Mezza 9 Restaurant and Bar, Desa Sri Hartamas

There was once Desa Sri Hartamas become the central of happening night life spot. After that the crowd move to Bangsar and later on to Kota Damansara. However the place has turn into a place where working professionals hang out after work for booze and dinner. Latest addition to the place in Desa Sri Hartamas is Mezza 9.

House at the new commercial center Glomac, this restaurant cum bar serves as an urban style restaurant that carries a wide range of foods and beverages.

The table setting displays here come with a combination of private fine dining and open space concept.

This is the main dining hall where it able to cater for more than 12 pax on a long stretch table. Any business dinner and discussions are convenient to be held here. You can rest assure that the foods served here are there to impress your customer or business partner. Scroll down on youll be able to see the range of the best selling ones since their opening. The stair case at the side leads you to themezzaninefloor where it is mainly a place to chill at the bar.

The main bar area where you get all sorts of spirits, beers and cocktail mix. Just name it and you got it.

The stair case look at the restaurant.

Wild Mushroom Soup RM18

Warm up your self with a bowl of hear! ty wild mushroom soup. They are pretty generous with the ingredients put into their cookings as every spoon gives you satisfactory sensation.

French Onion Soup RM12

Onions soup anyone?

Salmon Bruchetta 2pcs RM12

Bruchetta turbo charged with a slice of salmon

The salmon is not as thin as you think. It is sufficient to bring out the freshness with the tomatoes on the French bread.

Mushroom Bruschetta 2 pcs RM8 RECOMMENDED

This is the best mushroom bruschetta I had. The mushroom sauce were thick and flavorful. We dont hesitate to order a double for this as it is a great starter for us.

Garden Salad With Balsamic Dressing RM18

Caesar Salad with beef bacon and egg- RM18

Braised Oxtail 4 pcs RM16

Melt in your mouth braised oxtail were full of herbs and spices taste upon munching in. It may look like a piece of over cook meat but the tenderness remains.

Meat Ball in Tomato Sauce 4 pcs RM12

Home made meat ball and then tossed with tomatoes sauce. The meat ball were just bite size where you can put the whole thing ! into you r mouth. This way you can taste the ingredients as a whole.

Calamari with homemade tartare sauce RM18

Crispy Fried Golden brown calamari ring with homemade tartare sauce perfect companion for icy cold booze

Honey and Grain Mustard Mustard Glazed Salmon RM48

Pan seared salmon glazed with mustard and honey paired with asparagus zucchini combo.

Mint Marinated Rack Of Lamb Fondant Potato & Roasted Cherry RM45

The lamb rack were done into perfection where the inner part still pinkish in color and maintain its juiciness. The charred edge give you a crispy and fragrant smell from the marination.

Grain fed sirloin withMediterranean vegetables, jacket potato & corn on cob RM55

This piece of steak are handled professionally. When you slide the knife on it, the juice will ooze out and theres no need sauce to accompany it. When the meat is fresh, it has a sweet taste and a pinch of salt and pepper is sufficient.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM38

Spaghetti tossed aglio olio style with king prawns or crispy fish.

Spaghetti Bolognaise With Beef Bacon RM28 RECOMMENDED

This is a recommended to order dish. It is basically the meat ball crushed and then tossed! with sp aghetti. To spice it up, chef add in bird eye chili to spice it up. This is not for the faint hearted. The spiciness really gives a kick to it.

Seafood Paella Coming soon in the menu

Profiteroles- RM18

Soft puff with cream chantilly drizzled with chocolate syrup. Without a good dessert, the dinner or meal will not be a satisfying one.

Chocolate Lava Cake With Orange Cream Anglaise RM15

The lava cake here is the chefs specialty. It may look like a normal cup cake. But you betterbe careful. Dont dive on it.

The chocolate is piping hot! It will ooze out as you cut in the center with rich chocolate melted while baking the lava cake. This is made to order and do not have a ready made ones. I will wait for this piece of goodies.

Mezza 9,
Glomac Galleria, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.
Open for dinner, except Tuesdays.

Opening Promotion :

Step 1 : Like Their Facebook Link

Step 2 : Check out this link for the voucher.

Anthropologie

I know, there are lots of stores so why Anthropologie?

In Australia, there's just Country Road (ugh), Jeans West, Just Jeans, JayJays and so on. Totally limited. Sussan if you are shopping for underwear. Compare that to Victoria's Secret in the States and you get what I mean. I am comparing Australia because that's where I've been travelling to the last 8 years, and also because so many Malaysians go there thinking, well, thinking. Nice to live in and grow a family though. Laid back and a little hillbilly.


