Nero Teca - My Favourite Place for Long & Lazy Brunches

My ideal place to have long brunches or lunches. Good food, great stock of vino, cozy ambience and great company - nothing could be better...


I love their complimentary focaccia. Either dipped with a good balsamic vinegar in olive oil or with salted anchovies and some whole olives.


I am usually spoilt for choice when it comes to picking something from their menu. But the first thing I look at is their weekly special menu. Usually something different and usually never tasted anything but good. But there are several tried-and-tested dishes that I usually go for such as the hearty Bruschetta Speciale (chicken, spinach, sundried tomatoes and melted goat cheese); Romagnola (open piadina bread with parma ham and buffalo mozzarella); the lovely and bright Genovese Salad (mesclun and rocket salad with chili mustard, asparagus, prawns, roast capsicum, smoked salmon, codfish, tuna and cherry tomatoes) or if I can make it in time before their breakfast hour ends, their Tonica breakfast set that comes with espresso, apple and celery juice, two fried eggs with mushroom, rocket salad and parmesan cheese. Simple ingredients but brings about delicate flavors that are both exquisitely light and balanced


Not to be missed are their selection of desserts. They do one of the better "tiramisu" in town as well as a very good panna cotta. And for coffee drinkers, their coffee is excellent, from the simple black coffee to latte.

Nero Teca (www.neroteca.com)
Ground floor, Somerset
8 Lorong Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03/2070 0530

D'Empire Brasserie @ Solaris Mont Kiara

Pan-seared Canadian Cod
Nestled in the maze of pubs, cafes and eateries within Solaris Mont Kiara is this rather cozy corner bistro-like restaurant serving basically European/Italian fare. Twas was a friend's birthday and there was a big group of us. A variety of dishes were ordered although unfortunately, I only managed to take pictures of those that were within my vicinity.

Some starters were ordered but I was a little late and forgot what was served. However I do remember their personal pizzas were really good. Laddened with hearty ingredients with a thin and somewhat crispy base, it was how I like my pizza to be (sorry, no pic). The same thing can't be said about the soup that we ordered though. I couldn't really remember whether was it seafood minestrone or seafood chowder.

Seafood minestrone or seafood chowder? Presentation was better and not as above, we redistributed it into smaller bowls, hence the "messy rim".
I was expecting a thick type of soup for it was mentioned in the menu that it came with some bread. As a matter of fact, the soup was rather thin and lacked of flavour despite the rather generous seafood given. There was also no bread in sight but we did not pursue the matter as we were given an additional complimentary small bowl of the soup (sucker for free stuff, lol). Also, I doubt the bread would help the rather 'thin' soup much.

For my main, I ordered their special of the day which was not on their menu, Pan-seared Canadian Cod (apx. RM60 / pictured above). How was it? To be frank, it's rather easy not to go wrong with a good piece of cod as most of its flavour comes from its thick and creamy flesh. However, my main was just slightly overcooked and there wasn't anything partcularly exciting about the way it was cooked or the accompanying condiments. Overall, it was still decent

Seafood Pasta done aglio olio style
2 types of pastas were also ordered, one is seafood and the other is spicy sausage (or something that sounds similar). Both are done aglio olio style. My friends who ordered did not have any complaints. I stole a few bites and find it slightly too bland, even for an aglio olio style pasta. Also, the addition of chinese parsley seems a bit out of place, rendering the dish to taste like noodles cooked chinese-style.

Spicy Sausage Pasta done aglio olio style
Desserts were nothing to shout about (hence no photo too) and I would give it a miss although I wouldn't mind returning for their yummy pizzas.

D'Empire Brasserie
22 Ground Floor,
Jalan Solaris 4, Solaris Mont Kiara,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 603- 6203 6887

Haikara-Style Cafe & Bakery , Subang Jaya

Further down the block from Ben&Nick's is a little Japanese-styled cafe and bakery named Haikara. Small and quaint, and with the occassional delicious whiffs of something delicious being baked, one would immediately find the ambience cozy. The outlet was quiet on a late Sunday afternoon (probably because they were about to close for the day) except for a few patrons reading Japanese magazines and comics (which are provided for free reading) while sipping their coffee accompanied by yummy-looking pastries from their cake counter, which to my delight reminded me of those that I liked so much in Tokyo. In other words, petite in size with a touch of French-influence.

