Showing posts with label good food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good food. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Nook Dinner Buffet...for a Bachelorette @ Aloft Hotel Sentral KL

Another one off the market! My dear friend whom I have known pretty much most of my life is getting married! Upon the confirmation with a red bomb, we automatically hollered for a bachelorette dinner of course! What are girl friends for right? As the group has mellowed into motherhood, we decided to have a classy and sensible session sans the clubbing and stripper or kids (I know how much we are missing alright)
Nook buffet dinner with splendid lights
Located strategically at KL Sentral, Aloft Hotel was a fair venue as the girls came from all over Klang Valley. One even made it fresh out from KLIA to the dinner that night. As for me, my favourite way to beat the traffic and avoid perpetual rounds of carpark search is by taking the train.
Michelle being crowned the queen of the evening
The theme for the evening was 'Bling Bling'. A fun opportunity for all the girls to dress up and shine. We got Michelle a little tiara complete with a veil tagging along and a sash that labels her the bride-to-be. Michelle has always been a girly girl and when she said she felt like a princess that night we felt pretty sure we were the best girl friends in town...haha! Balloons and other decorations were help set up by the friendly waiters which was a big favour for us in evening dresses and heels.
Michelle and I
Be sure not to skip the appetizers as they are interestingly created with permutations of cold dishes that will certainly attract your eyes. Cold platter was also fresh and sweet.
Fresh cold dish and appetizers
Appetizers
The restaurant's local delights came complete with local condiments and flavouring like the cincalok and budu. There were a variety of curries to satisfy your spicy palate. They were not quite worthy of tummy space as they were nothing short of ordinary. I remember my jaws were working quite a bit on the beef too.
Local delights- rendang and curry
Local condiments and flavouring
The Western side featured beef, fish fillet and chicken. My favourite of the platters is the fish fillet which makes a communal dish when chatting with friends.
Western dishes- braised beef, fish fillets and chicken
The oriental corner was easy to spot with chinese steam baskets containing little bowls of goodness. Open the lids with anticipation of what is steaming underneath. Nutritious combinations unveil after the steam has dissipated. Pick your choice carefully as they are piping hot!
Oriental steam basket
The sumptuous lamb shank got my attention for sure. The reddish meat beckoned but it was not as tender as it looked and a tad dry. It was condoned however, as the meat was flavourful without the odour.
Lamb shank
Michelle enjoying her evening
Noodle station
Desserts made us make a point to save tummy space for sweets! Choices of desserts were aplenty from confectioneries to the local ice kacang. Clean your palates with not only sweet but colourful delights.
Desserts for the sweettoothed
Delectable choices
Nook perfected the night with a custom made cake for us to congratulate Michelle with. With this, we wish her a sweet beginning with many more delicious life events to come. The evening was articulated with lots of chat and laughter. Of course, what is a bachelorette without the traditional truth or dare game (at minimum) that not only kept us entertained but also selected lucky guests over the other tables. 
A cake for Michelle compliments of Aloft Sentral KL
Nook also serves breakfast and lunch. To me, it has good ambiance, location and variety of food to cater for events and family meals alike.
Congratulations Michelle!
The girls all dressed up to the theme Bling Bling
Michelle being the princess she always wanted to be
Love you girl! Wishing you a happy and blessed marriage!
Outfit of the evening- One sided butterfly sleeved black dress with sequins
Congratulations, Michelle!
Wishing you a happy and ever lasting marriage!

Aloft Hotel Sentral KL Dinner Buffet
5, Jalan Stesen Sentral
50470 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-27231188
Opening hours: 6:30pm to 10:30pm
For pricing, click on www.aloftkualalumpursentral.com to find out more


Sunday, November 8, 2015

Bubbles and Bites @ Resorts World Genting

You have no idea what is hidden behind the humble looking Bubbles & Bites. Located on the second floor of Maxims in the heart of Resorts World Genting, this Scrabble-themed restaurant seems like a normal eatery but you will surprised that it is not as ordinary as you think it is.