One night, when walking home, we passed by this beautiful building. It was the NY Public Library, the place I sought refuge on my first trip to NYC.

Then I go to New York City. The first time I went to NYC, I was 19 and had to money to go home during the summer break from Canada where I was studying. I went to Knoxville Tennessee with CY, my room mate, got caught working at the U Of Tennessee cafeteria (serving on the hot line, enchiladas was the item of the day. Will always remember that.) and had to run before I got reported. So I bought a Greyhound ticket to NYC, a city I'd always wanted to visit. Story short, I woke up to find my wallet gone, handbag which I used as a pillow still under my head. The Port Authority Bus Terminal then was awful, filled with bag people dragging their smelly bags around asking for money. I got a map, ended up at 42nd St which was then a very eye-opening street. Handcuffs, plastic dolls, strange-looking gadgets, things like that. A black guy followed me and blasted music at my ears and then ran off. I was so terrified, I spent the rest of the day at the NY Public Library, sleeping. Just before nightfall, I walked back to the bus terminal and either got a ticket or already had a ticket to Montreal, Canada ! which wa s my planned next destination. All I ate that day was a piece of cake, with money I begged for. Kidding. I found a enough small change in my hangbag for a piece of cake. Never got the I (heart) NY shirt that I'd always wanted.

The second time I went to NY, it was on my belated honeymoon. Our daughter was 2 and we left her with my MIL and took a 2 months (yes, 2 months) holiday that took us from California to Vancouver, Canada to Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and then Boston, DC and New York. We did all the touristy stuff such as the United Nations, Twin Towers, Trump Towers and so on. I remember feeling very poor and that NYC is only fun if you are rich. Back then, 24 years ago, there were projects (low cost housing) where blacks hung out and you wouldn't want to walk there at night. We drove from Canada into New York, and I was the navigator. There are many points you can enter the city through, and I thought Queens sounded classy so we entered through Queens. It was like a war zone. Phones ripped off the walls, graffiti everywhere, big black guys walked with their chests puffed and arms marching, and they thumped their fists on our car at the lights even though we had stopped (Hubs said it was our Canadian car plate). We were absolutely terrified.

I was kind of hesistant about going to NYC this time. I didn't even buy the air ticket until 6 days before I flew from San Francisco. Hub, who had gone back home, tried to talk me out of going there. But you know what? We are so brain-washed by the local media about drive-by shootings, gangs, racial fights. NYC now is so different, so safe, that I'd walk there at night anytime than KL or even KK.

I have digressed.

Anyway, Anthropologie. I didn't like the clothes in their San Francisco store on Market St. Too Bohemian for me. But one day, someone told us about Chelsea Market and it was right behind our street! When we got there, we couldn't believe how we had gone 5 days in NYC and not know of such a place just 10 minutes walk ! from our apartment!























All the photos taken in Anthropologie, Chelsea Market. No one stopped me. In fact, every place I went and took photos, nobody stopped me. In a fine foods supermarket one day, I tried to sneakily take photos of the beautiful cakes and sandwiches displayed. The chef saw me, and waved at me to take photos. That's another awesome thing about the US. In China, a shop assistant ran out to tell me off when I took a photo of their window display from the street. From the street! In Singapore, Hub was told off loudly when he took photos of a bread shop in a mall, from the public area. Generally, Asian stores are nervous about people copying their ideas probably because they copied other people's ideas in the first place.

We spent 1 1/2 hours in Anthropologie In Chelsea Market. It's a lifestyle store and between trying clothes, you can pick up plates, cookbooks, door knobs and many pretty knick knacks. The clothes were beautiful, more expensive than say Ann Taylor, but cheap by Asian standards for imported clothes.

And then we went into the market. That'll be the story for the next post. Anthropologie is available online, btw.

British chef Ramsay opens Las Vegas restaurant

Eccucino, Prince Hotel, KL Greek Mediterranean Cuisine Promotion May 2012

Last Thursday I had a glorious dinner at Prince Hotel KL.

I love Mediterranean food and to my delight Eccucino at Prince Hotel welcomes a Greek guest chef George Diakomichalis last week as they launch their GREEK MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE promotion from 10th 20th May 2012.

Yes, its happening now so please visit Eccucino for a taste of Greece and the Mediterranean!

