SET FOR ROMANCE AT EM BY TEDBOY

Love is on the menu this Valentine's Day at Em by Tedboy. Named after Mathilda, the cherubic second child of the couple who owns Tedboy Bakery in Bangsar, the cosy Em by Tedboy at Hotel Transit KL aims to lure lovebirds this Valentine's Day with a special celebratory set menu (RM168+10% service charge) for two persons.

Austere décor and neutral tones are prevalent throughout the restaurant confines, evoking a casual yet welcoming atmosphere. Consultant chef Pierre MC (formerly of Croisette Cafe) has been roped in to conceive a Mediterranean inspired menu with Asian influences.

By and large the pared-down industrial vibe is softened by a feature wall depicting a world map. Snapshots of guests from around the world affixed on different continents bear testament to the outlet's increasing popularity among international travellers to our city. Now, the strategy is to boost awareness and attract a more constant and local clientele to its doors. Well, Valentine's Day seems a perfect occasion to ignite their interest.

For the lovely celebration, expect the tables to be prettied up with red tablecloths and white placemats, dried floral petals and a glass receptacle holding a pair of live guppies and ornamental pebbles as the centrepiece.

To fan the flames of romantic fervour, we sipped on a heady Pink Lady cocktail accompanied by a quartet of canapés. The concoction of cranberry and lemon juice mixed with triple sec and vodka sent our pulses racing so go slow if you're unused to boozy tipple.

Handy, dainty servings of savoury pesto-infused rice, black olive tapenade on crusty bruschetta, a mini frothy glass of cream of mushroom and prawn with mango salsa from the tempting canapé platter should pave a deliciously smooth pathway to both you and your beloved's tummies. I was particularly besotted with the springy and mildly smoky prawn coupled with the heartwarming mushroom soup.

Butterfish melded with raw and smoked salmon, and salt-cured cucumber with dill to create the palate-teasing Fresh Salmon Tartare with Mirepoix in Blood Orange Dressing. The resultant flavours were delicate with the natural fresh sweetness of both fishes intact, and textures bordering on the soft almost satiny finish. Instead of the classic French trinity of carrot, onion and celery for mirepoix, the chef added colour to the dish with diced tomato, chopped hardboiled egg and feathery sprigs of dill.

For the masculine diner, a lush Beetroot & Feta Chantilly Mille-Feuilles with Pomegranate Dressing beckons. Although beetroot doesn't top most guys' list of preferred food, the speciality tasted way better than it sounded. My dining partner would vouch for its delectable appeal after sampling the subtly sweet-savoury-briny stack.

Zippy bursts of heat set our tastebuds alight Tomato Vodka Granite. A punchy palate-cleanser that either have you succumbing to the gritty coolness or reeling from the alcoholic suckerpunch.

Main course that should go swimmingly well with fair ladies is Fried Duck Breast with Raspberry Sauce, Potato Gratin & Vegetable Tian. Tender with a thin strip of fat on top, we found the duck's gaminess barely discernible thanks to the faintly tart raspberry sauce. Herb-flecked slices of baked vegetables and potatoes served as supporting cast.

Alas, the dish was no match for the show-stealing Buttefish Fillet with Red Capsicum Coulis. We thought its vibrant saucy red looked more feminine compared to the darker shade of the ducky option. The fish was cooked just nice, rendering it firm yet flaky; contrasting well with the hearty potato gratin and tian of veggies.

Light yet luscious, Em's Signature Pavlova wrapped up the fairer side of the dinner set. The inclusion of fresh kiwifruit, blueberries, strawberries and a gooseberry coupled with raspberry sauce ensured this fanciful treat worth relishing.

Somehow the dessert appeared sweeter on the other side...I personally displayed a greater penchant for the Mille-Feuille with Strawberries. Juicy and slightly tart, the fresh strawberry halves embedded in pastry cream and sandwiched in between crisp mille-feuille were sublime.

 

Pix courtesy of Em by Tedboy

 

Event planners seeking a suitable space for meetings, breakout sessions, birthday parties or product launches are welcome to ask Em by Tedboy about its dedicated event corner upstairs. Hidden by a partition door and up a short flight of stairs, the rectangular open air, garden-like space is outfitted with retractable canopy to protect it from the heat and rain. Furnishings are tactile for flexible configurations desired by event organisers and party hosts.

For reservations, please call EM BY TEDBOY, tel: 03-2022 2056. Address: Ground Floor, Hotel Transit, No.42, Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.

