Four Seas @ Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar

A new addition to the Jalan Bangkung area!.... :)

I love dining in the Jalan Bangkung area (mainly because it's quieter than the main Bangsar area), so I was thrilled when I saw this new addition on Uber blogger Sean's blog.

Four Seas is a new restaurant from the people behind Cava/ Opus (who are slowly trying to take over the entire row of shops? Lol) - it specialises in Western style seafood, with a little bit of an Asian twist, here and there...

Outside the restaurant....
This was my birthday dinner and my darling friends didn't let me pay (and walked away from dinner without details of all the dishes' prices)... Thankfully though, Four Seas is wonderfully transparent - posting their entire menu with exact prices online, so I managed to find out....

Anyway, I liked the ambience inside - simple yet classy, and dimly lit (romantic lighting). The vivid blue lighting from the bar area was also pretty cool - gave the impression that you are near (or under) a large body of water:

Restaurant interior: Under the sea?....
They also have a quirky sense of humour, with their menu peppered with little jokes like these:
Fish A: "What's the cleanest fish in the sea?"
Fish B: "... a Baru-mandi??"

LOL. :D

(What? Not funny ah?)

First off, food-wise - yay! Fresh buns! :)

Hot buns ;)....
(They weren't GREAT, I've been spoiled by places like La Favola... Still pretty good :) - sorry lah, it's just worth a short note)

We started off the night with the Four Seas Entree Platter (RM 45++) which had a bit of everything - Crab cakes, Peking Duck spring rolls and Salmon Gravlax:

Variety of their specialties....
- Crab cakes: Not bad - slightly crisp on the outside and moist inside.
(A little more bite/ added crab bits would have been nice though)

- Salmon Gravlax: Yummy! It was a nice balance between the moist and fragrant slice of smoked salmon against the starchy (in a good way) and slightly crunchy potato rosti base and the slightly briny pop of "water" from the fish eggs on top.

- Peking Duck Spring Rolls: My only thought on this was, "Crispy, but where's the duck??"....

The Thai Marinated Grilled Chicken Skewers (RM 38++) that Alvin had were just OK.
(Tender fillet of chicken, well marinated and wrapped around skewers and served with a Thai inspired mango salad - tangy, tasty and slightly spicy but otherwise, unfulfilling because the serving was kinda small and the taste a bit too "normal" considering the price tag....)

Chicken on a stick....
Diana reported that the Smoked Duck Salad (RM 24++) tasted pretty good but remarked that it was a bit too stingy to have only 6 slices of duck served with the fresh leaves *lol*:
(It's true!)

Healthy dish....
Anyway.... of course, we had to try their house special - the fresh charcoal grilled seafood. :)

Strangely, they only have a really limited selection of either Tiger Prawns, Lobster or Crab (Meat Crab or Flower Crab), simply grilled and served with a variety of sauces on the side:
- Coriander & Cili Padi Pesto,
- Lemon Garlic & Parsley vinaigrette,
- Lemon Butter, and
- Thai Chili.

Take your pick....
The sauces sound interesting, right?

Well, unfortunately they were all pretty tasteless!
It didn't matter though... because the "sweetness" of the seafood (so fresh!), enhanced by the great smoky BBQ aroma was good enough to enjoy on its own, without any added sauce. :)

- The Grilled Tiger Prawns (RM 12++ per 100g)

Delicious prawns....
- The Grilled Meat Crabs (RM 12++ per 100g)

Yummy crustaceans....
Also good was the Oven Baked Whole Baby Barramundi (RM 42++), that came in a simple but yummy caper sauce:
(Fresh, flaky whole seabass - overall, mildly flavored but very lovely and moist)

One whole fish!....
What really took me by surprise though, was the Char-Grilled Lamb Cutlets (RM 55++):

Baaaaaa....
"Are you sure?", Pat raised an eyebrow, "Lamb? At a seafood place? - Could be bad!"...

Lucky for me, I don't listen to him. :P
Haha....

