Saturday, February 29, 2020

RETRO AMERICAN FAVES ROCK AT ED'S DINER

 
Opened in 1st Dec last year, Ed’s Diner - Malaysia’s one and only American retro-concept eatery from London - is the first ever to operate outside the United Kingdom since its establishment in 1987. Channelling cool 1950s vibes like the movie Grease, this 158-seat restaurant at Resorts World Genting (RWG) flaunts glowing neon signs, a monochrome, checkered tile floor, glossy vinyl booth seating and chrome-accented soda fountain stools.
 


A working jukebox – an authentic analog machine loaded with chart-toppers from the 50s, 60s and 70s – takes pride of place. RWG Outlet Manager Mohd Fauzan, Sous Chef Hapizi bin Hussain and Outlet Chef Zulkifli Nayan underwent 2-month training with the master franchisor, to ensure the food and beverage selection comply with expected standards.
Both RWG chefs who have 27 years of industry experience each, not only exceeded the franchisor’s expectations but are also playing a key role in getting halal certification for Ed’s Diner. “Once we succeed, this will be the first halal-certified Ed’s Diner in the world” says Mohd Fauzan.
Food-wise, portions are huge at Ed’s Diner so it’s advisable to share especially if you’re a light eater. Remember to amp up the rock & roll feel by selecting your fave retro hits from the jukebox, absolutely free of charge.
Familiar curtain-raisers of Nachos To Share (RM39) and Chicken Caesar Salad (RM18) paved the way for lunch. The generous heap of tortilla chips came smothered with chicken chilli cheese sauce, tomato salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Each hearty bite was addictive with hints of coriander and chilli seasoning. Mildly sweet yet tart green chilli pickles helped to alleviate the cloying richness.
 
Loading up on the salad of romaine lettuce, grilled chicken thigh, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, croutons and Caesar dressing made sense; especially when we had to chomp through the plethora of tempting eats.
 
My personal pick of the lot is Chicken N Waffle (RM24), one of best selling items Ed’s Diner is famous for. The savoury and sweet profile combo of deep-fried chicken with crisp vanilla waffles and honey hit the spot for me.
Smoky slices of streaky beef and Big Ed’s burger sauce lent additional appeal to the double 150g beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and gherkins which made up the trademark Big Ed’s Burger (RM35). It’s a hefty speciality for one person to handle but if you have a humongous appetite, go for it.
Fancy some heat with your burger? The Nashville Hot (RM19) comprising fried spicy chicken burger with hot sauce and chilli seasoning was piled high with cheese, lettuce, tomato, coriander, cheese sauce, mayonnaise and onion rings. Also available in Super Hot version with double lashings of hot sauce.
 
Family and child-friendly fare includes Classic Foot Long (beef RM23, chicken RM21) and Love Me Tenders (RM38). Sandwiched between soft, sesame seed-flecked buns, the sausage adorned with gherkins, ketchup, mustard and crispy onion passed muster.
I was more smitten with the delicious fried chicken tenders. A dash of chilli seasoning, a cup of macaroni & cheese, classic fries and onion rings enlivened the boneless chicken, alongside the house BBQ and cayenne ranch (sour cream, cilantro and mayo) sauce. Try the Falafel Burger (RM19) with a patty made from chickpeas and spices for those looking for a vegetarian option.
Specially created for Malaysia, the local team proffers Buko Coconut Pandan Cake (RM28) – a delightful pandan ice cream milkshake crowned with coconut pandan jelly, whipped cream, palm sugar syrup and love letter biscuits. Lightly creamy, its sweetness was agreeable.

Our other fave is the no-frills Peanut Butter Deluxe Shake (RM24) while the signature Strawberry Donut Shake (RM28) with its no-holds barred strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries concoction could be a meal by itself. Colourful fruit loops, love letter biscuit roll, whipped cream, strawberry sauce and a mini strawberry doughnut complete the liquid dessert.
Ed’s Diner is open from  11am to 10pm Mon-Thurs. On Friday-Sunday and eve of public holidays, it’s open from 11am to 11pm.