YES TO YEMENI FOOD AT AL NAFOURA

Meet the pièce de résistance of Al Nafoura restaurant in Wangsa Maju. A hearty Yemeni rice dish that takes about 20-30 minutes to prepare, Maghdout is well worth the wait. You can choose either Lamb Maghdout (1/2kg RM39, RM75 1kg) or Chicken (RM35 half, RM65 whole) which has long grain basmati rice pressure-cooked to perfection in tomato-based sauce with lamb or chicken and aromatic spices. 

Prepared only upon order, the resultant speciality had us hooked on its deep-seated flavours; the fluffy rice a nice foil for the chunks of meltingly tender meat. Served with a side dish of Al Nafoura Salad (RM10) - diced Japanese cucumber, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese, this signature dish is ideal for sharing and worth repeat visits.

Opened in February 2016, Al Nafoura - the word means water fountain in Arabic - has garnered a steady following despite its low-key existence. The chefs working at Al Nafoura are Yemeni as are the ingredients. The resto owners, Rahim and Izana ensure dishes served remain as original as possible to those found in Yemen, especially Rahim who had studied in Saudi Arabia and spent years relishing Yemeni food in the Middle East.

According to them, Yemeni food is heavily influenced by Africa, India and Turkey after the country's fisherfolks, merchants and traders brought exotic spices and recipes back from their forays. Also Yemenis thrive on rice as a staple unlike the rest of the Middle Easterners who prefer bread. Having sampled the assorted Yemeni and Middle-Eastern specialities, we realised they outshone those proffered in the city centre.

The opening salvo of freshly made and baked Mullawah Bread (RM5 small, RM8 large) was ample proof. Layered and folded with butter or ghee, this deliciously rustic Yemeni bread is only available on weekdays (after 6 pm for dinner only) and weekends.

Tear up the fluffy bread and savour it with Hummus (RM12), house blended chickpeas with olive oil and Prawn Salona (RM22). Both these tapas-style offerings hit the spot as we were ravenous after the long drive to the resto.

Tomato, onion and cumin formed the alluring base for the Prawn Salona, a robustly flavoured house speciality with shelled prawns. You can also enjoy the bread with Chicken Oqda (RM17), a well-spiced albeit slightly drier chicken stew with potatoes, tomatoes and carrots. In Arabic, oqda means knot - referring to how nicely 'tied up' the ingredients are. Think of it as a scrumptious Middle Eastern rendang.

Al Nafoura also served its own distinctive Garlic Sauce (RM4) - a creamy blend of garlic, egg white and sunflower oil to complement the array of lamb and chicken dishes. Of course, you can expect Shaweq - an irresistible relish of tomato, garlic, coriander and bird's eye chilli to accompany most of the food too.

The menu also includes ubiquitous Middle-Eastern dishes such as Mandi Chicken (RM16 quarter, RM26 half) - delectable spice marinated chicken grilled and served with basmati rice. I had my fair share of this and more commonly found fare on a recent assignment but I daresay Al Nafoura's is one of the more notable ones worth savouring and suitable for both adults and kids.

You'd find it hard to eat another lousy mamak mee goreng once you try the resto's hybrid Maggi Goreng Kabsa (RM18). Boldly flavoured with sedap giler tomato-spice nuances similar to the house speciality of Maghdout, we polished off this crowd-pleaser within minutes.

Partial to lamb? Then Kabsa Lamb Rice (RM23 small, RM37 large) should convert you into part of the flock once you have a taste of the hearty lamb stew laden with aromatic Yemeni spices served with fragrant basmati rice.

Dessert can be rather hefty to deal with single-handedly after all that carbs and protein. We suggest a serving to share especially if you wish to dig into Areeka (RM18). It's a sweet-savoury bread pudding of sorts, rustled up with housemade Yemeni wheat flatbread with minced dates and nuts. Crowned with cream and grated cheese, the decadent treat was rich and filling.

Cheese lovers may prefer Kunafe (RM15), an Arabic cheesecake of sorts which is made from shredded phyllo dough and white soft cheese baked and topped off with a dollop of cream. Simple yet extremely lush and not to be trifled with lightly. Good with a warm cup of Adani Tea (milky red tea enhanced with spices) to finish.

For reservations call Al Nafoura, tel: 03-4131 4886. Address: 9-G, Plaza Wangsa Maju (Hedgeford Galleria), Jalan Maju Ria 2, Wangsa Maju, Section 10, Kuala Lumpur.

NOSTALGIC FLAVOURS FROM BABA NYONYA

It was love at first bite the minute we tasted the sizzling Salted Fish Chicken in Claypot (RM22.90). We discovered this hearty, downhome dish at Baba Nyonya by Sambal Chilli, a casual Peranakan restaurant at Avenue K recently. Glossy and dark, the caramelised chunks of chicken were superbly tasty and a fab take on the classic ham yue fah lam pou.