Their menu appeared to be rather simple. Most were westernized Japanese-cafe fare such as pastas (they serve Mentaiko Pasta here by the way), Japanese curries, salads, and light bites like sandwiches and Japanese croquettes.


I ordered a home-made daifuku or mochi that were displayed in their pastry corner for I was feeling rather famished and needed something to fill my tummy before the main meal arrive. I was a little let-down though. Costing RM2 a piece, the filling was too sweet (although most azuki paste tend to taste overly sweet) . It was not bad but I smugly told my friend that I prefer my own version like here and here. *lol*


Our sets came with complimentary soup and salad. The salad was typical Japanese-style garden salad. Crisp and fresh cucumber, tomatoes and shredded cabbage lightly dressed in creamy dressing.

The complimentary soup was rather special. When it first arrived, for a moment I thought it was a hot beverage. It looked more like hot water with bits of green herbs floating that a proper soup. See how clear it was:

Despite our initial doubts, it tasted pretty good. Simple uncomplicated flavours that spelt "comfort food". And what more, it was virtually grease-free.


My friend order their Japanese Curry with Rice set. One can also opt for Japanese Curry with Pasta or with Chicken Katsu . Nevertheless, both of us were rather surprised to see that it was what it was. The curry was plain with a few chunks of onions and potatoes but contained absolutely no meat. Portion of rice and curry sauce given were pretty generous but we reckon for the price (it was close to about twenty ringgit, if I remember correctly) there ought to be at least some scattered pieces in the curry instead of "nasi kari Jepun kosong". Fortunately, our initial disappointment quickly evaporated after a couple of spoonfuls of the curry. It was really good! Thank goodness they didn't use those ready-made boxed curry mix. It may looks simple but it tasted as if it was painstakingly made with much attention. Thumbs up!


I ordered the Chicken Korokke set which came with 3 pieces of croquettes lightly drizzled with tonkatsu sauce, a side salad and 2 soft bread rolls. No complains here. The salad was fresh and the bread rolls were soft and buttery. But of course, the highlight was obviously the croquettes. The freshly deep-fried chicken and potato patties were crispy without being oily. The fry technique is impressively dry and greaseless, leaving only crispy satisfaction. And the meat-to-potato ratio was very well-balanced. I am not a fan of korokke but I have to say I enjoyed this dish very much.


Full or not, I had already made up my mind earlier that desserts were a must! There were a few enticing selections displayed on their cake counter including a few varieties of eclairs and cake rolls. I ordered a Caramel Eclair (by the way it was the slimmest eclair that I have ever seen) and a slice of Matcha Cake Roll with a mochi center. The eclair was irresistable.

The cake roll was slightly on the dry side but it had a rich matcha flavour (not those that tasted like 'imitation') while the mochi center was quite a lovely surprise.

Although I didn't order any, there is quite an extensive selection of Japanese gourmet coffee and tea served here. A few varieties of soft and buttery bread and buns are sold here too. This outlet seems to be run by a Japanese family. Service, although not the most efficient was informal and warm.

Haikara-Style Cafe & Bakery
E-Tiara GF Jalan SS16/1, Subang Jaya (next to Carrefour)
03-5630 0743

Light Bites and Some Bubbly at Divino, Jaya One

Those who know me well will also know my fondness of bubbly. Granted, prosecco is not a "purebred" bubbly (aka champagne) but being sparkly and slightly sweetish, it's still a delight to drink. Not to mention it's also much more affordable than its "purebred cousins" too. *wink*

At Divino in Jaya One, one can find a good bottle of prosecco at a good price such as this bottle of Conti Neri Prosecco. Light and refreshing, dry yet creamy, it is usually a hit with the ladies.


