8 ROAD, Puchong, Selangor

Gong Xi Gong Xi Gong Xi Ni Ya! Gong Xi Gong Xi Gong Xi Ni!

Gong Xi Fa Cai or Happy Chinese New Year to all our Chinese friends and fans out there.

As you all know, it’s almost impossible to find a Chinese restaurant that’s open and not overly priced during this festive season. =( =( =(

Not to worry, as we have the perfect solution for you Chinese food lovers out there!!!

Sek Sek Sek!!!

Egg Foo Young (Literally means Lotus Egg. Also means Chinese Omelette) (RM10)

Shiv: Pretty good. The edges were crispy and they were generous with the ingredients used. Also, marks awarded for not being soggy and not having an egg-y smell.

Gaj: I am not a big fan of egg, but enjoyed this dish immensely. Agreed Shiv, no egg-y smell.

Kav: One of the better Egg Foo Young’s that I have tried. The dried shrimp and onions made for a savoury and flavourful egg. To top it off, the egg was fluffy and moist. Loves!!!

Claypot Bean Curd (Handmade) (RM15)

Shiv: Mediocre, as the flavour of the thickened broth was way too subdued. But again, they were very generous with the assorted mushrooms and vegetables. Not too shoddy, as the tofu itself was delish!

Gaj: The ingredients were great, but something was amiss with this one! Missed the mark by a tad!

Kav: Love the handmade tofu used, as it was soft and the texture and flavour of the fried tofu was perfect with the gravy. The gravy itself was only average, however they were generous with the ingredients.

Spare Ribs (RM15)

Shiv: Disappointing! The ribs were fresh and tender, but the sauce coating it was just tooo sweet, almost dessert-like. Sadly, the pig gave its life in vain for this one.

Gaj: The sauce was waaayyy too sweet, but the pork itself was very tender and done well. Perhaps order a different variation of the pork if you are not a big fan of sweet sauces.

Kav: Way too sweet!!! Also the pieces were a little dried out.

Butter Cream Tiger Prawns (RM35)

Shiv: Absolutely brilliant! Unlike the creamy butter prawns you find nowadays, the butter flakes were super light, fluffy and flavourful, and the prawns were huge and fresh. A real bargain for the price and a definite must have here.

Gaj: Freshness, check! Fluffy flakes, check! Super yummylicious, check! A must must have!

Kav: WOW!!! It’s been a long time since I’ve had butter prawns that were this good. It was authentic, with the texture of the flakes done to perfection. The prawns were fresh and cooked perfectly. Just YUMMY!!!

Fried Sambal with Four Beans (RM12)

Shiv: Simply scrumptious! The greens were fresh and abundant, and the sambal belacan was super aromatic, spicy and salty. Savour it with plain white rice for a heavenly mouthful.

Gaj: A staple in most Chinese restaurants and this was just perfect!

Kav: Loved this dish. The vegetables were crunchy and not overdone. The sambal was not overly sweet like most other belacan dishes and it was savoury and infused well with garlic and shrimp.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Very reasonable. Tiger prawns were really cheap as there were 6 big pieces. (RM90.90 for seven items – 4pax, inclusive of two plates of rice at RM1.20 each and three glasses of Chinese tea at RM0.50 each)

AMBIENCE: Typical Chinese restaurant, complete with fish tank in the corner and white board on the wall creating an authentic ambience and hence a bona fide oriental experience.

SERVICE: Excellent. Waiters were more than willing to explain the dishes on the menu and were very obliging to our requests.

FOOD: Amazing food. Authentic and delicious Chinese cuisine!!!

8 ROAD

12A/15, JALAN KENARI 8,

BANDAR PUCHONG JAYA,

47100 PUCHONG, SELANGOR

Tel: +603 8070 2852

Mobile: +6017 329 1119

Opening Hours:

11.00 am – 3.00 pm

5.00pm – 11.00pm

(Open daily except the second Tuesday of every month)

D' Legends bar, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Armed with our rumbling tummies, and seriously spoiling for some swine, we made our way to the friendly neighbourhood pub that is D’ Legends bar.

With a place that boasts a plethora of porcine pleasures, our dining location was a no-brainer.

Atmosphere of the joint was rather quiet (though hardly dull) on the night of our visit, which could be due to the long Chinese New Year weekend.