For information, please call tel: +603 6101 1118 or visit www.rwgenting.com

Monday, February 17, 2020

ALL TUNA TREATS AT IKETERU, HILTON KUALA LUMPUR

Highly revered by the Japanese, maguro or tuna is the king of fish when it comes to savouring sashimi and sushi at any sushi-ya (sushi restaurant) worth its salt. The bidding for this deep-sea fish in Japan is fiercely competitive with record-breaking sums paid each year for the biggest tuna.
 
When invited to witness Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s Japanese Executive Chef Masami Okamoto perform a live tuna-cutting demonstration at Iketeru Japanese Restaurant, it was an opportunity no foodie can refuse.
 
Weighing in at 30kg, the tuna’s sleek, torpedo-shaped body was an awesome sight to behold. Chef Okamoto soon held us spellbound when he set about carving and filleting the huge fish with practiced finesse, his sharp knife cutting through the tuna as if it was butter.
 
 
 
Before long, he was deftly slicing up fresh, deep-red slices of chutoro for our sampling. Every slice tasted soft yet toothsomely succulent with an imperceptible flinty sweetness to it. The chef also hand-crafted dainty pieces of maguro sushi to tickle our tastebuds before we sat down to Iketeru’s All Tuna Course Menu.
 
 
 
 
The duo of curtain-raisers featured Tuna Sumiso Sauce and Tuna, Avocado, and Tomato with Wasabi Mayo Sauce. Both appetisers showcased how different preparation techniques resulted in palate-pleasing morsels to pique diners’ interest.
 
I enjoyed the latter for its simplicity as the diced tuna with little avocado and tomato wedges were lightly dressed in zingy wasabi sauce. However, the former proved interesting too as the cooked tuna paired with some kelp came anointed with sumiso sauce – a mixture of white miso, sugar and vinegar.
 
After these profusion of rich flavours, we sipped on Tuna Belly Soup. The clear, savoury broth was conceived to cleanse the palate yet its full-bodied nuance was unmistakable, thanks to the meaty tuna belly immersed in it. Tofu and negi (Japanese leek) lent textural contrast to the overall dish.
 
A generous serving of Tuna Sashimi then enlivened our dinner further. Some of the raw tuna I savoured au naturel whilst others I dipped in shoyu and wrapped in shiso (perilla leaf) with a dab of wasabi for added punch. Slivers of gari or Japanese pickled ginger came in handy to temper the fish’s inherent richness.
 
 
Teppanyaki-style Tuna with Truffle Teriyaki Sauce was the night’s stellar show-stopper. Although my serving of tuna was a tad overdone (a seared crust with a raw core would have done the fish greater justice), its sumptuousness was dialled up by the accompanying truffle-infused teriyaki sauce.
 
 
Reeling us in further was Deep-fried Tuna Tatsuta Age with Spicy Miso Dip. Marinated earlier in soya sauce, the deep-fried tuna with its nice crisp crust boasted distinct savouriness reminiscent of fu yue (Chinese fermented beancurd). It was a sublime treat when relished with the tangy-sweet-savoury red miso dip and grilled shishito pepper.
 
More of the fresh tuna returned to delight us; roughly chopped and sprinkled with sesame seeds then set atop white rice, we valiantly found tummy space to fit in the Oshokuji Tekka Don with Miso Soup. Again, this no-frills approach was an apt reminder that a prime quality fish such as tuna is best treated with respect and doesn’t need frills to shine.
Black Sesame Ice Cream with fine watermelon and dragonfruit dices wrapped up our exclusive tuna dining experience on a high.
 
 
 
 
 
The All Tuna Course Menu is priced at RM480 nett per person inclusive free flow of house red and white wine, juices and soft drinks, and at RM300 nett per adult for food only.

For reservations, please call Iketeru @Hilton Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03-2264 2264 or visit www.life.hiltonkl.com

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