We ordered some light bites to go with the sparkly. The Nine Spiced Rubbed Grilled Vegetables came nicely arranged in a stacked tower. Good presentation! Simple yet tasty, it was grilled just right with a nice balance of smoky flavour.


We also ordered Calamari with Salted Eggs and Curry Leaves Fritters. This is quite a common dish at Chinese restaurants. However, their version somehow lacked the rich taste of salted eggs. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it very much. Quite an ideal tapas dish!


Divino @ Jaya One,
Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya.
(Near to Starbucks)

Kissaten @ Jaya One

My favourite dessert at Kissaten
When I first saw the beautiful photography in this blog post, I thought a visit is a must. An opportunity came about when a group of friends were looking for a place to celebrate a birthday recently.

It being my first visit to Jaya One, it took me awhile, a few confusing turns and a couple of frantic calls to locate the restaurant. I was late and most of the main courses had been served. I just took a few bites here and a few bites there and only managed to capture a shot of my own order, the Kissaten Pork Tamago Burger. I am such a suckle for delicious-looking poached eggs and if you are too, I bet you would fall in love with the photos in their menu.

Kissaten Pork Tamago Burger
However, for me, the photography held more promise and anticipation than the actual presentation. Th softly poached egg (1/2 egg) was still good but the entire burger (or should I say sandwich was slightly on the dry and bland side. The patty itself was sandwiched between 2 slices of wholemeal bread (similar to commercial brands). The patty was thick, egg and vege were fresh but that's it. After a couple of bites, I had to request for some sauce to go with it.
Some other dishes were more successful in my eyes. I like the No.1 Char Siew Pizza and their snack plate Cheese Balls. Katsu Don and Tangy Duck Spaghetti were not as appealing in taste. As for beverages, they serve quite a variety of coffee, beers, juices and mocktails. I enjoyed my Iced Ginger Honey drink a lot.

Desserts were memorable for me. Highly recommended by the staff is their No. 1 Baked Cheese Cake.

No. 1 Baked Cheese Cake
It looks ordinary but after a taste, it's not hard to see why it deserved such a prestigious title in their menu. ;-p Light and souffle-like, it was very delicious indeed.

I have a "thang" for pumpkins so I was delighted to see Pumpkin Cream with Vanilla Ice-cream listed in their menu.

Pumpkin Cream with Vanilla Ice-cream
The dessert was alright but I have to confess that I had higher expectations of it. Mixed with the vanilla ice-cream, it tasted more like sweet corn cream rather than pumpkin to me. My favourite dessert of that night has to be their Rich Choco Pudding.

Rich Choco Pudding
Strangely, some of my friends didn't like it at all saying that the texture and taste were "a bit strange" but I thought the pudding which was sublime in taste and velvety in texture, was absolutely gorgeous!

Service although polite, was rather slow that night. Then again, we were quite a big group and the restaurant could also probably be facing some common teething problems being just recently opened. Ambience was airy and comfortable but location was a bit obscure. Pricing is moderate ranging from RM6.90 for the cheeseballs, RM10.90 for the burger to RM23.90 for the pizza (size similar to a personal pan pizza) and beyond . Desserts were priced between RM7.90 to 9.90. Set breakfasts and set lunches are also available with prices starting above RM10, I think.


Image borrowed from their website.
KISSATEN Coffee and Restaurant
L12A-1-1, Palm Square JAYA ONE
Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya, SEL.
Tel: 03 - 7954 1990f
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm daily

**Click here for link to this article published in The Sunday Star (Meto Section) on 20 July, 2008.

Dinner with Porky Bess @ Wendy's Bistro

Didn't plan it this way; but somehow all the dishes we ordered that night happened to be courtesy of Porky Bess.

It seems like more and more outlets that specializes in non-halal dishes are springing out. This one is closer to home although not exactly new. Reading this article, it reminded me that I did previously plan to try this place but never got around to it until now.

The restaurant seems cozy and family-like. On the other hand, it was a little bit too dim and the tables were rather too close to each other which might just be a nightmare for the claustrophobic.

A healthy(ier) start to what's to come later, we shared the Grilled Bacon Salad.

