Wednesday, October 23, 2024

CREATIVITY RULES AT NEWLY REFRESHED TOH YUEN

Familiar yet fresh sums up the newly renovated Toh Yuen restaurant. Modern elegance with contemporary touches blends artfully with traditional accents of red and understated decorative elements to create a serene, sophisticated dining space.
 
With a seating capacity of 150 and four private dining rooms, Toh Yuen is ideal for casual and special outings.
Among the culinary gems awaiting diners is Roasted Peking Silver Hill London Duck (RM168 nett for half duck, RM268 nett whole duck). The Wagyu of ducks are meticulously roasted using a customised oven then carved tableside. Wrapped in delicate pancakes, the meltingly tender duck is accompanied by fresh cucumber strips, spring onions, and rich hoisin sauce; a delectable treat you’re unlikely to forget.
The remaining duck meat is then transformed into delicious Braised Shredded Duck with Ee Fu Noodle. Truffle oil adds a luxe touch to the silky noodles. Crisp cornets stuffed with duck meat and other dishes are available from the restaurant too.

For an overview of its dim sum repertoire, Toh Yuen offers a Dim Sum Lunch Set at RM99 nett per person. The culinary team puts a lot of efforts into creating exquisite morsels such as the goldfish-shape Steamed Cod Dumpling with Chicken Broth (so good I was tempted to lick the plate clean), Steamed Siew Mai with Hokkaido Scallop (an on-point showcase of bouncy-tender textures), and delicate Steamed Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp and Wolfberries (love the translucent skin yielding to a clean vegetal nuance touched with the fleeting sweetness of shrimp and wolfberries).
One of the show-stealers to gain two thumbs up is Baked Chicken Tart with Abalone. The flaky pastry encasing a mildly sweet-savoury chicken filling topped with mini abalone is memorable for its resemblance to char siu sou.
Even the soup course is levelled up with a mini pumpkin filled with Braised Crab Meat Broth with Scallop and Asparagus. Delicate flavours aplenty, with subtle crunch of the asparagus and supple-soft diced scallop bestowing textural interest.
Should you decide to go à la carte, we highly recommend sampling Toh Yuen’s signature offerings. Notable specialities such as Sweet and Sour Diced Chicken with Figs stood out for its enticing sauce and palate-pleasing fried chicken pieces paired with fresh sweet figs, and the supremely tender Stir-Fried Wagyu Beef with Porcini Mushrooms and Trio of Peppercorn.
Sweet with on-point doneness, the Steamed Pomfret with Pickled Red Chillies and Minced Ginger is divine. Kudos to the chef for the tantalising combination of robustly flavoured toppings.
The springy Golden Butter Prawns with Cashew Nuts appears par for the course. I’d wish the chef has given this offering a little twist, just to set it apart from the competition.  
It’s nice to conclude on a high with a distinct Egg Custard Pastry (deliciously flaky and custard-soft filling win every time). Even the Chilled Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo finds favour with its just-nice sweetness.
Open daily from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm and 6.30 pm to 10 pm, reservations at Toh Yuen are highly recommended. 

To book a table or more information, contact Toh Yuen, Hilton Petaling Jaya at tel: 03 7955 9122 or WhatsApp 016 216 0414, or email PETHI_FB@hilton.com, or visit eatdrinkhilton.com.


Monday, October 21, 2024

TWO NEW COFFEE FLAVOURS FROM OATSIDE

Caramel Macchiato and Mocha are two new flavours introduced by Oatside’s Signature Barista Blend oatmilk. Using a blend of coffee beans, Oatside launches its pocket size Caramel Macchiato and Mocha flavours at Ping Min Coffee Festival 2.0 in Kuala Lumpur recently. Purchases entitled buyers to participate in some fun-filled games on the spot.

The Caramel Macchiato is rich and subtly sweet; the pleasant coffee and caramel accents shine through the oaty milk in each sip. Mocha naturally tastes more chocolatey with a nice coffee finish amidst the oatmilk base. Personally, I find the existing Coffee variant surprisingly strong but avid coffee drinkers will find it up to expectations.
Another great point is the nifty pocket size packaging which makes for easy and convenient consumption. It’s lightweight enough to tote around and so handy when one needs a quick coffee fix without breaking the bank.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

THE GREAT BRITISH CARVERY BRUNCH AFFAIR AT SHANGRI-LA KL

Executive Chef Scott Brands leads the culinary charge with a Carvery Buffet Brunch at Arthur’s Pub & Grill for the Great British Affair promotion.
Satisfy your tastebuds with the much sought-after Black Angus Beef Wellington (RM128 a la carte) in Puff Pastry. The flaky, buttery pastry encasing wild forest mushroom duxelles, foie gras and Black Angus tenderloin is adroitly prepared. Accompanied by mashed potato and gravy, this speciality should hit the spot for ardent Anglophiles.

The equally tempting Boneless Leg of Lamb with Rosemary and Fresh Thyme is second-to-none. Tender with the merest hint of gaminess, try savouring it with lamb jus, dollops of mustard and mint sauce alongside Roasted Oatmeal with Fried Onions.

