Fahrenheit 600, Solaris Dutamas

Oven-fresh soft and crispy dough, stringy mozzarella, sweet yet spicy tomato sauce… guess what we’re having for dinner??? That’s right, party people – its pizza on today’s menu!

So we found a place that has pizzas AND coffee as well – how amazing is that?! Being the coffee lovers that we are, this place was a must-try.

As we stepped inside, the view of chefs kneading dough tirelessly and adding various toppings to the pizzas certainly got our gastric juices flowing. The rustic interior with a wood-burning stone oven added to the warmth and cosiness of the joint.

Now, on to the part where we confirm as to whether it was heavenly or otherwise… lol!

Let’s start with: Armenian Pizza – Fahrenheit 600 Signature Tomato Sauce, Lean Minced Beef, Beef Pepperoni, Mushroom, Green Pepper, Caramelized Onions (RM24.90 per 9” / RM28.90 per 12”).

Kav: This was really good. The combination of earthy olives, spicy jalapeños, and smoky mushrooms made for a delicious pizza. The thing I love about this pizza, and their pizzas in general, is that they’ve got the perfect tomato base - not too sweet and does not overwhelm the entire pizza.

Gaj: This was a good rendition of beef pepperoni pizza - the olives and jalapeños complemented this dish very well and I will definitely have it again.

Then comes: Tuna Pizza - Fahrenheit 600 Signature Tomato Sauce, Tuna, Black Olives, Jalapeño, Caramelized Onions (RM18.90 per 9” / RM22.90 per 12”).

Shiv: One of the better renditions of tuna pizza, with the accompanying ingredients providing a beautiful marriage of flavours. The tuna could have been less dried out, though.

Kav: Well this was not bad, although I’m probably not the best judge of tuna pizza, because I’m not a big fan. However, the jalapeños and olives helped take away from the tuna flavour. Again, the tomato base was simply divine.

Mien: Tuna tastes best when it is EXTREMELY fresh… once it is stale, or canned, it is just plain bad! I think canned tuna was used, and hence, made the pizza taste bad.

Gaj: I am not a big fan of tuna pizza, but this was probably one of the better ones that I have tasted.

In the running also: I’m Vegetarian Today Calzone – Roasted Eggplant, Mushroom, Tomato, Green Pepper, Olives, Onions, Cheese (RM16.90).

Shiv: The worst dish of the night - this was all dough and no filling! The texture of the dough was all wrong, and the resulting dish tasted floury, dry and flavourless. Even the rich combination of ingredients provided no salvage. Shame!

Kav: Really disliked the calzone. The dough was soggy and pasty. The filling lacked flavour and there was just a general blandness to the calzone. Poor!!!!

Mien: This was really really bland... more dough than filling. The filling itself was bland and couldn’t save this dish.

Gaj: The calzone was really bad! The dough was too thick and wasn’t well baked/cooked. The filling wasn’t great and really didn’t help this calzone!

Moving on: Salmon Caprese Pizza – Special of the Day (RM29.90 per 9” / RM32.90 per 12”).

Shiv: Tangy, tart and simply terrific! They allowed for the salmon to shine through and carry the dish without the use of overwhelming supporting ingredients. Also noteworthy – the salmon used was really fresh, and they were quite generous with it.

Kav: This pizza was delish. You can never go wrong with a combination like salmon and capers, because it fulfils the eternal equation of essence, which is {Salty + Salty = Tasty}. The spicy rocket just added to the already loaded flavours on the pizza. The incredible thing about their salmon pizza is that they did not douse the pizza with cream cheese dressing, as is normally the case with most salmon pizzas, and I hate when they do that!!! (Although for those of you cream fans out there, they do have the cream-based option)

Mien: Kav has low blood pressure, that’s why she loves her SALT! Hehehe… jokes! This was the best pizza, and I have to agree with Kav, they didn’t add cream cheese, which I am not a big fan of. The tomato base, salmon and capers were a really good combination.

Gaj: OMG! So AMAZE-BALLS! Salmon was amazing and fresh and the tomato base was perfect! Soo good!

Next up was: Henry The Duck Pizza - Fahrenheit 600 Signature Tomato Sauce, Smoked Duck, Avocado, Orange, Cherry Tomato, Caramelized Onions (RM27.90 per 9” / RM31.90 per 12”).

*Poor Henry, hope he didn’t die in vain. Let’s find out shall we… Oh, and also, we requested the orange slices to be removed, as none of us are fans of fruit in our pizza.

Shiv: Absolutely love duck, and no, Henry did not give his life in vain. The meatiness of the duck coupled with the creamy avocado was perfection on a plate. Highly recommended for flavour and wholesomeness!

Kav: Again the tomato base… D to the VINE, with just the right amount of tang and sweetness. The duck was very savoury and cooked well. My one complaint would be that there could have been more duck on the pizza. Otherwise, was a really good pizza.