The ambience was made that much more pleasant by pop paraphernalia adorning the walls and cozy lighting embellishing the place.

Food wise, we started with some Bar Bites:

1. Chicken Tikka (RM16)

Juicy chicken breast marinated with our secret spices. Served with chutney and a side salad.

Shiv: The chicken pieces were tender and flavoured well, and the mint chutney was simple and delicious. Generous serving, which makes this a suitable starter to be shared by the pork averse.

Gaj: Very nicely done. If you are not a pork fan, this is a great starter to dig into.

Kav:  The chicken was cooked to perfection, and the tandoori marinade was spicy and tangy. The perfect balance of yogurt and spice. The mint chutney added a certain freshness to the savoury dish.

Mien: It was good, however, I felt it was toooo meaty. The chutney was amazing, accompanied the chicken well.

2. Pork Satay (Cannot be missed!) (RM24)

Plump and juicy! Served with our very own Chili Peanut Sauce and a side salad.

Shiv: I don’t know why I’ve stayed a pork satay virgin for this long, as it is maddeningly mouthwatering! Every plump morsel was so juicy and savoury, and the chili peanut sauce was crunchy and moreish. Again, generous portion size which can easily be shared 4 ways.

Gaj: OMG! Super yummy! I can’t say enough good things about the chili peanut sauce which was savoury and right on the money! A must-have indeed.

Kav:  Firstly, the satay serving was as generous as it gets. This was a first for me, eating pork satay, and God was it good!!! The meat was juicy and tender, and had a rendang-like flavour with a hint of sweetness. The satay was accompanied by a delicious peanut sauce which was spicy and not too sweet. Loves!!!

Next up were some Entrées:

3. Two-way Mushroom Tapas (Vegetarian) (RM15)

Creamy garlic mushrooms with crusty bread OR Olive oil, garlic and herb mushrooms with crusty bread. (We opted for the latter)

Shiv: The abundance of garlic and the strong herb-y flavour of the mushrooms was a treat to my taste buds. Would have preferred if they had served slightly fancier bread, but that’s just me being fussy.

Gaj: I had a bit of hesitance when I saw this on the menu as it said ‘creamy garlic mushroom’.  Fortunately, there was an alternate option which didn’t have that creaminess, and in fact, was light and had a nice garlic flavour.  A good dish for vegetarians.

Kav:  Garlic and I are best buds, so there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was going to dislike this dish. Yummy-earthy-herby-garlic-y goodness!!!

Mien: Amazing… loved it! So much flavour for a simple dish. It went so well with the simple baguette!

4. Baked Nachos (RM20)

Tortilla chips smothered with melted Cheddar, Parmesan & Mozzarella. Served with lamb chili, our own salsa and sour cream. For a vegetarian option, swap lamb chili for a creamy spinach & artichoke dip.

Shiv: The nachos really were SMOTHERED in those cheeses, which made every bite super-duper lip-smacking. The salsa was really good, although the lamb was a little scarce. We requested for additional salsa, which was slightly different, but as good as the earlier one if not better.

Gaj: I could not taste the lamb chili, but it was still an alright dish. The accompanying salsa was really good!

Kav:  This dish was not bad. The salsa was tangy and was flavoured well. However, was not the best nachos I have tried.

Mien: Hmm.. good.. but not the best as Kav puts it. The salsa was really good! It was a very simple Nacho dish; there could have been guacamole, jalapeños, etc.

We followed through with Mains:

5. Heaven is Pork Pizza (RM28)

10” kitchen made thin crust, spicy tomato sauce, minced pork, minced Italian sausage, spicy pork sausage, smoked streaky bacon, back bacon, olives, onion rings, cheddar, mozzarella & parmesan.

Shiv: I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this is the best pizza I have ever tried in my life! It had such a strong savoury-cheesy-porkylicious flavour without having that overwhelming porky smell. The briny bacon married with the pungent olives made this an absolutely brilliant creation! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Gaj: Heaven is indeed pork pizza! =) The minced pork, pork sausage and streaky bacon just melted in my mouth. I could not get enough… gimme more! MUST MUST HAVE!

Kav:  I had many firsts in this restaurant – first pork satay, now pork pizza. This pizza could not be more perfect. Every mouthful was a dream. The salty and savoury bacon with the melty cheese was just to die for. What can I say, pork is life…life is pork.

