Symphony of Flavours. Nathalie's Gourmet Studio, Solaris Dutamas, KL.

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(no pork served)

Salmon Tataki, Cereliac Puree and Truffle Oil

Imagine your mouth filled with a spoonful of the most heavenly Cereliac Puree, wonderfully fragrant yet slightly earthy and vegetal, light and pure, not overtly green nor overpoweringly pungent, with a slight starchiness. You ask the Manager, what's the secret?

Roasted Celery.

You nod, and slowly work your way down into the cubed bits of Salmon, drizzled with Truffle Oil. Slices of crunchy Daikon Radish to balance out the beautifully clean flavour and texture of this very untraditional rendition of the Tataki. You smile and think. So simple yet so delicious. The sea meets the land with a rapturous sigh of pleasure.

Morel and Chicken Timbale, Morel Emulsion

Nathalie's menu rotates monthly with 5 starters, mains and dessert. Yet the menu is so diverse and inspired that it is breathtaking. The cooking techniques are faultless and the plating is simple. The Chicken and Morel Timbale looks like a feat of engineering marvel, with vertically assembled Penne lining the succulent baked chicken topped with Morel Mushrooms. The ensemble came steeped in frothy, earthy morel emulsion that made each mouthful a pure indulgence and a celebration of the earthiness of this mushroom.

Citrus Scallop Carpaccio, Mesclun and Citrus Dressing

The soft and slithery scallop carpaccio came adorned with the usual salad greens and avocado and crowned with some crisp fried julliened ginger. The grapefruit based dressing was sourish and tangy. It was a wonderfully refreshing salad.

Revised Bouillabaisse

Nathalie used Haddock or églefin in her Revised Bouillabaisse that was marvelously smokey and infused with generous amounts of Saffron. The interesting thing about this soup was it was served with bread topped with Rouille Sauce, which is popular in Provencal cooking but I have never encountered in KL before. Despited the "revision", the Bouillabaisse did not stray too far from it's heart in the South of France.

King Prawn Lasagna, Zucchini done 2 ways, Bisque

It is always a pleasure to dine at Nathalie's because of the beautiful touches and the slight whimsical sense of humour that gives the dishes so much personality without resorting to theatrics. The King Prawns Lasagna with two large perfectly grilled and aromatic prawns sitting resplendently on top of 3 layers of Lasagna, with some zucchini and tomato in between one of the layers, and some chives in another. The bisque sauce that cloaked the Lasagna was an inspiration, lightly creamy yet intensely flavoured. The flavour lingered on in the palate like a long lost kiss from a forgotten lover.

Stuffed Cabbage

The Stuffed Cabbage with Beef, Chicken and Parmesan swimming in Herbal and Chicken Broth was a worthy homage to the rustic, austere and mountainous Auvergne region in Central France. The meat was densely packed and richly flavoured, and the serving has huge.

When it comes to desserts, be prepared for some of the most pleasurable and indulgent treats this side of the world. Nathalie does not fail to deliver and deserves to be named the Goddess of Desserts. The flavours are usually intense, gorgeous and multi-dimensional.

Roasted Pineapple Tart

The roasted pineapple tart was served with an extraordinary dollop of pineapple sorbet and crowned with a paper thin slice of oven dried/roasted pineapple. Sweet, crisp and tart and bursting with beautiful tropical flavours, it was magnificent.

Citrus Craquant

The Citrus Craquant hid some beautiful Grapefruit Sorbet inside it's cripsy cracker like exterior. Bit's of grapefruit and orange lined the bottom and it was topped with orange sorbet and a thin slice of crispy oven dried lemon. There is a light tinge of bitterness to this that drove me to a frenzy. I must go back soon to taste the rest of their desserts which sounds tempting, especially the Caramel Mousse, Roasted Banana with Morels and Balsamic Caramel Sauce which I am sure will be ecstatic. I have decided to post earlier without completing the menu because the current menu will end in 2 week's time!

