Lunching at Al-Nafourah, Le Méridien KL

One more Starwood Privileges coupon to go before it expires, this one is for set lunch (for 2) at Al-Nafourah, an enchanting Middle Eastern restaurant in Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur.

I strongly agree with the description on its interior (excerpts from the official website):
"A contemporary oasis with private silken dinner tents, Moorish arches, ornate paintings, and richly woven carpets lend an enchanting ambience scented with spices...."
Take a look at the pictures above and tell me if you do not think so too.


The set lunch is pretty much "fixed" as in you do not get to have any choices at all (except for coffee or tea at the end of the meal). Some warm flat bread and olives were served at the beginning of the meal along side a petite complimentary glass of fresh orange juice. The cold appetizer followed soon after. The appetizer of that day was some eggplant and bell pepper timbale.


The main dish was served next. The chef's choice was grilled chicken with assorted grilled vegetables. To be frank, I couldn't remember much details of this dish but I do think it was just ok.


Dessert was "dessert of the day". In this case, it was Cherry Clafoutis, a typical French country dessert. Cakey yet pudding-like, it may looked plain and simple but was in fact, pretty good! As mentioned earlier, coffee or tea was served together with the dessert. I remember the coffee as being good and strong.

So there you have it, if you happened to have a Starwood Privileges coupon for set lunch at Al-Nafourah, you can more or less know what to expect. Basically, you would just have to eat what the chef had selected for the menu at time of dining. I am sorry I could not be more specific on the descriptions but this lunch was a month or two ago. Since it wasn't remotely remarkable, I have kind of forgotten most details. Anyways, the above is only applicable to those redeeming the Starwood coupon only. I understand that their usual set lunches are available daily but with a different menu from the above.

Al-Nafourah
Level 8, Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur,
2 Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur.
Phone: (60)(3) 2263 7888

Authentic Northern Indian Delights @ Khaana Peena

One of the highlights of being a foodie is the enthusiasm to try different types of cuisine. Speaking of which, it has been quite a long time since I last savored Northern Indian cuisine. Hence, the timing was spot-on when I was invited by FoodStreet for a food review at Khaana Peena in Mont Kiara, that specializes in authentic Northern Indian cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant is tastefully decorated, with lots of wood and open space. My lunch date and I opted to dine alfresco at the patio outside since it was a pleasant and rather breezy Saturday afternoon. The sounds of water cascading from the Balinese fountain in the background further enhanced the rather calming and relaxing ambience.

I took time to admire the artfully-crafted menu (which by the way is amazingly extensive). I admire the fact that the proprietress, Madam Deepanjali through her menu, tries to provide diners with a deeper insight into the rich culture of India as depicted in the beautiful and enchanting photographs pictured alongside each page.

Dishes in Khaana Peena focus on ayurvedic properties which are known to promote cooking and eating for greater balance, better health and bliss. Hence, it is not surprising that a variety of dishes are healthy and low-fat. Freshness is the key word here. Everything is prepared fresh ala minute including the staple complimentary starter, the pappadum. Super light and ultra crispy, we have no doubt over their claim.

Clockwise from top left: Fresh pappadums, Stuffed Naan with Minced Lamb, Stuffed Naan with Cottage Cheese, Stuffed Naan with Dried Fruits

Northern Indian dishes are usually distinguished by the generous use of milk, cottage cheese, ghee, yoghurt as well as lentils. One of my favourite Northern Indian dish is the Palak Paneer. The creamy spinach gravy with cubes of homemade cottage cheese goes perfect with fluffy naan or rice. The naans that we had were stuffed with 3 types of mouth-watering fillings; minced lamb, cottage cheese and the dried fruits, with the last (which tasted slightly sweetish) being my favourite. The stuffed naans are great with the thicker curries and gravies but they are also as delicious when eaten on its own especially when they are still warm. We were also served with a generous portion of Vegetables Pulao. A marvelous blend of exotic Indian herbs and mixed vegetables makes this preparation a rice lovers delight.