Grilled Bacon Salad
Tagged as "Must Eat" in the menu, the salad was described as crispy streaky or back bacon on baby spinach, tomatoes and chillies with creamy balsamic dressing. But we could have sworn that those grilled bacon were fried ham slices instead. It sure tasted that way although not in a bad way at all. I was happy that the salad came with plenty of fresh baby spinach leaves although the same couldn't be said for th tomatoes and chillies (chillies? what chillies???). Liked the salad dressing and the fact that the it was served on the side.

Then came the sausages. I ordered a combination of Pork Chorizo (another "Must Eat" dish) and Pork Oriental.

Combination of Pork Chorizo Pork Oriental sausage.
Served with fries (good texture but too salty) and some simple salad, the Pork Oriental reminded me of those sweet-ish Taiwanese sausages. The Pork Chorizo on the other hand, was not bad.

I was told that the "stars" of this restaurant must be their Grilled Pork Belly and Grilled Spare Ribs. Fortunately for the customers, a Mixed Combo of these two are available.

Mixed Combo: Grilled Pork Belly and Grilled Spare Ribs
Served with a scooped of mashed potatoes (average) and coleslaw (this was pretty good!), we enjoyed both. The succulent pork belly was first marinated in manipur sauce before being grilled. The spareribs were mostly tender although there were some chewy bits. I wouldn't rank them as my favourites but that doesn't mean that I did not enjoy every bite of the meat as witnessed by our empty plates with only totally licked-clean bones on them at the end of the meal.

The desserts selection were pretty uninspiring. Nevertheless, we still ordered Cookies n Cream Ice-cream Cake when we discovered that they use Movenpick ice-cream.

Cookies n Cream Ice-cream Cake
Nothing fancy here. It's just ice-cream sandiwched between 2 layers of plain sponge cake and frosted with sweet whipped cream. I think I have made a similar cake before. Anyway, at the very least, the ice-cream was still enjoyable.

Prices were fair. The dishes above ranged from RM18 to RM25. Desserts are about RM8 onwards.

WENDY’S BISTRO (Non-halal)
20, Jalan PJS 8/18,
Dataran Sunway Mentari, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-5630 1699

"Pholicious Experience" at O`Viet, Sunway Pyramid

I first developed a liking towards Vietnamese cuisine when I was studying in Sydney, Australia. However, when I came back to KL, I was dismayed to discover that there were only a couple of Vietnamese restaurants that I could find in the Klang Valley. Fortunately, since then more and more Vietnamese outlets have sprung up with the growing local appreciation of Vietnamese cuisine, notable mostly for its abundance of vegetables and absence of excessive grease.

Recently, I was invited by FoodStreet to attend a food tasting at O’Viet Restaurant & Café in Sunway Pyramid. Arriving at dinnertime, what awaits was an authentic and tantalizing palate of Vietnamese cuisine.

Beverages: (Clockwise from Top Left): 3 Colours Delight, Plum in Soda, Hot Lemongrass Ginger Tea, "Optima" Vietnamese Coffee
Starting with an array of beverages, the Plum in Soda, Lemongrass Ginger Tea and Three Colours Delight. The pairing of Plum in Soda, although odd-sounding works to tantalize the taste buds (but probably not for those who despise sour stuff).I liked the refreshing Lemongrass Ginger Tea, served hot or cold although I would recommend the former. The Three Colours Delight is a mix of green grass jelly, cendol and red beans; all blended beautifully together in this rich and creamy concoction.

We were then served a Mixed Grill Platter (RM24.90) which consists of traditional Vietnamese appetizers such as fried spring rolls, sugarcane shrimps, grilled beef and chicken with fresh veggies and comes with 4 paper rolls for you to make your own DIY summer rolls. Dipped in either the clear sweet and tangy nuoc cham sauce (an ubiquitous Vietnamese flavoring sauce) or the brown peanut sauce, they provide a tasty start to the evening.

