Kenny Hills Bistro @ Shoppes at Four Seasons Place

I've been to Kenny Hills Bakers and absolutely love their food (especially the desserts) and coffees there...but this time we decided to try out one of their sister restaurants, Kenny Hills Bistro @ Shoppes at Four Seasons Place.

While Kenny Hills Bakers is more known for its artisan breads and pastries, Kenny Hills Bistro offers a slightly different dining experience, focusing on casual fine dining European cuisine, although some similarities can be found in some of their dishes and desserts.

I had totally forgotten to take photos of the restaurant and its interior as I was fully engrossed in conversation with my friend/dining companion.  We were there for a late brunch and since I miss eating a good western breakfast lately, we started off with an order of the Bistro Big Breakfast @ RM45 (and yes, it's a little pricier than usual but know that it's compensated with quality, fresh, inhouse made ingredients).

But first things first, we must have our coffee fix to start...and that would be two Iced Lattes @ RM14 each, me and my friend's favourite coffee drink.

Back to the big breakfast, it features two eggs done your way (we went with scrambled), an option of beef bacon or smoked salmon (we chose beef), chicken sausage, homemade baked beans, grilled button mushrooms, homemade hashbrown and a tomato compote served with toasted organic white country bread and butter.  That's what a hearty, big breakfast platter should look like...filled with lots of ingredients and mostly housemade.

Everything on the plate was done right, the eggs were fluffy, the mushrooms juicy, the quality beef bacon (and they were quite generous with it too, there were 4-5 good slices) savoury and delicious and so were the sausage and baked beans.  I particularly enjoyed the thick homemade hashbrown with its crispy edges (nothing like those frozen crap) and a tomato compote with the sweetness of the roasted tomatoes coming through.  This is one big breakfast I would gladly have again. ^.^

Our other breakfast dish was The Lafayatte @ RM32 with two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, smoked salmon and wilted spinach on a croissant served with homemade fries and a side salad.

The poached eggs were perfectly cooked to a runny consistency sitting on a bed of wilted spinach that was sauteed in some cream sauce.  I especially liked the crisp, thick-cut fries...but between this dish and the big breakfast, it's quite obvious which one I preferred.

Did I mention the coffees were really good?  We enjoyed it so much that we just had to have another glass...and more so when we know we were going to need it to pair with our dessert.

Our dessert of choice was this Yuzu Citrus Tart @ RM25 that was so elegantly presented that it was as pretty as a flower...well, quite literally! :D  We stared at it for a while not wanting to violate something so pretty. It has a buttery vanilla crisp crust filled with yuzu curd, almond cream, cream chantilly and topped with yuzu jelly, grated lime zest and a hint of luxury, a bit of edible gold leaf.

The yuzu curd had such a prominent floral aroma and bright flavours while the yuzu jelly had an intense tartness to it but yet so refreshing and tangy against the sweetness of the curd and cream.  The yuzu jelly on its own is highly acidic, so cut just a tiny piece and eat it together with the rest of the tart and it offers a sweet and tangy bite.  It was a zesty symphony of flavours and one that was absolutely delightful.  When I ordered this, the server informed me (proudly) that this yuzu citrus tart is a Kenny Hills Bistro exclusive (meaning you can't get this at Kenny Hills Bakers!)...and for this very reason it's a tart you must order here coz it's unbelievably good! ^o^

My Personal Opinion

Kenny Hills Bistro, like Kenny Hills Bakers, is yet another winner!  I'd call it slightly more "atas" version of Kenny Hills Bakers...but serving the same good food.

Their Bistro Big Breakfast though I've to admit is priced slightly higher than most cafes offering such a dish but the portion is substantial and it comes with more quality and housemade ingredients that sets it apart from the norm.  This big breakfast is guaranteed to kickstart your day right.

As for the Bistro's exclusive Yuzu Citrus Tart, you have to so get this if you're a fan of all things sour, this dessert gives you that intense, fragrant flavour with bright acidity that you'll completely adore.  Certainly one of the best desserts I've had this year.

Although I've only tried a limited no. of dishes, I'm already confident that the food here is good from just a small sampling of 3 dishes...and would certainly like to return to try more...perhaps for dinner the next time round! ^_~

Kenny Hills Bistro

G-07 Ground Floor

Shoppes at Four Seasons Place

145 Jalan Ampang

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-8953 8985

Tokyo Yakiniku @ Pandan Indah

There are very few Japanese restaurants in my neighbourhood.  In fact, there's just one which specialises in yakiniku (grilled meat), one specialising in udon (Udon-Ya San) and another two specialising in (conveyor-belt) sushi (Sushi Mentai & Sakura Sushi)...and that's probably about it (at least the ones I'm aware of).

So, when we feel like eating Japanese within our taman, there are very limited options to choose from.  That was what led us to reconnect back with Tokyo Yakiniku @ Pandan Indah, a place we used to patronise (I wrote about it here and here) but one that we completely forgot along the way.  I happen to bump into the boss when I was dining at Tasty La La Meehoon (in fact he's there regularly) and that was what jolted my memory about his Japanese restaurant that I've not visited in a long while...lol!

As the name (yakiniku) implies, grilled meat is their speciality, so that's what we regularly have when we're here....and we usually start with orders of one their set meals of either:

BBQ Bacon Set @ RM13.90

BBQ Chicken Set @ RM12.90

BBQ Pork Lean Meat Set @ RM12.90

BBQ Spicy Bacon Set @ RM13.90

or Tempura Don @ RM17.90

Each set meal comes with a choice of side dishes of either tofu pok or fried oyster mushrooms and a miso soup.  You can add on a drink for RM3.  And then we would add on a couple more side dishes to accompany our set meals with our usual orders being one of the following:

Of course no one is going to complaint if there's more bacon...such as BBQ Bacon @ RM10.90.

BBQ Spicy Bacon @ RM10.90

BBQ Pork Neck Meat @ RM8.90

Australian Ribeye @ RM21.80 - the beef here unfortunately is not quite the quality I'm looking for.  I guess I can't expect much really with that kind of price.

Spicy Pork Pandan Roll @ RM6.90 - and no, these are not made inhouse as I've eaten the same thing at other restaurants.

Green Lettuce Stir-Fried or with Oyster Sauce @ RM12.90

Mixed Grilled Vegetables

Grilled Onions @ RM4.90

Even if it comes free with the set meals, we're always inclined to order more Tofu Pok @ RM4.50...

.....and that goes for the Fried Oyster Mushrooms as well @ RM9.90.

There's only one dipping sauce option here....and it's one that tastes like a sweetish teriyaki with a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

You can also order their pre-set BBQ menus for 2 (RM48.80) or 4 (RM118.80) persons...and this is extremely popular with most of the diners who dine here.  They enjoy grilling the meat themselves though you can also have the kitchen staff grill them for you.

My Personal Opinion

We used to do the grilling ourselves too (just for the fun of it) but soon realise that the kitchen does a better job...they can get a more even browning on the meats (coz they probably flip them around more often than we do).  So, in the end, we thought why go through the hassle of grilling and having to watch over your meats so that they don't burn when we can just enjoy our food and leave without the smell of grilled food in our hair and on our clothes...lol!

Even after a long hiatus of not visiting...and the fact that they're still around after so many years is testimony to the fact that their food is acceptably decent as their prices are affordable and reasonable for a weekend family meal.

Tokyo Yakiniku

76G&A Jalan Pandan Indan 4/6B

Pandan Indah

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-4295 4833

Pizza Duo @ Bamboo Hills

Co-existing and sharing the same space with Tap Room (along with PaperKite beer and cocktail bar Tap Tap) is Pizza Duo @ Bamboo Hills.  We enjoyed the ambience, experience and food at Tap Room very much during our first visit and vowed to return to try the pizzas.

Moreover, a friend of mine was interested to return at night to feel the ambience after seeing the beautiful and serene surroundings when we were here for lunch before (it was indeed pretty as a picture as night fell). The atmosphere seems even more lively at night.  Luckily we made prior reservations as the place was brimming with waiting patrons.

Pizza Duo specialises in Neapolitan pizzas, an authentic Italian pizza originating from Naples, known for its thin, soft crust with simple toppings cooked under high heat in a wood-fired oven.  That impressive-looking oven is apparently called a Stefano Ferrara oven...and apparently it's also currently the largest Stefano Ferrara oven in Malaysia.

And, for this visit, we came specifically for that! ;)  But, before we get to the pizzas, let's start with a couple of starters and bites...beginning with something that's part of their signature menu, the Chilli Lava Crab @ RM48.80 which unquestionably did not disappoint.  It knocked it out of the park! ^.^

Featuring crab meat in a spicy chili/sweet & sour crab sauce, this dish is distinctively Malaysian, a highly sought-after dish in Chinese seafood restaurants, except this one you don't have to get your hands messy and dirty to get at the crab meat.  It's already done for you...what better way to eat crab than to have all the meat picked out for you, right?  I would say yessss to that! ;D

The crab meat was super fresh and the sauce well balanced with a spicy kick.  Served with golden mantou and crispy youtiao which were the perfect vehicles to soak up all that awesome sauce.  We used it (and wished we had more) to mop up every single last drop of that rich, flavourful sauce.  We couldn't get enough...it was beyond what I expected (and my friends loved it too).