Look at the perfectly pink cross section:

Perfectly cooked!....
Tender. Juicy. Tasty.
... AND with a hearty, meaty flavour but without the bad type of lamb-y/ gamey smell that often accompanies this cute but delicious four legged farm animal....
(YUM)

We didn't manage to try any of the desserts that night, because Jo baked a lovely raspberry chocolate mousse tart for me:
(Awwwwwww....... she really knows the way to my heart!)

I love chocolate!....
Bonus pic: Here they are trying to get me drunk by buying me a Flaming Lamborghini at Leonardo's later:

Uh oh....
To defy our age, we commenced to party the night away at Zouk later that night....

Haha... What a night!

Thanks to all my darling friends: Those who came for dinner, those who joined for drinks, those who came partying with me, and ESPECIALLY to those who were there from start till end. :) :)
(Luv ya all! *HUGS*)


Overall: Modern but romantic restaurant specialising in seafood (but also does AWESOME lamb!) in the Jalan Bangkung area, friendly service BUT just have to be a bit careful when ordering - some "misses" on the menu....

Summary Sheet:
Four Seas @ Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar
65, Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 65++ per person
Parking: OK

Website: Four Seas official website

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2092 1222
Opening Hours: 12noon to 3pm, 6pm till late (BUT only open for dinner on Sundays)
Parking : OK

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Eat Drink KL
-


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Restaurant, Modern, Seafood, Bangsar, Jalan Bangkung, Halal, Four Seas Seafood and Grill

Bob's Bar @ Capella Hotel, Sentosa Island Singapore

Singapore post #3 - Enjoying 6 star luxury...

It's wonderful how Arlene and Kelvin always seem to know the coolest little spots in Singapore - ones that me and Jo would definitely not have found by ourselves.
:)

One of the really cool places they brought us to during our last visit was Bob's Bar, at the uber exclusive 6 star** Hotel Capella, on Sentosa Island.
(** Not a typo! I also didn't know there was anything higher than a 5 star rating but apparently, there is...)

The main bar area is small and cosy, with a great view of the sea/ horizon from it's lush chairs/ sofas:
Traditional bar setting...
I much prefer the outdoor seating, where you can sit and soak in some sun on the cushioned deck chair/ couches:
Sunshine is happiness...
However, if you are allergic to too much sunshine, you can chill out in the covered lounge area:
The beautiful people I call my friends...
Being a 6 star hotel, even the bar snacks/ nibbles they serve are not just any normal kind (of nuts). Look!:
(A high quality mix of yummy, lightly salted whole macadamia, cashew, hazel nuts and a side of dried apricots... *LOVE*)
Delicious nuts...
Being the gluttons we are, we ordered the Mixed Food Platter/ Sampler (approx. SGD 35++):
A little bit of everything...
Hmmmm, I wasn't so impressed with this platter.
While it was an interesting mix of things like sliced premium ham (pork - prosciutto, I think), olives and various bite sized morsels, it tasted very normal.
(In fact, some of the filling of the deep fried cubes tasted like Campbell's Mushroom soup...)

Luckily, the Grilled Prawns (approx. SGD 22++) we ordered were really delicious:
Come to mama! :D...
First of all, the prawns were really big and fresh (perfectly firm yet bouncey flesh), and were perfectly cooked with the fragrant but not overpowering combination of olive oil, garlic slices and chili.
(I also love that they shelled them so it was super easy to eat)

It didn't matter that it was early in the afternoon - we were on holiday! So, we ordered some Gin & Tonic (approx. SGD 18++), which Kelvin had recommended:
Yummy drink for alcoholics...
The added cucumber is optional, but the mix was surprisingly refreshing - the slight hint of the "green" flavour from the cucumber left a nice aftertaste to this classic drink.
(They also managed to balance out the flavor/ kick from the gin - not too strong but you can taste it)

Also nice, was the Berry Cocktail (approx. SGD 32++, serves 2) that Sue and I shared:
Lots of fresh berries...
Doesn't it look like a icy dessert? :)
(It was everything I like in a cocktail - refreshing, with berry flavours and a slight bit of fizz, but without being too sweet)

Overall, had a great day there - while it was sunny, it was not hot as the lounge area was well ventilated.... and of course, I had such excellent company.
:)

After our "tea time" there, we walked around to have a look at the other parts of the hotel:

- The main/front facade of the hotel:
(Colonial style mansion - a contrast against the other half of the hotel which looks quite modern)
Restored building...
- Beautiful pool!:
(Small but perfect for lazing the day away)
Nice view...
- Hidden corner near the spa:
(The ambience here reminds me of Japan....)
Bamboo and running water...


