Makan-makan | thenomadGourmand

Posts Tagged ‘makan-makan’

Affordable French Dining – Nathalie Gourmet Studio, Solaris Dutamas, KL

July 12th, 2010 • 40 comments Expensive eats, Food, MAIN, makan-makan
Tags: french, makan-makan, solaris dutamas

One might balk at the prices, after all, I did name my post “affordable” but try going to some notable French restuarants; namely Le Bouchon in Changkat Bukit Bintang, Lafite in Shangri-la Hotel or Cafe Cafe at Jalan Maharajalela & this is as Frenchly-affordable as it can get for middle class fellas like us.

Chef Nathalie Arbefeuille helms the kitchen here with her capable team & the open kitchen allows you to witness the chefs at work. All of them worked quietly, with concentrated focus & precise movements. Each dish that came out from the kitchen bears testimony of meticulous preparation from the raw ingredients to the final presentation.

Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio is an original concept by Chef Nathalie Arbefeuille. The outlet is divided into a professional kitchen (complete with long tables & chairs, ovens, etc for cooking classes every morning), air-conditioned dining area inside & an outdoor terrace for breakfast, lunch & tea, another main kitchen where the team prepares the meals for their customers & restrooms complete with towels & candles at a corner.
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Dissappointing apam made up by Nasi Lemak ‘Ganja’, Jalan Athinappan, TTDI

March 20th, 2010 • 33 comments General
Tags: food outing, hawker food, makan-makan, malay

This hunt has been on-going for months.

There wasn’t much information that could be found on google searches, except for a mention or two of it’s general location, how good it is & the addiction (hence the name) that follows after the initial taste.

Some people I spoke to knew about it, most don’t. Those who knew about it warned me of eccentric opening days, delicious sambal & his phantom opening hours. But they couldn’t tell me EXACTLY where his stall is; just “at the bus stop along Jalan Athinappan, near the TM building“.

Left with not much choice but a strong kiasu need to taste this ‘grrreeaatt” nasi lemak, I made several attempts to seek him out. His opening hours are a challenge enough, for at 10pm I’m more drowsy then hungry. And each time I went, I had to drive along the whole stretch of Jalan Athinappan looking for a bus-stop with a lone stall selling Nasi Lemak.

Few weeks ago I was in the vicinity again. Though for a different purpose.

Our hunt was initially for this.
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Pork Overdose at Betty’s Midwest Kitchen, Aman Suria

March 11th, 2010 • 48 comments MAIN
Tags: aman suria, American, cafe, food outing, makan-makan, Non Halal, pork

Elaine left a comment on my previous post on Betty’s. (Post HERE still under my old blog)

Had a bad dining experience there.
Went there last night with 3 friends to have a try on the food since everyone gave them thumbs up. When I reached there around 6.30pm, only 1 table was occupied. Guess I was early for dinner. I was impressed by the shop deco and the menu they offer. While waiting for the food, more people came and finally every table was filled up.

While we are trying to push all the food inside our terribly full tummy, the daughter kept asking us “Any further order?” She asked that every 5 minutes. So annoying! She even cleared the empty plate without asking. Then it started to run heavily outside. My friend ordered a basket of fries, cheese rounds and 4 bottles of Budweiser while waiting for rain to stop. The girl kept staring at us as the signal to leave the table as there are people waiting to be seated. We ignored as we believe customers always have the right and we still haven’t finish our food. Finally the girl came over our table and asked, “can I clear your table?” and we are shocked as we still have half basket of fries and we haven’t finish our beer. Can you imagine that? She was trying to shoo us away. We was so angry! How can she do that to customer? So we just pay the bill and swear will never go back there again. Never ever! Disappointed with her PR skill.

I have been to Betty’s many many times.. and this place IS very popular. It is unfortunate that the above incident happened, and while I can’t say much for the service, the food there is GOOD. Some dishes even awesome, with reasonable prices to boot.

We always start with their freshly squeezed Lemonade. Tangy, refreshing and cooling, it’s a good prelude to the onslaught of porcine infused dishes to come.

Hennessy Lor Mee & yummy Ais Kacang at Setapak!

March 8th, 2010 • 46 comments General, MAIN
Tags: chinese, hawker food, makan-makan, Setapak, tai chow

I first read about this intriguing creation in this article “Food Tale promotion by Knife Cooking Oil” which was published in The Star.

As usual, it took me months later to visit the shop, with the usual obstacles of distance, time & the lack of an adventurous eating partner.

So one weekend, I decided to hell with it, if no one is keen then I’m going alone. And I ended up having 4 people joining me right after I have declared so. Funny how things turned out sometimes huh?

ps: (And today is my 2nd visit! Food IS consistent!) *stamps approval*

More food at Broga – pan mee & Ais kacang!

February 19th, 2010 • 32 comments Events, General, MAIN
Tags: Broga, chinese, desserts, food outing, makan-makan

After gorging ourselves silly on wan tan mee & Ikan Bakar (previous post HERE ), amazingly some of us still have stomach space for more. Well, as much as I wanted to try the dry butter mantis prawn in Restaurant Ja Xiang, we didn’t think another heavy meal is a good idea.
With the sun beating on our backs, and tongues still on fire from the Super Spicy Chili Fish, I thought ABC is a more approprite alternative.

Like I said before, navigation in Broga town is very simple. On this same main street, I spied this little corner outlet en route to Broga Fish Recreational Park, and yes, the huge ‘ABC’ word got me hooked.