Good Peranakan food demands ample elbow grease but thankfully, there's a handful of Peranakan restaurants in the city to satisfy our cravings. We find Baba Nyonya by Sambal Chilli is one of the decent eateries worth trying.

You don't have to pay through your nose for decent Peranakan food here. The brightly lit, cheery outlet serves affordable packs of nasi lemak (a major crowd-pleaser), kuih-muih and delicious Assam Beehoon (RM2.50). The piquantly tangy fried rice vermicelli was so sedap we shamelessly ordered a second round to share!

Well-balanced sweet and spicy-hot accents from the resto's signature Sambal Petai Prawns (RM29) set our tastebuds alight. Both the prawns and stinkbeans were up to mark too, a combination of succulent and crunchy textures. Top notch!

For those who can't stand the heat from that robust dish, douse the fire with imaginative drinks such as Lemongrass Lychee (top pix left, RM10.90), Apple Assam Boi (top pix right, RM10.90), Cincau Bandung (bottom pix left, RM10.90) or Markisa (bottom pix right, RM10.90) - a refreshing blend of passionfruit, lemon, lime, calamansi and soda water.

The Fruit Rojak (RM9.90) also got two thumbs up. Tossed generously in dark, sticky caramelised prawn paste and crushed peanut dressing, the salad's fruity mixture and refreshing crunchiness proved so delectable, we devoured two portions in one sitting.

Bursting with such lush, deep-seated rempah flavours and lemak richness, the Curry Prawns in Claypot (RM36) left us struggling to relish it without rice. This surefire palate-pleasing offering stamped such an indelible impression on us, we agree it was worth returning for.

Amping up our quota of greens for the night was Steamed Ladies Fingers with Sambal (RM12.70). Personally, I found the sambal dip somewhat 'flat' and one dimensional but the tender ladies fingers was acceptable when partaken with the other specialities.

Two notable options which had us chomping with gusto were the wickedly addictive Tom Yam Popcorn Chicken (RM9.90) and Fried Belacan Chicken Wings (RM9.90). Again, their appeal can be attributed to the strong, distinct tastes imparted by two familiar and much loved flavours - that of tom yam and cincalok (fermented krill).

Our only grouse was the chicken wings were a tad dry from overfrying but the marinade managed to bestow the meat some tastiness.

The Crispy Fish with Sambal Sauce (RM56.90) was more slanted to Northern Malay or Southern Thai influences than Baba-Nyonya. Still, the fish was undoubtedly fresh and sweet; a nice canvas to capture the milieu of punchy spice nuances from the sambal.

Daily plates of noodles and rice are also available, to cater to the office lunch crowd looking for quick, reasonably priced lunches. The Green Curry Chicken Rice (RM14.90) was apparently a hit with the white collar clientele alongside popular choices of Nasi Lemak Chicken Kapitan (RM16.90) and Assam Pedas Fish Rice (RM19.90) among others.

After the earlier slew of potent servings, I daresay the Nyonya Chap Chye (RM16.90) seemed lacklustre by comparison. While the spongy beancurd puffs, black mushroom, glass noodles and mixture of veggies passed muster, the dish was too watery and flat on the palate.

The saving grace came from a defyingly simple but oh so fluffy portion of Cincalok Omelette (RM12.90). Sliced softened onion lent the savoury eggy serving subtle sweetness, leaving our dining party asking for repeat helpings.

Remember to leave tummy space for the house special of Banana Fritters (RM11.90). Raveworthy for its gossamer-light, crisp batter and sweet, soft bananas. A side dip of zingy black soya sauce (with ground chilli added) and a scoop of vanilla ice cream made for strange bedfellows for the fritters but somehow, these trad combo worked like a charm. You gotta try it to believe it.

Other dessert options such as Bo Bo Cha Cha (RM4.50), ABC (RM9.90) and Cendol (RM3.90) passed muster. I were underwhelmed by most of them but heck, I'm firmly of the "to each his own" school of thought so do try and decide for yourself.

Traditionalists may like sampling Sago Pandan Gula Melaka (RM4.90) and Bubur Pulut Hitam (RM4.20). Overall, I'd say Baba Nyonya is worth a visit for city folks who seek affordable meals with a homely Peranakan-Malay-Thai spin. The friendly and helpful service team earned extra brownie points from us too.

For reservations, please call BABA NYONYA by Sambal Chilli, tel: 03-21815544. Address: Lot UC-1, Upper Concourse, Avenue K, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Biz hours: 8am – 10pm daily