Below: Chef George giving a quick demonstration on the art of making Baklava.

Not doubt Im obsessed about food but Im even more obsessed about food that are ordinarily out of my reach. Food such as these falls under the category of authentic cuisine of other countries, only best savoured in their respective countries.
While the trip to every country in the world will have to wait, Im thankful to hotels like Prince who consistently runs promotions of different cuisines of the world in their dining outlets.
For this Ma! y, Greek is the theme and over the next 6 days at Eccucino, diners can look forward to indulge and smell the delicious aromas of moussaka, souvlaki and over 20 types of traditional dishes that are ancient Greece.

That was just the mains; while a whole lot more awaits at the appetisers and desserts tables.

A typical Greek Salad -Khoriatiki.
It is a salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, green bell peppers, red onion, feta cheese and olives, seasoned with salt and dried oregano and finished with an olive oil dressing. Common additions include capers, rocket leaves, vinegar, lemon juice, and chopped parsley.

However, if you prefer to dress your own salads, help yourself to the fresh unadorned greens and the assortment of Olive Oils displayed.

NOTES ON OLIVE OILS:

For modern Greeks, olive oil is one of the basic necessities of life. Olive oil has been more than mere food to the people of the Mediterranean with its supposed medicinal properties.

Olive Oil Grades
Extra-virgin olive oil comes from virgin oil production only, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and has a superior taste. It is used on salads, added at the table to soups and stews and for dipping.

Virgin olive oil comes from virgin oil production only, has an acidity less than 1.5%, and has a good taste.

Pure olive oil. Oils labeled as pure olive oil or Olive oil is usually a blend of refined and virgin production oil.

Olive oil is a blend of virgin and refined production oil, of no more than 2% acidity. It commonly lacks a strong flavor.

Olive pomace oil is refined pomace olive oil often blended with some virgin oil. It has a more neutral flavor than pure or virgin olive oil; however, it has the same fat composition as regular olive oil with the same health benefits. It also has a high smoke point, and thus is widely used in cooking.

Informative yes? I tried them all and crowned the extra virgin olive oil my favourite of the lot.

Next, a medley of lip-smacking dips to be eaten with the freshly made pita breads.

Gourmet olives, feta cheese and olive oils are available with abundance on the tables. Lovers of these will certainly see their money worth for this buffet. Myself was hooked on the fish mousse, a mighty blend of fish, herbs and chopped vegetables. A layer of sour cream (or was it yogurt?) was spread over the top and lastly dotted with capers and pickles.

It was the most addictive spread ever, and I wished I had remembered asking Chef George for the recipe!

Items such as the sweet and sour Okra (Bamies psimenes), Roasted Eggplants (Melitzanes aromatikes), Dolmades (Greek parcels of rice wrapped with grape leaves or vine leaves) and dips are! Greek s taples which I made sure to staple a portion of each. A variety of Feta Cheeses and Olive oils also took up a quarter of my stomach space!

Dolmades.
Grape leaves stuffed with long-grain rice, toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs and seasonings. It can be served as part of a mezze platter, finger food or simply enjoyed as a tasty snack.

Feta Cheese.
Traditionally made with sheep or goats milk, it is an aged, crumbly cheese and has a mild salty, fresh flavour with slightly grainy texture. It can be used as a table cheese, as well as in salads, in pastries and baking and combined with olive oil and vegetables. It is an important ingredient in Mezedes platters, Horiatiki salad, and Spanakopita to name a few.

Some of the original spread of the daily dinner buffet were available at a separate section so thats an option for those who may need an alternative to the Greek spread during this 10 days.

However, I urge you to try each and every dish on the Greek/Mediterran! ean tabl e. It is very palatable to our Asian tastebuds really; and every dish has its own distinctive flavours punctuated with the aromas and aftertaste thanks to the herbs and spices used.

The soup (Fasolatha) was to me best described as our local dhaal, albeit a sweeter version. It was really tummy-warming though and I was most tempted to dip bread rolls into it.
It is often considered the national dish of Greece. This bean soup combines the healthiest parts of the Mediterranean diet, which contains a generous amount of vegetable and olive oil.

But since stomach capacity is limited, I focused on the mains instead. The Venezuelan buffet I had recentlywas good, but limited in choices. Here, the spread is quite extensive, and happily enough for me there were some dishes that I have not sampled before in other Mediterranean restaurants.

Eggplant with Tomato Pilaf. So tasty and marvellously perfumed with the mix of herbs and spices.

