Finding the most conducive place to spend at least two hours of quality time with a good book, your laptop or just a pen and a piece of paper is getting increasingly tough. The said location has to have the right combination of lighting, cozy ambiance, soothing jazzy music, and that all important factor - a good cup of coffee. One step into Pick n’ Brew however, you’d think that you’ve found The Spot.
Sick of over crowded pubs in the heart of the city? Make a move to suburbia then – Jaya One to be specific. Already known for its food choices, the development now houses the newly opened Brussels Beer Cafe (somewhere in PJ, we hear choruses of joy upon reading this news).
A few months ago, we caught wind that popular fine dining establishment Lafite had changed heads. Kevin Cherkas no longer leads the kitchen; the position of Chef de Cuisine at the restaurant is currently held by one Damon Campbell.
What do Lil’ Jon, Cassidy, Yung Joc and the Ying Yang Twins have in common? Apart from the obvious fact that they’re all rap stars, the four also love to namedrop Patrón tequila in their songs.
Transplated from New York City itself is Yellow Cab Pizza, the latest pizza parlour (well sort of) to hit Kuala Lumpur. Situated in a refurbished heritage house on Jalan Raja Abdullah (just down the road from Maison), Yellow Cab occupies a corner and immediately catches a casual passerby’s eye with its striking yellow colours and black stripes.
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Posted on 29 September 2008Tucked away in a secluded corner at The Gardens, the unobtrusive entrance of Yuzu belies the huge space that this Japanese restaurant occupies. To draw a distant analogy, perhaps this restaurant is like its namesake, the yuzu fruit, which appears small in size but big in flavour. For the uninitiated, the yuzu is a tart-tasting citrus fruit that is rarely eaten on its own, but its fragrant rind and juice is used in Japanese cooking for flavouring and garnishing. Think of what a lemon is to western cooking and you get the idea. We loved the warm Zen-like ambience of the place, with its extensive use of wood and bamboo combined with interesting water features. Service was very attentive; empty plates were promptly whisked away and the free-flow o-cha regularly refilled without asking.
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Posted on 30 September 2008What happens when one of your favourite places attempts to conquer new ground? Like a favourite band you love, you lie in fear for what might happen if they tried to adopt a new sound or re-invent themselves in the name of personal discovery.
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Posted on 30 September 2008We often look to Singapore to lead the way. Cleaner, busier and more efficient; these are traits of the island-nation that stick in the mind, providing a beacon of example for us across the causeway. Therefore, we are always in anticipation of the latest attempts of Singaporean food chains that aim to muscle in on the local market.
Fig and Olive, around in Singapore for more than seven years, moved in to Sunway Pyramid’s new wing barely five months ago and judging by the idling staff at the front of the restaurant, they haven’t been too well-received so far.
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Posted on 30 September 2008Mezze, located inside Tang’s departmental store, is definitely eye candy. With its African-influence décor and beautiful details on every piece of furnishing, it looks like a place you could bring a date to. But be warned though, Mezze is not recommended for a romantic dinner date for two.
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Posted on 30 September 2008As far as local neighborhood institutions go, Aziz Dolmat is about as underrated as they get. A staple of any Pandanite’s dinner options for the past 30-odd years, this painfully understated noodle joint still gets no love. What you will love, however, is the lovingly prepared yet Spartan-looking mi bandung which reminds one of hearty home-cooked meals with an affectionate cherubic aunt slaving over the stove.
Soraya Putra has been an artist all her life. Growing up, she indulged in every art class that was offered, from clay art lessons to Chinese brush painting, dabbling in wood work, candle making and at one point, she even made her own paper, her own dye and her own perfume! Needless to say, this is one person who believes in total customization.
Craving for dessert with a Japanese touch? The newly opened MOF: Japanese Sweets & Coffee might just be the pick-me-up you need. From Singapore, MOF actually stands for Ministry of Food and if that sounds very official and stiff to you, don’t worry, the dining experience at MOF is strictly casual.
In last month’s issue, we observed that the pizza business in the city was blooming. Well we must be at least a little clairvoyant because we received news that a new franchise is set to hit KL in October and it’s called Konopizza.
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Posted on 30 September 2008Not to be confused with the Soo Kee mee stall in Jalan Imbi, the 20-year old Soo Kee Restaurant instead has char siew and roast duck in a class of its own.
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Posted on 30 September 2008Ask for Hot Station, and Ampang residents will give you blank stares. Refer to this eatery as Nasi Lemak Taman Kosas or risk local derision. There’s nothing by way of ambience, especially since the stall just moved further down the road due to new buildings taking up thhe original space, but that’s okay, because the nasi lemak is exquisite.
