Thiptara @ Peninsula Bangkok

On our last night in Bangkok, both of us agreed that we would stay in the hotel and enjoyed a quiet dinner at one of their restaurants. We have read about rave reviews on their Chinese restaurant, Mei Jiang, but since we already had Chinese food in Chinatown.. we passed and opted for their Thiptara Thai restaurant instead. This time we didn't make any plans and the decision was kinda last minute so we didn't make any booking.

We showed up at the reception at 6.30pm to enquire on tables next to Chao Phraya river but were disapppointed when they told us that all the tables were booked for the night. That guy (forgot his name) might have sensed our disappointment and therefore looked at the booking sheet one more time. He then promptly informed us that he could arrange one table (yay!) for us but politely reminded us that we could only have the table until 8pm as the guests were expected to arrive at that time. Since we hardly took more than 1 hour for dinner, we said YES!

The sun had already set and therefore it was not that hot and it was not long until the night fell and all the buildings were lit up brightly. Can you apot Jenn in the picture?

Complimentary marinated cashew nuts

While waiting for our dishes to be served, we asked the waitress to take a picture of us.

As the night fell, all the buildings across the river were lit up... revealing a breathtaking night scene from where we sat. Settings - f22, 15sec, ISO100! The result?

Refreshing concoction of lime & mint leaves juice

Khao Phad Thiptara (360 baht) - essentially the fried Jasmine rice with chilly paste, shrimp and salty egg. Being a sucker for fried rice.. I found this dish full of wok hei and moderately spicy. With a dash of lime juice, every bite was heavenly (at least for me). Jenn shared the same sentinent as I was...

However she felt no "kick" in the fried rice and asked for all available sauces from our attending waitress - she gave us 4 of them!

Phad-Phak-Ka-Nah Moo Grob (280 baht) - seriously without Engligh translation at the bottom of every dish, I would be scratching my head figuring out what the heck the dish was... wok fried kale with crispy pork!

Tom Yum Goong Mai Nam (440 baht) hit the jackpot! As usual, the soup has what I was looking for - spicy and sourish, fresh river prawns and distinctive lemongrass flavour.

Clear winner of the night belonged to this particular dish - Gaeng Phed Ped Yang or roasted duck simmered in red curry & sweet basil! The curry was thick, creamy and packed with all the required flavours. We could have ordered second helping of rice just because of this dish!

By the time we finished our dinner, I looked at my watch and it was only 7.45pm. Charged the dinner to my room and went back straight to our room. Actually we could have gone to the bar next to Thiptara for a glass of wine or two. The reason??? To enjoy the breathtaking view of Bangkok city from our balcony - settings f22, 15sec, ISO100! We even bought two bottles of Singha beer and some snacks while chatting the night away. Romantic?? You bet it is :)

Next post - Peninsula Hotel Bangkok!

Disclaimer:
1) I'm not paid to promote/endorse any particular event, restaurant or person in this blog. ALL are based on my unbiased personal opinion.
2) My reviews are based on my personal taste and preference and therefore may vary for others.

Our 4th Anniversary @ Millesime & arrival of Leo jr

I'm very happy today as I write this post! Why? Because I have become dad for the second time (^_^) Leo jr. arrived at 7.30am this morning and I'm proud to say that both mom & baby are doing just fine. The new addition makes it 4 members in the Leo family! To some family, this will be a perfect one as one daughter and one son complete the family. To us Chinese, it means more as the combination of girl "女" and boy " 子" form the word GOOD "好". Here is my first photo of my son & I in blogspot!

Since Jenn has to go through the confinement period, that means we couldn't celebrate our 4th anniversary which falls on 27th January next year. Even after the confinement, we still have to take care of our son who will only be like a month old at that time. And I certainly believe that Sher Ryn will not make our lives easier but being more demanding. You know - sibling rivalries. Being a small child, she will try every little thing to vie for our attention & jealousy will ensue. Significant amount of time is required to educate her as well as to raise up the son at the same time.

Therefore, a week before she delivers I planned a surprise dinner for the two of us at Millesime. In fact, I called to make reservation a few days earlier. It was raining on that evening and since it was my first time going there, I had no idea on the exact location and ended up merry-go-round with Jenn. Tucked at the corner of Menara Kencana Petroleum, it wasn't easy to spot.

Since they don't serve a-la-carte menu, we had to go for the degustation menu priced at RM150++ per person which consists of 3 starters, 1 main and 1 dessert. ThE white truffle promotion was still ongoing but looking at the RM120++ per dish, we skipped that.

Complimentary breads were given with French butter - love the wholemeal bread with grains + butter!! What a perfect way to kickstart the evening.

Amuse Bousche for the night was Smoked Salmon Tartare served in a shot glass. Love the intense flavour of the smoked salmon but one gulp was all I took to down the stuff! Wish I had more!

Carpaccio of Baby Octopus with Arabian Sea Prawn Orange, Shaved Fennel Salad & Black Olive Dressing - first of all I didn't know that octopus could be done this way and secondly, the black olive dressing gave a tinge to my tastebud and went very well with the octopus as well as the prawn.

