tortillas filled with grilled beef and poblano chilli) and Sopes de Frijol (Mexican street snack of corn flour pastry discs topped with tomato salsa) warmed our hearts and tummies. 

Camarones al Ajillo (tiger prawns with guajillo chilli and garlic) bestowed an unexpected albeit welcomed sweetness to these moreish bites.

Representatives from the Mexican Embassy, members of the Latin American community and Fresca’s regular guests were invited to Fresca's fiesta-style party on the following night.

It was a befitting bash for Fresca; proof that Tex-Mex fajitas, quesadillas and burritos as well as more traditional Mexican delicacies such as ceviche, sopes and carne asada have a following in KL. 

The Fresca also rustles up some of the best margaritas in town, either frozen or on the rocks. Classy cocktails - Fresca Colada and Cinco de Mayo, a drink named after the famous Mexican holiday, and non-alcoholic Mexican coolers known as “agua frescas” are equally popular among their patrons.

Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar Lot G242A (Ground floor) The Gardens Mall, Midvalley 03-2201 2893 Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11am – 11pm Friday – Saturday: 11am – Late