Breakfast Spread @ Premiere Hotel, Klang

Today's is a short post. I've had quite a number of friends holding their wedding reception at Premiere Hotel in Klang. Since it's quite far for us PJ folk, my friends and I decided to book a night's stay there for some girly catch-up. The room is far better than I expected and the washroom definitely meets my standards =P Here's what I had from the complimentary breakfast buffet.

My kind of breakfast (RM 32)

Nasi lemak for breakfast yum! They've also got beef and chicken rendang which are awesome and totally melt-in-your-mouth. Love the spicy sambal, crunchy anchovies and fragrant coconut milk infused rice too! Basically they've got the perfect nasi lemak. Apart from that there are also some western breakfast items such as chicken sausage and hash browns, pastries and toast. Chicken noodle soup is also available if you prefer something warm and soupy in the early morning.


PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Olive



Premiere Hotel
Bandar Bukit Tinggi
Klang
Tel: 03 3325 6868

Lai Ching Yuen Chinese Restaurant @ Grand Millennium Hotel, KL

Lai Ching Yuen is Grand Millennium Hotel's resident Chinese restaurant. I was fortunate to be able to attend a working lunch where they served us a 7-course set meal.

     

          

Shanghai Hot and Sour Soup with Crab Meat

   
The Hot and Sour Soup totally lived up to its name. It was sour and spicy with quite generous amounts of crab meat.

      

Crispy Roasted Chicken Weng Chun Style

   
The roasted chicken was really good with crispy skin. Its flesh was absolutely smooth with a nicely salted flavour.

     

Fried Prawns with Salted Egg and Butter Sauce

   
The deep fried prawns were crunchy with a strong salted egg yolk flavour. It didn't seem very fresh as it was difficult to separate the flesh from the shell without risking it flying across the table. It was however sufficiently crunchy that I could eat the entire thing, shell and all.

     

Deep Fried Fish Fillet with Mango Sauce

   
The mango sauce coating the fish tasted a bit odd but the batter was light and non-greasy and the fish firm.

      

Braised Ngai Pak with Pacific Clams

   
The vegetables were crisp and fully absorbed the savoury flavours of the oyster sauce gravy. I also absolutely loved the spongy clams.

     

Fried Rice with Diced Chicken and Anchovy

   
The fried rice looked great but was totally tasteless. I had to add liberal amounts of soy sauce to enhance its taste.

     

Chilled Sea Coconut and Snow Fungus with Fresh Lemon

     
The chilled dessert could have been very refreshing with spongy snow fungus and sea coconut thrown in but the chef was a tad heavy handed with the lemon, rendering it quite sour.
   
Some hits and misses there but overall, quite a nice meal I'd say.
 
 
PawPoints: 4 Paws
       
       
Lai Ching Yuen
Grand Millennium Hotel
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2117 4888
Mon - Fri: 12pm - 2.30pm, 6.30pm - 10.30pm
Sat - Sun: 11am - 2.30pm, 6.30pm - 10.30pm

Delicious @ Bangsar Village II

I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Delicious, the eatery that most likely sparked the change in the eating habits of Malaysians. All of a sudden, dozens of cafe-style eateries serving light Western meals and simple, comfort food popped up across the Klang Valley. But since most people are familiar with its menu, I'll just showcase my favourite that I always order when I frequent Delicious =)

     

Spicy Seafood Spaghettini (RM 25.90)

   
I used to get this confused with the Seafood Linguine but that is a heavy version with thick, sundried tomato sauce and lots of cheese. This Spicy Seafood Spaghettini is very light and refreshing on the palate. It consists of spaghetti's baby sister tossed in oil, chilli flakes and coriander - my favourite combination =D Best of all, it comes with lots of squid and prawns of decent size. A squeeze of lemon and liberal sprinkling of ground black pepper immediately brings the flavour of the dish to another level. 