Bubble and bites restaurant at Resorts World Genting
Bubbles & Bites blends a lot of expertise into their food. Pasta is one of their pride. They are undaunted when it comes to pasta quality as everything is self-made from scratch. I witnessed with amazement how Chef Khairul Azhar transformed modest flour and eggs into a plate of mouth-watering dish.
Chef Khairul Azhar making pasta from scratch
Looks like how they do the pan mee
Churning out pasta tagliatelle

There is something that I must mention about Bubbles & Bite's pasta. I am not a pasta fan as I always find them pasty and sometimes rubbery. But this restaurant's pasta made me go for doubles. They redefined al-dente with its springy strands. Every bite was firm, allowing my teeth to sink in enough before they neatly break off.

Pasta Carbonara & Crispy Lamb Denver RM26.00 (member) RM29.00 (non-member)
Pasta Carbonara's sauce was creamy and yet not too thick. The flavour lightly lingered in my throat without an overpowering milky aftertaste like some carbonaras give. Sprinkles of lamb bits added delightful variations of texture to the dish. This is, however, is the dish to appreciate its pasta, not the lamb. Wait till we come to the Lamb Shank.

Al-Dente Squid Ink Pasta cooked with seafood, garlic and tomato base
RM31.00 (member) RM34.00 (non-member)
The piquancy of this pasta's tomato base is just right to lure you mouthful after mouthful. Sweet, sour and salty were balanced faultlessly. With seafood accompanying, this will make a wonderful choice. 

Hand-pressed pizza base
Another specialty of Bubbles and Bites is their pizza. The simple preference to hand-press their dough instead of pin-rolling them makes a difference that will go a long way. By hand, the crust accommodates more air pockets to allow the base to balloon into a crispier indulgence.
Chef Khairul shoveling the pasta into the oven
Carbonara Pizza RM33.00 (member) RM36.00 (non-member)
The Carbonarra Pizza is done the authentic Italian way. No cream base is used. The straight forward collaboration between cheese and eggs is suffice to keep your eyes closed with satisfaction. 

Pesto Di Basilico RM38.00 (member) RM41.00 (non-member)
Pesto Di Basilico highlights the tangy pesto sauce with bites of prawns and hints of almond. 

Italian Buffalo Margherita Pizza RM55.00 (member) RM58.00 (non-member)
Th Buffalo Margherita Pizza shows off the use of juicy buffalo cheese, enhanced with fresh basil and dry oregano.

Relaxing and casual ambience
8 Hours Slow Braised Lamb Shank RM38.00 (member) RM42.00 (non-member)
The Slow Braised Lamb Shank made such an impression that I did not care if my boyfriend had enough share hehe... The brilliance of producing such tender meat that would fall off the bone at the touch of the spoon cannot be ignored. The sauce intensified the gamy lamb and made the cous cous irresistible. If there was one dish to be chosen from the menu, I vote for this one!

Ethiopian Chicken RM28.00 (member) RM31.00 (non-member)
Embark on an African journey with Ethiopian Chicken. Enjoy chicken slow braised in aromatic herbs and spices with pita bread and a tad of refreshing sour cream.

All day breakfast in a skillet
Bud Spencer Breakfast RM30.00 (member) RM33.00 (non-member)
Eat like a cowboy with Bubble & Bites' all day breakfast served stylishly in a pan. This dish felt a little heavy for me. Wild Wild West inspired, cheesy corned beef is adapted with potatoes, perfected with sunny side up and flooded with thick gravy.

Our Simply Fresh Hamburger RM28.00 (member) RM31.00 (non-member)
The Simply Fresh Hamburger is cleverly innovated with Wagyu lard introduced into the freshly ground beef creating that succulent and smooth texture. The burger is bulked up with the usual gherkins, half-burnt onions between 2 soft buns.

Peri-peri Chicken Wings RM23.00 (member) RM26.00 (non-member)
Don't get me started with this Peri-peri Chicken. My boyfriend, who is an avid chicken wing fan approves of this without a doubt. The wings are fried to a fragile crisp while the meat inside is cooked just right to retain its juiciness.

House Special Avocado Fries with Tangy Sauce RM31.00 (member) RM34.00 (non-member)
There are many variations of fries nowadays but avocado fries? Bubbles & Bites believes in "cooking is art and art is heart". Deep fried the healthier way using corn oil, avocado fries is certainly special as its crispy breaded crust encases the rich and creamy avocado. Eaten with tartar sauce, this dish will certainly grow on you.