Appetizers & Starters: (Clockwise from Top Left): Mix Grill Platter, Grilled Lemongrass Fish in Banana Leaf, Beef La Lot, Bo La Lot Platter.
The Bo La Lot (Grilled Beef in Wild Betel Leaves) (RM14.90) is another traditional Vietnamese specialty and should not be missed.

(Clockwise From Top Left): Mrs. Chong showing how to wrap your own Spring Roll, The "finished" spring roll, The Vietnamese way to savour the appetizers, A bite of the yummy Spring Roll
The Vietnamese way to eat these appetizers are to have them wrapped in a lettuce leaf with some mint leaves and marinated carrot and dipped in nuoc cham, or a special brown nutty and slightly pungent sauce with a hint of fu yue (Chinese fermented bean cube) that accompanies the La Lot. According to Mr. Chong (proprietor of O’Viet), most of their dipping sauces are self-concocted. Grilled Lemongrass Fish in Banana Leaf (RM22.90) is another popular dish in O’Viet. The fish is cooked with various herbs, vegetables and spices that the flesh has absorbed a pleasantly savory taste.

Now comes the “Pho-licious Experience” part of the night. O’Viet offers quite a wide selection of noodle/pho dishes. We managed to sample 3. First to come was the “Mieng Ga” (RM12.90), chicken in glass noodle in a rather light and delicate chicken broth tinged with herbs. The“Pho Bo Dac Biet” or O’Viet Special Mixed Beef Noodle (RM13.90) is an aromatic melange of noodles combined with pieces of beef and innards (beef fillet, brisket, tripe and beef balls). I was told that their beef-based broth which was not too heavily laced with strong spices and herbs, was slow-boiled for at least 48 hours.

"Pholicious Experience": (Clockwise from Top Left): "Mieng Ga", O'Viet Special Mixed Beef Noodle, Side Dish & Condiments for Bun Bo Hue, Bun Bo Hue (Hue-style Beef Noodle in Spicy Broth)
However, my vote goes to “Bun Bo Hue” or Hue-style Beef Noodle (RM11.90), described as beef fillet and tender brisket in mildly spicy beef soup. Although lesser known compared to Pho Bo, it was by no means inferior to it. In fact, Hue (pronounced as hu-ei) or Central Vietnamese cooking is widely described as the most unique of all and also the most distinct in taste – being much spicier and colourful than its Northern and Southern counterparts. Hue cooking is also influenced by the otherwise little-known royal Vietnamese style of cooking.
The key of Bun Bo Hue is the rich beef broth. It was bright and spicy, tangy yet slightly sweetish, and highly aromatic. The side dish of assorted vegetables was also slightly different from the usual as it also include banana flower and some pounded dried chili paste. Just chuck what you fancy from the side dish into the soup already heavily-ladened with beef, brisket, noodles, and start digging in!


Dessert: Chilled Durian Pancakes
It was to my utter delight when I saw what came next. Durian pancakes! Yes, this place serves chilled durian pancake. Fresh soy-based (non-dairy) cream and thick durian flesh encased in a thin crepe skin served chilled. A definite must for all durian lovers! But don’t worry if you do not like durian for it also comes in either cempedak or avocado filling. RM5.90 for 2 pieces. A couple of pieces that I tasted came with a slightly hardened or frozen center. Just slice it in 2 and let it warm a little before consuming.

The scrumptious meal and also the interesting explanations and fascinating tales by the lively Mr. Goh (who by the way, also owns Du Viet and La Lot Vietnamese Restaurant) finally came to an end with a cup of sweet, intense Vietnamese coffee directly imported from Vietnam. There are 4 selections available (according to your preferred intensity). I had the Optima (RM7.50) which is of medium strength and has a combination of 4 beans. Although I would have preferred it served warmer, I still enjoyed the very good cup of aromatic Vietnamese coffee.