    

    

PawPoints: 5 Paws

Pawket: Tomato

    

Delicious

Lot GF-1, Ground Floor
Bangsar Village II
Tel: 03 2287 1554
Mon - Fri: 11am - 12am
Sat, Sun and Public Holidays: 9am - 12am

Ko-Ryo-Won Korean Restaurant @ KLCC, KL

Ko-Ryo-Won at KLCC is actually the sister restaurant of Go-Gung at The Gardens, hence the menus are totally identical.

   

Typical Korean motive

      

Ko-Ryo-Won

   

Complimentary side dishes

   
As usual, there were complimentary side dishes for the sets. This time there were, clockwise from top, dried beancurd skin, seasoned boiled potatoes, stir-fried spinach in sesame oil, kimchi and beansprouts. My favourites were the potatoes and spinach; I found the kimchi too pungent for my liking but my brother enjoyed it very much. Neither of us touched the dried beancurd skin save for the first slice.

  

Kimchi Jjigae (RM 25)

   
The Kimchi Jjigae was tasty as usual. I doubt any Korean restaurant would get it wrong...that's like an indicator of bad-tasting dishes to follow if the cook can even get the national dish wrong. Anyway this one was full of chicken pieces, tofu and tons of slurpilicious glass noodles.

 

Seollengtang (RM 30)

   
Feeling adventurous, we decided to try something new - soup made by simmering beef bones and beef slices overnight. The end result is a milky broth, probably the essence of the huge beef bones. It is certainly a nutritious soup with thin slices of garlic, sliced dates and glass noodles. It was also totally tasteless although there was a very slight hint of milky soup. To be fair, the menu did state that salt can be added once served but none of the waitress came over to ask if we wanted it seasoned so we resorted to dipping the beef slices with lots of soy sauce. It definitely feels very wholesome and nutritious but I doubt we would ever order it again =P
   
   
PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
    Ko-Ryo-Won

418-419, Level 4
Suria KLCC

Tel: 03 2166 6189
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Dave's Deli @ Subang Parade, PJ

When I was young, Dave's Deli was my all-time favourite restaurant, all because of their truly scrumptious Shepherd's Pie. I might have strayed once or twice and ordered a Beef and Mushroom Pie or Tuna Focaccia but Shepherd's Pie is, and forever will be, my must-order item whenever I step foot in Dave's Deli. Unfortunately, the number of outlets seem to have dwindled and as far as I know, only the outlets at 1 Utama and Subang Parade are still around which is quite a shame as the fare has great wholesome flavour and relatively cheap.

     

You bet!

      

Shepherd's Pie with Coleslaw

   
Looks a bit plain but tastes wonderful! See how the mashed potato topping is baked to perfection? And the coleslaw dressing is so creamy, its coldness giving a nice contrast to the warm gravy.

     

Oozing goodness

 
Admittedly, there is now more mashed potato mixed with ground beef and the gravy a wee bit too salty but there's this home-cooked feel to it. The gravy-coated filling of ground beef mixed with diced carrots and peas is best eaten with a mouthful of yummy pie crust and soft, smooth mashed potato, finished off with another mouthful of chilled coleslaw. What a perfect meal!
 
If there were more outlets, I would definitely patronise it more often ^_^
 
   
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Onion
    
Dave's Deli

1 Utama Shopping Centre
Subang Parade Shopping Centre

Sirocco Restaurant @ Holiday Inn, Melaka

I had the opportunity to stay at Holiday Inn in Melaka when I was there for business which also marks the first time I rode the "water rollercoaster" >.< If you think you can find Holiday Inn by following the Pusat Bandar signs, you'd better think twice. Best to bring a GPS as it is actually by the shore.
   
My overall view of Holiday Inn and its amenities was quite good with nice rooms, comfy beds and an infinity pool which overlooks the ocean (although there is construction going on near the shore). The buffet breakfast was average only but the hotel does house a decent Italian restaurant.

