Aliyaa holds many memories for me – memories of sharing a birthday celebration a couple of years ago with two special people in my life (with an FBB-created pavlova, no less), memories of being surprised with a gorgeous set of sushi cakes, and memories of meeting certain people for the first time there and enjoying friendships that have lasted thus far. There are other memories, but some are best kept within the confines of the four walls and staircase. Ah, it is a hard task to be secret-keeper and friend, especially when the white page of my blog beckons. My loyalty, however, is as steadfast as the cakes that FBB bakes for me, and for as long as he continues to feed me, I will not speak. Nay, my lips are sealed with chocolate and cream.
My first encounter with Sri Lankan food was, surprisingly enough, in a wintry kitchen in London. Bald Eagle’s uncle’s wife, a Sri Lankan lady whose training as a lawyer did not go amiss as she entertained us with witty and hilarious anecdotes of family life in perfectly punctuated English, cooked the most marvelous Sri Lankan dishes. Coming home after a long day of shopping and sightseeing to a plate of steaming rice and hot curry was the perfect antidote to combat the cold. It was in that very kitchen that I learnt how to make coconut sambol (masi) made with Maldive fish, grated coconut and lime juice, and subsequently smuggled some Maldive fish back to KL because at that young(er) age, I had no idea where to find such a versatile ingredient.
Our friend, Logan, loves spicy food, and since it was his birthday last week, Toygirl organised a surprise party at Aliyaa. Sri Lankan cuisine is known for being spicy, and in fact, it is even spicier than the South Indian food which is more commonly available in KL. Despite that knowledge, nothing prepared us for the onslaught of spice and heat as we drank copious amounts of water to sooth our burning tongues. It was a welcome problem, though, as the food was delicious, and so we carried on our masochistic behaviour of assaulting and battering our sensitive stomachs all in the name of pleasure. We were lazy to use our fingers, and skipped the house recommendation, the Sri Lankan crab curry. However, the Mutton Paal Poriyal was a worthy substitute, tender and tasty, cooked in a dry gravy with lots of cumin, chilli and curry leaves. The String Hoppers (made with rice flour) went wonderfully with the Mixed Vegetable Sothi, a fragrant coconut milk curry coloured yellow with turmeric. The Fish Curry was especially spicy, but I kept pouring it on my rice, virtually drinking it up and giving Logan a run for his money.
Aliyaa is located in a two-storey bungalow with a more formal setting downstairs, and a bar with an outdoor area upstairs. The furniture is heavy and sturdy, much like what Aliyaa means – “elephant” in Singhalese. The place seems to have survived the test of time (in restaurant years), so here’s hoping that my memories in this place will continue to live.
Aliyaa
8 Lorong Dungun
Bukit Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2092 5378
Operating Hours: 12pm to 1am (Mon to Thurs), 12pm to 3am (Fri), 6pm till late (Sat), Sun closed.
Lamb cutlets
Mutton Paal Poriyal
Prawn Masala
Doosara Roti
Mixed Vegetable Sothi
String Hoppers
Brinjal Moju
Fish Curry
Friends
LOL, ru explaining the photo..? they need no explanation.. they rock! great post.. can feel the warmth through the smiling eyes of the people .. I love Aliyaa .. haha.. one of the 1st few places i attempted blogging about (note the difft style hor :P)
never knew sri lankan food was spicier than south indian food.. i didn’t even feel it then! I must really love my spicy food. let’s go for our banana leaf again soon. better yet sri lankan crab and lumprais !
The first picture: Perfect!
Ah the good days! the good times! 🙂
Ciki: BE and I were laughing about the fact that my pictures were going to look like lumps of s*#t. Lol. Thx tho. Yes let’s eat indian food!
LFB: I love the first pic. 🙂
Yes, the first pix is lovely indeed. So artistic. Like a beer commercial liddat.
Do want me to bring back some Maldive fish sambal? I tried some before – kinda reminded me of fish serunding.
You owe me a BLR date. At Vishal. Or anywhere oso can lah..
1. by golly, u’re right about the basketball star!
2. lazy to use fingers! see, i’m not the only one, hehe =)
Haha, fingers lazy even for Sri Lankan crabs?? I’d never say no!! I’m aghast to realise I’ve never tried Sri Lankan cuisine. Must fix quick quick.
What a nice post on a great night out with the bunch. 🙂
(Heartwarming stuff indeed)
(Ooh, so did you all make the birthday boy sing?)
it is sadist yet worth every minute of sweating and tongue numbing action because its good..need to go torture myself there one day.
So ‘ yeng’ (sytlo) one the pose by logan in the first pic! bollywood material! ;p
I nvr been here! I hv forgotten abt tis place.. must try soon. I think they got reasonablely priced set lunches..
gfad: Eh, I love masi. My dad says I can get it here, but I don’t know where to buy it. Wonder if any of our Sri Lankan friends will be able to help… As for our date, of course, next time you’re down, we’re on sista!
Sean: 1. Look West for love, dear. 2. Lazy that night only la. Usually, I welcome the use of fingers (for anything).
minchow: Well, Aliyaa is quite central, so quickly go there, girlfren! 🙂 We were lazy to use fingers that night coz it was going to be more of a drinking party. hehe.
