Fahrenheit 600, Solaris Dutamas

Oven-fresh soft and crispy dough, stringy mozzarella, sweet yet spicy tomato sauce… guess what we’re having for dinner??? That’s right, party people – its pizza on today’s menu!

So we found a place that has pizzas AND coffee as well – how amazing is that?! Being the coffee lovers that we are, this place was a must-try.

As we stepped inside, the view of chefs kneading dough tirelessly and adding various toppings to the pizzas certainly got our gastric juices flowing. The rustic interior with a wood-burning stone oven added to the warmth and cosiness of the joint.

Now, on to the part where we confirm as to whether it was heavenly or otherwise… lol!

Let’s start with: Armenian Pizza – Fahrenheit 600 Signature Tomato Sauce, Lean Minced Beef, Beef Pepperoni, Mushroom, Green Pepper, Caramelized Onions (RM24.90 per 9” / RM28.90 per 12”).

Kav: This was really good. The combination of earthy olives, spicy jalapeños, and smoky mushrooms made for a delicious pizza. The thing I love about this pizza, and their pizzas in general, is that they’ve got the perfect tomato base - not too sweet and does not overwhelm the entire pizza.

Gaj: This was a good rendition of beef pepperoni pizza - the olives and jalapeños complemented this dish very well and I will definitely have it again.

Then comes: Tuna Pizza - Fahrenheit 600 Signature Tomato Sauce, Tuna, Black Olives, Jalapeño, Caramelized Onions (RM18.90 per 9” / RM22.90 per 12”).

Shiv: One of the better renditions of tuna pizza, with the accompanying ingredients providing a beautiful marriage of flavours. The tuna could have been less dried out, though.

Kav: Well this was not bad, although I’m probably not the best judge of tuna pizza, because I’m not a big fan. However, the jalapeños and olives helped take away from the tuna flavour. Again, the tomato base was simply divine.

Mien: Tuna tastes best when it is EXTREMELY fresh… once it is stale, or canned, it is just plain bad! I think canned tuna was used, and hence, made the pizza taste bad.

Gaj: I am not a big fan of tuna pizza, but this was probably one of the better ones that I have tasted.

In the running also: I’m Vegetarian Today Calzone – Roasted Eggplant, Mushroom, Tomato, Green Pepper, Olives, Onions, Cheese (RM16.90).

Shiv: The worst dish of the night - this was all dough and no filling! The texture of the dough was all wrong, and the resulting dish tasted floury, dry and flavourless. Even the rich combination of ingredients provided no salvage. Shame!

Kav: Really disliked the calzone. The dough was soggy and pasty. The filling lacked flavour and there was just a general blandness to the calzone. Poor!!!!

Mien: This was really really bland... more dough than filling. The filling itself was bland and couldn’t save this dish.

Gaj: The calzone was really bad! The dough was too thick and wasn’t well baked/cooked. The filling wasn’t great and really didn’t help this calzone!

Moving on: Salmon Caprese Pizza – Special of the Day (RM29.90 per 9” / RM32.90 per 12”).

Shiv: Tangy, tart and simply terrific! They allowed for the salmon to shine through and carry the dish without the use of overwhelming supporting ingredients. Also noteworthy – the salmon used was really fresh, and they were quite generous with it.

Kav: This pizza was delish. You can never go wrong with a combination like salmon and capers, because it fulfils the eternal equation of essence, which is {Salty + Salty = Tasty}. The spicy rocket just added to the already loaded flavours on the pizza. The incredible thing about their salmon pizza is that they did not douse the pizza with cream cheese dressing, as is normally the case with most salmon pizzas, and I hate when they do that!!! (Although for those of you cream fans out there, they do have the cream-based option)

Mien: Kav has low blood pressure, that’s why she loves her SALT! Hehehe… jokes! This was the best pizza, and I have to agree with Kav, they didn’t add cream cheese, which I am not a big fan of. The tomato base, salmon and capers were a really good combination.

Gaj: OMG! So AMAZE-BALLS! Salmon was amazing and fresh and the tomato base was perfect! Soo good!

Next up was: Henry The Duck Pizza - Fahrenheit 600 Signature Tomato Sauce, Smoked Duck, Avocado, Orange, Cherry Tomato, Caramelized Onions (RM27.90 per 9” / RM31.90 per 12”).

