The ads for the Heart of KL were appearing in the newspapers on a very frequent basis, and frankly, they were more exciting that the skewed local news I had begun to flip over by the pile. My husband, being the more diligent and patient reader (I read headlines in my quest to finish reading the newspapers within 59 minutes), spotted the ad for Zing and its visiting celebrity chef, Chan Kwok, from Singapore’s Hua Tin restaurant. Chef Chan Kwok is described as “the winner of numerous awards including Best Asian Ethnic Chef at the 2005 World Gourmet Summit. He is also author of the recently released book ‘Chan Kwok – A Culinary Genius’ which features some of his best-loved recipes.” We had heard great things about this restaurant from friends who had been there, so when I received an invitation to dine at Zing, the decision to go was a no-brainer, like a frog being asked if he’d like flies, or a dog, bones, or a cow, chocolate milk.
Ok, before you challenge me about the chocolate milk, tell me, have you ever seen a cow reject chocolate milk?
I must say that I was surprised when I walked into Zing. I expected minimalism! I expected lots of black! I expected Jay Chou! The name did nothing to conjure images of old world charm or opium or ambient lighting, which was everything that the actual Zing represented. Well, except for the opium bit. Dark wooden lattice screens partitioned the different sections and thus provided privacy but it was sparse enough to prevent claustrophobia. Everybody say together now – sooooo romantic…… *big sigh*
The specially created set menu consisted of some of Chef Chan’s best recipes. The single prawn deep fried in a pastry resembling phyllo dough was lightly crisp, the shell crumbling easily as I bit into it and exposed the fresh and crunchy prawn. I initially thought that the bed on which the prawn rested was meat floss, but upon tasting it, I quickly realised that there was no hint of meat in what I later found out was a vietnamese rice nest. The slices of roast duck were delicious, really tender and slightly salty. A wonderful juxtaposition of flavours in one plate.
The double-boiled superior soup with baby shark’s fin is one of the Chef’s specialties. Shark bones are boiled for 8 hours until the soup turns a milky hue. The resultant flavour is one that is very intense, an undeniable fishy flavour with the cartilaginous texture of the fins.
The emerald bean curd (in a crab meat sauce) is created by mixing finely minced watercress with tofu and I find this simply brilliant. It is such a wonderful way for me to eat my greens. If green had a scent, this had to be it.
Unlike the usual oxtail preparations which I was used to, this one was stewed in a homemade brown sauce made with chinese herbs and had the pungent flavour of garlic. The oxtail was soft and tender from the hours of stewing.
This dish brought back memories of my childhood and eating Rice Krispies – you know the famous snap, crackle and pop? And there was also this confection made with Rice Krispies and butter and honey and cut into squares? I couldn’t help but smile when I looked at this dish, a playful combination of crispy rice with vegetables and chopped prawns. I am now inspired to replicate this recipe at home. My husband’s in for a treat. That’s assuming I don’t burn it first. Or turn it into rice mush.
The final item on the menu – chilled mango puree with sago and pomelo. I found this very sweet, but he thought it was just nice. The texture was a find blend of thick mango, while the bits of pomelo was a good contrast, providing a slight hint of sourness and bitterness to the lovely dessert.
By now, we felt like we were best friends with Rahayu and Sulo, the two lovely ladies from PR. After all, only best friends will tell each other about their uncle’s durian plantation and where they voted in Gombak. So as a special treat, we had…..
Durian pancakes!……
….and durian tarts! And ‘coz I feel like I am such good friends with you, my dear readers, I am compelled to share with you the following images….
Durian pancake again! Thick and oozing with fragrant durian flesh and cream!…..
…and the durian tart again! The warm crumbly pastry enveloped the sweet durian filling which was custardy and delicious! Bald Eagle felt like he had died and gone to a durian plantation.
Do note, however, that the durian treats are not part of Chef Chan Kwok’s menu. Prices are as follows:
Set menu: RM168++ per person (minimum 2 persons)
Durian pancake: RM12++ for 2 pieces
Durian tart: RM9++ for 3 pieces
There is also an ala carte menu consisting of the above items and a few more. Do note that Chef Chan Kwok will be at Zing only until 19 March, and if you wish to sample his cuisine at the Orchard Hotel in Singapore, there is a long waiting list and you are advised to book early. I can assure you that it’ll be much easier to reserve a table here at Zing to enjoy a meal created by this great chef.
A big thank you to my new best friends, Rahayu and Sulo. 🙂
Zing
Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur (formerly The Regent)
160 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2117 4888
OPENING HOURS:
Monday – Saturday
Lunch – 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Dinner – 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Sundays and Public Holidays
Lunch – 10.30 am – 2.30 pm
Dinner – 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm
The girl from Abu Dhabi may view the pictures HERE.
Gah!!! Torture!!!
Will retaliate ASAP with Iketeru Kaiseki menu!!!
The shark fin and durian pancake is worth any amt.. if you asked me.. 😉
You must have posted this late! Beautiful dark wood and looks like you scored quite a coup getting to have a meal with the “Genius Chef!” How close have you ever gotten to a cow? And the fact that you’d hafta have walked out into the country and carried a bucket of choco milk, I’d be surprised! 😉
Henry: Bringing out all your weapons, I see!
Mama Bok: Oh, absolutely!!
Msiagirl: I’ve gotten quite close to a cow, mind you, you cheeky li’l monkey. On the roadside, of course. God forbid I’d have to walk across the country to find a cow!! Oh and husbands are there to carry pails of choco milk mah. What for I wanna kill myself doing it?
Grrrr…. I almost forgot the durian pancakes and tarts are not real and wanted to licked the screen! Now u’ve made me go hungry, just after breakfast too! *Slurps*
O.o omg…feasts for the gods la wei…Can feel the restaurant ambience by looking at ur pic…The pancakes…mahalnye…I can have 2 giant ones at Singapore ady lolz and will last u the whole day hahaha. Warm pancake enveloping the chilled D24 durian paste.
Wow the durian pancake looks to die for! I wonder if they have it in Singapore… Btw, there’s this fantastic durian fiesta down in Goodwood Park Hotel in Singapore every year as well. It’s absolutely fantastic!
http://www.goodwoodparkhotel.com/promotion-dining.htm
“BE thought he had died and gone to a durian plantation” – hahahaha! Pity to think my grandma had a durian orchard and I fell out of love with durians at 13 or 14.
I could do with that nice ducky dish though. ^_^
(Best friends are those who never let you go hungry?)
Long heard of Chef Chan Kwok la…But it’s super costly to dine at his place la… =( But from your pics, i think it worths every cents you spend.
Barbie: Now you know where to get ’em. 😉
Jian: But is it as good as these gorgeous flers? 🙂
Debbie: See Jian’s comment. I guess you’ll have to ask Jian where to get ’em. 🙂 Wow, durian fiesta! You shouldn’t miss it!
argus: Ummmm….can introduce me to your grandma ar?
JOjo: Yeah, I heard it’s costly there. Maybe it’s cheaper to have his food here? I can vouch for the taste!
That emerald bean curd reminds me of blue cheese hehehe
I have been poetically sober for a proud while now until…
a post of this exquisite place
with gorgeous pictures to embrace
left me with no choice
but let my wild nature unlace
though not Jay Chou
Or a chocolate cow
refined dishes of such grandeur
j’amour, j’amour, j’amour
but there’s a stinger
i could take no longer
of some desserts with durian
i’m kryptonized and almost pengsan
ahh…relieved.
reading this today..leaves me 3 days..you evil evil lady…
looks like wednesday nite shud b the nite..
and hey? cow n choc milk? when did ladies like to drink their own breast milk?
durian durian durian!!!!
Me Grandma passed on a few decades ago at age 92 — don’t like you’d want to be introduced to a fossilised woman.
Hey, I’m visiting M’sia starting on Aug 21. We must make time to do the sushi/sashimi thing, ya? ^_^
*Fainted on LotsOfCravings’ comment ^^
The ambiance is very nice lah… good to have romantic oriental food.
those dishes, are all fit for a King and Queen man !!.. really nice stuff…
this is gorgeous, a really serious eating business! 🙂
Looking at these photos…”Zing…went the strings of my heart….”
nipples: how rude!!!
ll: I got the latest photo of your favourite firefly squid…… (it’s springtime, remember? so you better come next month for the anniversary)
haha i would hv die and gone to heaven too wid all those food!
Rice Crispies! Yummy!