Note - Special Lunch and Dinner Entrance Fee to Sentosa:
(Monday to Friday)
Noon till 2 pm: $2 per car
7:01 pm onwards: $2 per car


So, it's: Beautiful 6 star hotel on Sentosa Island with an interesting ambience (mix of old/ modern, Western/ Asian), friendly service BUT well, 6 star means it's quite expensive lorr :) (Still, the food + drinks are not exorbitantly priced.. It's a nice place to chill out and relax, even if you can't afford to stay the night)....

Summary Information:
Bob's Bar @ Hotel Capella, Sentosa Island, Singapore

Opening Hours: 9am till late
Phone: +65 6377 8888
Address: Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297
Map: CLICK HERE

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
-


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Sentosa Island, Capella Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bob's Bar,
Luxury 6 Star, Martini, Singapore

Long Table @ Plaza Glomac, PJ

Non-Halal Nyonya food in Plaza Glomac, Kelana Jaya...

I love my parents, but getting them to try out a new restaurant can be like pulling teeth. *sigh*

First of all, they dislike Western food, so Italian, Spanish, Tex/ Mex, etc are out of the question.
(Well, it's not like they won't go if I INSIST... but I know they won't enjoy it as much if there's no rice & Asian dishes)

Also, they seem to think that THAT place in SS2 (Wang Chiew) or THE OTHER place in Paramount (Loong Foong) are the best by far* and usually refuse to go anywhere else.
(* For no frills everyday dining)

Anyway, after some (minor) arm twisting, I managed to convince them that we should try out Long Table, a fairly new non-Halal Nyonya restaurant in the SS7/ Kelana Jaya area:

Outside Long Table....
Long Table is located in the corner lot of the fairly new Block D of Plaza Glomac (which is across the road from the original office blocks).

Actually, it is REALLY easy to find once you know where it is, but we went round a couple of times before figuring it out <--- almost="" and="" br="" car.="" course="" grumbling="" in="" inspired="" mutiny="" of="" the="" this="">(I have attached a map at the bottom of my post, so that hopefully you can find it more easily)

Inside, it was comfortable (air conditioned) and spacious... with a simple, traditional concept - tiled floor, marble topped tables and dark rosewood furniture:
Inside Long Table....
Since there were only 3 of us, we didn't get to eat many things but I'll list them in order of how much I liked them (least, to most):
- OK LAH: Kacang Botol with Belacan (RM 12)
Fried four angle beans....
While the kacang botol (four angled beans) were fresh and crunchy, they fried it with too much sambal belacan, so it was a tad too salty.
(Fedback to the restaurant.... Hopefully they will adjust this)

- NICE: Inche Kabin (RM 16)
Nyonya style fried chicken....
A good effort at the traditional Nyonya styled fried chicken - well marinated chunks of tender chicken, fragrant with spices and slightly crisp on the outside.

- YUMMY!: Gulai Tumis / Assam Fish (RM 20)
Yummy Assam fish....
The fish was fresh (good) but what really sold it was the wonderful sauce - great balance of sour/spicy infused with the aromatic but not overpowering fragrance of spices.
(Went so well with the rice)

Worth a mention are the drinks we tried, the Nutmeg Cooler (RM 4) and the Leong Fun (RM 2.50):
Refreshing drinks....
They had a nice home made taste, not too sweet and were really refreshing. :)
(I thought the prices were really decent too)

The friendly manager/ boss lady gave us some of their Cekodok Pisang to try:
My cekodok....
As we munched on the fluffy and slightly crisp balls of cekodok**, she explained that we should try to come back on Sundays as that's when they usually prepare their special Nasi Ulam (which my dad loves).
(** Could have been more banana-ey but it was free lah - No complaints...)