6. Pork Burger (MUST HAVE!) (RM22 + RM3 for the extra bacon)

Tucked inside our buttery light brioche bun is 200grams of juicy spicy pork patty made from scratch, salsa and gooey mozzarella cheese. Served with side fries and a dressed salad. (There was an option of egg and bacon add-ons – we opted for the latter only)

Shiv: Delicious! This place really knows how to get their pork right. The pork patty was crazy juicy and tangy and the mozzarella cheese offered a sublime gooeyness. The addition of bacon was genius and I only wish my dining companions allowed me the egg as well, because God knows a burger is nothing without a fried egg. =)

Gaj: Sorry Shiv! I hate egg in my burgers and this burger did not need help as it was AMAZING all on its own. =)

Kav: God, the patty was so good. It was flavoured well and the mozzarella was just stringy perfection, as it added that additional body a perfect burger needed. My only complaint was that the fries had a rancid taste.

And to end the night, some Cocktails:

7. Strawberry Margarita (RM20)

Jose Cuervo Tequila, Triple Sec & lime juice.

Shiv: Slightly more light-on-the-liquor than I would have liked, but tasty nevertheless.

Gaj: I enjoyed this margarita! Quite yummy indeed.

Mien: It was alright…. It was rather diluted.

Verdict: WOK ON

PRICE: Reasonable, with big portion sizes justifying most of our buck. (RM148.00 for 7 items – 4pax)

AMBIENCE: A stylish neighbourhood watering hole which is as trendy as it is cosy. Suitable place for after work drinks or simply a quiet dinner with loved ones.

SERVICE: Excellent. The staff was well-mannered, informative and very accommodating to some of our demands requests.

FOOD: Delicious, almost flawless food, with an extensive variety to choose from. Quite a number of vegetarian options are available too. One of the few pubs that take its cuisine as seriously as it does its cocktails. A MUST TRY!

D' LEGENDS BAR

24, JALAN DATUK SULAIMAN,

TAMAN TUN DR ISMAIL,

60000 KUALA LUMPUR,

Tel: +603-7725 6270

Email: hans@hansconnection.com

Website: http://www.facebook.com/dLegendsbar

Opening Hours:

Monday - Friday: 4.00pm – 2.00am

Saturday & Sunday: 11.00am – 2.00am

Marmalade, Bangsar Village II, Kuala Lumpur

Looking for a place with a homely environment where you can spend quality time with your family?

Need a place where you can have dinner with your partner while your toddlers are kept busy at a safe distance?

Out of options on where to throw a party?

Are you food lovers seeking a sumptuous meal?

Well now there is an answer to all these questions… MARMALADE!!! It boasts a warm and pleasant ambience suitable for Sunday brunches with your loved ones or just a quiet night out with your girlfriends.

For the mom’s out there, not to worry because this place has a wonderful play area, so you can enjoy your meal while the kids entertain themselves in the play area situated adjacent to the dining area.

They also cater for functions, be it a fancy birthday bash or a scary Halloween party.

HEHEHE… now for the best part….FOOD!!!!!!!!

Spaghetti Aglio Oglio

Tossed with chilli, cherry tomatoes, and sundried tomatoes with choice of turkey ham and mushrooms (RM23) or prawns (RM24).

We opted for prawns.

Mien: One of the best Aglio Olios around! Not bland at all. There is so much flavor to a very simple pasta. Prawns and vegetables were fresh. Loved it and would go back for more!

Shiv: A truly excellent version of this simple Italian favourite. Every mouthful packed a lip-smacking savoury flavour, and a generous amount of fresh ingredients were used. LOVES!

Gaj: Loved this dish, the pronounced garlic flavour perfectly complemented the ingredients. A must try for olio lovers!

Kav: Pasta-al dente. Prawns-fresh and bouncy. Brocolli-crunchy. Flavoured perfectly, as the sweetness of the prawn, tanginess of the tomatoes and earthy olive oil was delicious together. To top it off, the entire dish had underlying notes of garlic and mushrooms. Loves!!! 

Spaghetti Pesto

With grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, sliced olives and cheese crisp (RM23).

Mien: The pesto was so good! You can taste the basil and the pine nuts! The chicken used in the pasta was cut to the right size and didn’t overwhelm the pasta and pesto. Possibly the best pesto pasta I have had in a while.

