Bar Italia, Jalan Berangan

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Lyrical Lemongrass

Bar Italia is an alcoholic’s dream. Imagine waking up at 7.00 in the morning and heading out to Bar Italia for not only some eggs and toast, but your daily tipple too.

For the non-alcoholics, or for the morning after, there is a selection of coffee from the fine Faema coffee machine.

Bar Italia is Paolo Guiati’s latest venture – a restaurant, gelateria and bar thrown into three floors encapsulating spiral stairways, clean geometrical lines and down-to-earth, modern furnishings.

Dining tables occupy the first two floors while the open-air rooftop is undoubtedly the popular choice among drinkers and revellers.

We were there for breakfast last Sunday. He wanted his usual “big breakfast” while I wanted something less filling. His breakfast was attractively multi-dimensional in appearance. There was muesli with fresh fruits, berries and honey and fried eggs done exactly like how he wanted it, a little runny and a little firm. Smoked salmon on the side with bread and salad. All very lovely for RM32.

My breakfast.

Toasted bread bresaola and fontina with rucola (RM26). Two slices of toasted wholemeal bread sandwiching several slices of bresaola with a handful of rocket thrown in and ummm….did the menu say fontina? The cheese was barely there. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. The combination was dry, the rocket looked like it was wilting and where was the damn cheese?

I’m a forgiving person, though. I’ll go back to try the rest of the menu.

Sean‘s blog shows some pretty rustic looking dishes that I’d like to try, and I’d love to have a drink at the rooftop. This is the place to hang out with friends and to enjoy a wine or two while watching the sun set.

Bar Italia

29, Jalan Berangan

50200 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-21444499

Open daily, 7.00am till late, except Mondays 5.00pm till late.

Located parallel to Changkat Bukit Bintang, behind the main restaurant thoroughfare.

Jean-Georges Signature Breakfast at Latest Recipe, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Lyrical Lemongrass

LM Eye Opener shots – this is NOT Nescafe

I like Maya Karin. Every morning, while I drive to work and listen to my favourite radio station, Hitz.FM, she reminds me that I’m doing the right thing by drinking Nescafe which is full of natural antioxidants, an ingredient which will apparently keep me healthy and youthful. And here I was thinking that my baby face was due to all that puppy fat I never shed. NO WONDER my husband dutifully wakes up EVERY MORNING to make me my daily cuppa. EVERY DAY. He knows the Secret (cue eerie music). And now, thanks to Maya Karin (and me), you do too. At only RM23.90 for a bottle of Nescafe Gold (good for a gazillion cups (don’t quote me)) and way cheaper than SKII.

This is NOT an advertorial.

Also, thanks to Mr Jean-Georges Vongerichten, we can now enjoy Michelin quality food in Kuala Lumpur, the city frequently referred to in movies when they’re looking for a place in the far east where unrest takes place everyday and often said in the same breath as Afghanistan and Congo. Sure, while the bombs are going off, I’m enjoying my daily cup of Nescafe and a Jean-Georges Signature Breakfast. *kaboom* Damn, did I just spill my Nescafe on my Hermes scarf?

This is still NOT an advertorial.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten is apparently quite an amazing chef. He owns a string of restaurants including the 3-Michelin-starred Jean Georges restaurant in New York. Vongerichten recently created a selection of “signature” breakfasts specially for Le Meridien properties worldwide for people who don’t want the same boring fare at hotels.

What delights me is Vongerichten‘s creative use of ingredients for the breakfast dishes. Take the Croque-Madame (RM24), for example. Soft cheese is sandwiched between two slices of toast, and when cut open, runny fried egg oozes out from the toast, much like when you squeeze a pimple and the pus spurts out. Well, maybe that imagery doesn’t work. The toast is topped with a citrus-chilli hollandaise sauce which adds a lovely zing to the dish.

The Buckwheat Crepe (RM20) gives an interesting twist to the typical crepes we find here. The buckwheat crepe is filled with gruyere cheese and mashed spinach (which looks similar to the mashed-beyond-recognition spinach vegetarian indian dish that my mum expertly prepares every Friday). Only for fans of spinach.

I was attracted to the Espresso Steamed Eggs (RM18) due to its interesting description. “Fresh eggs are steamed with the high-pressure espresso steamer to create a light and fluffy ‘a la minute soufflé’. Wouldn’t you be curious too? If you’re expecting a cloudlike fluffy appearance characteristic of soufflés, be prepared to be surprised. This is perfectly cooked scrambled eggs at best. Absolutely delicious, but I regretted not ordering the Smoked Salmon and Steamed Silken Tofu which, on hindsight, might have been a more adventurous choice.

Goat Cheese Gruyere Custard (RM32) is described as “a textural deconstruction of a Provençal quiche”. I like pretty words. Deconstruction. Provençal. Textural. It’s enough to give me an orgasmic shudder. I shuddered alright. My untrained palate couldn’t take the extreme sharp, pungent flavours of the goat cheese custard (had I lost my mind?!?!) with black olive puree topped with goat cheese foam (*screaming all the way to Sungai Pelek*). Granted, the texture was gorgeous and the assembly pretty, but if you’re used to milder cheeses, don’t be a smartypants and try to appear sophisticated. This brings back memories of my flight to London where I had to sit next to a man who smelt like cheese. I. Am. Not. Minnie. Mouse.

Other than the Signature Dishes, Mr Vongerichten also created a series of LM Eye Openers, basically blended fruit juices with a twist. Shots (like in the first picture above) are complimentary, while full-sized drinks are priced at RM12. Some of the choices include Cherry Lemon Pepper, Raspberry Pineapple Clove and Strawberry Banana Lime. Our favourite? Definitely the Mango Chilli Lime. Enough to give you a wakeup call that will see you till 2010.

Overall, this is a menu that is definitely created for the finer palate. My bill came up to RM60 (after 50% discount) thanks to our Starwood Card which just expired end May, but we definitely over-ordered. A perfect serving would be 3 dishes – one each, and one to share.

Check out FriedChillies’ take on the Signature Breakfast too.

Latest Recipe at Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur (website HERE)
2 Jalan Stesen Sentral
Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

For reservations, call: 03-2263 7888. Available daily from 6.00am to 10.30am.

Complimentary croissants for keeping us waiting