Updated! The Caramel Mousse, Roasted Banana with Morels and Balsamic Caramel Sauce. It was ecstatic.

Nathalie has been nominated as one of the contenders for the best Chef in the Time Out KL food awards 2010. You can cast your votes here.

Be prepared to pay about RM120-RM150 for lunch. For detailed menu and pricing, please visit Nomad Gourmand's site here.

Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio
A-4-1-5 Dutamas Solaris
Jalan Dutamas
50490 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +6.03.62.07.95.72

Thai Chicken Curry with Bamboo Shoots

November 12th, 2010 | 30-Minute Meals Recipes, Thai Recipes

Thai Chicken Curry with Bamboo Shoots

Back On my Rasa Malaysia Facebook fan page (“like” me if you haven’t), a reader asked me how to prepare Thai-style chicken curry with bamboo shoots, like the ones commonly served at Thai restaurants here in the United States. It was a coincidence that I had some leftover bamboo shoots in the refrigerator so I made a small pot of Thai chicken curry with the leftover.

Talking about bamboo shoots, some readers also commented that some bamboo shoots have a very strong and funky smell. That’s a truth as I recalled buying bamboo shoots reeking of horse urine (I am not kidding!). The safest option is to buy canned bamboo shoots, which have been cooked and sliced into pieces. They are available at most supermarkets and Asian grocery stores, or online.. Anyway, here is my quick and easy Thai chicken curry recipe with bamboo shoots. If you love Thai food, you will certainly love this rich and creamy curry.

Recipe: Thai Chicken Curry with Bamboo Shoots

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon oil
1 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste ( I used Mae Ploy red curry paste)
8 oz boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
80 ml coconut milk
1/4 cup water
3 oz canned bamboo shoots
1/2 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
2 teaspoons palm sugar
1/4 teaspoon fish sauce

Method: Heat up a small pot with the cooking oil. Saute the red curry paste until aromatic. Add the chicken into the pot and stir well with the curry paste. Add the coconut milk, water, long beans, bamboo shoots, red bell pepper and bring the curry to boil, about 5 minutes. Add fish sauce, palm sugar, and let boil for another minute or so, dish out and serve immediately with steamed jasmine rice.

Savour elegant dimsum at this fine Chinese restaurant

Savour the twin delights of smoky prawn cake with crunchy nachos.KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13

It’s hairy crab season again, till December, and these crabs from Lake Tai in Suzhou, China, are on the table of fine Chinese restaurants such as Elegant Inn.

More than a month before their arrival, the restaurant had put together a six-course hairy crab set. Hairy crabs are mostly about the roe, which tastes like a creamy half-boiled egg, and those at Elegant Inn weigh 5 tahils or 190g each (in the six-course set at RM118++), which compares favourably to that of the 4-tahil one offered by a certain restaurant chain, and whose set costs at least RM20 more.

The Australian scallop dumpling is a mouthful of textures.I have had the five courses (without the hairy crab) twice and was happily satiated. First was the Twin Delight Platter with Smoky Prawn Cake and Crunchy Nachos. It’s a mouthful of differing and delightful textures and flavours. First the smoky bacon in the panfried prawn cake that sits on a slice of crunchy lotus root. Then the “fu chook” nachos that breaks up at the bite, so that it’s “yat hou so” (whole mouth flaky). The plate is dotted with a balsamic and orange sauce.

Double-boiled Shark’s Cartilage Chicken Soup with Shark’s Fin and Bamboo Pith is one lavish soup that does not stint on ingredients nor the time taken to steep the superior stock that yields all these lovely mellow flavours with each slurp. Seasonal greens with Japanese Oyster Sauce came before the Braised Rice with Fish and Pearl Clam Slices in Abalone Sauce. Japanese oyster sauce, according to the knowledgeable Jeannette Han, one of the owners of Elegant Inn, does not have any MSG in it, hence it’s a step above all other oyster sauces. The braised rice was sublime, infused with the sweetness of the seafood and the complexity of abalone sauce.