*Poor Henry, hope he didn’t die in vain. Let’s find out shall we… Oh, and also, we requested the orange slices to be removed, as none of us are fans of fruit in our pizza.

Shiv: Absolutely love duck, and no, Henry did not give his life in vain. The meatiness of the duck coupled with the creamy avocado was perfection on a plate. Highly recommended for flavour and wholesomeness!

Kav: Again the tomato base… D to the VINE, with just the right amount of tang and sweetness. The duck was very savoury and cooked well. My one complaint would be that there could have been more duck on the pizza. Otherwise, was a really good pizza.

Mien: Not a big fan of duck, hence, not a fan of this pizza.

Gaj: Truly yummylicious! Agree with Kav that there could have been more duck on the pizza, but otherwise, just yummy!

Last dish on the savoury menu was: Olivia Pasta – Black Olives, Olive Oil, Chilli Padi, Rosemary, Capers, Garlic, Spaghetti (RM13.90 + RM5 to add prawns).

Shiv: I liked this – there was no pool of oil at the bottom of the bowl, the olives complemented the prawns beautifully and the chilli padi and capers gave the dish a nice kick. Provided for a nice ‘palate cleanser’ in between all the pizzas we were consuming!

Kav: The pasta was well coated with the olive oil dressing. The prawns were fresh and the flavours permeated the pasta well. My suggestion is that you add chilli flakes to this pasta, because that was all it was lacking. Overall, it was a decent pasta.

Mien: The pasta was mediocre. This place is good for its pizzas, not pastas!

Gaj: The pasta was just alright for me, not sure if I will have it again.

And of course, no meal is complete without dessert and coffee…

First up: Chocolate Mousse Cake (RM10.90).

Shiv: Nothing extraordinary, as it tasted like most other chocolate mousses I’ve tried. However, thumbs up for not being suffocating-ly saccharine.

Kav: This was not bad. The cake was not too sweet and there were no overwhelming elements. Nice!

Mien: The chocolate mousse cake was not too sweet, thankfully! Not a bad one…

Gaj: Not too overwhelmingly chocolate-y, which is a pleasant change for most chocolate cakes.

Next: Tiramisu (RM10.90).

Shiv: To begin with, this couldn’t even have been called Tiramisu. The coffee-flavour infusion was insufficient; it was low on liqueur; the sponge cake was downright dry and the dessert was just an epic fail on the whole!

Kav: Well you may have got the pizza right, and even your pasta was nice, but Italian dessert clearly requires a whole new skill. Probably the worst tasting Tiramisu I have tried… what in the world!?@#$*

Mien: I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT FOLLOW THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF TIRAMISU AND SCREW IT UP. BAD BAD BAD!

Gaj: Tiramisu was not good, definitely will not have it again.

Finally: Mocha (RM10.90), Cappuccino (RM10.90) and Caramel Latte (RM10.90).

Kav: The Mocha was just alright. Also tried the Caramel Latte, and it was way too sweet.

Shiv: The Cappuccino was really good – smooth and strong, just the way I like it.

Mien: The Mocha was ok. Not one of my favourite coffee places!

Gaj: I had the Caramel Latte, which was a tad too sweet, but not bad.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Above-average – RM235.25 for 6 dishes, 2 desserts and 4 drinks (4pax).

AMBIENCE:  Rustic and cosy – good for family outings or just a girls/guys night out.

SERVICE: Very good – they were more than willing to accommodate our various demands with regards to toppings, as we switched around toppings for most of our pizzas.

FOOD: Great pizzas - would definitely come back for more!!!

FAHRENHEIT 600

LEVEL G2, BLOCK A, NO. 1,

JALAN DUTAMAS 1, SOLARIS DUTAMAS,

50480 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Contact: 03-6206 3417

Website: http://www.fahrenheit600.com

Opening Hours:

8.00am- 11.00pm (Mon-Sun)

Cava, Jalan Bangkung

After a loooong day’s work, we found ourselves craving for GOOD food! We had heard a lot about the food at Cava, a Spanish restaurant at Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar.

As bonafide tipplers, we have had drinks, but hadn’t got an opportunity to dine there.

So, we FINALLY decided to give the food a try!