      

Lovely name

       

Interior

   
The restaurant boasts an open kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven so take note if you don't want to smell like pasta...
        

Complimentary loaf

   
The complimentary bread is huge! Just compare its size with the saucer or fork at the upper right corner of the photo. The first day I was there, I only had a slice whereas the 2nd day I was there, I had 4 slices but in my defense, I ate it with the Seafood Stew below and used it to mop up the gravy. It seems  freshly baked but most probably it is warmed in the oven. The crust can be chewy at certain places but overall it was crispy and crusty. Wonder what they do with all the leftovers =P

     

Not sure if it's the norm for a high olive oil to balsamic vinegar ratio? My preference is for lots of vinegar, otherwise wouldn't it be like soaking bread in oil?

   

Ghamberini (RM 32)

   
I was craving for pasta so the first day there, I had the Ghamberini which is king prawn (note that there's only one, uno, ichi single prawn =.=) and spaghetti tossed in chilli flakes and arugula. The first bite of the pasta was quite hard but it softened up as you make your way through the dish. Very flavourful, a tad too salty but I enjoyed it very much. The portion looked small on the huge plate but by the end, it turned out quite filling. I must say though that at this price, I expected at least TWO king prawns instead of a measly, lonely prawn =(

   

Seafood Stew (RM 25)

   
Seeing how cheap the Seafood Stew is (spag bol and meatless pasta are priced the same), I immediately ordered it on the 2nd day. There were double prawns, scallops, mussels, calamari and fish, all cooked in a rich tomato stew. The seafood tasted fresh and yummy and the gravy was thick and good with lots of tomato-ey goodness. The crispy, well-buttered garlic crouton was really, really good - everytime I bit into it, it snaps off with a resounding crunch even after being swished around the tomato stew.
   
Anyway good stuff and decent price for a hotel restaurant. Do drop by if you're sick of all the local delicacies and just want to chill at the hotel =)
       
   
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Olive
      
Sirocco Restaurant
Holiday Inn Melaka
Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz
Melaka
Tel: 06 285 8169
Sun - Thur: 6pm - 11pm
Fri - Sat: 6pm - 12am

Kura @ One World Hotel, PJ

Kura at One World Hotel is under the same group as Sushi Zanmai, Rakuzen and many other beloved Japanese restaurants. I love the layout of Kura's interior - it totally embodies the ninja-esque aspect of Japanese culture. Once you step in, the wait staff brings you through what looks like a labyrinth. There are many nooks and crannies for private and more secluded dining, beautifully hidden from view from the main passage by the use of bamboo partitions and plants.

      

Kura

 
Its layout reflects the name's kanji which means something like "the place of hidden treasures".

    

Things that greet you on arrival

     

Appetiser

 
For the appetiser, we were served a bowl of delightful salad with lots of lettuce and cherry tomatoes blanketed by creamy crab and roe salad dressing. Needless to say, we finished everything to the last bit =)

     

Yakizakana Zen

 
The Yakizakana Zen comes with the subject itself, sashimi, chawanmushi, rice, miso soup, pickles, a side dish of  simmered radish and chicken and fruits.

   

Sashimi

 
Thick slabs of fresh and juicy tuna, salmon and yellowtail sashimi are served with a misshapen dollop of wasabi.

    

Yakizakana

 
The yakizakana is slathered with a sweetish sauce and grilled to perfection. With a squeeze of lemon and some grated radish, the juicy fish which still retains its oils is heavenly. JS could not decide if Kura's or Tenjin's yakizakana is better.

    

Sakura Chirashidon Zen

 
I had my usual Sakura Chirashidon Zen which came with a Chirashidon, miso soup, chawanmushi, pickles, the same side dish of simmered radish and chicken as well as fruits. 

    

Chirashidon

   
The Chirashidon is packed with fresh sashimi atop a bed of vinegared sushi rice. The sashimi were of really good quality and extremely fresh with generous portions - just look at the amount of salmon roe! I thought there wasn't sufficient vinegar in the rice but that's the only complaint I have.
   