Ragout of snail with celery & parsley creamed mushroom soup - simply love the earthy flavour of the mushroom soup which somehow managed to cover up the gamey smell of the snail but not all as I still could taste the gamey smell.

Sea scallop with Peruvian White Asparagus & Black Truffle Vinaigrette - the presence of black truffle provided an earthy taste to the otherwise bland scallop & the asparagus was simply superb - crunchy and sweet! My favourite dish of the night!

Provencale Herbs - Parmesan Crusted Cod Fish, Lemon Oil & Rosemary Juice - the fish was cooked to perfection. The herbs crusted fish was aromatic while maintaining its moist and flaky texture. The presence of lemon oil further enhanced its flavour to another level. Wish that I ordered this as my choice of main was a disappointment!

Anjou Pigeon Breast Pan Roasted with Zucchini, Leek Flan & Goose Liver Cream - this dish would have been superb if it was well-cooked. After a few mouth of the pigeon meat, I realised that the meat was RAW (not slightly raw but RAW!!). I complained to our attending waiter & he immediately took it to replace, but my appetite was already ruined. I just asked them to proceed with the dessert. They were apologetic though...

Baked Fresh Fig & Seasonal Berries en Sabayon with Egg Biscotti & Amanera Ice Cream - the egg based biscotti was good! not overly sweet and complimented the fig & berries very well. But the Amanera Ice Cream definitely stole the thunder with its fruity flavour.

We ended the dinner with our choice of Chamomile & Earl Grey tea. It was then that I instructed that my surprise gift to be brought out on a dessert plate! Jenn thought nothing of it until she saw this lovely little box placed in front of her :) my plan worked as she looked very surprised! The present was my gift for our 4th anniversary & Valentine's Day which were quite close to each other.

The look on her face was priceless as she opened the box and saw what was inside! I knew that she lack of diamond earring in her jewellery collection and that was why I bought it & it was a design that I knew she'd love. Knowing her almost half of my life helped a lot :) she almost cried when she read the wooden card that I made for her personally - thanking her for giving me such a wonderful family and being such a wonderful wife. A simple kiss to the lips was all she did, but it was a kiss full of love!

Leo's verdict - apart from the surprise gift that went very well, it would be perfect if my main dish was perfect as well. Chef Max Chin was there at night & I'm pretty sure that it was his staff that made the error. Considering that I was paying RM150++, it shouldn't have become this way. For this dinner (and the gift) I have blown my monthly budget over the roof.. LOL! Oh well, at least my wife's happy and that's what matters the most!

Millesime
G1-01-3, Menara Kencana Petroleum
Solaris Dutamas, KL
Tel: 03-62110648

Disclaimer:
1) I'm not paid to promote/endorse any particular event, restaurant or person in this blog. ALL are based on my unbiased personal opinion.
2) My reviews are based on my personal taste and preference and therefore may vary for others.

Favola @ Le Meridien Hotel KL

I think that the first blog I read on Favola was through Sean's eatdrinkkl. I wondered where this new restaurant was located until I realised that al-nafourah was closed and replaced by Favola. Soon more and more bloggers started to flock to the new Italian restaurant and came back with good reviews. Well, if self-proclaimed Italian food lovers like Sean raved about this place, what could possibly go wrong right??

So one night when Sher Ryn was under my in-law's supervision, Jenn & I came here for a date! We used to go out on date a lot in the past, and dating was something that I love to do with someone I love. Don't get me wrong, my definition of dating is very simple - does not necessarily means going out for expensive meal or vacation. What matters to me was the fact that there were just the two of us spending time together, chatting the night away. Since Sher Ryn was born, those opportunities got lesser and lesser. That's why I treasure the time that both of us had together :)

I must have not come here for a long time as I was surprised to see the entrance of Le Meridien's brightly lid with artworks. Googling further, I plagiarised alilfatmonkey's description of this artwork "Earlier this year, Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur has transformed its hotel entrance into an art portal, commissioning the unique work of Chinese artist, An Xiaotong entitled ‘Everywhere’. Upon arrival at the hotel, guests are welcomed with striking colours displayed at the hotel entrance and ceiling along a narrow walkway. With the intention of resetting the guests’ mind when entering the hotel, the art piece features extended branches in bold red branches against electric blue to exemplifies a network of cities that spans everywhere throughout the world." Credit has to be given to this profilic and funny blogger :)


Taking the lift to Level 8 where the Middle Eastern restaurant Al-Nafourah once operated, we were shown to our table (why? You think that I would risk not having table on weekend evening? Hell no... I made reservation two days earlier)

Complimentary breads with 3 different dippings were absolutely spot on - one of the best in town. The breads were freshly baked and the variety of dippings were delicious enough to whet my appetite to gorge on the main course later.