They also have a few interesting pork dishes*** on the regular menu so I'm really looking forward to going back soon.
(*** Pork curry! - I wanted to try but my parents wanted fried chicken that night)

So, it's: Simple but comfortable ambience, friendly service, fairly wide range of non-Halal nyonya food at reasonable prices BUT nothing bad to say loh. :)....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Long Table @ Plaza Glomac, PJ
D02-1/D03-1, Jalan SS7/19, Plaza Glomac, Kelana Jaya, 47100 Petaling Jaya.

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 25 per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 012-2469928
Opening Hours: 11.30am till 3pm, 6pm till 10pm (Closed on Saturday)
NOT HALAL

MAP:
The new block of Plaza Glomac, Block D, does not appear on Google Map... but it's roughly here. Hope it helps :)

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- My Life
- Feed Me Lah


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Plaza Glomac, Nyonya, Long Table, KJ, Kelana Jaya

Coraline

Be careful what you wish for....

Last week I OD-ed on food at buffets so I'll start off this week with a movie review, if you don't mind. :)

*clears throat*

If you think cartoons/ animated movies are just for kids, please reconsider and watch Coraline (which I hope will help change your mind at least a bit).

The movie is actually based on a novel written by my favourite literary genius**, Neil Gaiman:
(** I don't care what people may say - To me, comics are part of the modern literary landscape, and Neil Gaiman is behind the Sandman comics, so he's a literary genius. If you want to be fussy, he has also written several books so actually, he's covered, either way...)
Normal girl in a fantastical parallel world...
I admit that I felt a bit wary, as movie adaptations of books/ comics tend to disappoint... but Henry Selick who wrote the screenplay/ directed it did a FANTASTIC job.
(Well, he did direct The Nightmare Before Christmas, so I guess I shouldn't have even doubted him even for a moment...)

On the surface, the storyline seems pretty simple and not at all unique - just a story of a little girl who discovers a wonderful, magical parallel world...

... but to me, it stands out through the complex layering of that classic story element with beautiful visuals, good character development and a dark undertone:
"I wonder where this door leads to?"...
Honestly, even the opening sequence sort of creeped me out - it seems innocent enough (Someone sewing a doll) but the movements and tone hinted of something menacing:
Doll Making Class 101...
... and this element flows through out the film, where there are (at first) small details that hint of something not quite right:
"What's wrong, honey?"...
All in all?
(Like I said) Watch it please! :)

The storyline might be simple but it's an interesting movie to watch.
(It lost to Up in the 2009 Academy Award's Animated Movie category but I think it gave it a good fight for the title - It probably fell short because the movie had a lot less of a soppy, feel good factor)

Note: Don't be fooled - It's not CGI!
Of course they had to embellish here and there with some CGI... but for the most part, it's actually painstakingly detailed stop motion animation:
Teeny tiny but beautifully detailed set...


Main characters:
- Dakota Fanning as Coraline Jones (voice)
- Teri Hatcher as Mel Jones/ Other Mother/ Beldam (voice) <--- Good work, Desperate Housewife! :)
- Jennifer Saunders as Miss April Spink/ Other Spink (voice)
- Dawn French as Miss Miriam Forcible/ Other Forcible (voice)
- Keith David as The Cat (voice)
- John Hodgman as Charlie Jones/ Other Father (voice)
- Robert Bailey Jr. as Wyborne 'Wybie' Lovat (voice)
- Ian McShane as Mr. Sergei Alexander Bobinsky/ Other Bobinsky (voice)

Synopsis:
A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous... and Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery......

(Note: Synopsis adapted/borrowed from Rotten Tomatoes, which gave this movie a great rating of 89% fresh!)


Here's what some others thought of the movie:
- joshuatly.com v2
- k0k bL0k: Koumpounophobia
- 加油站


I LOVE NEIL GAIMAN,
J


TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Buka Puasa @ Rama V, KL

Buka Puasa Series 2010! - Part 3...

