Casual Italian at Garibar

Garibar is a part of Garibaldi, one of Bangsar's most renowned Italian establishments. We paid the place a lunchtime visit as we were in the mood for some Italian fare

Garibar is located below Garibaldi, in Bangsar Village along Jalan Telawi 1, and offers good Italian food but without the formality that the restaurant upstairs provides. 

The Calamari Fritti worth RM22 kept us munching, as we awaited our main courses. Lovely tender squid with a thin, crisp layer of batter over it - served with a lovely tomato puree.

The Linguine Funghi priced at RM30 was also a good option, as the al dente pasta together with the light cream-based sauce accompanied the mushrooms very well. The dish was rather light on our stomachs.

The Gamberi e Rucola Pizza worth RM39 was well worth the price, as it came loaded with succulent prawns. The rocket leaves added a nice touch of freshness to the cheesy pizza. I loved the pizza base too, crispy and not too thick.

The Cesare con Salmone worth RM29 is a perfect side dish to have with your mains. Good to see they were abundant with their salmon and croutons (which for me, is always a good thing). It could have done with some freshly grated parmesan though

As we were almost full to the brim, we decided to order a Pavet di Cioccolato worth RM18 for dessert. The moist warm cake was heavenly, and suited perfectly with the vanilla sauce. Although, a vanilla gelato would have been an ideal choice.

If you intend on tasting some good Italian fair but without all the formality, head on over to Garibar and give it a try, the next time you pop by Bangsar.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 8/10

General Impression: 7.5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Breakfast at Fauchon

After months of idleness, I'm finally back. This post is regarding breakfast I had at Fauchon, a French establishment founded in 1886, known for their smoked salmon, macarons, chocolates and caviar - among other things.

Located on the Mezzanine Level of KLIA's Satellite Building, the establishment is a small one in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the airport. However, with that being said, its black and pink decor allows it to stand out from the rest.

Being one of the few establishments opened in the wee hours of the morning, I decided to try their breakfast, at a hefty price of RM48. Breakfast came with two pastries, butter and jam, a poached egg, some salad leaves, coffee and juice.

My cup of Brewed Coffee at Fauchon was truly pleasurable, as their nice strong brew awoken my mind and senses after having traveled throughout the night. A great brew to wake up any jet-lagged traveler.

Their juice, however, tasted average. I simply could not distinguish between a glass of Orange Juice at Fauchon to a bottle of Tropicana with orange pulp. I was a bit taken aback at the amount of ice present as well. I'd have expected much less. 

The pastries were very good. The croissant had a lovely flakey exterior and a fluffy interior - I dare not imagine the amount of butter used to have made it. The pastry was also very good, with a generous amount of what seemed to be vanilla custard. However, when you take into account the price of it all, some pastries at Delifrance could have left me just as satisfied.

The poached egg, however, was an absolute disappointment. I could still taste a hint of vinegar and the yolk at the centre was overcooked. I was sorely disappointed, but was too tired to complain.

Though the food was somewhat of a let-down, I must say that the service was absolutely impeccable, with very attentive staff who were very patient with me - having noticed my visibly frustrated face.

I guess, what you pay for when you order this expensive meal, was the small bottle of jam that came with it. It was good apricot jam, however not good enough to warrant the price that came with the breakfast. I suggest stay clear of breakfast at Fauchon, although do drop by for a coffee if you wish to awaken your sluggish selves.

Presentation: 5/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Overall Taste: 5/10

General Impression: 4/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

MIGF 2011 @ L'Heritage

It has been sometime since my last review, and with exams and stuff now finally out of the way, I am finally back. In this post, I just thought I'd share with you Chef Anna Suzanna's 10 course feast at L'Heritage for this year's MIGF.

 L'Heritage is an elegant restaurant, whose design takes after the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. It is located on the 1st Floor of the Royale Chulan, on Jalan Conlay, off Jalan Bukit Bintang. Our experience was priced at around RM 200.

As we waited for our food, we was served complimentary Cinnamon-Flavored Bread, accompanied with a Cream Cheese Butter. Truly mouthwatering - I had to be careful not to fill myself up before the other courses arrived.

 Amouse Bouche

Asparagus Carpaccio with Fine de Calir Oysters and an Escabache Salsa

The oysters were truly one of the most juiciest oysters I've ever had - impossible to eat it in a bite. Accompanied by the salsa and shaved asparagus, the oyster liquor left at the bottom of the shell was a perfect end to the course. 