Clockwise from Top-Left: Vegetables Pulao, Palak Paneer, Murg Makhawala, Navratan Korma
Aside from Palak Paneer, another dish that goes very well with naan and rice is the Navratan Korma, which is basically a rich cashew nut gravy cooked with nine different types of vegetables. For a meat option, a recommended dish is the aromatic Murg Makhawala, a thick curry-like dish with pieces of tandoori chicken cooked in creamy sauce with hints of masala.

Other Northern Indian cuisine staples include the tandoori meats and kebabs. At Khaana Peena, a wide selection is offered.

Clockwise from Top-Left: Murg Afghani, Garlic Chicken Tikka, Reshmi Kebab, Gobi Aloo
For a slightly different twist to the standard tandoori chicken, the Murg Afghani is recommended. Ginger garlic paste is added to chicken marination before being grilled to perfection. The meat is quite juicy, tender and mildly spiced enough to allow the natural taste of the meat to come through.

Juicy and tender Murg Afghani
In contrast, the paler-looking Garlic Chicken Tikka which is essentially cubed boneless chicken grilled in medium hot tandoor has a subdued taste of smoky charcoal flavour that seeped into the meat while cooking in the hot tandoor oven. For something light, a suitable but no less deserving alternative is the Reshmi Kebab. The extra smooth kebab is made from chicken mince that is delicately flavoured with pepper and rolled along the length of the skewer. Too much meat? Then one must not miss the all-popular Gobi Aloo, a dish that needs no introduction I reckon. Made with cauliflower and potatoes that are cooked with a enticing blend of spices, it was delicious vegetarian dish.


Left to Right: Creamy Mango Lassi and Milky Chai Masala
We finished off the very enjoyable and fulfilling meal with the cool and refreshing, yet utterly delicious Mango Lassi. One can also opt for a hot cup of aromatic Masala Chai Tea which will be perfect for winding down. For the coffee aficionados, it is also interesting to note that Khaana Peena serves a rather broad selection of coffee beverages (I counted 18 of them).

Other than ala carte, the restaurant is currently running some very affordable breakfast sets and set lunches promotions. Prices start from just RM8 for breakfast sets and RM11 for set lunches.

This is a food review invitation by FoodStreet Malaysia. Click here for link to article posted on FoodStreet website.

Khanna Peena
E-1-4/ E-1-5 Plaza Mont’ Kiara,
2 Jalan Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
(Tel) 03 62013355 (Fax) 03 62018777

MyCoffee Eats: Dinner @ Out of Africa

Out of Africa? I thought I was “in”.

Hehe, bad joke aside, it was quite an experience dining at Out of Africa. Who would have thought a place like this exists in Kelab Syabas? Ambience is kind of rustic yet serene and relaxing at the same time. Menu is rather extensive with some of the most imaginative names I have come across (meat lovers will definitely love this place) and servings are really waistline-challenging.
Pumpkin Soup in mini cauldron and Chicken Liver Pate
My friend and I shared a Chicken Liver Pate and Pumpkin Soup as starters. The latter is served in a mini cauldron with really tasty garlic toasts. Pumpkin soup was definitely good, warm yet tantalizing and perfect for a rainy evening. The liver pate came in a generous chunk with toasts and some sweet chutney. Rich and creamy, I was surprised (and slightly appalled) that we nearly finished the entire block.


Bobotie Set
For main, we ordered something that sounds like Bobotie. Described as a common dish in Africa, it is supposed to be a very mild dry beef curry. The sight of it was not really appealing and unfortunately, so was the taste. It was too dry and the accompanying rice, crackers (papadam), and slices of bananas (yes, very strange indeed) did nothing to elevate the problem. The only thing I liked were the sambal-like condiment and the side salad.


Warm Whisky Sticky Toffee Pudding with Ice-cream
A meal is not finished without dessert so we ordered a Warm Whisky Sticky Toffee Pudding to share. Definitely very sweet but it was still yummy when eaten together with the accompanying ice-cream. In my opinion, one can hardly go wrong with the classic combination of warm & cold dessert. Then again, I would definitely not mind if they were more generous with the whisky though.

For something different and exotic, Out of Africa is definitely worth a try!

Out of Africa Restaurant and Kudu Bar
Inside Kelab Syabas, PJ State
Tel: 03-7955 3432