SEATTLE AGAIN.

Tightly rolling clothes to snuggle into carry on luggage. Packing snacks. Watering the plants one more time, and tidying up for the simple pleasure of coming home to a clean house. The anticipation of going away builds by way of lists and errands - trying to make life out of a suitcase as easy as it can be. I'm always fascinated by airports and all the people going places (where are all of you going?). There are nuances of the actual traveling that are charming in their way, which is why I think both the heading out, being away and coming home are all so special. While packing up, I'm anxious for a change of pace. Trying new food, long strolls down new streets with my favorite person, and someone else making my bed, but am also challenged by living outside of my daily comforts and routines. Said routines are lively these days, but they are still routines, and I am happy in that.

Included in this entry are a few images Hugh captured (via iPhone and Fuji X100) while we were visiting Seattle. We had some really great food, I met some truly lovely readers at a couple book related events, spent time with dear friends, and reveled in the excuse to sit in coffee shops and read without feeling the self-imposed guilt of "being productive." Away. Home. The cycle keeps me feeling alive.

Favorite Seattle spots: Analog Coffee, Milstead Coffee, Essex, Paseo Carribean, Revel, Walrus and the Carpenter, Sitka and Spruce (holy heavens, this beet dish, I will try and replicate because I'm still thinking about it),The Book Larder and Ashley Rodriguez's cookies.


My favorite lunch spot @ DISH KL

We have been quite busy, with the kids and also work, so we have not been to DISH for a bit. This week, we finally found some time to visit my favorite lunch spot in KL.

It's such a nice and peaceful place to spend a quiet lunch with Hubby. Plus they have some new items on their a la carte menu as well as set lunch, which Chef Steve made for us to try.

We started off with the seared and marinated tuna, pickled radish, and crispy quail eggs (RM42), served to us canap-style. It's nice that we could pop the whole thing in our mouth and let the flavours works its magic. The tuna was fresh and just lightly seared. Along with the tuna, we also tried the cheese and mushroom croquette. Cheesy, gooey goodness! A nice way to start our meal.



Great combination of flavours!

The pea soup with truffle brioche (RM22) is a new addition to the a la carte menu. It is no secret that I love the brioche at DISH. Topped with lots of black truffle, it was heavenly! The pea soup was simple, light but very delicious.


On my first ever visit here, I tried the ballotine! of foie gras with smoked duck and it was my favorite dish then. Chef Steve has took that off the menu and replaced it with the foie gras and duck terrine with baby spinach and spiced jackfruit (RM46), which is just as fantastic! This was again my favorite dish of the day. The terrine was smooth and rich, I plonked it onto the soft brioche and savoured it slowly. The duck has been cooked two ways, smoked and braised. The spiced jackfruit was a nice touch, using our local fruit - it has a pungent smell just like durian, but I love it. You can expect a little kick from the mix of cili padi and red chillies used.


Spiced jackfruit - sweet, with a nice crunchy texture.


Luscious foie gras and duck terrine



We then tried a starter off the current set lunch menu - the avocado tempura with crab mayonnaise and apple dressing. I've eaten a similar dish during their weekend tapas brunch. The avocado tempura was crispy on the outside (very light batter) and creamy on the inside. Hot tempura and cold crabmeat - it was a nice contrast. Loved it!



Thin slices of apple to complement the dish


Our mains was something Chef Steve put together for us - a combination of grilled rib eye steak plus braised Wagyu beef cheek. Since the last two visits, we have noticed that their steaks are getting better (nice charred exterior) since getting in a new grill. The braised Wagyu cheek was also lovely, very tender. This was served with horseradish mashed potatoes and fricassee of mushrooms. Hubby really loved this and declared it his favorite dish of the day.



Perfectly cooked steak!

Drizzle



For desserts, we tried two new items - the passion fruit creme brulee on hazelnut shortbread, served with a bitter chocolate ice cream off the set lunch menu and the pandan and coconut panna cotta with poached rambutan and lemon confit off their dessert menu. I enjoyed the latter more and Hubby liked the creme brulee more, so it was a win-win situation for us! The panna cotta definitely had the Asian touch, with the use of pandan, coconut and rambutans. It was a light dessert, just perfect after the 4-courses we have just had.