Foie de Canard

Pan Seared Duck Foie Gras on Baby Pear Marmalade, Morel Mushroom and Redcurrant Reduction

The epitome of decadence. The foie gras was incredibly rich, silky and smooth interior was covered by a crisp exterior. The sweet marmalade and a poached pear were a great accompaniments, however at times, the sweetness of it all overpowered the foie gras.

Fruits de Mer

Grilled Rock Lobster with Apple Salad Beurre and Buttered Escargot

This dish was alright. The apple salad was a good accompaniment to the lobster, though the lobster meat itself was a bit tough. The escargot was slightly dry too - though the dish as a whole had a good balance of flavors and textures to it.

 Poisson

Slow Poached Salmon Trout in Shellfish Oil, Quail Egg Confit with Chanterelle Bordelaise Sauce

The salmon had a wonderful feel to it, however there was still a hint of fishiness at the back of my mouth unfortunately. The quail egg confit had an interesting texture as well - it had an unusually crisp exterior and a soft interior. Those chanterelle mushrooms had quite a funky texture too!

Soupe

Smoked and Roasted Garlic Soup

As this soup was a consomme, I did not enjoy it as much. It was a simple soup with a clear cut flavour and had smokey undertones to it - a contrast with the other, 'richer' dishes. Ultimately, this soup really did not appeal to me - I'm not much a fan of clear soup.

 Sorbet

Peach Sorbet with Cinnamon

A simple, slightly sourish sorbet, with a warm undertone to it, as a result of the cinnamon. A lovely palate cleanser. Plus, the presentation was wonderful too!

Agneau

Lamb loin with Spinache Crepes, Braised Roselle and Verde Salsa

The lamb was incredibly succulent and flavorful thanks to the think layer of fat around it. The braised roselle, I thought, served as a great accompaniment to the dish. The crepes, however, were slightly tough to eat, and had a bit of a floury texture to it...

Bœuf

Grilled Wagyu served with Blue Cheese Roesti and Vin de Bourgogne Glaze

The wagyu was served with shaved truffles with added even more flavor to it. The meat in itself, however, was not as tender as I imagined - though still satisfying nonetheless. The blue cheese roesti had the robust aroma that you'd expect, though eating it with the beef, overpowered the beef.

Fin Douche

Guananja Valrhona Chocolate Brulée

My dessert was incredibly rich and bittersweet. The crisp top of the brulee gave way to a silky, smooth centre of pure chocolate. Beyond yum.

 Fromage

Assorted Cheese with Homemade Crackers Wild Berries and Dried Fruit Compote

And just when you think its over, its not! The cheeses served as a delightful end to the experience. The fruit, simple dried pieces of apricot, accompanied the cheese and biscuits well. The homemade chocolates, too, made a great accompaniment with coffee.

My MIGF experience this year, completely different from my last, and despite the minute let-downs in certain courses, I was left completely satisfied. The annual MIGF is something I think everyone should join and experience, as each of the experiences I have had since 2007, I have not forgotten.

Presentation: 9/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Overall Taste: 8/10

General Impression: 8.5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Lunch @ Saravana Bhavan, Chennai

For lunch, we visited the main branch of the world renowned Saravana Bhavan restaurant chain. After having waited a good 20 minutes, we were finally allowed into the noisy, bustling restaurant filled with the clanging of metal plates and chit-chatter of patrons. An experience in itself.

As you can see, we were fortunate to get a table to ourselves - which usually isn't the case due to the fact that the restaurant is packed. It was interesting to see how the waiters took our orders on their fancy little palm-tops. 

My grandparents had themselves a Rice Medley (not actual name). An interesting carbo-filled lunch consisting of a variety of different rices such as sambhar rice, tamarind rice, lemon rice, yogurt rice, banana chips and a bowl of ghee. Tasting spoonfuls of rice from each compartment took me on a journey of flavours, from the sour to the salty, to the sweet. Behold, an experience in itself.

My Set Meal was huge enough to be eaten by two people. This set consisting of two types of yogurt, banana chips, various curries, sauteed okra, a cup of lemon rice, various chutneys, a helping of ghee, and some Indian sweets to end it off was just too much for my senses. Eating the meal seemed like a daunting task, both for my appetite and mentally. Delicious, though eat at your own risk.

Saravana Bhavan is definitely worth a visit, as the experience was phenomenal, and the food was rather good - though I did feel my set meal was far too elaborate for my tastes. Though do bear in mind that you will have to wait quite sometime to get a place, which most likely - will probably be with some random person you have never met before.