Mien: Not a big fan of duck, hence, not a fan of this pizza.

Gaj: Truly yummylicious! Agree with Kav that there could have been more duck on the pizza, but otherwise, just yummy!

Last dish on the savoury menu was: Olivia Pasta – Black Olives, Olive Oil, Chilli Padi, Rosemary, Capers, Garlic, Spaghetti (RM13.90 + RM5 to add prawns).

Shiv: I liked this – there was no pool of oil at the bottom of the bowl, the olives complemented the prawns beautifully and the chilli padi and capers gave the dish a nice kick. Provided for a nice ‘palate cleanser’ in between all the pizzas we were consuming!

Kav: The pasta was well coated with the olive oil dressing. The prawns were fresh and the flavours permeated the pasta well. My suggestion is that you add chilli flakes to this pasta, because that was all it was lacking. Overall, it was a decent pasta.

Mien: The pasta was mediocre. This place is good for its pizzas, not pastas!

Gaj: The pasta was just alright for me, not sure if I will have it again.

And of course, no meal is complete without dessert and coffee…

First up: Chocolate Mousse Cake (RM10.90).

Shiv: Nothing extraordinary, as it tasted like most other chocolate mousses I’ve tried. However, thumbs up for not being suffocating-ly saccharine.

Kav: This was not bad. The cake was not too sweet and there were no overwhelming elements. Nice!

Mien: The chocolate mousse cake was not too sweet, thankfully! Not a bad one…

Gaj: Not too overwhelmingly chocolate-y, which is a pleasant change for most chocolate cakes.

Next: Tiramisu (RM10.90).

Shiv: To begin with, this couldn’t even have been called Tiramisu. The coffee-flavour infusion was insufficient; it was low on liqueur; the sponge cake was downright dry and the dessert was just an epic fail on the whole!

Kav: Well you may have got the pizza right, and even your pasta was nice, but Italian dessert clearly requires a whole new skill. Probably the worst tasting Tiramisu I have tried… what in the world!?@#$*

Mien: I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT FOLLOW THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF TIRAMISU AND SCREW IT UP. BAD BAD BAD!

Gaj: Tiramisu was not good, definitely will not have it again.

Finally: Mocha (RM10.90), Cappuccino (RM10.90) and Caramel Latte (RM10.90).

Kav: The Mocha was just alright. Also tried the Caramel Latte, and it was way too sweet.

Shiv: The Cappuccino was really good – smooth and strong, just the way I like it.

Mien: The Mocha was ok. Not one of my favourite coffee places!

Gaj: I had the Caramel Latte, which was a tad too sweet, but not bad.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Above-average – RM235.25 for 6 dishes, 2 desserts and 4 drinks (4pax).

AMBIENCE:  Rustic and cosy – good for family outings or just a girls/guys night out.

SERVICE: Very good – they were more than willing to accommodate our various demands with regards to toppings, as we switched around toppings for most of our pizzas.

FOOD: Great pizzas - would definitely come back for more!!!

FAHRENHEIT 600

LEVEL G2, BLOCK A, NO. 1,

JALAN DUTAMAS 1, SOLARIS DUTAMAS,

50480 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Contact: 03-6206 3417

Website: http://www.fahrenheit600.com

Opening Hours:

8.00am- 11.00pm (Mon-Sun)

Capri Restaurant Bar and Pizzeria, Lumut

A recent visit to the coastal town of Lumut had us prowling the area for a suitable location to enjoy a leisurely lunch with loved ones. Once a fishing village, it is now the home base of the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Lumut jetty forms the entry point to the famed Pangkor Island – a popular tourist destination.

No doubt, Lumut is well-known for its abundance in seafood items, and as such, we chose to dine at an Italian-inspired restaurant, located unassumingly at one of the back alleys of the town.

Our samplings for the day included:

Pizza Salmone e Capperi – Smoked salmon and capers (RM36).

Shiv: Delicious! The salmon was super fresh and smoked to perfection and capers added a nice tartness to the pizza. The crust was done well and the resulting dish was just sublime.

Kav: The pizza was simply delicious. The smoked flavor from the salmon was complimented by the piquant flavours from the capers. The best part…unlike most salmon pizzas, this one did not have a cream cheese topping.

Linguine ai Gamberi e Capperi – Prawns and capers in spicy garlic sauce (RM26).

Shiv: The pasta was al dente and the prawns were succulent and flavourful. The spicy garlic sauce was deliciously savoury and carried the dish amazingly. Yummylicious!

Kav: The pasta was well quoted with the spicy garlic sauce. The fresh prawns and the accompanying flavors from the olives and capers made this dish grand.

Fish & Chips – Fish fillet dipped in batter, deep-fried and served with potato chips and salad (RM23).