The braised rice with fish and pearl clam slices in abalone sauce is divine.

Dessert was a divine Double-boiled Ginger Soup with White Fungus and Red Dates; I enjoyed the slow heat coming from the Bentong ginger in it. This is served with a Crunchy Nutty Sesame Ball, whose description is spot on. This Hairy Crab Set came in the midst of a dimsum lunch at Elegant Inn recently. We just had to taste the complete range of dimsum, from the Home-made Fishballs and Steamed Australian Scallop Dumpling to the Deepfried Taro Pouch and Steamed Custard Cake. It was a feast that invoked all the senses. Let’s say that dimsum will never be the same for me after this. First the Homemade Fish Balls that were so smooth and had a nice bouncy bite, then the Barbecued Meat Bun (char siu pau) delivered all the pleasures of a fluffy dough that does not stick to your teeth, and a moist char siu filling that almost oozed out of it.
Char siu pau here is really good... does not stick to your teeth.I revelled in the tender feel of the Steamed Australian Scallop Dumpling, with the almost silky thin crystal skin. Australian scallops have more flavour, said Jeannette, and I agree, having had some scallops that looked succulent but were completely tasteless at a dinner recently.

The Fried Taro Pouch (wu kok) melted in the mouth, tumbling the almost liquid filling into it, amidst the creamy yam and crispy filigree skin. I didn’t know that Fried Beancurd Roll with Shrimps and Cheese (a thin layer) could taste so good. It’s the skill of the chef that not a trace of oil was on the plate. Old-fashioned Prawn Toast was also perfectly done. One dimsum I will never tire of eating is the Crispy Vegetarian Rice Roll (chui pai fun kuen). You bite through the soft, smooth rice skin into a crunchy layer of deep fried shredded taro, carrot and radish. It sits on a little sweet and salty abalone sauce. The taro aroma fills your senses as you crunch to the last layer. There’s Loh Mei Ngap (glutinous rice parcel with duck and dried scallop) that makes a delicious change from the usual Loh Mei Kei. Slurp up every bit of the abalone sauce in the yummy Beancurd Roll. I couldn’t get enough too of the Fried Radish Cake with Chef’s Sauce, so good it was.

The baked egg tartlet is light, buttery and awesome.At this point I shall name my three favourite sweet dimsum — the lightest Steamed Custard Cake, the Baked Egg Tartlet that completely dissolved at the bite, and the Banana Red Bean Pancake (I just loved the combination filling). The dimsum ranges from RM6 for the fishballs, RM6.60 for the char siu buns and deepfried taro pouch, RM9.80 for the Vegetarian Rice Roll, to RM10.50 for the Australian Scallop Dumpling. It’s a small price to pay for such dedication to skill and perfection.

Elegant Inn is located at the 2nd floor, Podium Floor, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur (Tel 03-2070-9399). It’s also at 16 Jalan Waras, Taman Connaught, Cheras, KL (Tel: 03-9130-2626).

Tennessee and Toronto

I have Tennessee photos as well as some Toronto news.

How about Toronto first?

Okay, good.

Im headed your way. Yay! Not today, though soon. Very shortly as well as Im super vehement about it. Ive never been to Canada. But, Ive never been to many of the places upon the book tour. Thats partial of whats done roving so much fun. That as well as getting to meet all of we as well as see your smiling faces. we consider Ill be sad when it ends. But, upon the splendid side, Ill have weekends giveaway again to bake as well as have lovable things as well as Im only as vehement about that.

Here have been the Toronto details if we instruct to stop by as well as contend hi:

Williams-Sonoma
Saturday, December 4 th during 12:00 p.m.
100 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON

Now, the couple of Tennessee photos. Then during the end, theres the link to the rest. If we see yourself, feel giveaway to grab the print we have been in.

