FOODIE VS THE WORLD 

Portofino is one of my favourite Italian places in Kuala Lumpur because even though it is opened by two Italians, they try to incorporate as much local flair into their dishes as possible without losing the Italian essence of things. They’ve also got a killer wine menu. Recently, they brought in a vino expert from Verona – the hometown of Romeo and Juliet. And while the story of the star-crossed lovers may not have ended very well, my love story with the wines at Portofino de

Sekinchan is a beautiful little town just over an hour away from Kuala Lumpur’s bustling city centre. If you’re looking for a quick getaway from KL, this is the place for you to go to. And by quick, I mean, a day-trip from KL or at most one night away. Though there isn’t much to do in this tranquil spot, the beauty of the place lies in its peace and quiet away from the hectic rush of city life. There are paddy fields for you to go to and of course, since it is a beachside tow

Manja Old Malaya not only has a host of Malaysian-fusion food, but it also has a list of cocktails that has a Malaysian twist. The restaurant has an extensive drinks menu and alcohol selection, but we decided to sample their interesting cocktail list. The rooftop seating area affords patrons a close-up view of the KL Tower and the gorgeous night sky, if the weather permits. The highlight of the night was Manja’s take on an Espresso Martini. The Kopi Ping Martini (RM35) highli

I have not been this impressed with a new restaurant in awhile. Walking into Manja Old Malaya, we all shared the sentiment. We were under the (mis)impression that it would end up as just another high-end eatery that serves upscale Malaysian food, but it is anything but. Manja, which means 'to pamper' in English, is an apt name for the restaurant. From start to end, we very much pampered! The restaurant is a treat to the eyes as well as the belly! We were cordially introduced

Smoothie bowls have been trending in a huge way in the eat clean scene all around Malaysia. As the millennials continue to find more creative ways to supplement their healthy lifestyles, foodies like me get to enjoy yummy, yet diet-friendly dishes. We decided to head down to The Good Co in Bangsar one morning for a mid-week pick-me-up in the form of what could possibly be the best smoothie bowls in KL. The healthy, colourful bowl of goodness can be enjoyed any time of the day

I was recently treated to a lovely Mexican gourmet dinner hosted and prepared by the young, aspiring chefs of INTI's school of hospitality and culinary art. I have never been to a dinner prepared by students from a culinary school before, so I was not entirely sure what to expect. I even made sure to manage my expectations before going to the dinner. But I was pleasantly surprised by the experience and let’s just say they definitely broke some high scores here. Entering the A

With the opening of their third outlet within a month, Woogo Smoothies is the latest addition to the Malaysian juice/smoothie business. And we must say, we were pretty impressed with their flavour offerings! Woogo has outlets in Sunway Pyramid and Wisma Central. But for their recent opening in Paradigm Mall, Woogo invited the team over to sample their range of smoothies and juices. The brand hails from Taiwan and is a play on the Chinese words 五哥 (wu ge), which translates to

After visiting Italy twice in the last couple of years, I really fell in love with the country and everything about it. Especially the food. They say the fastest way to a (wo)man's heart is through the stomach and I couldn't agree more. The Taman Paramount area has always had good food and recently years have seen more modern cafes and restaurants popping up. Though the neighbourhood is still primarily inhabited by the older Chinese generation, you'll find flocks of younger p

I first heard about The Barn when they opened in One Mont Kiara and visited it once in that branch. But it was my first time heading to the Pavilion branch when they invited us there for a review of their 1KG Tomahawk steak - a seasonal item on their menu. The Barn is designed in such a way that would appeal to various dining groups - from couples, to families to friends who just want a chilled out place to drink and hang out in. Of course, The Barn's extensive beverage list

I always say, "There's always room for dessert!". And boy, was I glad I came down to this place. I was craving ice cream one evening and found this place in Damansara Uptown. I walked in and ordered the Nyonya Delight: Melaka Snow (RM14). I picked the pandan flavoured ice cream, which came with sage pearls, coconut snow and topped off with caramalised gula melaka. It was the perfect Malaysian twist to this dessert. I was actually too excited when I got my dessert and finished