Shiv: The fish was moist and fell apart instantly upon prodding! The batter was also not too thick, and added a lovely crisp exterior to the fantastically fluffy fish. Also, nice to know that they did not overlook the potato chips, as they were crispy and NOT rancid.

Kav: This dish would have been great if the batter was less thick. The winning point, however, was that the fish was cooked and seasoned well.

Fish Parmigiana – Pan-fried fish fillet topped with pizzaiola sauce and melted cheese (RM26).

Shiv: The pièce de résistance of Capri, this parmigiana was prepared beautifully with the fish taking centre stage and the cheese and tomato purée layer not overwhelming the entire dish (as it sometimes can). Again, the fish was really fresh and the potatoes were baked stunningly. Highly recommended!

Kav: Lovely dish. The cheese did not overwhelm the fish and the tomato purée was not overly sweet.

Tiramisu – Coffee soaked sponge fingers layered with mascarpone cheese (RM13).

Shiv: Amazing! The tiramisu was authentic and light, with attention paid to the individual layers. The distinct flavour notes of coffee and liqueur were very well-balanced and the mascarpone layer was whipped to a perfect consistency. Who would have thought, huh… =)

Kav: This one took me by surprise. It was just delish. The ratio of coffee-soaked sponge fingers to mascaporne was perfect, and had just the right amount of liqueur to enhance the dessert.

Mud Cake – Rich chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream (RM13).

Shiv: OMG! They did not overstate the description on the menu, as it was chock-full of rich and moist chocolate, without being cloying! Good quality chocolate was used and the vanilla ice cream elevated this to a whole different level. A mighty fine creation, I might add.

Kav: Again, kudos to the chef, as it was an excellent chocolate cake. The cake was moist, rich and just heavenly. Loves!!!

Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream (RM10 per single scoop or RM19 for double scoop).

Shiv: I am not a big fan of chocolate ice cream, but this was good. It was light, easy to eat and had just the right amount of cocoa.

Kav: Love chocolate ice creams and this one was really good!!!

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Average. RM170.50 for 4 mains and 3 desserts (5pax).

AMBIENCE: Cool café atmosphere with a warm and cosy interior, and a rustic bar adorning one side of the restaurant. Reminiscent of an old English pub, this eatery has al fresco dining options available for those who want to enjoy the lovely sea breeze.

SERVICE: Excellent. The staff was pleasant and attentive, and food arrived promptly.

FOOD: Delicious. Very fresh seafood, with good flavour infusions. A must-try, if you happen to find yourself in Lumut!

CAPRI RESTAURANT, BAR AND PIZZERIA

4174, JALAN SULTAN IDRIS SHAH,

32200 LUMUT

PERAK

Tel/Fax: 05-683 3112

Opening hours:

Mon - Sun: 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

Sassorosso, Lorong Yap Kwan Seng

As usual, it was an impromptu decision to dine here. A friend, who is also a renowned restaurateur, suggested we try this place and therefore called Mr.Giovanni, the chef/owner to make a last minute reservation.

Walking in, you are greeted by this incredible view of the Petronas Twin Towers. The place was cozy and had a modern setting. The chef/owner, a pleasant chap, was there with his wife and cute little son.

If you like a side of fresh air, there’s always the al-fresco dining option with a nice view.

They also cater for private events of up to 85pax indoors, 35pax in the private room and 60pax outdoors on the terrace.

Sick of Sunday brunches…well now you can have brunch on Saturday instead… hehe. They have a special brunch menu which can be found on their website.

For starters, we had what was recommended by the chef/owner… However, please bear in mind that these dishes cannot be found in the à la carte menu, so you will have to check with your waiter to see if the chef can prepare these for you.

Complimentary bread basket.

Kav: Loved the thin crispy ‘papadom’ like bread. Yum!!!

Mien: Love the variety provided. I am a bread person, and hence loved all of them!

Shiv: There was an assortment of breads-all quite nice. My favourite was the crispy, buttered and herb-ed variety. Very flavourful, and in no need of the olive-oil-balsamic dressing.

Dish #1: Burata Mozzarella.  Fresh air-flown Burata cheese with wild rocket and fresh tomatoes. (RM48)

Kav: There’s never a combination like cheese, tomatoes and fresh herbs. It was so simple yet fresh, creamy and simply scrumptious.

Mien: AMAZING!!! The Mozzarella was so so fresh! Carried the dish! Loved it!

Shiv: This one was simplistic, and yet so damn delicious! Very fresh and sumptuous-the burrata was a worthwhile indulgence, and the accompanying rocket and tomatoes were super fresh and made for a perfect harmonious marriage of ingredients.

Dish #2: Gratinated eggplant parmigiana: layers of eggplant, tomato, mozzarella. (RM28)

Kav: Most eggplant parmigianas are way too cheesy. This one however was just the right balance of stringy cheese, eggplant and tomatoes (which were not too sweet). Perfection!!!