If you noticed I did not elaborate much on the taste of the food, it is because everything is identical to Rakuzen and who has not eaten at Rakuzen before? The only difference here is price, better quality food, additional side dish, bigger portions and posher ambience. The price at Kura is only slightly higher than Rakuzen so if you do not wish to splurge yet prefer Japanese setting in a hotel, Kura is the place to go. They've also got two very unique bento sets which I hope to try and once I do, I'll post it up on the blog =)
   

PawPoints: 5 Paws

Pawket: Cheese

 
Kura
Level 1, One World Hotel
First Avenue, Off Dataran Bandar Utama
Bandar Utama
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03 7726 9660
Daily: 11.30am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm

Al-Amar Express @ Fahrenheit 88, KL

Al-Amar Express in front of Fahrenheit 88 is the speedy sister of Al-Amar at Pavilion and the menu leans more towards Westernised dishes and quick lunch sets.
     

         

Drinks

     

Complimentary pita bread

   

L-R: Small pastries (RM 8.50), Tabbouleh, Hummus, Fattouch, Labneh

   
I love the presentation! So pretty! The small pastries consisted of Spinach Fatayer (triangular shaped pastry), Lamb Sambousik  (dark ball) and Kebbeh Kras (mini curry puff look-alike). The Spinach Fatayer consists of chopped baby spinach and onions mixed with lemon zest and deep-fried. The resulting taste is refreshing and really good. Lamb Sambousik is just essentially a fried spiced lamb dumpling which tasted average. Kebbeh Kras consisted of minced meat, onions and pine nuts - a unique take on the common curry puff.
   
The Tabbouleh and Fattouch salads were both good but the Tabbouleh lacked a bit of salt. I'm not a big fan of hummus but JS liked it. The Labneh was quite addictive due to its creamy cheese. The salads and appetizers were all part of a set but the full sized Hummus and Labneh retail for RM 12.90 each whereas the Tabbouleh and Fattouch are RM 16.50 each.
   

Gorgeous colours of the salads and appetizers

   

Roasted Chicken (RM 17.90)

   
We were surprised that the portion consisted of half a chicken which is pretty worth it for that price. The roast chicken was beautifully roasted - the meat was really moist and juicy and the skin delightfully crisp. More pita bread were provided as an accompaniment to the chicken. Apart from that, the sides consisted of fries, pickles and garlic sauce. The fries were good, not the usual shoe-string type.
   

Al-Amar Steak Sandwich (RM 22.90)

   
The panini was packed with beef tenderloin, onions, capsicum and mushrooms seared in steak sauce. Lots of mozzarella and cheddar were added to the filling before the panini was grilled. The result was an awesome Philly Cheese Steak d^_^b
   
The bread was crispy and each mouthful consisted of lots of beef and melted cheese. The Al-Amar Steak Sandwich was really really good and is highly recommended. It came with a side salad and pickles.
   

Check out the cheese and beef!

   
All in all, it was a really good lunch and we were really stuffed and didn't feel like going back to work. After paying the bill, we left the restaurant and as we headed towards the sliding glass door, I craned my neck to ogle the other patrons' meals when suddenly there was a loud KA-THONG! My knuckles had hit the glass door which I assumed would open automatically as I walked towards it - it was a good thing I didn't knock my head on it. Turns out, you need to press a button at the side which subsequently opens the non-automatic door. Safety moment there =.= JS was no help as he was busy laughing his head off >. >

      
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
       
Al-Amar Express

Lot G-44, Ground Floor
Fahrenheit 88
Tel: 03 2141 3814
Sun - Thu: 7am - 2am
Fri - Sat: 7am - 5am

Maya Brasserie @ Maya Hotel, KL

I think many companies always hold corporate events at Maya Hotel so here's a quick overview of the dishes available for dinner buffet at the hotel's all-day cafe Maya Brasserie.