Side dishes of Yorkshire Pudding, Roasted Baby New Potatoes and Roasted Autumn Root Vegetables are served to lend substance.

From the a la carte selection, we were smitten with the cold oak-smoked Scottish Smoked Salmon (RM25). Succulent and slightly briny, the salmon slices were complemented by horseradish crème fraîche and pink peppercorns. A quenelle of salmon mousse with caviar and lemon dill dressing was also included for textural contrast.

Chef Brands uses Omega eggs to create the English picnic classic of Scotch Egg (RM25). Encased within a crisp breadcrumb crust, the hard-boiled egg had a scrumptious mixture of spiced minced beef and lamb surrounding it. Served with salad and pickled relish, it was a cracking option worth sampling.

Good ol’ Blighty puddings such as Sticky Toffee Pudding (RM25 a la carte) and Warm Baked Apple Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream make for compelling sweet options to finish on a high.

Salted caramel ice cream adds a touch of lush creaminess to the baked sponge cake with dates, treacle and caramel sauce.

For the latter, you’d be smitten by tender, soft slices of cinnamon-scented apples; the speciality’s mellow tartness balancing the sweet accent.

Available every weekend until 31 October 2024, the Great British Affair Weekend Carvery Brunch buffet is priced at RM280 nett per person.

For more information and reservations, call Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03-2032 2388.

Saturday, October 12, 2024

BEST OF PERU AT FELIZ

 

Do you know chifa is the Peruvian version of fried rice? Heavily influenced by the Chinese, a gastronomy article published in Journal of Ethnic Food reveals chifa originated from the Chinese words: “chi” (eat) and “farn” (rice). The term emerged around the 1930s in Lima when Peruvians overheard Chinese restaurateurs cajoled potential customers to patronise their eateries to chi farn
Egg chaufa or fried rice with ceviche, egg, sesame oil, spring onion and beansprouts is Peruvians’ carb of choice along with French fries, to complement Pollo A La Brasa (RM118), roasted chicken which has been marinated 24 hours with garlic and cumin.
To amp up the flavour, they rely on aji de la casa (house-made chilli), chimichurri (a blend of flatleaf parsley, coriander, garlic, salt, chilli flakes, vinegar and olive oil) and tartara (tartar sauce).
 
This Peruvian speciality is one of the many offerings rustle up by Chef Franco Aldana at Feliz, Klang Valley’s first and only Peruvian restaurant at Avenue K.
Feliz, meaning happy in Spanish, flaunts an open rooftop bar surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers. A tiered water feature and a long, shaded patio decked with potted greenery complete the al fresco section.
Within the entrance, a narrow walkway flanked by multiple shelves of greenery leads into a tastefully decorated dining space. Peru’s vibrant cultural heritage is evoked through a jade-green glass tile wall, a circular wine glass chandelier, colourful Peruvian tassel and macrame wall hangings, and turquoise-toned furnishings.
Our culinary journey to Peru began with chicha morada, a boiled purple corn and pineapple peel drink. It tastes like blackcurrant juice, infused with cinnamon and cloves.
The opening salvo of Ceviche Limeno (RM38) is Peru’s most famous dish. Although it seems simple, Aldana said a good ceviche must be perfectly balanced; from the use of leche de tigre (tiger’s milk), a bright, salty-spicy marinade of aji panca, lime, salt, ginger, garlic and coriander, to the combination of white corn, sweet potato and canchita (fried corn kernels).

We like how the leche de tigre’s punchy sourness melded cohesively with the white corn and sweet potato’s delicate sweetness. Strands of sea grapes lent pops of savouriness as we relished the slippery succulence of marinated fish. Canchita and crispy fried plantain injected crunchiness to the well-balanced dish.
Raw, sashimi-style tuna slices accompanied by a sauce of cold potato pureé, vinegar, leche de tigre, cucumber and mango juices form the chef’s Tiradito De Tuna (RM145). Topped with chalaquita de mango, Peruvian salsa of tiny mango, red onion and cherry tomato dices, the riot of delicate textures and assertive flavours tantalised our tastebuds.
Feliz’s signature Arroz Con Mariscos (RM119), was faintly similar to a perfectly cooked risotto albeit dialled up with aji amarillo (hot yellow chilli), assorted seafood and cilantro.
We also enjoyed meltingly tender and piquantly flavoured Anticuchos De Lomo Fino (RM158), skewers of marinated and grilled tenderloin accompanied by white corn, sliced fried potatoes and chimichurri.
Light and sweet Alfajores (RM27), two buttery biscuits sandwiched between creamy dulce de leche (caramelised condensed milk) wrap up our Peruvian party.
 
The milk-soaked sponge cake topped with Chantilly cream, dulce de leche and fruits making up Tres Leches (RM45) was winsome whilst the Petit Foie Selection (RM45) comprising mini glasses of tres leches, tocino del cielo (creamy caramel flan) and alfajores paves an introductory pathway to Peruvian desserts.
For reservations at Feliz, contact: 011-1771 7742. Address: L4-05, LEVEL 4, Avenue K, 156, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

 

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