Eat Drink KL: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Crayon Burger @ SS15, Subang

 MyBurgerLab's unprecedented popularity has opened the floodgates for more funky burgers to storm the suburbs. Some of the best beefiness so far comes from Crayon Burger, which seems set to chalk up rainbow-powered success in Subang.

Crayon Burger's claim to fame: its kaleidoscope of buns, cultivated in colorful hues made possible with natural ingredients. Red yeast yields pink buns, spinach tints bread a pale green, while bamboo charcoal & milk supply their own inimitable shades.

Each bun boasts subtle flavors; this one's fragrant veggie freshness becomes a wholesome counterpoint to the crispy-creaminess of nachos & cheese fondue.

But the primary pleasure still rests in the meat: smashed patties of Aussie grass-fed beef, its chunky succulence similar to MyBurgerLab's (imitation = sincere flattery). Most of the burgers cost about RM15, with bottomless soda & fries requiring an extra RM5.

Peanut butter alert! Savory satisfaction is assured with this behemoth of beef patty, beef bacon, peanut butter & raspberry jam. Sure, it's sinful, but Crayon Burger's clientele of college students shouldn't have to fear cholesterol (for now).

Don't dread the Zombie Burger either, perhaps Crayon's flagship formation, a poppy-seed bun with a patty smothered in blood-red onion ketchup. Also available with chicken breast patty, but stick to the cow, which delivers bolder flavor & a punchier juiciness.

Our favorite Crayon creation: The Boss (probably not Springsteen-inspired, but who knows), thanks to its eccentric combo of toppings: wasabi mayo, fried egg, onion rings & Swiss cheese. Somehow, it works!

Crayon's fries are sufficiently fluffy & fulfilling, though not the star of the show. Another plus point: Crayon opens 11am-10pm, ensuring that queues remain shorter (or even nonexistent), especially throughout daylight hours. Closed Mondays.

Wrapping up with a sweet surprise: Crayon's unique dessert burger, built with chilled chocolate, sponge cake, strawberries & kiwi fruit (RM8).

Crayon Burger,
38, Jalan SS 15/4, Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

OMG Ooh My Gas LN2 Ice Cream @ Pavilion

Got gas? Barely a month after NBrew established Malaysia's first liquid nitrogen ice cream kiosk at eCurve, another purveyor of LN2 pleasures has suddenly surfaced, this time at the wonderfully convenient location of Pavilion.
Entry on NBrew @ eCurve: January 13.

Ooh My Gas (cute name) at Pavilion offers an impressive degree of minus-210-degree customization. The ordering procedure might seem complicated initially: Patrons first need to choose a base, either ice cream, gelato or soy milk.

Next, determine your flavor: everything from macadamia milk to coffee java chips, sesame to white chocolate, grape to pineapple. Then decide on toppings: cashews, pistachios, corn flakes, Reese's, Oreos, marshmallows & more. 

The frosty fun begins immediately; each cup (prices start at RM12.90) takes a minute to make, with the mixes flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen & served to order.

Peanut butter alert! Our top pick: Peanut butter gelato topped with pecans. Folks will probably have their own preferences, but with the right combination of flavor & topping, Ooh My Gas ranks pretty much on par with the fabulous Cielo Dolci.
Entry on Cielo Dolci @ Paradigm Mall: June 3, 2012.

Hazelnut nutella ice cream. An absolute delight, dense, rich & smooth enough to become everyone's latest addiction.

Cinnamon ice cream, with a soy milk base & cream cheese topping, near-perfect in taste & texture. Note that customers can also specify whether they want their ice cream very sweet, moderately sweet or relatively less sweet.

Ooh My Gas OMG Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream,
Level 1, Pavilion Shopping Mall, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Cafe Berlin @ 1 Mont Kiara Mall

A promising entry into Mont Kiara, serving an array of German, French & Italian bread.

We have trouble pronouncing Cafe Berlin's offerings (vollkornbrot? schwartzbrot?), but even if words won't roll off our tongues, flavors can be relished by our taste buds.

Cafe Berlin supplies everything from simple Vesper mixed wheat bread ...

... to loaves loaded with grainy goodness, great enough to eat on their own.

Dense & heavy with seeds & nuts, making a RM20 ten-slice loaf worth the premium.

Also available: wheat-rye kruestchen & stollen fruitcake (even if it's not Christmas).

Bonus stop: A short drive from Mont Kiara Mall, Swich has opened its dine-in outlet at Publika.
Entries on Swich Cafe at HP Towers: July 20, 2012 & Jan. 6, 2013.

It's a treasure trove of Swich's greatest hits, finally available seven days a week, from irresistible guilty pleasures like butter soft-shell-crab pasta with salted egg yolk ...