The Cool Springs Mall done this sign. They partner with Williams-Sonoma mostly to promote their events. So sweet. we desired seeing it. we have to confess it caught me off guard the bit as we was headed to the signing. we couldnt assistance though giggle to myself meditative about all the people who upheld it thinking, Who the heck is Bakerella?

Then we walked right in to this. Thank we all so much for coming.

And, thank we dual for your lovable tweets. They done me smile.

Hi Ladies. Love the tops.!

< img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5168913381_f840b0d4a2_b.jpg" alt="IMG_1656" width="700" height="500" />

Speaking of tops Its like we talked the night prior to to coordinate the colors.

This small man was so cute. Such the honeyed large brother. But we have to discuss it you, all we could consider was greatfully scoot closer to the core of the table, as well as greatfully dont dump the baby. And smile.

This was fun for me. The necklace she is display was the the single we gave divided upon this post. we was so blissful to see someone enjoying the single of the prizes. Makes me instruct to do it more often. Give divided stuff, we mean.

I instruct the book in this print wasnt blocking her cloak so we can see it better. As shortly as we saw it we asked her where she found it. Its the reduced nap peacoat. From Target. Its the good dim pink with black buttons. And now, interjection to subsequent day shipping, there is the single in my closet.

These were so cute. She done small turtle baked sweat bread pops. And they were swimming.

And Williams-Sonoma had Turkey Pops upon hand.

Oh my gosh. we desired this immature lady. She has an sequence to have cupcakes for the wedding. How honeyed is that. And even sweeter, she wanted to r! emonstra te her clients to let her have wedding baked sweat bread pops. Adorable.

Just like these guys.

I have no idea whats function here, though we consider we was amused.

These girls brought the duplicate of Entertainment Weekly by. You cant see from the photo, though Im #9 upon their Must List.

Crazy talk.

It was the conflict of the bangs as well as we lost. These dual had the most appropriate hair.

Double dork side wave.

More tears. we didnt anticipate baked sweat bread upon the hang to be so emotional.

Heres what function in this photo. we done my first name inapplicable designation as well as we couldnt repair it. So, we transposed Cassaundras book with the brand new the single as well as asked her to pointer her name for me upon the messed up the single so we could keep it as the souvenir.

Jennifer done Turkey Cake Pops. That was the lot of work. Please discuss it your husband we said thanks, too.

And Debbie Thank we so much for taking photos. Since we didnt have anyone roving with me to Tennessee, we unequivocally conclude it.

Below is the slideshow to see more photos from the Tennessee signing. Thank we all so much. we had the good time as well as hope we did, too. Enjoy!

Also yesterday was King of Prussia, currently in only the couple of reduced minutes, Ill be in the Short Hills Mall as well as tomorrow is New York. Ill post those recaps all together as shortly as we can.

See Some Cool, Strange & Funny Stuffs

Chronicle, close up

Want to see the little inside the offices of my publisher, Chronicle Books? I had the possibility to visit their headquarters when I was in San Francisco recently.

Fun place. Fun people. (as Ive mentioned before.)

Take the look if you are interested.

Living & Leisure Buzz

Islamic Fashion Festival XI (IFF) 2010 Discovery the Beauty of Modesty

I was celebrated to be present during a Gala Night of Islamic Fashion Festival 2010 yesterday night during a JW Marriot Hotel, KL.

Note: All pics taken with a Sony NEX 3.

Opulence, intemperate & dazzling are a keywords to report a conform & this matches a ballroom set up of JW Marriot that night. My eyes were scarcely blinded as I feasted them upon my vicinity as well as a outfits of a Datins, Sultanahs, Datos (females) & Pn Sris that night!

Having have to keep to a strict requirements of Islam for modesty in dressing, designers have explored each every venue to appreciate this in to a dazzling designs that would not look out of place in any high conform show.

I will be adding more report upon IFF XI 2010 soon. Meanwhile, Ill let a cinema speak for themselves.

All a on top of are Melinda Loois.

More to come! Im uploading more pics as fast I can!

Living & Leisure Buzz