Wow. Another invited review? :)
(3 in a week! That's a record breaker for me. LOL)

Anyway, here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

Set!

Some would consider Rama V (one of) the crowning glories of Thai cuisine in Kuala Lumpur, if not Malaysia:
(So I just had to go sample their Ramadhan Buka Puasa)
Looking up at Rama V....
Looking at it, the buffet line might seem limited as compared to the insane amount of variety offered at most hotel buffets, but their selling point is not so much based around quantity :)
Part of the buffet line....
First of all, whilst hotel buffets can be packed and a bit frantic, it was nice that Rama V maintained that calm, resort-like ambience (that I have come to love):
Beautiful setting....
Of course it's not just the ambience that sells this place, it's also the quality of food.

The salads served that day were everything that you can ask for from a Thai salad - piquant and spicy (but not too spicy) mix of fruits/ vegetables and some tender meat... Very appetising! :)
The heavenly Angel Hair pasta....
The soup they were serving that day was the soothing yet spicy Tom Kar Kai... and man, did it hit all the right spots!
(Good stuff!)

It was just so wonderfully balanced - spicy, sour and creamy from the coconut milk yet not cloying:
Tom Kar Kai - Thai Chicken Soup for the soul....
The prawn otak-otak they served that day were awesome.
(AWESOME!)

I don't know how they do it but Rama V always nails any kind of otak-otak they make - the perfect texture of moist and soft yet still firm but not too hard/ "bouncey", with a wonderful fragrance of herbs and spices that only accentuates, not overpowers :D
Delicious little parcels of otak-otak....
Also served were another of the specialities, the pretty blue Chor Ladda (flower shaped dumplings):
Blissful blue....
There were also some HUGE fresh oysters served that day, which you can top with their secret recipe Special Rama V spicy sauce :)
Besarnyaaaaa....
The curries served were also really good, my favourite being the Beef Mussaman curry - tender chunks of beef in a savoury red curry.
(This, of course, went way too well with rice... *sigh*... Yeah, I ate too much yet again! LOL)

- Serene buddha watching over the sambal belacan:
Ommmmm....
Oh, and if you were wondering - yes, they also serve (imported) dates during the buffet, for those of you who like to start off your buka puasa with it:
Healthy start....
There wasn't anything chocolatey for dessert that night, but I didn't mind. I went straight for the Mango with Sticky Rice - perfectly ripe, sweet yet firm pieces of mango that matched so well with the glutinous rice:
Sweet ending....

Price-wise, I think it's pretty reasonable:
- RM 75++ (adults)
- RM 36++ (kids under 12)

(NOTE: If you have a Standard Charted or Citibank Credit Card, do bring it along - discounts range from 15% to 30% when you use it!)

The food items I highlighted above were some of the stand out items for me, but of course the menu at the buffet was much more extensive:
Buffet menu from that night:
(Actually it's quite a lot of stuff!)
(Oh, and don't worry, apparently they change the menu items everyday)

Appetizers
Chả Giò - Spring Roll,
Tod Mun Pla Krai - Fish Cake,
Chor Ladda - Flower shaped dumplings stuffed with minced chicken and peanut,
Thung Ngen Young - Deep fried minced chicken and shrimp wrapped in bean curd,
Fresh Oysters - Imported Fresh Oyster with Thai Sauce,
Fresh Green Mussels - New Zealand Steamed Mussel,
Kurma - Imported Turkish Dates,

Salads
Som Tam - Spicy papaya salad with peanuts,
Yam Nue - Egg Plant beef salad,
Yam Yai - Mixed vegetable salad served with shrimp and chicken,
Ulam-ulam - Fresh Green Vegetables

Soup
Tom Kar Kai - Spicy chicken soup with coconut milk

Main Courses
Kao Ob Sab Pa Rod - Stir-fried pineapple rice with shrimp coral,
Pad Thai Kai - Thai fried noodles with shrimps,
Steamed Rice - Pra Chon Pad Prik King,
Crispy fried fish with Rama V sweet dried chili sauce,
Kai Pad Mamuam - Chicken fried with cashewnut & dry chili,
Gaeng Ka Ree Kai - Yellow chicken curry with sweet potato,
Hor Mok Kung - Otak-otak prawns,
Mussaman Nue - Mussaman style beef,
Ka Na Pra Kem - Stir-fried Four Angel Beans with Belacan,
Pra Meong Tod Krathiam - Kailan fried with salted fish,
Deep fried squid with garlic.