Mien: Love parmigianas and this blew my mind! Delicious, and not overwhelmingly cheesy.

Shiv: The best of our starters. I typically do not enjoy gratinated dishes, but this was an exception. All flavours were very well-balanced, with no one overwhelming the others (a feat where cheese is involved!). A definite must try here.

Dish #3: Bruschetta. (RM22)

Kav: Bruschettas were fresh tasting. Not the best I have tried though.

Mien: Simple.

Shiv: Tasty in its mediocrity. I probably would not order this again, simply because there’s a lot of variety to choose from the starter menu, and this was not very memorable, although it did have some good savoury notes to it.

Now on to the portata principale or main course.

Dish #4: Sri Lanka live crab penne with olive oil, garlic, fresh basil leaves and prawns bisque. (RM38)

Kav: Never liked penne, regardless of the preparation, as it is extremely hard to flavour and ends up tasting more of flour than anything else. This one was no different, as the pasta lacked flavour. The crab died in vain. RIP Sebastian.

Mien: The penne was bland and lacked flavour. As a whole, this dish was nothing to shout about! Would not order it again!

Shiv: I expected so much from this dish, with its promise of luxurious ingredients, but to my disappointment, it was bland and bordering on insipid. Among my complaints: too little crab flesh, the sauce did not coat the penne well, and the prawn bisque lacked flavour.

Dish #5: Squid ink tagliatelle with scallops, broccoli, olive oil, garlic and chilli. (RM42)

Kav: A….wait for it………….MAZING!!!!! The best squid ink pasta I have tried, with just the right amount of tanginess complementing the seafood flavour from the fresh scallops. Just impeccable!!!

Mien: THIS WAS TOO GOOD! Love the combination of scallops with garlic, olive oil and chilli.

Shiv: One of my favourites of the pasta variety, this one deserves all the praise it can get. The use of tagliatelle was genius, as it soaked up the flavourful and extremely palatable broth. Scallops were also very fresh. I highly recommend this one!

Dish #6: Sassorosso pizza - tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, escargots, marinated mushrooms, prawns and fresh basil. (RM46)

Kav: Nice crust and flavoured well, however I could hardly taste the escargots. Good pizza though!!!

Mien: The crust is thin, very authentic. This particular pizza was mediocre as I felt it lacked flavouring. I wouldn’t order the same flavour, would try a different one, as I am confident the pizzas here are good, as they have got the fundamentals right – the crust!

Shiv: Fantastico! The pizza was chock-full of savoury ingredients, each bringing its own unique blend of flavour to the dish. The crust is also worth mentioning, as it was thin and not chewy. My only gripe was that the escargots used were scarce.

Time for some Dolce (Dessert)…

Dish #7: Sassorosso tiramisu. (RM18)

Kav: Mmmm….the Mascarpone was divine, with perfect texture and just the right amount of sweetness. The perfect balance of coffee soaked sponge fingers and cream cheese. I could write a thesis on this dessert to be honest, because that’s how much I loved it!!!

Mien: OMG!!!! ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!! Everything was right! Just phenomenal!

Shiv: Probably the best tiramisu I have ever tried! Super authentic and each layer was prepared with a lot of thought and care. The Mascarpone layer was not too creamy, nor too egg-y and the coffee-soaked Savoiardi was just pukka! You can “pick me up” anytime with this one! ;-)

Dish #8: Cheesy vanilla crème brule. (RM16)

 

Kav: Holy Mother of GOD!!! This dessert was just sooo creamy and delicious. Again, the perfect texture and not too sweet.

Mien: Not big on crème brule, but this was delicious! Would definitely order it again!

Shiv: An excellent rendition of this classic! Again, very authentically prepared with no adulteration of the custard base with foreign flavours – they kept it simple with traditional vanilla. Also, the top caramelized layer was torched to perfection!

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Expensive. RM299.30 for 3 starters, 3 mains and 2 desserts – 4pax.

AMBIENCE: Minimalist and modern. A bar and wine cellar adorn the otherwise simple décor.

SERVICE: Excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and informative. Also, the chef /owner (who is very passionate about his art, we might add!) visited our table and took time to recommend special selections based on our preferences.

FOOD: Delicious and authentic Italian food, with a lot of attention paid to flavour and freshness of ingredients.

SASSOROSSO

9 LORONG YAP KWAN SENG
50450, FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603- 21666428

Email: ask@sassorosso.com.my

Website: http://www.sassorosso.com.my

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 12pm-3pm (Set lunch & Ala Carte menu) & 6pm-11.30pm (Ala Carte & Dinner Specials)

Sat: 12pm-3pm (Saturday Brunch) & 6pm-11.30pm (Ala Carte & Dinner Specials)

Sun: 6pm-11.30pm (Ala Carte & Dinner Specials)