Saturday, November 28, 2015

Indian food at Kumar's @ Oasis Ara Damansara

Kumar's at Oasis Ara Damansara is a posh Indian restaurant. Having dinner with friends here on friday night as other restaurants around the area are quite full. Their have quite a variety of items in their menu but their main highlight is the fish head curry. Since we are not quite a big eater on that day, we choose to have their ala carte menu with fish instead.

Taste:7/10(Moderate. The taste were not up to our expectation of how fine dining Indian restaurant should taste like. The fish and chicken curry were watery and bendi masala were not up to expectation. Garlic naan were good but cheese naan needs improvement).
Price:3/10(Expensive. Portion were small and price almost double compared to normal Indian restaurant serving South Indian food. Mutton varuval at MYR18.90, chicken curry at MYR14.90, bendi masala at MYR12.90, red snapper curry at MYR18.90, garlic naan at MYR8.90, cheese naan at MYR10.90 and mango lassi at MYR10.90. There is 5% service charge and 6% GST).


Kumar's.

The dishes that we had.

Mutton varuval.

Red snapper curry. The curry was watery.

Ladies finger masala.

Chicken curry.

Cheese naan and garlic naan.

Mango lassi. I feel their lassi not good enough.

Delicious papadam.

GPS/Coordinate: 3.114117, 101.574773
Address: 2 Jalan PJU 1A/7A, Oasis Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Amazing Porketta from Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub @ Minneapolis, Minnesota

Northbound Smokehouse has been rated as best brewpub in Minneapolis. It is no doubt that their food and beer taste so good. They brew some great beers, and has a quality selection of other locally brewed beers on tap. The outdoor seating at picnic tables is comfortable and refreshing when the weather is cool at night.

Taste:10/10(Excellent. Their porketta were flavourful and tender. Tasty with fragrance from herbs. The meat were juicy and not dry although it was smoked. Hand cut fries were excellent. The server were friendly and able to accommodate my request to try a variety of beer. Their beer are quite good. I do like their pale ale).
Price:6/10(Moderate. 18 hour porketta at USD9.50, fries at USD3.00 and beer at USD6.00).


My 18 hour Porketta set. It was so tasty with much herbs flavour. The “Iron Range” classic. Smoked porketta, smoked Swiss, and sautéed onions on an egg bun. Served with a side of BBQ sauce.

Very tender and juicy smoked pork.

See the amount of herbs such as rosemary, basil and chive.

The fries were very delicious as well. Looks like they double fried the fries.

Northbound Smokehouse.

Beer tasting samples.

Cool patio seating outside.

GPS/Coordinate: 44.934238, -93.232474
Address: 2716 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406, United States
Public transport: Blue line 38th St Station on Minneapolis Metro transit.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Famous Jucy Lucy of Matt's Bar and Grill @ Minneapolis, Minnesota

Matt's is a local institution in Minneapolis which is famous for their cheese stuffed patty burger named Jucy Lucy. The cheese inside the patty were melted and boiling hot. The server will always warn their customer to let the burger cool down first before eating. I enjoyed the sound system in this restaurant as the quality were so good. The restaurant visited by President Obama before.

Taste:8/10(Good. The molten cheese inside the patty blends well with onion and pepper. Good taste. However, I not quite like the burned part of the patty).
Price:6/10(Moderate. Cash only establishment. Jucy Lucy at USD6.95, half order at USD4.25 and beer at USD4.75).


Jucy Lucy. Looks normal.

Onion and pepper with Jucy Lucy.

BBQ style patty but looked burned.

Melting cheese inside pork patty.

Simple setting. Mustard and tomato sauce. Having a glass of beer.

Old styled menu board.

Good quality music. Classic jukebox.



Old American style.

Hamburger with original Jucy Lucy.

Matt's Bar and Grill.