Desserts
Assorted Mixed Fruits, Jelly, Mango Sticky Rice.

PS/
Thanks (and *HUGS*) to the gorgeous Ciki for extending the invite and of course, to the ever so charming Andre Shum of Rama V for being such a good host.
(Also to everyone who was there that night *waves excitedly*: What a fun night! Thanks for being such excellent company! *HUGS*)


So, it's: Smaller selection than the hotels but at a more affordable price, beautiful resort-like ambience, delicious Thai food BUT nothing bad to say really, if you like Thai food, you'll LOVE Rama V....

Summary Information:
Buka Puasa @ Rama V, KL

Opening Hours: For the Buka Puasa - 6pm onwards
Phone: 603-2143 2428
Address: 5, Jalan U-Thant, Kuala Lumpur

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Cumi Dan Ciki
- Pillow Talk with Bangsar-bAbE
- aly's wonderland
- Have Your Cake And Eat It Too
- chaokar smokes
- a whiff of lemongrass


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan U-Thant, Rama V Fine Thai Cuisine, Buka Puasa Buffet

Buka Puasa @ Westin Hotel, KL

Buka Puasa Series 2010! - Part 2...

I hope you don't mind, but this is the 2nd invited review this week...
(Which is a lot for my blog, all things considered)

It's just that Ramadhan is a special occasion, and I wanted to take the chance to check out all the Buka Puasa buffet invitations that came my way.
(So that you, in turn, can have a peek at it too... to help you pick a place to dine - these buffets are not cheap!)

Anyway, before I start, here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

Ok?
:)


This time, I got the chance to try out the Ramadhan Santapan Buffet at the Living Room Restaurant, in the Westin Hotel KL. The front area of the restaurant really does look quite cosy, like well, a living room :)
The main area of Living Room....
Of course, to accomodate the hungry crowds, the tables extend allllll the way in to the back but it is still comfortable and well laid out:
Further in The Living Room....
It was very easy to find our table though *lol*:
(See! - Bloggers Table)
BEWARE! Bloggers at work!....
As to be expected of any high class hotel buffet nowasdays, there was an insane amount of variety (ranging in the hundreds, I'm sure!) ranging from local favourites (Malay/ Chinese/ Indian) to international fare (Italian/ Middle Eastern/ etc)
(Apparently all prepared by chefs from their signature restaurants - Eest, Prego and Qba)

- Grilled fish with spices and potatoes:
Platter of flakey fish....

- Many simmering pots of curry:
Take your pick of tummy warming curries....
Other than the array of ready made food waiting in warmed trays, there were also a number of "Food Stations" where chefs were stationed to prepare your food fresh:
(Wah. Look at the concentration and attention into making that Murtabak!)
Chef at work!....
If I'm not wrong, these are the selections at the Food Stations:
- Chinese/ Vietnamese: Serving your choice of meats/ seafood/ veggies in your choice of soup/ quasi steamboat selections (eg. Pho Style Soup, Chili Oil and Szechuan Pepper, etc)
- Italian: Pasta (Eg. Spaghetti Bolognese, Angel Hair Aglio Olio, etc).
- Local 1: Noodles (eg. Mi Sup, Claypot Yee Mee, etc).
- Local 2: Murtabak.
- Local 3: Grilled items like Satay, fish, etc.
- Chinese: Dim sum.
- Middle Eastern: Chicken kebabs, etc.
- International: Grilled lamb.