Tucked away in the quieter area of Bangsar, away from the hustle and bustle of the Telawi area, you will find Cava, located on the same row as Leonardo’s, Opus, Madisons and Midi to name a few.

Cava serves modern and traditional Spanish cuisine. It is not your typical Spanish bar; it has a bit more of a ‘fine-dining’ feel to it.

We were served with complimentary bruschetta.

Shiv: Bad! Sugar was the only flavour carrying the dish. It’s a good thing that we didn’t have to pay for it.

Kav: Not one of my favourite things. Sweet!!!

Mien: Loved the bread they used. Found the toppings a bit sweet due to the presence of the sweet corn! Would have been better without it.

Gaj: I didn’t really enjoy it – generally dislike sweet elements in my food.

For appetisers, we ordered the following tapas:

1)  Cod and Kalamata Fritters (RM15)

Shiv: Was too tomato-ey and I could hardly taste the flavours from the cod. This dish was just too overwhelmingly tangy. No likey!

Kav: Alrighty, I guess. The sweetness from the tomatoes were overwhelming, hence I couldn’t really taste much of anything else. Overall, not great.

Mien: Hmmm… it was not tooooo bad… had a unique ‘Indian-y’ taste to it. Might actually order it again.

Gaj: This dish was just OK for me – not sure if I would have it again.

2)  Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Roasted Garlic and Walnuts (RM15)

Shiv: Fantastic! The meatiness of the Portobello married with the nuttiness of the walnuts provided for a merry marriage of flavours. Saved the day, where appetisers were concerned.

Kav: Yummy! Something about the way garlic and mushrooms taste together, makes me want to sing!!! Plus the roasted walnuts added crunchiness and a nutty flavour that elevated this dish to the next level.

Mien: Love this! The flavours infused well together, with a slight chilli flavour! Really good!

Gaj: I LOVED this dish – it was really good! Oooo..the garlic and walnuts just gave it an extra oomph –yumms!

Moving on the mains, we ordered:

1)  Galician Styled Cod, baked cod with olive tapenade cream sauce (RM58)

Shiv: Best main of the night! Super moist and flaky, and they were smart about keeping the flavours to a minimal, to allow the amazing fishy flavours from the cod to carry the dish. Could have come all on its own, as the sides were easily ignored with the fish being so fantastic!

Kav: This dish gave me a screaming……lol! The cod was fresh and cooked to perfection, with all its oily fattiness still intact. The tapenade cream sauce complemented the cod and was not too creamy.

Mien: OH MY DAYSSSS!!! TOO TOO GOOD! The cod – EXTREMELY FRESH, just melts in your mouth! The sauce did not overwhelm the cod… it was a good marriage! The mashed potatoes had been infused with truffle – so delish! Went back the next day again for it! Guilty as charged! :S

Gaj: AMAZE-BALLS! The cod was melt in your mouth goodness and the mashed potato – gosh, I could have it all day! Soooo YUMMY!

2)   Cava’s Braised Spanish Lamb Shank with Pearl Onion (RM56) (P.S : Can’t take the Indian away from their lamb! :P)

Shiv: Good rendition on this classic main. The lamb was done very well, with a nice concentration of sweet and savoury nuances. I typically don’t enjoy sweet elements in my mains, but this was excusable, as the juice from the lamb created a nice strong meaty flavour.

Kav: The lamb was cooked well. The gravy that accompanied the lamb had Moroccan-Indian flavours, full of sweet and smoky flavours from the spices, which went well with the meaty lamb.

Mien: Hmmmmm….. found this tooooo gamey… sooooo DISLIKE!

Gaj: The braised lamb shank was done very well – it was tender and juicy. There was a tinge of sweetness probably from the onion, but it was not overwhelming and complemented the dish well.

Finally, moving on to the dessert (we girls need to fulfill our sweet craving!) Surprisingly, we only ordered ONE dessert………Hallelujah!

We ordered Cava’s most famous dessert, the Chocolate Dream (RM16)

Shiv: Very ordinary and you can probably find this at any one of those commercialised eateries sprouting all over KL. The cake lack moisture and they relied too heavily on the subpar custard cream, which in-turn was insipid! Skip this altogether, please!

Kav: Blah blah blah…..very ordinary tasting dessert.