After cracking my head, I settled for Risotto con Aragosta @ RM45 - lobster, lemon zest, and green pea foam. What I love about this dish was the distinctive taste of the lobster.. the portion was generous and I loved it to bits! Risotto lovers take note :)

Jenn's choice of Conchiglioni marinata al cartoccio @ RM40 was a right one - baked parcels with seafood (clams, scallops & lobsters to name a few), extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs and tangy tomato sauce. Topped with melted cheese on top, shell pastas were used to "trap" the sweet & flavourful sauce and went straight into your mouth. The result??? Fantastic is all that I can think of to describe this dish!

I was in the mood for something alcoholic so I ordered this Vibetini @ RM30 - lychee, sugar syrup, vodka and a dash of midori. Sweet but I think that the alcohol content was not potent enough!

Cassata @ RM20 - layered ice-cream with a few different type of flavour. The recipe remained a secret that Chef Antoine & his friend (who gave him the recipe and made him swear not to reveal it) know. I wonder why all of you didn't try it as this was perhaps one of the best ice-cream I'd tasted in my life!!!

Leo's verdict - Before my starwood card expires end of Sept 2010, I definitely will come here to savour on their other dishes again! Two thumbs up for Favola as it made into my Top 10 Italian restaurants!

Elegant Inn @ Menara Hap Seng KL

Have I ever mentioned that Sher Ryn is like 9-days younger than her cousin? That's not an important issue but this blog has something to do with what I've said earlier. If you know when Sher Ryn's birthday is, then most likely you will know how old this blog is :P

As you know, Jenn & I celebrated Sher Ryn's birthday at New Formosa's. A week before that, we went to Elegant Inn in Menara Hap Seng for her cousin's birthday dinner. Initially they wanted to dine at their Connaught's outlet since it was nearer to Cheras home but for the same price and food, why not settle for a better ambience??? And it marked my first time coming to the much hyped refurbished Menara Hap Seng (previously MUI Plaza).

Since we arrived here 30 minutes earlier than the appointed time, I had plenty of time to take pictures of the place and its surrounding! Using the best settings, I took some pictures but some of them still turned out rather dark, especially inside the restaurant.

Craving for seafood??? Just make sure that the wallet is thick enough :) or else, credit card would suffice!

One year old Sher Ryn together with her equally gorgeous mom!

Initially I wanted to suggest that we went for a-la-carte but 1) Jenn's sis didn't want to crack her head and 2) her husband was paying for the meal, therefore I zipped my mouth. They settled for the Wealthy Menu which was priced at RM988++

The first to arrive at our table was of course the Yee Sang... aptly named Bountiful Harvest Salmon Lou Sang, it was truly a fresh sight to see :)

Ingredients such as abalone, jellyfish, salmon, shredded carrot, cucumber slices and pears were thrown in.

Hopefully it'd be a good year for everyone who "lou' it! What I loved most about the yee sang was that it tasted as fresh as it sounded! Everyone praised the freshness of all the ingredients, and felt healthier too.

Braised shark fin with dried scallop and Bamboo Pitt came next - not much of shark fin. I know that this dish was controversial but then I was not the one who ordered it. apart from that, the soup was flavourful.. good till the last drop!

Steamed estuary garoupa with dried prawns and winter vegetable - I had two rather not-so-pleasant experience on estuary garoupa prior to this meal. However, I was wow-ed this time... as the meat was firm & flaky. The winter vegetable used has sweetish note in it. Blissful!

Steamed Chinese Village Chicken with fragrant sesame sauce - accompanying ginger dipping was superb! Normally I was not a fan of steamed chicken as I prefer roasted or fried chicken but I had to give this dish a thumb up. The chicken meat was Succulent and smooth, and sesame seeds used made this dish more aromatic. Exceptional!

Sauteed Sea Tiger Prawn with goose liver and Chinese Olive - to-die-for gravy made possible by the usage of foie gras. Those huge tiger prawns were fresh and when they were paired with the gravy, each and every of them were finger lickin' good :)

Eight Vegetarian Treasures in Chef's Sauce - thin & crispy fu chuk, lotus root slice, celery, black fungus, shredded spicy scallops, cabbage, mushroom and red chilly were used in this dish. Something not so heavy to prepare us to the next dish.

Braised Chinese Egg Noodle with Australian Abalone and fish maw - one slice of abalone & fish maw per diner (not more and not less). Egg noodle was done just right with lip-smacking egg gravy. I thought that the noodles were soggy when I first saw the dish but I was wrong!

Pan fried traditional rice cake and hazelnut cookies - nothing much to shout about the cookies but the pan fried "nian gao" was a delight to eat. Normally this nian gao is available during Chinese New Year!

Double boiled sea coconut, lily bulbs, longan in ginger soup - the dessert signalled the end of our satisfying meal.

Leo's verdict - Yeah I know... this menu is not available anymore. Actually I'm planning my second visit to Elegant Inn to try their a-la-carte dishes that I have read so much in other blogs. There are still many items that I have not got to try yet. Price-wise it's more towards fine Chinese dining but I reckon that the money was well worth spent :)

And yes, we still had time to cut the birthday cake.

Elegant Inn
2.01, 2nd Floor, Podium Block
Menara Hap Seng
Jalan P.Ramlee
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-20709399

P.S: Non-Halal