J: Yeah, they’re an inspiring lot. No, he didn’t sing that night coz he wasn’t familiar with the band that was performing. Can’t force them to pass their guitar and give him the lead. 😛
lotsofcravings: hahaha…well said!
thenomadGourmand: Ya, da fler damn stylo. He my thamby. Don’t pray pray. 😛 Oh, I didn’t know that they had set lunches. Yum…need to persuade boss to go with me one day. 🙂
Now, if only we can get a pikcher liddat but with the ladies. I tink the gentlemen featured would but agree with me that that pikcher would be even a finer thing. 🙂
*hands up* agree with LFB. ^0^ any pictures with us ladies is always a fine thing… LOL.
LFB: You are a fair man, indeed! I like how you think. Oh, that must be why I like you so much. 🙂
ToyGirl: Hehe….but once in awhile, must let the boyz shine too…:-)
“Super spicy”?! OMG I HAVE TO TRY! So far no food is so spicy that it could best me!
And I see you’ve been making good use of the seventeen-fifty. Perhaps time for a flash gun, hmm? *poison*
First Pic screams boyband! Hahaha…My memories are stored in shoe boxes. To be opened every now and then for a laugh or a cry, only to be stored nicely and kept in the recesses of my mind 😉
We had a fun night at Aliyaa once oso hor?
the name sounds like a deceased artist many years ago…
even though I know that Jalan Dungun or Lorong Dungun area has a lot of bungalow turned restaurants… I had only been there once.. to attend my friend’s wedding reception (forgot the name already)
i thot u wrote.. BE and you thought ur photos gonna look like LUMP–RAIS! hehe. that’s good .. i thot 😛
to thule: yar! .. “more than a woman.. more than a woman.. ” i LOVE that track by aliyah. then she died. i was so sad.
marcky: aready got flashgun leh. but a bit mah fun to carry it to a nice restaurant and annoying the hell outta the other guests, ya know. 🙂
unkaleong: Boyband? Ya, since FBB is not in the picture, it brings down the mean age to a more acceptable level for boyband standards. Yes, we had fun at Aliyaa. 😉
thule: Ya, Aliyah. Oh, the reception must have been at Courtyard…very popular for weddings.
cumidanciki: I should be so honoured…3 comments in one day! LOL. Yeah, lumprais, lumpy (gfad’s son), lumpia….all oso can. 😀
I am shameless with my photography. Besides the flashgun shooting the ceiling, shouldn’t be a big annoyance.
Wow – is the food really that spicy? Next time i need some fire in my tummy, i know where to head to!
Marcky: LOL, I guess it all depends which restaurant one is at. You’d be surprised at the number of people who have expressed annoyance at people doing flash photography at restaurants. After all, fine dining restaurants are meant to be tranquil and not resemble a dance club. heh.
Pureglutton: Spicy by my standards. 🙂 Ya, it’s a lovely place to dine. Go check it out!
I was reading dharm’s egg curry with eggplant, or was it eggplant with egg curry..oh well, no matter. All that’s important is that I was reading about eggplant and curry and I thot of you.. 😀
Didja see the photo of Warren Beatty I tweeted that looked like BE? 😉
gfad: I gotta check out Dharm’s recipe…sounds like a dish I would enjoy and Bald Eagle would detest. Yar, I saw the pic on twitter. I suppose there is a slight resemblance. Ummm…if Bald Eagle is Warren Beatty, does that make me Anette Bening? 😛
Oo let’s go for Indian food when I come back!!
msiagirl: Gladly! (remember – we went to Aliyaa together last year..?)
Aaliya reminds me of your one of its kind birthday cake. Yes, the one that came with all the things a woman wants. Haha!
Looks like a great party la. And oh my, it takes a skillful photographer to take good pictures of this place cos the lighting’s really bad! Good job, babe.
Food looks good. but it could do with less bokeh.. 🙂
Spicy food are addictive aren’t they? Now I wonder if a spicy lady like you is just as addictive? Hell yeah! 😛
HairyBerry: Yeah, I loved that birthday cake! (and the giver) LOL, you flatter me, babe. The pics are urgly, and you know it! LOL.
wp: I absolutely agree. Thanks for your feedback. Will try to improve. 🙂
A Lil Fat Monkey: Hahaha….you should be able to tell by now, eh? 😉
omigod, i’m actually mentioned in your post. i am SOOO honored.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN.
ooh, is that NCY’s new beau? put la bigger pic. chis.
FBB: So sarky. You’re my beloved tangechee mah. Beau – now that’s a term I haven’t heard for a long time. 😀 Bigger pic on my flickr account.
Wow! FBB you sure have 20/20 vision (with glasses). So small also you noticed. hehe!
Aaliya… I’m adding more memories to this wonderful place.
Nice pics. The food sure looks good. Well done.
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Chilli powder is a main ingredient in Sri Lankan curries. Our curries are very hot; on the other hand, lot masala powders (spice mixes) are used in Indian food – That is why Indian food is not hot as Sri Lankan food. Sri Lankans use lot coconut milk – Thai cuisine and Kerela cuisine are similar to Sri Lankan cuisine. Sinhalese make lot dry curries – like stir fry stuff, Tamils make lot thick curries – with lot coconut milk.
Aliya food is fusion, catered for others not for Sri Lankans. :))