Passion fruit creme brulee on hazelnut shortbread, with a bitter chocolate ice cream


Decadent!


Pandan and coconut panna cotta with poached rambutan and lemon confit


Petit fours - marshmallows and chocolate truffles


Double espresso


Sunset

*Prices indicated next to the dishes are for full portions.

Verdict: Chef Steve amazes us once again with his revamped menu at DISH, once again cementing its position as our favourite lunch spot in KL!



To read my previous review on DISH, please click here, here, here, here, here,here and here.

Opening times: Lunch 12.00 - 2.30pm, Dinner 6.00 - 11.00pm. Weekend brunch is from 12-3.00pm (last orders 2.30pm).

Pork-free.

Service: Good.

Parking: RM6 flat rate.

Location: Dish, Dua Residency, Lot 1.1, Ground Floor, Dua Annexe, No. 211 Jalan Tun Razak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2164 1286

GPS Coordinates: 3.156971, 101.720803

Website: http://dishfinedining.com/

Pegaga for Authentic Malay CuisineElpostre

Elpostre is also Pegaga the different is that Elpostre is air conditioned where Pegaga is not. Elpostre serves pastry and bakery.The shop front of Pegaga. Located and fronting MRR2, a new commercial block known as " Ukay Boulevard".The set up is elegant at Elpostre where a mixture of Local Malay cuisine and western foods is served. A place ideal for a nice dining date.The people behind this restaurant is previously from the hotel F&B and are truly food lovers.This is called "4 Queens" deep fried vegetables of 4 types something similar to the Chinese version called "4 Heavenly Kings". The Queens are deep fried whereas the Kings are stir fried.Kembung Gulai was good and delicious, best eaten with plain rice.Ayam Masak Kicap is another good & tasty dish.Western food like Chicken Chop is available.Pegaga BurgerNasi Goreng KampongNasi Goreng Bunga KantanPegaga juice (green) is special and interesting. Pegaga is actually a kind of a! herb wi th many medical value in and it is also known as " Miracle Hero of the Rainforest".Pegaga Restaurant
12-G Ground Floor,Ukay Boulevard,
Jalan Lingkaran Tengah Dua,
Hulu Kelang,
Ampang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
GPS :3.205757,101.757103

Sunday Brunch @ DV Bukit Damansara

Returning to Bukit Damansara's DV, this time for its Sunday semi-buffet, sparkling-booze brunch.
Earlier entry on DV Ristorante Pizzeria's a la carte menu: Sept. 20, 2012.

Three-hour feasts start 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at this friendly neighborhood Italian eatery that's fast winning a following for its reliable food and service.

Leap out of bed and head here in T-shirts, shorts and slippers; the easy-going vibe that makes DV so welcoming in the evening is even more prevalent for brunch.

A host of healthy-looking light bites take center stage on DV's counter.

On a recent Sunday, we encountered the likes of eggplant parmigiana, chicken-and-bean salad, grilled veggies and zucchini stuffed with turkey ham and cheese.

Toss a cool salad together, then try DV's warm, tangy minestrone.

Sufficient seafood, from prawns to baby octopus braised in tomato sauce.

Bruschetta, beef skewers, watercress with walnuts and smoked salmon: the spread isn't fancy, but everything's well thought-out and well worth nibbling here.

Folks can pay RM70+ for the semi-buffet, which includes an Aperol Spritz cocktail or soft drink.

Add an extra RM80+ for a free flow of prosecco and red and white wines, all very nice.

The starters are of the eat-all-you-can variety, but the brunch main courses are order-once.

Our mains: full plates of risotto and substantial portions of chicken scallopine with polenta and prawns with pesto and parmesan (each customer gets all of these) ...

... plus wonderfully braised beef cheek, which makes the RM70+ brunch cost a very fair bargain. Our word to the wise: save space for these mains.

Gorgonzola, asiago and grana padano populate the cheese section.

Desserts are limited; still satisfactory but not the stars of this brunch.

Solid fruit selection, including plump strawberries, grapes, kiwi and dragon fruit.

DV Ristorante Pizzeria,
77 Jalan Setiabakti, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
Same row as Decanter
Tel: 03-2098-2001