Love the look!

I love the dark colours employed in the decor of Maya Brasserie and the orchid arrangement in a gigantic cement-coloured vase looked absolutely elegant. Very zen-like and peaceful with several ponds in the restaurant. However the pools do not have any barriers around it so watch your step or you might just hear a splash =P

Oysters and Crabs

Raw oysters and crabs which I did not try as I didn't want to risk a diarrhea and I was too lazy to wrestle with the crabs =(

Salad Bar

The salad bar here is quite interesting with a variety of combinations and flavours. By the time I got to the salads, they were half gone and I only took two varieties which interested me =(

Satay and Otak-Otak

It's quite rare to find otak-otak in hotel buffets, no?

BBQ Station

There were tons of ingredients ready to be barbecued such as sausages, marinated chicken and lamb, and assorted vegetables. A variety of sauces and condiments were also available to go with the barbecued items. Not pictured here was a station for deep-fried items too.

Minuscule Japanese Section

Imagine tons of people queuing up for this plate of sashimi =.= Do they not realise Japanese food is popular with the masses? Anyway when you finally get your turn, you can forget all about the others and just zoom in on the rectangular, shiny orange blobs on the plate. I'll tell you why after you scroll down...

Sarawak Kolok Mee Station

I've always wanted to try Kolok Mee but I definitely wasn't about to waste my tummy space with this so I still don't know how it tastes like =(

Haagen Dazs Ice-Cream

There were 3 flavours of Haagen Dazs ice-cream, namely chocolate, strawberry and chocolate chip cookie dough. There were also ais potongs which I doubt anyone would take when there is Haagen Dazs?

Cakes and Local Dessert

Plenty of local kuihs and cakes to choose from =)

Chocolate Fountain

Chocolate Fountain is always a favourite with the patrons and they have the obligatory marshmallows and strawberries as well as preserved fruits.

Main Course

As always, I need some main course items to fill my tummy so clockwise from the rice are chicken and beef satay and the usual accompanying onions and cucumbers, kam heong bamboo clam, stir-fried squid, crab with spices, assam stingray and lamb provencal. I racked my brains for descriptive adjectives for each dish but they were all average and tasted exactly as you assume they would taste (hope that helps =.=). I quite like the satay as both the beef and chicken were well marinated and were adequately charred yet juicy.

Sides

My favourites =D Clockwise from the soy sauce saucer are sashimi, futomaki, california maki, potato souffle, kerabu and strawberry chicken salad. The kerabu packed quite a punch in the sour department while the strawberry chicken salad tasted a little odd as the strawberry was sweet and my brain keeps telling me that chicken doesn't go well with sugary sweet stuff =.=

The potato souffle was very comforting and fluffy - I'd have taken more if I wanted to risk looking like a glutton but I was quite full from all the waiting for VIPs so we could start the meal. Both the futomaki and california maki were bite-sized and good...too bad there wasn't enough space in my tummy.

The sashimi were not too bad but the clear winner is that little blob of criss-crossed orange next to the saucer =D It was salmon belly sashimi and it was soooo juicy and fatty and slippery and melt-in-your mouth-y!! It was such a small piece but it certainly beat every single dish on the menu. Be warned though that it is quite tough to get more than one piece as they only display a few pieces of sashimi at any one time and I thought it'd be rude if I scooped up every piece of salmon belly from the display plate (scroll up for picture) =P

Dessert

Last but not least, I had chocolate-covered strawberries, marshmallow and rock melon, a small square of chocolate cake and strawberry and chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream.

I hope you found the pictures (at least) informative. The buffet items were not too bad but I definitely wouldn't pay to eat these at a hotel.

PawPoints: 2 Paws
Pawket: Salami

Maya Brasserie

Level 1, Maya Hotel
138 Jalan Ampang
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2711 8866

Daily: 6.30am - 12am