You Name It, I Have It!

Rediscovering Malay Cuisine

Located within the hub of KL’s fine dining seat in Starhill Gallery is Enak KL, a family-run Malay fine dining restaurant.

The six-year-old restaurant is owned by Dato’ Razaly Wahi and Datin Fawzia Abd Ghani. Hailing from Muar, the recipes used in the kitchens of Enak KL are at least four generations old. It was Fawzia’s grandmother who played a pivotal role in preserving the familys culinary legacy by spending many loving hours with her granddaughter in their home kitchen. True to the tradition of authentic Malay home cooking, no monosodium glutamate is used in the preparation of the dishes. As for quality control, the rdle naturally falls on Fawzia who conducts regular taste checks to keep the kitchen team on their toes.

Some of the house favourites include the Botok-botok, which has been hailed by food critics as a Malaysian classic. The dish is sea mackerel marinated in aromatic ground spices and wrapped in nine types of herbal leaves including papaya, laksa leaf and cassava shoots.

The asparagus kerabu is another top seller. Tender asparagus shoots and fresh prawns are tossed in a dressing of fresh red chillies and lime juice. A lacing of freshly roasted grated coconut gives it a wonderful toasty flavour. This is a highly recommended side dish that accompany the botok-botok.

Those with bigger appetites would do well to include the roasted peef in tamarind. lt is said that few can resist the grilled tenderloin that has been lovingly marinated with herbs and served with a tamarind sauce enriched with thinly sliced ginger buds, fresh laksa leaves, lemongrass and bird’s eye chillies.

For dessert, try the caramel bananas. A contemporary version of an old classic, the lightly sautéed bananas are drenched in a cardamom caramel sauce and sprinkled with almond flakes. For something richer, there is the custard which is heaped with, spoonfuls of young coconut and fringed with a feather-light meringue. Diners have described this as pure and utter indulgence. So the next time you are yearning for a taste of fine Malay cuisine, remember Enak KL. Enak KL Starhill Gallery LG2, Feast Floor,181, Jalan Bukit  Bintang Kuala Lumpur. TEL 07-2141 8973

At Comida’s in Solaris Dutamas, heaven does indeed come in a slice of pizza. Laden with toppings and oozing with cheese atop a crust that is baked just right, these mouth watering beauties are the epitome of Italy’s most famous import.

Coming in sizes of 8, 12 and 24 inches- yes, you heard the last one right, they are famed for their gigantic portions- they are perfect accompaniments for an all-boys football night or for a gathering of big eaters. Sink your teeth into their ‘All Meaty’ pizza with beef bacon, chorizo and pepperoni set in a home made pizza sauce drizzled with olive oil. You’ll be hooked.

Their glamburgers are positively decadent as well. We’re talking about 2O0g of juicy beef patty dressed up in lettuce, mushrooms and a crisp slice of bacon lathered in melted cheese. For all the time you have put of your morning jogs, one bite is reason enough to get you back into your running shoes. Anyway, you’ll only live once…

Pasta lovers, take note that their creamy pesto prawn sauce is nothing less than lip smacking. It is highly recommended that you make friends with the waiter. Who knows, he might be able to lobby the kitchen to give you extras of this delicious iauce? Other than that, the marinara with fresh prawns, calamari and clams tossed in homemade garlic and tomato sauce is a hit with seafood lovers.

At Comida’s, the fun comes together with the food. Their current dare to diners is to polish their 24 inch pizzas in 20 minutes, . easily done if you have a large party with you. The prize is another free pizza, plus RM50 and a Comida VIP card. A ploy to prevent diners from over-lingering or a novel way to gain customer loyalty? Which ever way you look at it, it’s a win-win situation for all, proviied-you can meet the challenge.

They also have a special giveaway offer of two scoops of vanilla icecrearn for those who enter the restaurant in green. Make your way to Comida Restaurant and enjoy these privileges. Comida Restaurant at D2-G31, Solaris Dutamas l, KL. TEL 03-62112662