Pan Fried crab cakes with corn salsa, chipotle and lemon dressing.
This tightly packed with sweet juicy crabme! at is a hit! I went back for seconds and thirds.

Oven Roasted Potatoes with paprika.
Oven roasted potatoes are an healthier alternative for carbs, and so good when baked with some spices.

Stewed Chicken with Tomato Sauce. (Kokkinisto)
Kokkinisto means reddened and describes a dish that has been slowly cooked in tomato sauce and red wine. It is one of the most traditional Greek dishes and is equally at home on the family dinner table or in a local restaurant. It is usually served with lamb, beef or chicken and it can also be served cold. Delicious!

Prawn Saganaki (Prawn and Feta Hotpot).
This was delicious! The prawns seems a bit soft; meaning not as firm and bouncy as it should be and gave an impression of unfresh. However, I love the taste of this dish. Regarding the texture, perhaps its due to the cooking method? After all, the prawns at the salads section were agreeably bouncy and fresh.

Lamb Souvlakia (Grilled Lamb Skewers).
Souvlakia -A popular Greek fast food consisting of small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables grilled on a skewer. Can be served on the skewer, in pita bread or on a dinner plate. Souvlakia can be made with lamb, beef, chicken and even fish.

Yiro.
Slices of marinated lamb, beef, chicken or mutton stacked on a vertical spit and roasted. It is served as a sandwich stuffed into pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and yogurt and has been sold on the streets of Greece for hundreds of years.

Vegetables with Rice and Herbs. So well presented no? As for the taste, what else can I say? Mediterranean rice dishes are always aromatic and so addictively palatable!

R! evitha t ou fournou (Oven Baked ChickPeas). Simple but delish!

Beef stifado ( Beef Stew).

Moussaka (Eggplants Baked with Minced beef and potatoes).

Seared salmon fillet with pesto beurre blancand sun dried tomatoes.

The Greek has very unique desserts that veeredaway from the usual tarts, cakes and cream puddings.

Loukoumades.
A fried-pastry dessert drizzled with cinnamon and honey, sometimes called Greek doughnuts. Loukoumades are the oldest recorded European pastry and were ceremoniously awarded to the victors in the ancient Olympic Games.

It tasted like normal fried dough on its own though.

This milky custard was incredibly good. Non-cloying and just pleasantly sweet, it took everyones votes for the best dessert.

Baklava. Im sure this is a familiar item to Malaysians by now.
A rich, sweet pastry made of layers of crisp filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. A very popular sweet with versions found throughout Greece, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Here is another Mediterranean specialty. Im not sure if its just Greece because I had this before in Al-Amar, which is a Lebanese restaurant.

These chocolate coated almonds were addictive!

Koq.
Custard filled shells with chocolate ganache.

Finikia.
Walnut shortbread with Citrus Honey.

I did mention at the beginning of the post that the buffet really offers a taste of Greece right? We were pleased with the selections available and the opportunity to savour Greek food right here in KL. And since its a buffet, I got to sample the whole spread and only went for seconds for items that were favourites of mine.

To round up our experience, we were served Greek wine and treated to a short Zorbas dancing performance as well as an Ouzo tasting by the Hellenic Society.

Zorba dance.

A short and informative session on Ouzo, a drink similar to Arack in Lebanon or Grappa in Italy.

I tasted Arack before in Al-Amar, Pavilion KL and I didnt like it then and as expected, I didnt like the Ouzo either.

But it is a manner of acquired taste, so dont mind me. In Greece, Ouzo are typically served with appetisers and drank prior to a main meal. So if lunch is 1.00pm, then its Ouzo hour at about11.00 am.

Ouzo is produced only in Greece via the distillation method. Other components that goes into the drink includes fennel, anise seeds, and Greece herbs.
Ouzo can be drank neat, on ice or mixed with water. Ouzo becomes cloudy when mixed with water,

It was a good evening with authentic Greek food, wine, dance and liquor; not to mention the good company of the other diners. Ill definitely visit Greece next year, if not the year after.

For your very own Greek experience; details are as below:
10-20 May 2012
RM98++/pax ADULT
Children under 12 complimentary.

Eccucino,
Lobby floor of Prince Hotel & Residence KL on Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur.
For reservations and enquiries, contact: +603 2170 8888.

Also, do check out the currentAll Things Sweet For Freepromo entitles patrons to savour the above desserts (not all) on compliments from Prince Hotel for a minimum purchase of RM50/table.