Torii is not your typical Japanese restaurant. It is got a little French twist to its Asian identity. The restaurant serves up a modern take on Japanese cuisine with dishes like Trifecta Mushi (a steamed duck egg custard with ikura, foie gras and shrimp), Tuna Poke (blue fin tuna, citrus concentrate, ponzu, mango and macadamia nuts) and Wagyu Sliders (homemade patty, spinach, caramalised onions and scones). But what was truly impressive was their newly launched premium Japane

A’more di Merrier! That is the philosophy at Italiannies, which translates in English to “food is a celebration of life". The good people at Italiannies believe that The New Mob Platter reflects this spirit of sharing and gathering around food that is so prominent in the Italian culture. It’s a celebration of their 10 best selling dishes and it embraces the rustic Italian flavors! It is perfect for sharing amongst people that you love. Each mouthwatering platter feeds about 3

With Malaysia's hot and humid climate, it is nice to cool down with an iced cold drink with fresh fruits! And you can do just that with the newest smoothie franchise in town - Woogo California Smoothies. Why is Woogo unique? It is made of a spoonful of homemade fruit sorbet; a portion of low fat yogurt; some fruit juice; ice; and a hit of fresh fruits. “We hope all the people out there can savour the authentic flavour of California smoothie without worries of the nutrition le

Ante is the place you want to go when you are craving a good porky meal in Malaysia where good pork restaurants are far and few between. Not only is Ante named the winner of Best Place for Meats by TimeOut KL's Food Awards 2015, they are also purveyors of creative one-of-a-kind dishes like their fusionised Char Siu Curry Cream Pasta! To make sure they stay on top of their food game, Ante goes through a yearly revamp where they introduce new porkylicious dishes to their menu.

Heineken's global campaign Shape Your City brings specially created art installations to Kuala Lumpur. Comprising of rotatable-mirrored panels, Themancalleduncle a.k.a Callen Tham's breathtaking art installation titled Koleidoscape is travelling with the campaign. Koleidoscape offers viewers the chance to explore the reflected image of their choice, with by simply rotating the panels to create different reflective distortions. While the idea is simple, the effect is impactful

Speakeasy bars have been popping up left right centre all around Kuala Lumpur. How true they are to what speakeasies were meant to be historically, that is up for debate. But they have provided plenty of new options for drinking and hanging out with friends. Skullduggery is one of Bukit Damansara's newest drinking spots. It's a little challenging to find the entrance because you will have to walk behind Huckleberry Food & Fare into the back alley to find it. But you shouldn't

Tsubohachi is an informal “gastro-pub” reflective of the Japanese after-work drinking culture. With over 300 chains and half a century worth of history to its name, Tsubohachi hopes to bring forth a genuine feel of the Land of the Rising Sun, in our very own backyard here in Kuala Lumpur. We have been here twice before, to have a taste of their usual fare, as well as one of their seasonal menus. Each time, we were pleased with our visits. This time, Tsubohachi has created a m

Having lived in Singapore for a couple of years, I got used to having really great live music places to frequent during the week. I even found myself frequenting the same places just to catch a certain group or singer-songwriter. But when I returned to KL, I was surprised to find that there were far fewer spots with really good live bands to catch. It is a shame, really, since it is such a treat to have after a long day of work. Thankfully, when Le Noir opened in KL (having h

D'Legends is no stranger to the TTDI neighbourhood. It is a regular watering hole for residents. It is known for its floor-to-ceiling posters of legends. In a recent revamp, the bar now boasts new lighting and a ventilation system that allows for better airflow. But more than just that, their new menu is something worth making it your regular go-to place for dinner and drinks. They also boast the perfect serve of Guinness and Tiger. In fact, the Tiger pour is award-winning. F

Hard Rock Café Kuala Lumpur is back again with a new menu that serves up some of the hottest ethnic street flavours. Starting August, the Smoke, Fire & Spice limited-time menu will be available at participating Hard Rock Café franchises across the world. The Smoke, Fire & Spice menu features three types of proteins – chicken, beef or shrimp – served on a sizzling skillet accompanied by naan, salad mix, grilled vegetables, various types of cheese and six complementary dipping