Chocolate Brownies RM13.00 (member) RM15.00 (non-member)
If you manage to salvage some space after those yummy dishes, seal the satisfaction with a slice of chocolate brownie. No one can resist cold ice-cream atop soft brown chocolate brownie.

Mill Orchard Juice 1 Liter in apple-lemon/ apple-current/ apple-orange/ classic apple
RM31.00 (member) RM34.00 (non-member)
Bundaberg 375ml rootbeer/ ginger beer
RM18.00 (member) RM20.00 (non-member)

A variety of bubbly drinks

The name Bubbles is earnestly defined by the variety of special beverages available in the restaurant. They can be so special that certain drinks can only be found in this eatery. Brands like Bundaberg (rootbeer) and Mill Orchard Juice are only available here in the whole of Malaysia. These quality drinks are able to make customers come to Genting just to get a carton or two back home.

A satisfied face
It was difficult to complain in Bubbles & Bites. I felt that there was heart in every dish- an ingredient to make customers revisit for more!

Bubbles & Bites is open from 11am to midnight on weekdays and till 2am on weekends, eve of public holidays and school holidays.

For more information, please call 03-2718 1118 or log on to www.rwgenting.com


Monday, September 14, 2015

Resorts World Genting (Part 4/4)- Resort Seafood Steamboat

The sun retires and the night pulls its crisp cold blanket of mist over Genting. While the chilly atmosphere endeared to my face and the hands, my stomach growls for some warm affection. A steamboat meal is the perfect choice for the temperate weather. In the most happening highlands in Malaysia, make your way to Resorts Seafood Steamboat.
Resort Seafood Steamboat



Wednesday, August 12, 2015

A Sisterly Affair @ Sozo Japanese Cuisine, Sunway Giza

Once in a while, your sisterhood needs to be empowered. It needs to be renewed and be reinforced so that you have backing… when you are bullied- seriously! But of course other than that, it is to thank her for being such a supporter when no one else likes your FB posts, for lending you her dress for that dinner, for fetching you from Pudu back home when taxi fares double after midnight etc. What is the best way to treat your sister, cousin sister, sister-in-law? Follow my lead. 

Sozo Japanese Cuisine at Sunway Giza, Kota Damansara
I decided to fortify my sister-sister bonding by treating her to her favourite kind of food- Japanese! One-to-one, just the two of us and no other people. I took her to Sozo Japanese Restaurant for ala carte buffet dinner.  A choice that is definitely value for money with quality Japanese dishes. Let me show you why I find it the best buffet in town. (See bottom for price of buffet)
I noticed the large variety of food when I saw pages and pages of food on the menu
Order your food using the order form
Sozo Japanese Restaurant in Sunway Giza situated just next to The Beer Factory. We chose al-fresco dining as the night was cooling. The first impression I got when I was handed the menu was that it was very thick! My sister and I were spoilt for choice with pages and pages of food to choose from. To the uninitiated, ala carte buffet means you can order as much as you like from the menu, as many times as you like. There will not be a food spread as food will be dished out from the kitchen as per order. But do keep in mind, that wasted food will be charged. As our brain froze from the vast variety, we requested for recommended dishes the first round and restaurant manager Alex Tan ticked away. 

Special Soft Shell Crab Maki RM22.90
Succumbing to our gluttony, we decided not to go according to food etiquette. Therefore, appetizers did not reach first. The first dish was special soft shell crab maki. I understand that we have to cut the filling food during buffets but this one is exceptional. Soft shell crab fried to perfection rolled in sweet glutinous rice and topped with fresh mango with a hint of thousand island sauce will certainly satisfy your carb cravings without feeling too much.

Kakuni  RM17.90
Kakumi is stewed selected pork with chef's secret recipe sauce. The meat is tender while the sauce is appetizing. I savoured the remaining gravy by wiping it with the salad leaves.

