The Restaurant @ The Club @ The Saujana

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Lyrical Lemongrass

I’m not kidding. That is the name of the restaurant. Imagine my hesitance as I approached the front desk of what I believed was The Club @ The Saujana. The conversation could very likely have turned out to be:

Me: Hi, I’m looking for The Restaurant.
Front Desk: Which restaurant, ma’am?
Me: The Restaurant.
Front Desk: Which restaurant, ma’am?
Me: The Restaurant.
Front Desk: Which restaurant, ma’am?
Me: The Restaurant.

As you can tell, I couldn’t have gone very far with that conversation. Thankfully, I had arrived at the correct place after all. My actual conversation was:

Me: Hi, I’m looking for The Restaurant.
Front Desk: Yes, this is The Restaurant.
Me: Is this the only restaurant?
Front Desk: Yes, this is The Restaurant.
Me: This is the The Restaurant?
Front Desk: Yes, this is The Restaurant.

There is, of course, a moral to the story. I’ll leave it to you to figure that one out.

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The scenery is quite different in this part of the neighbourhood. Despite the growth in residential properties in recent times after a sluggish period when our international airport moved from Subang to Sepang, a fair bit of the area is still lush with vegetation. True, the location of the resort is quite a distance from KL, but with modern infrastructure and traffic jams merely at the entrances and exits of all toll booths, the time taken is a wee bit shorter than in the olden days.

Chef Nancy Kinchela has had an extensive culinary career around the world before joining The Club @ The Saujana on 1 April 2009. Far from an April Fool joke, she is serious and appears uncomfortable about being in the limelight, which I can only presume means that she is more at home in the kitchen. Her style is modern European, and she is a stickler for using organic ingredients. Her culinary style fits in well with the cool restrained elegance that is The Club. The suites in this boutique resort are tastefully decorated in contemporary Asian accents and there are loads of benefits including a daily replenished private bar (all you can drink)!

A number of the items we had that night were not on the menu. The refreshing combination of seasonal vegetables including fava beans and asparagus with jerusalem artichoke puree was light and citrusy, whetting our appetite for the subsequent dishes. Imagine then, scallops, pan fried, with foie gras, a decadent combination further enhanced with sliced truffle and mint. I fell completely in love with the roast lamb, tender morsels of deliciousness, but thought the accompanying ravioli (filled with beef and spinach and cooked in duck fat) a little overcooked on the outside rendering it a little stale and tough in texture, but the filling was still very tasty.

Another interesting dish was the butter poached lobster, squid and snapper cassoulet served with pillowy soft squid ink gnocchi. The taste was citrusy and intense. Chef Kinchela’s forte seems to be her ability in using ingredients sparingly but sufficiently to create just the right balance of flavour. She readily uses truffles to accentuate her dishes…a slice here and there to just give a hint of the scent but not to overpower the dishes.

The desserts were nice. I particularly liked the lemon tart which looked deceivingly plain, and the chocolate fondant with caramel snaps.

Now, having seen the menus for lunch and dinner, I can tell you that prices are on the high side. From the dinner menu, starters range from RM39 to RM48, soups at around RM37/38, and main courses from RM58 to RM160. Desserts are approximately RM35 each. The lunch menu (including an Asian selection) starts from RM35. The prices seem comparable to the prices at Sage, and I sometimes feel compelled to compare these two. Naturally, I can’t do that because the cuisines are predominantly different, and personal tastes come into the picture. I do think that The Restaurant will give any other good restaurant a run for its money, especially when it comes to privacy and ambience, and freshness of produce.

The Restaurant @ The Club @ The Saujana
Jalan Lapangan Terbang SAAS
40150 Shah Alam

Tel: 03-78431234

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Thank you, Liza Latif-Grosskinsky of The Club @ The Saujana for your kind invitation to dine at The Restaurant and Frat Mustard of theQGuides for making it happen. Much appreciated!

The Pink Sage, Jalan Dang Wangi, KL

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Lyrical Lemongrass

“Have you been to The Pink Sage?” asks Randall, my hair colourist.

