WL's Birthday @ Cava, Jalan Bangkung

For WL's birthday this year, I decided to spice things up a little bit by trying out a different delicacy instead of the usual Italian dinner. It was Spanish food for dinner. And we picked Cava located at Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar to celebrate WL's birthday.

As soon as we arrived, we quickly placed our orders before more customers were seen walking into the restaurant. To get the dinner started, the waiter served 2 slices of baquette slathered with crab bits & mayonnaise. It was so appetizing that it made me hungrier for the rest of the dishes.

WL couldn't miss the chance to order beer as a celebratory drink & called for Konig Ludwig Weissbier. Although I ain't really a beer drinker, I took a swig of the beer. Very smooth & with a hint of fruity flavour.

We oredered 2 tapas - sauteed mushroom in olive oil with roasted walnut & marinated pork meat balls. The sauteed mushroom was cooked soft with olive oil & a dash of chilli flakes while the roasted walnut was fragrant & added some crunch, giving a balanced texture & mouthfeel.

The marinated pork was on a sweeter tone, using tomato paste as a base. Whilst it wasn't WL's favourite, I found it rather unique with a combination of sweet & salty taste. At least, the dish didn't taste too predictable, which I found fascinating.

One is not considered having tasted true Spanish food if one didn't include paella in the order. We wanted to make sure we'll be savouring the best, hence we laid eyes on the chef's recommended squid ink paella with shrimp & garlic cream sauce. Indeed the dish didn't disappoint. Add a dollop of cream & every bite became more flavourful than ever. The portion may look small but you'll be surprised that we couldn't finish it.

Overall, it was an enjoyable treat worthy of a thumbs up. Price averages around RM20+ & above which is slightly expensive. But a once-in-a-blue-moon indulgence doesn't really burn a hole in your pocket, does it? A rating of 4 out of 5, without doubt.

Address:

71, Jalan Bangkung

Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar

59100 Kuala Lumpur

Contact:

03-2093 6637

Opening Hours:

Mondays to Saturdays

Lunch 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Dinner 6:00pm - 12:00am

Sundays 6:00pm - 12:00am

Tenmaya, Nexus Bangsar South

My sis couldn't stop raving about this new Japanese restaurant, Tenmaya which opened its doors recently at Nexus Bangsar South. WL & I decided to give it a try on New Year's Eve dinner. Surprisingly, the premise is rather small & houses barely 20 tables. I love the fact the restaurant ain't too crowded, a perfect setting for the both of us to enjoy our meals in peace.

We were careful to not order too much as I was told the food portion is rather huge. Indeed, I wasn't fooled at all when the waiter served our soft-shell crab salad, which is a staple in Japanese restaurants. And oh boy, the salad is fantastically good with lots of crab meat.

Next on our order list is a salmon temaki, arranged neatly in 4 rolls. Another sumptuous treat with every bite. Just so good...

WL couldn't live without ordering his all-time favourite, tori katsudon. The portion is huge & so worth it for the price of around RM20+. And it tasted lovely too.

I, on the other hand, wanted to try something more unique. I called for a mushroom dish with truffle oil & it definitely didn't disappoint. It has all the different types of mushrooms - shimeji, bunapi & so on.

It was a very, very fulfilling dinner because both of us were so stuffed, we could barely stand up & make for the exit. I strongly recommend this restaurant for a satisfying Japanese food experience. Rating of 4 out of 5.

Address:

Unit 1-6, Level 1

Nexus Bangsar South

No. 7, Jalan Kerinchi

59200 Kuala Lumpur.

Contact:

03-2242 3268

Opening Hours:

Mondays to Sundays

Lunch 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Dinner 6:00pm - 10:00pm

Welcoming 2015 with open arms

Happy 2015! It's the dawn of a new year again & it's time to reflect what 2014 had meant to me. I found a job early this year & although it may not be the ideal job environment (again), I'm proud to say that I resisted the urge to move on too soon. It's probably because I had more pressing issues to focus on - my skin problem.

Never in my life I would've ended up as a sufferer of acne problems. I documented about the my journey not too long ago & felt glad that my persistence paid off. Having acne is not exactly life threatening but it was indeed a life changing experience. Seeing myself almost falling into a reclusive state because I was too embarrassed about how I looked & how others would see me; really left a deep scar on my self-esteem.

Thankfully, I got involved in other passion to keep me busy & alive. That's none other than signing up for a short patisserie course. During intensive 3-months course, I felt exhausted but very much happy & alive. I never knew baking can be so therapeutic. Surprisingly, I discovered more about myself that I never knew existed - my full commitment to pursue & achieve my dreams. With this task crossed out off my resolution list, I'm one step closer to building my dream business.

I'm definitely a much happier person in 2014 & I intend to keep it that way in 2015. Now that WL seems to be committed to lose weight, I can safely announce that my 2014 resolution is quite complete. Maybe there's no need to prepare a resolution list in this new year. I'll tell myself to stay true to my chosen path & strive for it. For a hundred-foot journey starts with a single step I made last year.

May 2015 be a kinder year for me & all of you out there. Happy New Year!