Shiv: Fantastic! A simple, earthy and classic version of one of my favourite pasta varieties. The pesto sauce generously coated the pasta, and the cheese crisps added a wallop of flavour to the already flawless dish.

Gaj: Agreed, the pesto was very very good. They didn’t stinge on the basil and pine nuts, thus resulting in a flavourful pasta that was not cloying, like other pesto pastas.

Kav: My favourite dish here!!! The pesto was done with just the right balance of basil, olive oil and cheese, with the basil flavour taking centre stage unlike other pestos I have tried, where either they adulterate it with cream or too much cheese. The acidity of the tomatoes provided a great contrast to the earthy pesto.

Spicy Lamb Burger

With rocket leaves and haloumi topped with tzatziki, served with sweet potato wedges (RM24).

Mien: Lamb too gamey… Hence… DISLIKE!

Shiv: Pales in comparison to some of the other lamb burgers I’ve tried in recent times, but not a shoddy rendition. The patty was juicy, but sadly, not flavoured thoroughly. Sweet potatoes added a unique touch to the sides, however, I didn’t care much for the salad, as it had raisins, which I so hate in my salads.

Gaj: Not the best lamb burger in town, but alright. It lacked the oomph that most lamb burgers have. I hate raisins, so didn’t enjoy the salad.

Kav: This was just alright for me. The patty was a little bland as it lacked that oomph. Loved the sweet potatoes as it was cooked through and the natural sweetness came through. Did not quite enjoy the raisins in the salad.

Avocado salad

Mixed lettuce, poached chicken cubes, peppers, raisins, walnuts, avocados, tomatoes, and cheese crisp with zesty mustard dressing (RM21).

Mien: Love this salad. It is so fresh tasting. The combination of the green apples with the avocado, chicken, cucumber and the vinaigrette is a perfect medley of flavours.

Shiv: The proof is in the produce! =) This salad was so fresh and delicious – the medley of ingredients pairing brilliantly, with little fuss made about the dressing. Calling all cynics: Please head to Marmalade to appreciate healthy food that is delicious when done right.

Gaj: I usually dislike salad, but the avocado was so so good. If I ever would order a salad, it would be this!

Kav: The creaminess of the avocado coated the entire salad, giving it body without overwhelming the other ingredients. This dish was flavoured well. Loves!!!

No meal is complete without dessert, so here we go…

Salted chocolate caramel cake

(*Note: The price of the desserts varies, please check with your waiter :-))

Mien: Good. Cake – moist, chocolate – not cheap, and not too rich. However, I felt that The Daily Grind’s version of this cake was better.

Shiv: I have never met a salted chocolate caramel cake that I didn’t like, but this one… OMG! This was too sinfully delectable. Every chocolate-y bite was so amazingly luxurious and luscious.

Gaj: Loved this cake! Probably one the best chocolate cakes that I have had in a long long time! Must have for all you chocolate lovers J

Kav: The chocolate flavour was enhanced by the salt, and the caramel complimented the combination of salt and chocolate. The cake was moist and delicious. Perhaps a little too sweet for my liking (certainly not for you sweet tooths out there).

Vanilla cupcake

Mien: Vile! Icing was so bad, cake itself was dry and just plain bad. No words to describe it!

Shiv: Very bad. The texture of the icing was funky, and the butter cake beneath the icing was dried out and lacked finesse. Also, the vanilla essence was too mild, and hardly recognizable. Overall, one big buttery fail!

Gaj: Quite bad indeed, the cake was dry and the icing really didn’t help matters.

Kav: Awww…this was just bad!!! The icing tasted like powdered milk and to top it off the cake was dry. Epic Fail!!!

Verdict: WOK ON

PRICE: Reasonably priced. Like any other café.

AMBIENCE: Very homely and conducive for family get-togethers.

SERVICE: Good service.

FOOD: Excellent. We would recommend the pesto pasta and the Chocolate cake

MARMALADE

1F-18, 1ST FLOOR, BANGSAR VILLAGE II,
NO. 1, JALAN TELAWI DUA,
BANGSAR BARU,
59100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603-2282 8301

Email: marmalade.cafe.my@gmail.com

Website: http://www.ilovemarmalade.com/

Opening Hours:

10.00 am – 10.00 pm daily