Up next was a dish we did not get to sample on our last visit here, the Grilled Padron Peppers @ RM25.80 as it wasn't available then.  Padron peppers, a Spanish tapas staple, are typically mild and slightly sweet although occasionally you'll get one that packs a spicy punch.  The unpredictable spice level of each pepper adds that element of surprise and fun to eating them (no wonder I got one that was really spicy)! >_<

Blistered and charred to perfection and tossed in shrimp floss, they're best eaten dipped in the accompanying creamy shrimp paste sauce that tasted somewhat like a spicy Thousand Island sauce.  This was something different that we tried...and it was another winning dish.

We remember liking the simple, refreshing take on this dish the last time we were here, so we just had to order the Watermelon Meze @ RM13.80 again with chuka wakame and crushed peanuts tossed in Thai dressing.

Now, onto the main event, the very reason we made this return trip for...especially after seeing their impressive wood-fired oven that's touted to produce the best-tasting pizzas due to the high temperatures and unique flavour imparted by the wood which produces a smoky, rich flavour that's hard to replicate in other types of ovens.

We started with one of its most popular pizzas, a speciality of theirs, the Shroomami Pizza @ RM72 (which also happens to be the most expensive pizza on their menu) with Parmigiana fondue, truffle salsa, fior di latte (fresh cheese), portobellini mushrooms, ricotta and truffle oil.  Hands-down, this has to go down as the best pizza I've eaten thus far.  Being a non-fan of cheese (as many of my readers already know)...but this one I super enjoyed.  Apparently I enjoy cheese if it's good Italian cheese like Parmigiana Regianno (especially), Fior di Latte and Riccota...hehe! ^_~

The intense heat and flames cooks the pizza quickly (like maybe in just 90 secs depending on the pizza's thickness and oven temperature).  And because the pizza cooks so quickly, the crust is still moist with a slightly chewy interior...and not dry, hardened or overly crispy like many others that I've eaten before.  I used to leave the crust behind for those that fell short but this one...I wanted more! ^o^

Just look at the super puffed up and perfectly charred crust with its super light and airy texture and its umami filling of portobellini mushrooms and truffle...so, so good!  I once heard a Top Chef contestant say "that puffed up, charred crust can only be achieved if you use a wood-fired oven" (and he's right, of course).  

After tasting our first pizza, we immediately ordered a second.  This time we placed an order for a simple, classic Pizza Margherita 2.0 @ RM44 filled with San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte, parmigiano reggiano, semi-dried cherry tomatoes and basil oil.

Again, the slightly charred, soft, thin crust gives it a distinct smoky flavour that makes it absolutely out of this world.  A good pizza doesn't need to go overboard with all its many toppings...just a good crust and simple, fresh, high-quality ingredients for Neapolitan perfection!

After stuffing ourselves silly with two awesome pizzas, we still had room for dessert...and we kicked off with the Molten PB Choco @ RM26.80 which featured a chocolate and peanut butter lava cake served with vanilla ice cream, granola, fresh strawberries and blueberries.

The chocolate and peanut butter lava cake did live up to its name....the molten chocolate centre, with its intense chocolate flavour, flowed out when cut into (sorry, forgot to take a photo of the gooey, flowing lava). This is certainly a delight for chocolate lovers.

Our second plated dessert was something similar to the Orange Souffle Waffle we had on our earlier visit. Since we enjoyed it the last time round, we ordered the Lemon Souffle Waffle @ RM19.80 this time.

The only difference was that it was served with earl grey (instead of vanilla) ice cream and a lemon (instead of orange) reduction.  I particularly liked the intense lemon-flavoured reduction with the souffle and waffle.

Finally, to wash all that good food down, you need good beer...and we ordered the PaperKite Flight @ RM58 featuring 4 types of (mini-sized) craft beer...Pale Ale, Copper Ale, Oatmeal Stout and IPA for sharing.

I also had a Iced Caffe Latte @ RM16.  A friend also had a cocktail, Day & Night (Sake/Peach/Yuzu/Lemon) @ RM30.

My Personal Opinion

If you're a lover of pizza or haven't had a good one thus far, make sure you have a go at this one...made with the finest ingredients like fior di latte, San Marzano tomatoes and Italian flour, it's no wonder that this was by far the best tasting pizza experience I've had in a long while.  I've a new found love of pizza (and cheese) if it's this good...and the Shroomami comes highly recommended as your first choice.  Just the mere thought of it at the time of writing makes me yearn for it with such great desire! ;)

Not only that but the fact that Pizza Duo shares a space with Tap Room makes eating here a double joy as you can cross order from both fabulous menus.  So far Tap Room's starters and light bites have not disappointed one bit and this visit's choices of Chili Lava Crab and Grilled Padron Peppers added two more to that fantastic list.

Tap Room's menu is rather extensive and together with Pizza Duo's many other pizza options as well, there are still lots more to try here...and we look forward eagerly to yet another visit. ^.^

Pizza Duo @ Tap Room

Lot P10 Bamboo Hills

Taman Bukit Bambu

Off Lebuhraya Duta-Ulu Kelang (DUKE)

51200 Kuala Lumpur