Nathalie's Gourmet Studio

Posted by CuriousCats / at 1:45 AM / / 6 comments

Salmon blinis

Duck confit. Every single thing on the plate was delicious. 

The most beautifully cooked chicken. Ever.

Meringue and sorbet dessert

Cafe Cafe, Valentine's 2010

Posted by CuriousCats / at 1:36 PM / / 0 comments

I can't believe that the last time we came to this restaurant was 2 years ago, how time flies. As I remembered it, the place was just beautiful, and so charming, it was really breathtaking. It was our first time that we would try french cuisine, and how we were so green then. Looking at pictures from 2 years ago really showed it. This time around, we're celebrating Valentine's day at this beautiful restaurant. Well, since Valentines' fall on the exact same day as Chinese new year, I thought that it would be better for us if we celebrated it somewhat earlier. So, I reserved a table for us on Friday, fearing that it might be closed on Sunday. As we arrived, the restaurant was full of couples filling up the space. The last time we came here, there were only about 3 tables of customers, to see it full of customers was truly fascinating, we can feel the love in the air. And to make things even more wondrous, my Valentine was just immaculate, looking ever so gorgeous. Sigh. And also, to our surprise, we were even seated at the same table we were 2 years ago.

We both ordered what we had 2 years ago, the pink lemonade, just to relive the memories we had on that night. The last time we came here, we were just in love with their king prawn starter that we just had to have it again, and my Hanan just loved it so much. Remember how dark it was back then, bee? We couldn't even see what we were eating. I guess CafeCafe turned the "dark romantic" meter down a notch, so that we could actually see what it is that we were putting into our mouths. 

Truffled Honey King Prawns

The prawns was as delicious as it was when we had it 2 years ago. Prawns were perfectly cooked, and with the crunchiness of the almonds layering the outside of the prawns, it made the dish superb. 

Pan-seared Foie Gras

For myself, I couldn't resist but to order the foie gras. It was done to perfection! Crispy on the outside, and just wonderfully juicy on the inside. If only the serving was bigger :)

As we were waiting for the main course to arrive, I couldn't help but to take pictures of the wonderful surrounding. The place was full of love (and wallets full of money, haha).

Hmmm...even the toilet looks good from the outside

One of the MANY pictures that were IN focus. Thank you baby! :p

Work it! :)

Baked lamb racks with mustard vinaigrette dressing

Hanan just couldn't resist ordering the lamb racks again. The last time she had it, blew her mind away, and it did the same thing again. She is such a kambing person, I can't convert her to love beef, hehe. Well, the lamb was juicy and the dressing completed the dish. A great serving of lamb.

Chargrilled beef tenderloin with cream of wasabi

At first, I was quite worried that the wasabi would overpower the taste of the beef, but to my surprise the wasabi complemented the dish perfectly! The taste just grew on me. Although the beef was slightly overcooked to my liking, I believe that this dish is a must-try, and I wouldn't mind having it again next time around as well. 

As soon as the mains were done, I tried my best to sneak to the front to ask one of the staff working there to do me a favor and write a personal message for me on their dessert. So, as the dessert arrived, I was just waiting for an answer :

And she answered, 

Thank you baby, please be my Valentine forever and ever and ever! 

The place was beautiful, excellent service, delicious food, and of course, to have you by my side is enough to make everything perfect. I love you.

-S & H-

Cafe Cafe,

175, Jalan Maharajalela,

50150, Kuala Lumpur

Tel : 03-21418141

A Beginning @ La Fite, Shangri-La

Posted by CuriousCats / at 10:48 PM / / 2 comments

It's been a while since I've posted something, well, I think this is the post where I'm going to update really frequently, being in the orthopaedic posting means that I've all the time in the world to do this (don't worry baby, nanti you'll be relaxing pulak and I'll suffer). Our visit to La Fite was a momentous occassion. It was a place I was really excited about and really wanted to bring Hanan, to have a new beginning in our relationship. And the whole night was made perfect by the excellent service by the staff there, they treated us like kings and queens of the night. But of course, the food was the main thing that made us excited. Great food, beautiful environment, and a beautiful and graceful soulmate next to me, it couldn't be anymore perfect than that. Well, we had this dinner on the 19th of August last year (remember that sayang!!), so it's been awhile. Nevertheless the memory of that night will always be so fresh in my mind.