GPS/Coordinate: 44.939404, -93.247494
Address: 3500 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407, United States
Public transport: 20 minutes walk from Blue line Lake St Midtown Station via Minneapolis Metro transit.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Three Michelin star dinner at Le Bernardin Restaurant @ New York, USA

I went there for dinner to try out their famous meal. Eating in their main dining room is too much hassle that they need a blazer or dress in suit. Main dining room also requires reservation far ahead of time. Since my time in New York is limited, I choose to have their lounge menu instead. With the hype surrounding this restaurant, I expect the food to be among the best. However, not all the items that I ordered was excellent. I really coming here to be impressed but somehow they have not met my expectation. The restaurant atmosphere and the main dining room was grand and nice.

Taste:8/10(Good. The restaurant were nice and food were good but it's not outstanding which I think a 3 Michelin star restaurant should have. I have tasted other one Michelin star restaurants which served much tastier food. Service were great and very formal. I was very satisfied with the warm lobster with truffle. The dish were excellent and taste great. The Le Bernardin salmon rillette were quite normal. Nothing to shout about the oyster as its come in its natural form which was barely touched. I liked the hazelnut praline as the chocolate were rich and good praline flavour).
Price:1/10(Very expensive. Oyster priced at USD4.00 per piece, salmon rillette at USD22.00, lobster with truffle "en brioche" at USD27.00 and hazelnut praline at USD22.00. Total bill exclude tax and tips were USD83.00).


Highly rated Le Bernardin of New York. Often quoted as the top restaurant in New York.

Bread and butter. Not impressive.


Oyster of East coast and West coast varieties. Served with vinaigrette.



Le Bernardin's salmon rillette with toast. This meal was not impressive. The salmon rillette is almost like canned salmon bread spread.

Salmon rillette spread on toast.

Warm lobster and truffle "en Brioche". This is the best meal of this dinner.

Hazelnut Praline - flourless hazelnut cake, Gianduja mousse, orange curd and Praline ice-cream.


Environment inside Le Bernardin, New York.

My ticket to store my items at reception.

GPS/Coordinate: 40.761629, -73.981921
Address: 155 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Public transport:7th Avenue station via B, D or E train/50 street station via train 1/49th Street via N, Q or R train.
Opening hours: Weekday 12.00pm to 2.30pm;5.15pm to 10.30pm. Saturday:5.15pm to 11.00pm. Sunday closed.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Excellent fine dining dinner at Michelin star Gramercy Tavern @ New York, USA

Gramercy Tavern is a famous restaurant which has earned a Michelin star. Having a dinner even at bar area since I was solo were fabulous. I came here around 6.00pm for early dinner. The restaurant has great atmosphere, creative menu and good service. I chose the 4 course dinner. Without understanding in detail of the menu, the meal came out as a surprise. The ingredient pairing were perfect and very thoughtful. The bartender was attentive and made good wine suggestions. I do suggest for those without reservation to come early as by 7.30pm the restaurant is crowded.

Taste:10/10(Excellent. All the meal in the 4 course set were done perfectly with right combination of ingredient and flavour. The smoked Arctic char toast is the most memorable meal. So delicious and crunchy).
Price:2/10(Expensive. Although the price is at high side but it is quite reasonable for fine dining in New York city. The price of the four course dinner at USD45.00. Plus wine was USD55.00).


Before the four course meal start, I was asked to drink this cocktail. It was sourish with pine nuts.


Appetizer of marinated beets with summer berries, Ricotta and pecans. Really amazed that beet can be made with such great flavour.

Start with bread and butter.


Smoked Arctic char toast with corn and shishito peppers. Very tasty and crunchy.



Grilled corned beef with caraflex cabbage and pickled peaches. The meat were cooked perfectly.


Dessert. Corn cake with sorghum, corn custard and black berry buttermilk sherbet.

Moscato sweet wine.

Gramercy Tavern. A one star Michelin restaurant in New York.

GPS/Coordinate: 40.738454, -73.988498
Address: 42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003, United States
Public transport: 8 minutes walk from Union Square Subway via 4,5,6,L,N,Q or R train.
Opening hours: Daily 12.00pm to 11.00pm.