“Ummm…no,” I reply while spitting out mouthfuls of hair.

I stick a finger into my mouth to pull out a few obstinate strays that have found their way in.

“The breakfast there is amazing,” he says, looking away considerately as I hawk out a few more bits of hair. “Their pancakes are the best in town.”

Unlike the clichéd bartender/cocktail therapy, I am more drawn to hair salon therapy where I get my four hours of uninterrupted peace (“What? Sorry, I can’t hear you. I’ll call you later!”), food tips from a rather adventurous and well-travelled owner, and good conversation (at The Met KL, they speak good conversational English – at least I know that they’re not talking behind my back). A couple of years ago, I had the misfortune of tangling my hairsprayed long tresses around my hairbrush, and in a moment of desperation, I was forced to snip off a section. When I went to one of the numerous hair salons in KL to have my hair fixed after the catastrophe, there was hushed silence, then a cacophony of unintelligible speech, which I figured translated to “that stupid girl, she cut off her own hair ar? *&^%$ $%#^*”. I’d much rather they tell me I’m stupid in my face, in English please.

The Pink Sage is a pretty little place. White booths line the inside, and on a nice day, sunlight streams in through the glass walls. Definitely has lots of happy vibes here. The clever use of mirrors makes the place appear larger than it is. There is a decidedly casual atmosphere at The Pink Sage, and on a lazy Sunday morning, one would feel compelled to sit in just a little while longer. 10 more minutes, dear?

A greasy breakfast for a man who can handle a few more calories effortlessly. He has great metabolism, I try to convince myself. Corned beef, cooked to a light crisp, forms the backbone of this dish and is complemented by hash browns, greasy beef bacon, greasy eggs and greasy tomatoes. How can one be repulsed by so much grease? We certainly can’t. The Greasy Breakfast is priced at a very affordable RM14.50.

A less greasy, but substantially larger alternative, is the Brunch Plate (RM32) consisting of an omelette filled with cheese and mushrooms, smoked salmon bruschetta, sausages and pancakes. She asks me what kind of sausage I want – chicken, beef or lamb. I choose lamb, and it is delicious. The main star is undoubtedly the stack of three pancakes. Thick and extremely fluffy, they soak in and absorb the corn and boysenberry syrup. Interestingly, the corn syrup is packaged in disposable, single-serve tubs (a commercial decision?), unlike the boysenberry syrup which is served in a jug. The freshly made pancakes ooze sweet nectar on every bite. This is ecstasy.

He had a hot chocolate while I had a chai latte. My chai latte was very good and I think it will be my staple at The Pink Sage from now on.

The Pink Sage
Wisma RA, 12 Jalan Dang Wangi
50100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-26936000

Open: 8.30am to 10.00pm. Closed Mondays.

And now, the results of the competition:

(Left to right: Nigel from Just Heavenly, Fatboybakes, Lyrical Lemongrass)

Those buggers were actually trying to impersonate me lah, as I tend to have my fringe flop over my right eye (why me, God, why me??). The tissue was meant to represent their fringe. Oh yeah, I like taking my glasses off when I have my photograph taken too, which explains Nigel’s coy looks sans glasses.

Anyhow….

….I did ask for the most creative response, not the most accurate response. The winner has been decided.

CONGRATULATIONS, Lavender Blue who submitted this entry:

You are Hongkong chee cheong fun – – I am Kampar chee Cheong Fun.

It was a tough fight. Thank you everyone for participating. Lavender Blue will win:

A box of cupcakes (by Fatboybakes) which will be masterfully decorated by ME. (Ta-da!) Ahem.

Thank you!

Hakka Republic, Menara Hap Seng

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Lyrical Lemongrass

Welcome to Hakka Republic where the only thing Hakka about this place is this smiling naked peeing kid.

Corn bread and sweet buns

Okay, the truth is, I have no inkling as to what Hakka decor is supposed to look like, but I must say that I was very impressed when I stepped into Hakka Republic last night. The place is dimly lit, perfect for a romantic tryst but not necessarily for that purpose only, and the decor is oriental chic, classy with dark wood fixtures, high ceilings and wall to wall windows that overlook the bustling Changkat Raja Chulan road on one side and a rooftop garden on the other side. A bar counter separates the dining and drinks section, and whilst the tableware, music and decor suggest a classy environment, there is no dress code at Hakka Republic. Good news for those who are glued to their slippers.

Steamed Grade 9 Wagyu with Ponzu Sauce (RM120/100g)

The corn bread and sweet buns are such a treat for our asian palates which are more accustomed to softer breads. Grade 9 wagyu is served as a starter here, and the marbling is perfect for steaming, resulting in melting tender slices, which, when dipped liberally into the ponzu sauce and sesame sauce, is simply remarkable.

Tuna Tartar with Green Tea Cold Soba (RM25 for a full portion)

Champagne

Wild Trio Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil (RM22 for a full portion)

Ciku Sorbet – palate cleanser

The menu is clearly Western with Japanese influences. Chef Adi Radzi has trained for several years in Japan and his accumulated experience of 11 years in the industry there is put to good use at Hakka Republic. Another starter, the marinated tuna tartar served with springy green tea cold soba with a citrus dressing, is an example of Chef Adi’s prowess in Japanese cooking. The mushroom soup is rich and thick (although I didn’t quite taste the truffle oil) but the William Fevre Chablis 2005 with its fruity nose and mild acidity was an excellent pairing that reduced the cloying feeling from the soup.

Miso Marinated Black Cod (RM55 for a full portion)

Slow Braised Black Angus Beef Cheek with Creamy Polenta (RM52 for a full portion)

Wines

Between the two Mains that I tried, I preferred the slow braised black angus cheek with creamy polenta over the miso marinated black cod with braised baby kailan and sesame dressing. This certainly doesn’t indicate that the black cod dish is substandard; au contraire, it was excellent too with its buttery texture that absorbed the miso seasoning. But the angus cheek was gelatinous and melt-in-your-mouth and so amazingly good that I had to stop myself from yelling Hallelujah for this RM52 dish of ecstasy.

Desserts – Hakka Republic’s Special Rich Fruit Cake with Brandy Sauce, Sticky Date Pudding, Baileys Infused Croissant and Butter Pudding

Desserts felt like Christmas, especially since fruit cake was served. No complaints here. Everything was good.

Enomatic Machines

I first heard about the Enomatic Machines from Masak-Masak’s blog and was keen to see it for myself. Hakka Republic is perhaps the only bar in Malaysia that owns one. The enomatic machines allow bottles to be opened and protects the wine from oxidation. They purportedly preserve the quality of the wine for up to three weeks. With up to 16 bottles attached to the machine, this basically means that customers can have tasting portions of any of these wines (at different prices) instead of purchasing full bottles.

The restaurant runs Friday lunches (4 courses) at RM48+ (without wine) and RM86+ (with 3 glasses of wine) which I think is pretty reasonable for food of this quality. I also like the fact that it’s happy hours all day long on weekends!

Thanks very much, Sue Lim, for the invitation to dine at Hakka Republic. Please note that the food featured above are all tasting portions and are thus smaller than the actual serving size.

Hakka Republic (website HERE)
Lot 2.05, Level 2
Menara Hap Seng
Jalan P Ramlee
50200 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2078 8908/9908

Open daily for lunch and dinner (exception: closed Saturday lunch).

Pork free.

NB: Thank you Ryan Khang and Fatboybakes for kindly inviting me to Hakka Republic. I’d be lost and lonely and friendless without you.

Hi, I’m Chucky! Mummy sez don’t play wif your food (Artistically created by Ciki of CumidanCiki)

A Whiff of Lemongrass

NOT a food blog

Category Archives: Food Type: Misc Western

The Restaurant @ The Club @ The Saujana

The Pink Sage, Jalan Dang Wangi, KL

And now, the results of the competition:

Hakka Republic, Menara Hap Seng

NB: Thank you Ryan Khang and Fatboybakes for kindly inviting me to Hakka Republic. I’d be lost and lonely and friendless without you.