Mien: I am sick and bored of this Chocolate Lava type of desserts, hence it would be unfair for me to judge… but nevertheless….not a fan!

Gaj: This dessert was OK, a pretty standard rendition of chocolate lava cake.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Slightly on the pricey side – RM185.60 for 2 appetisers, 2 mains and 1 dessert (4pax).

AMBIENCE:  Cosy and comfortable – perfect for a date and/ (or) a night out with friends. There is the option to dine alfresco, but be there early, or be sure to make reservations, as these seats get grabbed fast.

SERVICE: Good - waiters were pleasant, efficient and attentive.

FOOD: Tasty – this restaurant focuses on quality not quantity, which is a refreshing change.

CAVA

71, JALAN BANGKUNG

BUKIT BANDARAYA

BANGSAR

59100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603 2093 6637 / +6017 356 0133

Email: mailus@cava.my

Website: http://www.cava.my

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat: 12.00pm – 3.00pm; 5.00pm-1.00am

Sun: 6.00pm – 12.00am

db Bistro Moderne, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

New Year saw us in Singapore and what better place to have dinner than at Marina Bay Sands!

After scanning through the celebrity chef restaurants, we decided to have dinner at db Bistro, as the menu piqued our interests.

“db Bistro Moderne offers an exciting mix of traditional French bistro cooking with contemporary American flavors, and a world-renown collection of signature burgers. Chef Daniel Boulud reinterprets the classic Parisian bistro while sharing the energy and style of his acclaimed db Bistro Moderne in Midtown Manhattan.” - http://www.dbbistro.com/singapore/about/

Let’s start with the appetizers!

Prosciutto Ham, 20 grams (SGD 35)

Gaj: The ham was nothing short of amazing! I have always loved prosciutto and this did not disappoint! Definitely will have seconds!

Shiv: A fantastic way to start our meal – the prosciutto was cured to perfection, with a good balance of brine and meat. It was not too dried out, and the accompanying rocket salad and bruschetta made for a magnificent marriage of flavours.

Kav: Generally love prosciutto, but this one just elevated that feeling of love to obsession. Savoury, brine-y goodness!

Seafood and Vegetable Aioli, Olive Oil Poached Cod, Tiger Prawns, Market Vegetables, Garlic Aioli (SGD 18)

Gaj: The cod was very disappointing as it lacked flavour and the garlic aioli was equally flavourless. The prawns were alright, but unfortunately, it was not enough to make up for the disappointment.

Shiv: The prawns and mussels were fresh and the assorted vegetables were dressed well. However, the unacceptably stale cod completely put us off this one! And, is it just me, or who serves breadsticks at a place like this?!?!

Kav: Shock through my heart!!!! Bad Bad Bad!!! Cod was dried out (It’s an oily fish, hardly needs any help), garlic aioli - blah blah blah, the rest - blah blah blah

Escargots Persillade, Herbed Garlic Almond Butter Roasted Tomatoes (SGD 25)

Gaj: Not the best escargots that I have had, but the herbed garlic almond butter sauce was divine!

Shiv: Good, but certainly did not blow my socks off! The earthiness of the herbed-almond butter provided a nice contrast to the pungent garlic flavour, but the texture of the flesh itself wasn’t as palatable as can be. I have certainly tasted better. (Try: Acme Bar and Coffee)

Kav: Loved this dish, garlic-almond butter was earthy and savoury at the same time, which made for an explosion in my mouth.

Oliver’s Alsatian Tarte Flambée Fromage Blanc, Bacon, Onion (SGD 18)

Gaj: This was a simple dish and it was good!

Shiv: Nice take on the classic Italian pizza, this French favourite was sublime in its simplicity. The chef relied on the perfect union of gruyere, bacon and thinly-rolled bread dough to carry the dish, and rightfully so, as it needed little else.

Kav: The most amazing part of this dish was that there was almost nothing in it. Just goes to show that the medley of a few key ingredients makes for an incredible dish. Cheese, bacon, chives & onion... Yum!!!

Now on to the mains!

Saffron Tagliolini, Fresh Spanner Crab, Tomatoes, Chili Italian Parsley, Lemon and Olive Oil (SGD 38)

Gaj: This dish was really disappointing, the crab was not infused in the pasta and the lemon and olive oil was not enough to carry the dish. Overall, there was a general lack of flavour.

