OVER THE MOON WITH ORIENTAL GROUP’S MOONCAKES

Moonlight and love converge this Mid-Autumn Festival when you celebrate with delicious mooncakes from Oriental Group of Restaurants.

A vibrant red oblong gift box adorned with pretty blossoms and a pair of birds can be filled with your choice of baked or snowskin mooncakes from the restaurant group.

My favourite is the old-school Baked Mixed Nuts (RM30) mooncake. Packed with almonds, sesame seeds, walnuts, sunflower and melon seeds, the mooncake’s subtly sweet and nutty filling has a subtle whiff and taste of kaffir lime leaf too.

More unusual is the Black Sesame with White Lotus Snowskin (RM24) variant which boasts a rich nuttiness complemented by the delicate sweetness of white lotus.

 

Fans of classic mooncakes may prefer the buttery crumb texture of the Single Egg Yolk Shanghai Style (RM37) mooncake or the Baked Single Yolk with White Lotus Paste (RM34) mooncake.

To order Oriental Group’s mooncakes, kindly WhatsApp: 012 811 8812.

DISCOVER ROYAL KLANG TOWN VIA HERITAGE WALK

 

The rich historical and cultural heritage of Royal Klang Town came to light after we went on the Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk (RKTHW) hosted by Tourism Selangor.

In collaboration with the Royal Klang Town Municipal Council, our media group was welcomed to Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery, one of the town’s landmark buildings. According to Mayor of Royal Klang Town, Datin Paduka Noraini Roslan, the Royal Klang Town Heritage Walk (RKTHW) reinforced the state committee’s efforts in preserving historical buildings and cultural practices.

It was a Muhibbah affair as members of the media were invited to experience various activities onsite. After we saw how Lo Han Guo (monkfruit) herbal drink was brewed, we sampled the drink itself.

Then we watched how meticulously Malai floral garlands were made. Another group of enterprising ladies taught us how to use coffee beans and saga seeds repurposed into little trapezoid pouches for the folk game of Batu Seremban.

A popular snack vendor was also at hand, to rustle up freshly made Vadai for us to savour. The chosen activities were integral to Klang’s multi-cultural identity and can be experienced during the RKTHW.

After the immersive activities, we spent some time touring the Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery. The well-curated exhibits and displays proved insightful, enabling us to learn the history of the Selangor sultanate and how the royal families spurred the state’s progress and development throughout the centuries.

We then proceeded to Chennai Silk House to admire the vast textile selection and how the team helps shoppers with their needs: from purchasing saree fabrics to the tailoring of bridal and special occasion attires.

The heritage walk route also covers notable locations and significant places such as Royal Klang Club, Alam Shah Palace, Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang Convent School and Church, Masjid India and Balai Bomba Klang.

The complimentary RKTHW tour begins at 9.15am and ends around 12.30pm, every weekend. Registration begins at 9am sharp at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Royal Gallery. Contact Klang Municipal Council Tourism Department, tel: 03 3375 5555 ext. 1013/1235 for more information.

KYOMO KOHI BREWS UP DELISH EATS

 

“Kyomo” in Japanese means today or daily, the essence behind Kyomo Kohi, the minimalist Japanese-inspired café at New Ocean Fine Food City. Channelling Japanese artisan café vibes, Kyomo Kohi takes pride in serving artisanal coffee drinks, creative beverages, and artfully prepared East meets West dishes as well as tempting cakes and pastries as its drawcards.

We felt at ease instantly within the bright, cheery and clean-lined interior. Coupled with friendly service and the stellar selection of good eats, we were charmed by this trendy outpost.

Finger-thick, lightly battered Japanese Sweet Potato (RM18) stirred our interest prior to our mains’ arrival. Drizzled with Thai brown sugar syrup, the yummy sweet potato fingerlings severely tested our restraint from gobbling up the whole lot in one go.

Slaking our thirst with chilled Cantaloupe Yuzu (RM17) and the newer Matcha Strawberry Latte and Tiramisu Latte, we found fresh appeal from the first drink’s citrusy yuzu accent while the other beverages’ fruity and creamy coffee appeal kept our animated conversation flowing.

Gyukatsu Don (RM65), headlined by a panko-crusted, 110-g Aussie wagyu cutlet emerged as the day’s favourite ‘must try’ dish. Done medium rare, the slab of tender beef accompanied by Japanese rice, miso soup, fresh mixed salad, house-made curry sauce and potato salad was not only great value but also delectable to boot.

Coming in a close second was the soulful Salmon Ochazuke Yuzu Spice (RM30). We love relishing the comforting succour of the hot seasoned dashi, poured over grilled salmon fillet and Japanese rice. Ikura (salmon roe) and bonito furikake (flavoured rice puffs and seaweed flakes) bestowed bursts of briny and savoury flavours.

 
Thick, rich and lightly spiced Japanese curry with well-balanced savoury-sweet accents complemented crispy fried chicken to create a most delicious Chicken Karaage Curry Rice (RM28). Along with a runny soft-boiled egg and sweet corn kernels, it was one of the better versions we had sampled. Even though I’m not a fan of Japanese curry, I found this likeable.

Go for breakfast (7am to 3pm) and you’d find a notable start to the day with spongy-light Buttermilk Pancakes (RM20). Served with seasonal fruits, berry coulis, Chantilly cream and maple syrup, the pancakes were deftly made and went like a dream with the various accompaniments.

 
Playful sweet-savoury nuances teased our tastebuds when we dug into the Brioche Blossom French Toast (RM26). Topped with supple slices of smoked salmon, fresh rocket salad, a medley of fresh fruits, grated cheese and maple syrup, the thick-cut toast came up to mark.

We left no scone unturned and succumbed to the delightful Lemon Scone (RM9). Buttery with just the right amount of crumbly and airy lightness, we enjoyed smearing it with clotted cream and lemon curd.

Kyomo Kohi is definitely a noteworthy outpost for coffee and good food in our books.

For reservations at Kyomo Kohi, please call tel: 03-8408 8021. Address: L1 - 01, Level 1, New Ocean World Fine Food City, 15, Jalan 19/1, Seksyen 19, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 8pm; Sat, Sun & public holidays 7am to 8pm