Wow, that’s expensive. But for the food and environment, I guess it’s worth the price! The food look so well presented! Nice photos!
to be honest, i think chinese fine dining is overrated– until i saw those damn durian desserts. now i think i i could kill u already for tempting us with such simple yet sinful delights *grr…*
but if u do go to spore, look out for durian desserts all over. thr’s a kiosk that sells everything durian, and i’m sure bald eagle would wanna go to durian heaven the 2nd time ;p
U lost me at cow, choc milk. Pix of durian pancakes rescued me. Then NJoe knocked me back into limbo with ladies, own breast milk. Help. Now, only a taste will do.
HATE YOUUUUUU
mmmm durian!!! those pancakes even resemble plump durians waiting to be devoured.
“Everybody say together now – sooooo romantic……”
Uhm. Okay. SOOOOO ROMANTIC. Howzat? Tee hee.
But forget about the romance (I can’t believe I actually said that!), gimme some of them durian pancakes! I so miss good durian… *slobbery drools*
I’m with Paprika. Hates you. I mean, I still lub you, but yeah: Hates you. Grrr…
For all you crazy durian lovers:
Durian tofu
durian cheese
lulian t’ong-sui
lulian siu-pau
roti durian
durian toe jam
^_^
should any one of your dear good readers ( or ??? ) extends to any one of us ever even a tiny miniscule invite to try just a littlest of one of the above masters-pieces we will be like …oh TQ dearest sweetie …even got no opium also never mind !
TQ, TQ !
the crispy rice sounds delicious… ^_^
teckiee: both are excellent in their own ways. but compared to your mouldy blue cheese….hmmmm….I don’t think so! hehe.
Nic: I haven’t had much sleep and have been working 12 hours daily, so it’s hard to be poetic right now. Maybe simple conversation will suffice, eh? 🙂 Durian….c’mon babe, you gotta appreciate the creamy stuff that makes me wax lyrical over and over again. If you pengsan, I’ll make sure someone catches your Nikon first.
Joe: grossssssssss.
XLB: Ah yes, a true connoisseur.
Argus: I’ll pass on the grandma, but not on the sushi. Ah- so, we’ll have to meet over some delicious Japanese. We’ve been talking about it for far too long, Argus-san.
Jason: Absolutely. Who says chinese food can’t be romantic, eh?
Bernsy: Yeah, I hear a lot of royalty dine there. 🙂
BBO: You can say that again, babe.
wmw: Almost sounded like broken strings! kekeke.
Henry: Wah so fast already one year ar? hehe.
BabeKL: LOL…yeah lor…really good stuff, Itellyew!
Unkaleong: Still a child at heart, eh? Nvm..you’re only 30.
Sugar Bean: Yeah, it’s a lovely place for dinner. And thanks!
Jun: I think we have to be open to the fact that chinese fine dining is in a league of its own and can absolutely be appreciated for what it is. 🙂 And yes, the durian desserts, although not part of the special menu, was the icing on the cake! Thanks for the tip girl…will look for it when i go to Singapore soon!
Tummythoz: confused. taste? breast milk? yikes.
Paprika: Yeah, they were loaded, alright. come come…don’t hate me lar….I still sayang you mah…..!!!
Kenny Mah: Ditto. Lub you and hate you too. Not sure why but seems to be the trend to say that. teehee!
Argus: You high on something? 😛 No durians where you are, eh?
team bsg: Ok, will invite you next time larrrr. Make sure you come ar.
ling239: It was! Wait till I figure out the recipe. (don’t hold your breath though) 😛
oh should be lo…the aunty selling mee 8 feet away also can smell the stinking durian…very smooth also…
The prawn you have up there has just given me a fantastic cooking idea…:)
Thank God and Dog there’s no durian where I am.
But I love the novelty of your puffy rice thingy. 😉
help.. I’m gonna suffer from dehydration soon if I kept on reading! *drooling*
I can’t tahan…
I finished reading…
Every single word…
and durian!! I must have some after my exam.. ;P
Yeah, the food was excellent. Hopefully, I get the cookbook this wkend…(cross my fingers and toes)
oh lyrical- the food looked gorgeous. The durian desserts certainly appeal to me the most. =)
Shark bones soup!! argg good stuff, i prefer shark bones soup thn shark fin!! slurp!
it look so delicious..temptin tempting..thou not a true durian lover..urs definetely look delicious..
YOU HAD SHARKSFIN?????? *faint*