Presentation: 5/10

Ambiance: 4/10

Service: 5/10

Overall Taste: 7/10

General Impression: 6.6/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Indian Fare @ Crimson Chakra, Chennai

We visited a South Indian grill upon visiting Madras. This restaurant, unknown to tourists, was a restaurant I found online. Crimson Chakra is lot no. 13 on First Crescent Road, Ghandi Nagar in Adyar, Chennai.

The quaint restaurant was scented with incense, and the ambience was heightened by classical Indian music. The contemporary furniture with an Indian touch gave it a special feel, and the dim lighting set the mood perfectly (though it made it really hard for me to take my pictures).

We ordered ourselves the Paneer Pattani Masala worth Rs220 (RM14). The curry was a homemade nada masala, which contained pieces of paneer and green peas. An absolutely lovely dish, with just the right balance of flavor and spice. 

We also had ourselves the Milagu Kaalan Masala worth Rs210 (RM13). This smooth dish had was served with a rather thick, but flavorful curry - not too powerful curry so as to kill the delicate, natural flavor of the mushrooms.

The next dish we had was Naadar's Kozhi Curry worth Rs250 (RM16). This coriander-based curry was unlike anything I have ever tasted. The subtle flavor of coriander was the base flavor of the curry, which had subtle overtones of cardamom and cumin. And the chicken was cooked to perfection.

To accompany the dishes, we had Naan and White Rice. The naan was absolutely heavenly - crisp on the outside, but fluffy inside - truly, one of the most amazing naaan's I have ever tasted! The white rice was cooked perfectly too - not too hard, and not porridge-like either. 

The service was impeccable, with the waiter waiting on our hand and foot, attending to our every need - especially that of my grandparents. The food was heavenly, and truly unlike any Indian food I've had. And the price, absolutely reasonable. My conclusion would be that this is one of the best Indian restaurants I've ever been too - and absolutely worth a visit.

Presentation: 6/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Service: 8/10

Overall Taste: 9/10

General Impression: 8.5/10

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BrianandRepublic

Bakers Street, Pondicherry

Being a former French colony, Pondicherry is filled with bakeries - a majority of them clustered in and around the French quarter. One of my local relatives took me to Baker's Street, a modern yet chic bakery located in the nostalgic French area, on Rue de Bussy, before Ellaiaman koil Street.

I had myself an Eclair, worth Rs30 (RM2), which were as long as my (very long) hands! The cinnamon-flavored custard inside was nice and rich, and the spongy pastry was topped with a vanilla icing. Really good stuff.

There was also a selection of Macarons to choose from, each astonishingly priced at Rs20 (RM1.70), the cheapest macarons I've had to date. I cleared the entire stock, buying around 10 of them - and they tasted as good as they looked. Just as good as the ones you'd fine at Tea Forty Two or Whisk, but so much cheaper!

Lastly, I had myself a cup of Brewed Coffee to end it all with. A full-bodied cup that really hits all the right notes - my second decent cup of coffee in India, just as good as the one I had at Caravela in Vellankanni.

Definitely a place you should consider, if ever you do find yourself in the French Quarter of Pondicherry. They also serve a variety of good quality French breads, and sandwiches at unbelievably cheap prices. It's also a great place to escape the Indian heat, catch up with other tourists and share experiences.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 5/10

General Impression: 6/10

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BrianandRepublic

Revisiting Clear @ Plaza M.Kiara

I decided to treat myself to a set lunch at Clear having finished school early. The lunch, priced at RM16, runs from 12:00pm to 2:30pm. Clear, as mentioned in my previous post about the place, is located at Plaza Mont Kiara, along Jalan Kiara.

The day's lunch consisted of a Curry Puff with Sweet Chilli Sauce for starters. The curry puff was crisp, and complemented the chilli sauce well. The only downside was that the sauce was way too much.

As a main course, I had Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Bacon and Squid. An unusual combination, but the dish was fantastic - not too salty or dry. The bacon added great flavour to the dish and squid was cooked to perfection.

My dessert was, as usual, Chocolate Ice-Cream with Chocolate Sauce. The ice cream was your usual ice-cream from the tub, not of the best quality but I had no complaints, though I felt this course was an overdose of chocolate for me.

On the whole, for RM16, Clear's set lunch is quite a steal - considering the fact that most things on their a la carte menu are somewhat overpriced. The set also comes with a glass of iced lemon tea.

Presentation: 6/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 6/10

General Impression: 7/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic