Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Lo Faro

I told my friend to bring me to somewhere I have never been before. She came to find me today and brought me to this secluded restaurant deep in the middle of the residential area, called Lo Faro which she said would be packed if we go at lunch time. The restaurant has some sort of vintage to it with big old fashioned British arm chairs.

Chicken Chop with Mushroom / Black Pepper Sauce (RM 17.90) 

The meals here are quite reasonably priced at RM 17-20 plus. The chicken chop is super tender and succulent.The portion is also very big as it came with 4-6 pieces of baked potatoes with the skin intact, salad without the thousand island/mayonaise I hate.

Lo Faro Macchiato (RM 15) 

The macchiato is double shot whereas they have specially made a teddy bear shaped foam especially for me.

Tiramisu Mascarpone Cake with Alcohol (RM 12.80) 

The cakes here seem to more expensive than the main meals. The tiramisu is a MUST-TRY if you love alcohol which is very strong inside. Every bite has a strong flavour of alcohol that permeates the cream.

Chocolate Banana Cake (RM 10.80) 

The chocolate is so rich and sinful. The bananas are not in big pieces like how Secret Recipe has theirs. The chocolate and banana totally binds in terms of flavours.

Details:

Lo Faro Cafe, 16 & 18, Medan Ramah, Taman Gembira, 58200 KL


JEQ in the House

My colleague felt like going out for a drink so we went to the nearest place which is at Sec 17. The last time I went there was for a food review.

Rose Latte 

I love ordering rose latte whenever I have the chance. They serve with a pretty creative design on it.



Latte 

My friend ordered a latte which is dark coloured and look a bit like mocha.



Duck Pizza 

The duck pizza doesn't taste like the one I ate before in the food review which is crispier and cut in rectangular shapes instead of the normal way of slicing pizza.


Details:

Add: No. 19, Jalan 17/45, Section 17. Petaling Jaya 46400 Selangor Malaysia 

Kaffa @ Penang International Airport

Someone kept saying that I have worm in stomach as I am already hungry now after having dim sum and la mian for breakfast at Shanghai Ding, our favourite place near Queensbay Mall. So we had lunch at Kaffa, which is relatively new. I like the retro feel of this place.





Seafood Japanese 6" Crust (RM 13.87) 

This is not tasty as the crust is not as crispy as Japanese pizza. I feel that the pizza is not tasty at all though there were juicy pineapples. It just taste weird to eat chicken pepperoni instead of the common reddish beef pepperoni. I could not even finish the pizza.



Chicken Popcorn (RM 12.45)

It seems weird that I actually like Chicken Popcorn! It is crispy yet one could taste the meat inside.



Hot Salted Caramel Macchiato (RM 14.43) 

This is so far the best salted caramel macchiato I have had. The combination of of saltiness from the salt, sweetness of caramel, and bitterness of macchiato were simply perfect.



Details:

Add: Kaffa Espresso Bar, Penang International Airport, 11900 Penang 

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Chuka Cafe

Chuka Cafe is very difficult to even know its existence. Unless you stay in the neighbourhood or heard from word of mouth. I am very happy to learn about this great hideout inside Saujana Condo clubhouse. There is a creative bowl decoration in the middle. The most unique feature is why a Japanese cafe in a condo? Well, this is located in a condo where most of the residents are Japanese and opposite is a Japanese school.


Teppan Buta Kimuchi (RM 16) 

Over here, we can order any ala-carte meal and just top up a mere RM 5 for white rice,  miso soup, a big piece of cold smooth Japanese tofu, a whole lot of stir-fried shredded cabbage and also 3 small pieces of honeydew. The top up price is the most worth while payment I have ever paid. For the main dish I ordered Teppan Buta Kimuchi which is actually hotplate beef with egg yolk and thick kimchi sauce. The sauce is so tasty to be eaten with white rice.




Spicy Miso Ramen (RM 17) 

Ever since I got back from Tokyo, I almost didn't want have ramen anymore temporarily because I had ramen 3 times there as that is the cheapest food there. But you would regret if you don't order this ramen that comes in very big portion! The taste is just incredible with the best spice. I assure you will keep slurping the soup too. There are so much ingredients and vegetables like bean sprouts, carrots, black fungus that made me more satisfied that the measly ramen I had in Tokyo for expensive price.



Gyoza (RM 8) 

After finishing dinner, I saw a little girl eating gyoza and could not help myself from ordering that too. The gyoza is much better than the one at dim sum shops. The gyoza are very tiny and have thin skin with a lot of pork meat inside. Very satisfying and I am definitely ordering this again.



Details:
Add: Saujana Villa Condominium, No. 13, Lingkaran Golf Saujana 47200 Subang Selangor
Tel: 03-78467664

Ante @ Publika




A revisit to Ante at Publika is definitely worthwhile. Long time ago, I came here with my parents and friend. Hence, when my friend Eddy asked me to join a group of foodies to eat here, there is no hesitation! In fact, I was so excited with this revisit.


Ante was established since October 2012. It has been nominated as Best Place for Meats in 2014, and winners in 2015 (Time Out KL awards). It  is a romantic yet cosy restaurant located at the area of Publika that faces the road. In order to reach here from the main Publika BIG, is by going to Daiso, down the stairs, and then to the Pappa Rich coffee shop and straight to Ante which is near Bestari Mamak.

Ante strives to ensure everything is house made from ricotta cheese to smoking their own bacon for certain dishes as well as handpicking and manicuring every piece of pork steak that is served.
Starters 

House-smoked Bacon (RM 19) 

These three slices of 8 mm bacon are seared to give it a slight crust. The bacon is made raw where the Ante Kitchen team manicures, brines, air dry before smoking it. Although these  look like a normal bacon, these three slices of pork belly bacon are fried till very crispy and tasted so good with seeded mustard.





Miso Pork Belly (RM 19) 

When this arrived, we almost mistaken it for being a peanut kuih!
The12-hour slow cooked belly is done very perfectly with miso glaze and herbed crust  (oven-baked bread crumbs mixed with miso, herbs and thyme butter).  Sinking my teeth into the soft piece was like entering pork heaven. The herbed crust also adds to the contrast of the soft belly.






Tasting Platter (RM 46) 

The day before I just watched a Cantonese Travel and Living show about the jamon in Italy hanging like turkey in row after row. This contains premium cold cuts of jamon iberico and my favourite - cubes of smoked duck breast. I could not stop myself from taking piece after piece of jamon iberico! The duck breast is tender, juicy and succulent. Every one of us, when we took a piece of the orange coloured cubes, we were shocked that they were actually grilled rockmelon with ricotta cheese sprinkled on top, tasting quite sweet. The sour dough bread reminded me of dining experience in a sophisticated Italian restaurant, except that I am eating it with lescure butter.







Crispy Trotter Salad (RM 29) 

Initially, it came as a surprise for a place to have crispy pork skin salad as to me, it is like eating Thai food except  that the dressing is lighter and not spicy but done with french vinaigrette. Pork trotter skin is fried till crispy and adorned on a top of mixed lollo lettuce,  fresh pomegranate, shredded young papaya, and toasted pecans with fresh vinaigrette dressing.



Garden Duck (RM 27) 

Duck breast are paired with baby  romaine and   tossed with pecans, cherry tomatoes and zesty orange brandy dressing. It is complimented with juicy grilled watermelons that is also quite unique though some might not like it.




Passionfruit Juice (RM 13) 

The juice is super sour for my friend by I felt it is refreshing.


Sangria (RM 19) 

The Red Sangria is much better with more flavour than the white sangria which was concocted with pineapple and tasted too sweet.



Ante Signature Pork Steaks 



The signature pork dish category has increased to include a total of 4 cuts, each with its own signature sauce and accompaniments. The chargrilled pork steaks features different cuts of the pig that are grilled to ensure texture, and flavour and every dish is paired with carefully picked sauces. Ante handpicks and manicures every dish and even ensure the temperature is checked for doneness before serving. We could also add any of the sides for RM 7 whereas fries cost RM 10 for additions.

Pork Shoulder (RM 52) 

This is well marbled out of the side of the bone. This part is super tender, soft and has some fats in it. In summary, just unforgettable including the super soft mashed potato which has turned me from a person who dislikes mashed potato to one who likes eating this.




Pork Striploin Blackpepper Sauce (RM 38) 

I like this because it is tender lean meat with caramelised onions and frisee and oak lettuce. Sides of fries is placed at the side.




Pork Striploin Diane (RM 42)


This tender lean meat with strip of charred fat, cooked Diane style in a bed of grown pea mash with roasted russet potatoes and mushroom brandy sauce. I am not that favourable of green pea mash but I like the pork meat nevertheless.



Char Siu Curry Cream Pasta (RM 33) 

The house made marinated char siu tasted so tasty with the sides slightly crispy. It went well with very super creamy curry, which is different from conventional pasta or even curry. It still retains the Japanese part of it with the shimeji mushroom and grilled eggplant. This is my favourite spaghetti amongst the rest.



ANTE Carbonara (RM 30) 

The carbonara contains streaky bacon, white button mushroom, parmesan cheese, parsley and egg yolk. The streaky bacon is also crispy.


Garlic Olio Pasta (RM 26) 

This contains pasta cooked with fried garlic, bacon, mushrooms, wine.


Desserts 

Apple Crumble 

This is a big piece of apple crumble pie with large pieces of apples in between which adds to the sweetness between the pastry. It is paired with maple syrup and also vanilla ice-cream.









Creme Brulee 

This is just normal and not much to shout about probably because I am not a big fan of cream.



Varlhona Chocolate Slice

The best is always served last. Finally my most anticipated dessert from the dessert menu arrived! The Varlhona dark chocolate is so thick, rich and sinful that I felt guilty for eating it while on a diet plan. The dark chocolate is adorned with a crisp feuilltine base with cocoa soil, almond flakes, Earl Grey infused cream and fresh strawberries and blueberries. The chocolate was so good that it can be eaten by itself.





As usual, Ante never fails to disappoint again and again. The food and drinks are all served by affable waitresses. The light bulbs dim as the evening becomes night.


Details:
Tel: 03-62063364
Add: Ante, Solaris Dutamas Publika, No. 9, A2, G1, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 KL, Malaysia


Branches in KL / PJ : 
1 UTAMA Operating hours: Sunday - Thursday

Lot F346, First Floor, New Wing, Rainforest 10 am - 10 pm

One Utama Shopping Centre Friday - Saturday

Bandar Utama 47800 Selangor 10 am – 10.30 pm

● PUBLIKA Operating hours: Sunday - Thursday

A2-G1-09, Solaris Dutamas 1, 11 am – 10.30 pm

Jalan Dutamas 1, Friday - Saturday

50480 Kuala Lumpur 11 am – 11.30 pm