My beautiful angel

Me trying to look suave for you, :p

Well, we decided that we would share some of the dishes. We're not heavy eaters exactly, so we just ordered what excited us the most. And looking at the menu, there were quite a few so it was hard to choose. We opted out of the Explorer's menu because we thought that it would be quite alot for us to handle, so we chose ala carte.

Of course, first the complimentary bread and butter. Amazing tasting bread, warm and the butter was just delicious but I just couldn't remember what it was (dammit).

For starters we ordered the Inside-out Pizza, the Tower Corn Soup, and also the foie gras dish which is called Foie Gras Volume 3. The pizza was truly mind-boggling, after reading from the food bloggers world out there trying this out, everyone loved it, and so did us. Using a candy floss machine to produce this dish, one just couldn't describe how it tasted. You just have to taste it for yourself. My baby loved this so much, and just can't wait to have it again (and we will!). This thing is so small and really flaky, it's just lovely to enjoy. If only we could just buy it for take-aways and eat it in the car.

With her corn soup

The other starter we had was the Tower Corn Soup. The dish came with a sort-of tower and as it was served to us, the waitress lifted the tower to reveal the soup. It was really interesting. From that on, we had one surprise after another. Another thing that La Fite is good at, is that it's such a fun experience to be there. The food is very unpredictable, in a good and delicious way!

Foie Gras Vol. 3

This was our first ever foie gras, I'm a huge fan of Gordon Ramsay and I've always wondered how it tasted of since Gordon seems to speak highly of it. Even with some hesitation (what with the cruelty to the animals, bla bla bla, hehehe, sorry baby ;D), we decided to order the foie gras dish. Without a shout of a doubt, the foie gras was delicious. It was served with apricot puree, hibiscus meringue, and also grapes. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. All the other ingredients complemented the dish beautifully, especially the hibiscus meringue, which had a very tangy flavour that was uncomparable with anything we've ever tasted. A wonderful dish. (Notice the cut in half savoury bun, since we were sharing, the chef cut it in half for us, how very thoughtful of him!)

We were given each a palette cleanser, which was an apple sorbet which was nice. They even put like a slice of apple in but it wasn't exactly an apple, hmmmm.

The princess of the night had the 58 Degrees Celsius Beef Short Ribs. Juicy, and so magnificently tender, what more could you ask for. (Sorry, picture a bit blurry, it was kinda dark)

For myself, I had the lamb shank. Which was done nicely, just the way I like it.

La Fite Choc Bar

Well, here comes the best part of the night. Earlier when we arrived, I approached one of the waiters there to do me a favour, so as to present something special to Hanan. And without much explanation, they made their arrangements and they surely did something special for us. With the message written, this is the one truly thing that I know in life, all I want to do is be with you, even with all the hardships we've been through, I just can't imagine a life without you. You are my everything sayang, I want you to be mine, for all eternity. Please be mine.

Next, we just had to try their Lemon Tree. It was presented to us on this beautiful slate of glass with a drawing of a tree with a huge lemon on it! And as we cut it open, inside was this delicious lemon mousse and some sort of raspberry filling. Delicious and just beautiful to look at. This is what I was trying to say, about the dishes being "fun".

To end this eventful night, they presented us with some complimentary chocolates (the gift wasn't). The box was for my beautiful sweetheart, just waiting for her to open it up.

Thank you baby, for a wonderful night. It'll always be in my heart and in my mind, all the time. And of course to La Fite, for making it a memorable night for us. Thank you so much! Let's do this again sayang, soon (or rather ASAP!). I love you babyku! Jom jom jom!!!

-S & H-

Lafite

Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 603-2074 3904