Ming Treasures, Bygone Flavours @ Enak, Star Hill, KL

History meets cuisine, at Enak KL...

So, just to give you a head's up, this is an invited review:
(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.
So, here's a question: What do you do if you find a long lost shipwreck full of beautiful, Ming and Qing dynasty ceramics (that are HUNDREDS of years old, btw)?
One of the beautiful plates....

Dive into the waters, meticulously collect, itemise and clean the ceramics,.. and then:
A) Donate them to the mueseum?
B) Make them available for sale to history lovers and the general public?
C) Serve beautifully presented Malay cuisine on them and allow people to eat from then?

Well, in the case of NMA Marketing's and Enak KL's meeting of minds? - the answer is ALL OF THE ABOVE... :)
Inside Enak KL....
This special meal is only available from 29 October till 14 November 2010, priced at RM 250 per person...
(Note: While the restaurant is still available for their normal a la carte dining, this special menu is by reservation only, so you have to call ahead with minimum: 2 hours notice - Its really just so they can get the plates and table setting just right for this special meal...)

There is also a part of the restaurant set up with tables to display a range of ceramics (including some Celadon ones, other than the classic blue and white designs)... If I'm not wrong, I was told that there is a 10% discount for purchases in this limited time....
Part of the display....
Anyway, onwards to the food... :)
It's a 5 course meal, with classic Malay recipes presented in a more Western way (but note that the recipes are not fusion-ised)...

- Appetiser: Percik & Kerabu
(Ayam percik salad with kerabu beef and selincah)
Healthy piquant appetiser....
The kerabu daging and selincah looked pretty, served on the ancient spoons - interestingly sour and appetising flavours.
(The beef can also be swapped for chicken if you are so inclined)

- Soup Course: Sup lautan masam manis
(Seafood soup with clams, prawns and fish)
Hearty soup....
Other than being hopelessly addicted to chocolates, I am very much a soup person... so this was probably my favourite dish that night :) - it was hearty yet light with a robust flavour of spices, mostly sour but with an undertone of sweetness from the seafood, topped with a moderate amount of spicyness for some "kick".
(Would have loved a big bowl of this with some mihun added in for a comforting meal on a rainy day....)

- Main Course 1: Gulai Ayam Cendawan Sisik
(Grilled chicken with a gravy redolent with ground spices and wild forest mushrooms sauteed with wild fern shoots and garlic)
Grilled chicken rolls....
What really stood out for me in this dish were the earthy yet delicate wild mushrooms that had been sauteed with really fresh fern shoots and garlic.

- Main Course 2: Botok-Botok
(Fish wrapped in aromatic ground spices and herbal leaves)
Grilled fish with spices....
The fish was wrapped in spices and leaves, then grilled - if I'm not wrong, I was told that this is another age old family recipe handed down, as are many of the food in Enak....

- Dessert: Ubi Kayu Kelapa Muda
(Tapioca with young coconut filling complemented by a condiment of sambal and anchovies)
Simple dessert....
I thought it was strange to have a pairing of spicy sambal with the sweet dessert but I was told this is how it is served traditionally...

Still, I enjoyed that the fresh tapioca was perfectly prepared (not starchy at all) and went so well with the chunky coconut and gula melaka puree.
(The fragrant sambal with crispy anchovies was really nice actually - Had me craving for Nasi Lemak. lol)

If you want more details on this dinner or want to enquire about the ancient ceramics, please contact the restaurant (details below) or go to the NMA Marketing's website for more details.

Thanks to Karen and Sherena for the meal and their lovely company that night. :)

So, it's: Cosy, romantic ambience with classic Malay dishes presented beautifully on plates that are HUNDREDS of years old BUT look, it's not cheap, but if you love history then this is a really rare experience...

Summary Information:
Ming Treasures, Bygone Flavours @ Enak, Star Hill, KL

Opening Hours: 12noon - 11pm
Phone: 03-2141 8973
Address: LG2, Feast Floor, Starhill Gallery, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Website: Enak Official Website
Price:
For this special set - RM 250 per person
For a normal meal there - RM 65++ per person**

HALAL

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

OTHER REVIEWS:
- NST


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Enak KL, Malay, Bukit Bintang, Star Hill Shopping Center