Soothing ambience in O'Viet
Besides the dishes mentioned above, O’Viet has a pretty extensive menu that covers a rather large selection of appetizers & starters, ala carte dishes, noodles & congees as well as desserts and beverages.
Link to this article on Food Street

O’Viet Restaurant & Café (Pork-free)
G1.45 (Ground Level, Sunway Pyramid)
03-74920018

Ben & Nicks, Subang Jaya

I wouldn't have suspected that there's a quaint litte eatery hidden on the ground floor of this new block of condominiums (E-Tiara, located next to Carrefour Subang Jaya) have I not read about it. Before going, I distinctively remember reading that the place was rather small. But I was still surprised to discover how small it was. Upon entering, there was a long table filled with little children (probably a kids party that made us felt like we were crashing their party). And that table more of less filled the entire hallway of the restaurant. What was left are a few smaller tables located near the walls. However, there are more tables available outside the restaurant.

Good Illy coffee served here.

Anyhow, let's move on to food. The menu does have a few interesting choices in addition to standard western/italian fare. I had something that sounded like "combo in a blanket" which was basically a mixture of grilled beef and grilled chicken in crispy tortilla wraps. The dish was served together with side of salad.

Combo in a blanket
I started with the chicken half first and found it to be tasty enough although not remarkable. I still liked it though. Then when I bit into the other half that was filled with the grilled beef, my-oh-my, it was just awesome! The grilled beef slices were tender and so well-marinated that every bite was simply yummy.


Cajun Chicken Pasta
My friend ordered their Cajun Chicken Pasta in creamy sauce. When it arrived, it did look a bit too creamy and "jelak" for my liking but after nicking off a few bites from her plate, to my surprise I found myself liking it. My friend who had it proclaimed it to be "very delicious!" and proceeded to eat every morsel and almost licked the plate clean.


Grilled Lamb Cutlets
Another friend ordered their Grilled Lamb Cutlets. I didn't manage to try this. When asked, my friend commented that the dish was "ok" but pretty "average" although he did not have any problem finishing every bit of it.


Latte
Found out that the outlet serves Illy coffee so more plus points for them! *grins* Their latte looked rather good too.

Affogato
My friend who had not tried a affogato (which is basically a shot of espresso topped with a scoop of ice-cream) before, ordered one for himself. However, I would only recommend this dessert for people who like espressos.

Other desserts that we ordered to share were their homemade bread and butter pudding and apple crumble.

Homemade bread and butter pudding
When both were served at the same time, I had a hard time distinguishing them from each other. They looked the same.

Homemade Apple Crumble
Both were alright, I guess. I have always thought that it is hard to go wrong with pairing a hot dessert with something cold like ice-cream and I was not wrong in this case. Portions were a bit small although they were pretty generous by giving a large scoop of ice-cream, speaking of which was of good stuff. In fact I wanted to ask the owner which brand of ice-cream they used but unfortunately, I forgot to do so.


Service was good. Rather friendly and personal as most of the staff seems to be family members. Due to this however, service can be a bit slow at times. And to be safe than sorry, do make a reservation before going to avoid disappointment since the place is rather small.

Ben & Nick's Diner
Lunch: Mondays to Fridays, noon to 2.30pm and for
Dinner: Monday to Saturdays 6pm to 10pm.
Lot G10, E-Tiara Service Apartments,
Subang Jaya (next to Carrefour Subang).
Tel: 016-201 0189.

Starbucks Breakfast Promotion

Swayed by the promo above, and by stories that I heard about these sets being sold out even before mid-morning at some outlets, I found myself at Starbucks one day ordering the Tomato, Basil and Cheese set. I reminded the server to have the sandwich toasted beforehand.


Complimentary cup of Tall Size (12oz) Freshly Brewed Coffee that comes with the set. Coffee was somewhat lukewarm.

I wasn't expecting a gourmet-style sandwich but I was still let-down when I saw the sandwich. To be honest, I could hardly recognized the sandwich when it was served to me after being toasted. It was so "flattened" that it looked like an ordinary white sandwich bread minus the crusts.

Maybe I was hoping that they will serve fresh basil leaves but instead what I got was a couple of sprinkles of some dried basil flakes (not unlike those commercial dried herbs).

Couldn't help but to feel slightly ripped-off. Then again, what could I expect for a RM4.50 breakfast deal at Starbucks....*sigh*

Promotion ends Apr 30.