I started off with the essential Malaysian buffet item - Satay! (Chicken/ Beef/ Lamb, freshly grilled and served with a yummy chunky peanut sauce):
Beef, lamb and chicken stacked up....
Overall, it was yummy - the meat was lean (good) and fairly tender, but of course if it were sliiiiightly unhealthier (with just a tad more fat) then it would have been even yummier.
:D

At the same Food Station, there was also a lot of fresh fish to choose from, where the friendly chef will quickly grill up whatever you choose:
(I think there was Tilapia, Sting Ray and a few types of river fish to choose from)
(Oh, and this was my Tilapia of choice staring at me accusingly)
"Nuuuu. Don't eat meeeeee...."
Next, I indulged in my carb addiction :) - Here's my plate of briyani rice heaped with loads of fragrant rendangs and curries:
Not quite a gunung but a lot of carbs....
Yummy... :D

Curious, I also sampled some of the selections from the steaming hot Dim Sum baskets:
Caution: Hot!....
- Pink Char Leong with prawns:
Cute colour....
Other than being a TAD too salty (too much sauce) it was luvverly - nice texture of the yau char kwai with small chunks of bouncey prawns inside and the nice pop-pop-pop of the little fish eggs on top.
:)

- Beef Pho with Duck meatballs:
Pho....

- Cured salmon with interesting twists like added Szechuan spices:
Slices of salmon....

- I don't know how I did it but I also had some pasta:
(Pictured here is my Pasta Napoleana? Well, it's just ribbon pasta in a tomato based sauce)
More carbs!....
Overall, not bad :)
I liked that the sauce was salty yet tart, matching well with the al dente pasta.
(Would have liked some meat in it for extra bite, but I guess I should have ordered it with the bolognese sauce)

By this point, my tummy was stretching at its seams....
... but how can I skip dessert? :) :) :)
(IMPOSSIBLE)

Other than the usual (but yummy) ais kacang, ice cream, cakes and tarts, there were interesting desserts like Gulab Jamun as well as these yummy chocolates:
Delicious bites....
(The crispy nutty one as well as the smooth berry one were really nice)

It also seems to be all the rage now to have Chocolate fountains,... a new essential addtion which I like a lot!:
My dream is to have one at home....
Since it also happens to be the Mid-Autumn festival time, there were also a range of delicious mini mooncakes:
(Other than the traditional types, they had a some interesting flavours like Chocolate Nutella and Ferrari Rocher!)
Classics and new twists as well....
For those amongst you who crave that pungeant "King of Fruits"? Don't fret** because they have some D24 (?) durians in the fruit section, just for you.
(** Although I did fret - EEEEE. Don't like durian!)
J says, "YUCK!"....
These ran out pretty quickly though, so I guess they must have been delicious to all the durian lovers who were there.

WAH.
I ate TOO much.
(-_-)'

... and it's not like I actually puasa-ed that day some more.
(Oh well, a food blogger's work is never done! LOL)

Note: The buffet pricing is tiered (more expensive on Fri - Sunday):
- Monday to Thursday: RM 108++ per person
- Friday to Sunday: RM 128++ per person
(If you have the Starwood Privilege card, use it for a 25% discount!)



PS/ Thank you so much to Ming and Yoke May of the Westin KL for the invite... and also for being such lovely hosts.

And to A lil fat monkey (*hugs* So nice seeing you!), Chris & Christine, Ai Wei and Lily: Thanks for being such lovely company.
(I'm looking forward to seeing all your posts on this buffet, as much as I am afraid how bad all your camera DSLR skillz will make me look! *lol*)

:)


So, it's: Amazing variety of food ranging from local faves to International fare, good balance of ready made food and freshly made food BUT other than the fact that the price may be a bit steep for many (REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR STARWOOD PRIVILEGE CARD!), there's nothing really bad to say....

Summary Information:
Ramadhan Santapan Buka Puasa @ The Living Room, Westin Hotel KL

Opening Hours: For the Buka Puasa - 7pm onwards
Phone: 603-2773 8338
Address: Westin Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 199 Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- My Story


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Westin Hotel KL, Bulan Ramadan, The Living Room, Buka Puasa Buffet