Shiv: This dish looked and sounded better than it actually tasted! The pasta lacked oomph, and the spanner crab, which was expected to do all the work in rendering flavour to the dish, fell short of doing so. Shame!

Kav: Agree with Gaj that there was a general lack of flavour. I din get no crab flavour, y’all! This made for bland pasta!

Duck Confit, Brussels Sprout Marmalade, Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Sweet Onions, Natural Jus (SGD 36)

Gaj: The duck confit was amazing! The flesh just fell off the bone and the accompanying sauce was nothing short of perfection! Really really good!

Shiv: Possibly the best duck confit I have ever tasted! The duck was beautifully brined, and the skin was crisped to a perfect brown. The flesh was sublimely savoury and moist without being too lardy, making the meat magnificently moreish. This main DOES NOT NEED sauce or sides, for that matter.

Kav: This was just so fatty, greasy and salty, and the skin… Mmm… So help me god if I have to be that sinful again!!! The skin was just cooked perfectly, without being dried-out, and accompanied the tender duck meat beautifully.

The original db Burger, Sirloin Burger filled with Braised Short Ribs and Foie Gras served on a Parmesan Bun (SGD 42)

Gaj: True to its reputation, this place does serve world-class burgers! This is definitely one of the best burgers that I have ever eaten. The meat was done perfectly, and who knew foie gras and beef would make such a good couple!

Kav: What on earth?!?!?! Are you telling me that I have been through 28 years of life, and not tasted only the most incredible meat in the world? %$#!$!$%! It was truly the most amazing burger I have ever tried. The patty was so juicy and savoury, with just the right cook (medium rare – no better way, trust me.), and the flavours that came through, ooh… It was almost like having a pork and lamb patty all at once. TOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!

Now for the best part of the meal... Desserts!

Profiteroles (SGD 15)

Gaj: This is definitely the best profiteroles that I have ever tried - the chocolate sauce was soo good, I must have died and gone to heaven – totally AMAZEBALLS!

Shiv: Tasty, but not the best I’ve tried (La Vie En Rose makes ‘em better!). The pastry was fluffy, and filled adequately with custard, and the chocolate ganache topping coated the pastry balls nicely, without overwhelming the dessert.

Kav: One of the best profiteroles I have tried, as the chocolate was smooth and a tad bitter (just the way I like it) and the cream puffs were light and fluffy, which carried the heavy ice cream and chocolate perfectly. Also, love the fact that it was not too sweet, as most profiteroles are.

Crème Brûlée (SGD 12)

Gaj: Very very good crème brûlée. Would definitely have seconds! Yums!

Shiv: A very well-executed dessert! The subtle orange-flavour infusion and the texture of the custard base were perfect, without being too egg-y. Also, the burnt caramel layer on the top was flambéed faultlessly – no annoying burnt bits! One of my favourites of the French dessert variety, db’s version hit all the sweet spots. Only wish it came in a larger portion!

Kav: Probably one of the best crème brûlée I have tried, in a long time. It was creamy and smooth, without being overly sweet, plus the flambé was done just right, without burning the sugar, that is.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Expensive. SGD426.07 for 7 dishes, 2 desserts, 4 glasses of wine and 1 fruit juice. However, this is expected for an establishment such as db Bistro Moderne, not to mention, it is one of the cheaper celebrity chef restaurants at MBS, Singapore.

AMBIENCE: Cosy, warm with a modern bistro vibe – perfect for a date or business lunch/dinner, or even for family get-togethers. There is also a 15-seater bar as well as an informal lounge area for casual dining and a private room seating up to 20.

SERVICE: Food arrived promptly and the service was excellent, despite the restaurant being very busy for New Years Eve. Kudos to the staff of db!

FOOD: Good. The original db burger, duck confit and desserts are a MUST TRY!

db Bistro Moderne

B1-48 Galleria Level (across from the theater)

Marina Bay Sands,

10 Bayfront Avenue

Singapore

Tel: +65 6688 8525

Website: http://www.dbbistro.com/singapore/

Opening Hours:-

Lunch
Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Weekend Brunch
Saturday - Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm

Dinner
Sunday & Monday 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Tuesday - Saturday 5:30pm - 11:00pm