... to conscience-appeasing creations like a walnut, fig & pear salad that's vivid with flavors.

The menu at Publika's Swich is only slightly less extensive than the HP Towers outlet's; the cornucopia of comfort food spans pizzas sold by the slice to chunky chicken rendang burgers creamily coated in peanut sauce.

And of course, Swich's now-famed cakes are available too (from time to time, fortunate customers might find Swich founder Cheng Cheng's masterful mangosteen cake up for grabs). The cafe is located on G3, the level above MPH.

Cafe Berlin @ Ground Floor, 1 Mont Kiara Mall, Kuala Lumpur.
Swich Cafe @ G3, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Grand Harbour @ Fahrenheit 88

Docking at Fahrenheit 88's new Grand Harbour for all-day dim sum with a distinctive difference.

Novelties here include animal-themed creations like shrimp dumplings topped with quail eggs ... 

 ... super-cute swan-shaped puff pastry stuffed with thick durian paste (RM8.80+) ...

 ... & mice-like glutinous rice balls (RM7.80+) filled with custard & flaked with coconut.

Bun as teapot (RM6.80+), teeming with steaming-hot egg yolk cream.

Pumpkin pastry (RM6.80+), crisp on the outside, velvety-golden within.

Grand Harbour's a safe port for pork; the siu yok here is exactly the way we like it ...

 ... though the char siew & roast duck might seem unmemorable. Good but not great.

Steamed pork stomach in spicy plum sauce (RM7.80+) supplies a workout for the jaws.

Fabulously fatty pork trotter, cooked in claypot with chee cheong fan rice rolls (RM10.80+). 

Last, not least: Water chestnut cakes (RM5.80+), served warm. Be ready for this jelly!

Pu-er tea, available raw or ripened, in vintages that span a year to forty of aging (the priciest: RM298+ per pot). We opted for the seven-year-aged, RM12+ per person. 

Bonus stop at Fahrenheit 88: Visiting this mall's third-floor branch of Coffee Stain By Joseph.
Entry on Coffee Stain by Joseph @ Solaris Dutamas: June 15, 2012.

Gibraltar latte & Macchiato espresso, both sufficiently satisfying. We like.

Grand Harbour @ LG2, Fahrenheit 88, Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur.
Coffee Stain by Joseph @ L3 Parkamaya, Fahrenheit 88, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Ril's & Bait @ Telawi, Bangsar

Returning to two of our current favorite Bangsar hangouts.
Earlier entry on Ril's: Dec. 31, 2012. Earlier entry on Bait: Dec. 28, 2012.

Ril's welcome bread & butter, tiding our tummies over while waiting for the meat.

Kicking off this meal in earnest: Aussie rib-eye grass-fed beef (RM78++ for 300 grams).

We've been requesting our steaks rare in recent months. This really is how we like it now.

Ril's Asian-flavored sticky beef short rib is massive enough for two to share. Braised in star anise with shiitake mushrooms & ginger, then finished in the oven with a dark soy reduction & served with spiced orange segments & bok choi.

Ril's other specialty, besides its beef, is cocktails. The Mai Tai here is marvelous.

Ramos Red Bean Fizz, an inventive version of the gin original, but with extra creaminess from soy milk & red beans (served with a red bean bun, to boot!).

It might no longer be Christmas, but these semi-DIY beverages help extend the Yuletide cheer.

Red wine, cognac & port, served hot & cold, with cinnamon, cardamom & orange peels.

Next up, back to Bait, this time for its non-seafood fare.

Slow-cooked eggs with seaweed, asparagus, mushrooms & hollandaise sauce. Delicious.

House-made chicken liver pate, cooked with red wine & brandy, served with red wine shallots (RM14++). Every bit as rich-tasting as expected.

Beef tenderloin tataki (RM27++), eighty grams seared & torched, coated with ponzu dressing, then finished with sesame seeds & horseradish sauce.

Surprise! Direct from Paradigm Mall, Cielo Dolci's heavenly gelato is now available at Bait; basic flavors like Earl Grey, rock melon & vanilla.
Main entry on Cielo Dolci: June 3, 2012.

Rosita cocktail (sauza tequila, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, campari) & not-bad RM20 Merlot.

Pimm's Rangoon (Pimm's #1, ginger ale, lemon, cucumber peel) & Nomayo (skyy vodka, campari, elderflower syrup, lemon juice).

Ril's Bangsar

Ril's Bangsar

Ril's Bangsar

Ril's Bangsar

Ril's @ Bangsar,
30, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2201-3846
Bait @ Bangsar,
65, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2201-8187