Sashimi Moriawase 6 kind RM59.90
This plate of goodness is worth more than anything else in the menu. To those who has a fetish for sashimi, this cold platter will certainly blow you away. Each bite is sweet accompanied by a tingling of freshness in the mouth. The 6 sashimis are white tuna, hamachi (yellow tail), hamachi belly, maguro (tuna), salmon, prawn with a clutter of fish roe. Popping fish roe with your teeth while letting the liquid spritz the taste of the ocean in your mouth is a fantastic way to pass time. This plate is worth more than what you pay for if you buy the meal from Ensogo. 

Gyoza RM11.90
Craving for more porky dishes? The gyoza is dumpling stuffed with pork and assorted chopped vegetable and spices. It is a good filler dish to satisfy those who is full but still wants to munch. 

Oyster Aburi Carpaccio  RM12.90
This dish of fresh  oyster with special sauce adds a splash of flavour to mask the raw oyster smell while maintaining the oyster taste. This is recommended to those who are not really a fan of fresh raw oyster. A dollop of blended ginger and spring onions spices up the mouthful of delicacy. I do not recommend the Kaki Don (fried oyster) though. The batter is thick and oyster taste is totally quashed. 

Ticking my 2nd round of order
Assorted sashimi of your choce
Fresh oyster RM4.90 per piece
Fresh salmon belly RM8.80 for 8 pieces
Hamachi belly RM8.80 for 5 pieces
Of course being fans of sashimi, we will not leave until we are sated with raw fish. We delved into the menu to order assorted sashimi of our choice. The fresh raw oyster was the pearl of the dish as we slurped up the untainted ocean taste with texture so satisfying to the palate. We also savoured the richness of the salmon and hamachi (yellow tail) bellies. We were smug with our choice as the fatty part of the fish left a deep impression even after we left. I recommend their sashimis as they are fresh and sweet. This dish will redeem the price of the whole buffet even without discount. 

Chuka Wakame (Seaweed salad) and Chuka Kurage (Jellyfish salad)  RM6.00 each
We then tried the appetizers. the emerald chewy seaweed salad was fragrant with sesame oil and sprinkles of sesame. Great choice to chat over with. The Chuka Kurage on the other hand was not as appetizing as expected. It had a woody taste that I did not appeal to me. 

Ikura Cawanmushi RM11.90
The fun popping salmon roe enticed me for another round of it in a different variety. Salmon roe  in a warm eggy base is a pleasant combination. This choice leaves the mouth smacking for more. 

Maguro Aburi Teriyaki (Seared Maguro sushi)  RM7.90 per plate
To those who cannot leave a Japanese restaurant without having at least a shushi, try this tuna teriyaki which is infused with gravy that moistens the rice for a more scrumptious swallow.

Ocha Soba (Green tea cold soba)  RM18.80
The cold ocha soba was interesting as the raw quail egg has to be mixed with the dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was not cold enough and the soba was not al dente enough. One will not lose out if this dish is skipped.

Green tea and ice cream included in the buffet
The buffet includes free flow of ocha (green tea) and free flow of ice-cream 

House sake RM30
You can wash it all down with a little sake at the end or take it during the course of the meal. Sake is not included in the buffet. My sister and I enjoyed warm sake that soothed the throat and of course we continued chatting till the sake reached bottom. 


Sozo also helps organize events for special occasions
Sozo's customer service is good with smiling waiters ready to serve. The manager is friendly and is approachable enough to recommend or explain any dish.

A sisterly affair

Price of buffet per pax is RM69.90 only....and yes with all the sashimi enjoyed! We most certainly had a jolly good time during our dinner, baring all of our appetite to the free flow of food and will come back with our parents and friends. I am also sure that your search for a good foodie night matches this post.

Still worried about the cost? Fret not as Ensogo is now offering 30% off for weekday lunch and 20% off for weekday dinner. Go to Ensogo and search for ‘Sozo’ or go to www.ensogo.com.my/deals/1-2pax-ala-carte-japanese-buffet-at-sozo-japanese-restaurant-1438193950

Definitely a good buy!

Sozo Japanese Cuisine
13-G, Block A, Sunway Giza
Jalan PJU 5/14,
PJU 5 Kota Damansara,
47810 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor

Telephone: 03-6150 7128/ 6143 5128
Reservation hotline: 012-221 9774 (Alex Tan)
Facebook: facebook.com/sozocuisine

Email: sozocuisine@gmail.com