Durian Pancakes, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

I visited Kuala Lumpur for the first time last weekend.

Aside from the Battu Caves, shopping and Petronas Towers, I was told that I must try some durian while in town.

 

Durian is a local speciality fruit that is sold on street corners and is basically Southeast Asia's answer to marmite - you either love it or hate it.

It has a hard shell with spikes that protect the yellow flesh.

 

It also STINKS. Your hands smell for ages after eating it and everybody around you will stare when you walk around with it or order it in a restaurant - so much so that there are 'No Durian' signs posted in hotel lifts and on public transport.

 

Although we were hesitant to try this distinctive fruit, we had heard it tasted great in pancakes so we headed to Lai Po Heen restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental where  durian pancakes is one of the chef's specialities.

 

 

It is true what they say about the smell.
I was away from the table when they were served. 
When I returned I thought I could smell a gas leak....'nope, that's the durian'.
It is potent to say the least and we could tell that people on tables around us were giving us weird looks....maybe not one for a first date...

 

 

 

These tiny little, creamy pancake packages look sweet and innocent but the taste can certainly pack a punch.

It really wasn't what I was expecting and although there was very little durian actually in the pancakes (it was mainly cream) the taste was still very strong and these three pancakes were enough to fill us up for brunch.

 

We had a lovely brunch at the Mandarin and I'm pleased that we can say we have tried durian.

Buuuut, I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the fruit - it's potent and has the longest lasting after-taste ever! I'm sure, with time, it is a fruit that I could grow to love, they just need to learn a way to mask that smell!

Restaurant: Miharu, Singapore

One of the most exciting foodie trends to hit London at the start of this year was the explosion of ramen onto the London food scene.

Restaurants such as Bone Daddies in Soho have successfully brought the East to the West in the most perfect way for Londoners, with authentic ramen dishes served to Western beats.

 

But being away from London doesn't mean I can miss out on all these foodie trends though....oh no no no, in fact, I'm going to make all you Londoners just a little bit jealous with the amazing ramen on offer in Asia (and I haven't even made it to Japan yet!).

 

Living in Singapore has proven to be fantastic for foodies like myself as it is very much a microcosm of South East Asia.

I was told by many people before coming out here that I would definitely be eating a lot of ramen so I've been on the hunt to find the best that Singapore can offer and I think I've hit the nail on the head straight away with this little gem called Miharu, located near Robertson Quay.

 

Slightly hidden beneath a hotel, from the outside it doesn't look like much but step inside and you enter into ramen heaven....

 

 

The menu offers a wide selection of ramen dishes, I went for miso ramen (above) and AJ went for chilli ramen (below). 

Singaporeans love their food and a lot that is on offer in Hawker Centres and many restaurants is rather unhealthy so ramen is a natural choice for when they are trying to have a 'good day'. 

I've been told that miso ramen is the healthiest type to go for as it contains less oil and salt yet is still very flavoursome.

                

 

Ramen is also quite sloppy to eat (not a first date kinda place) so the restaurant are on hand to help you messy eaters....

 

 

 

 

We're getting slightly addicted to gyozas and ordered these but they really weren't needed as the ramen portions were massive.

 

Take a little walk up along the river to Robertson Quay this weekend and check out this ramen - it's worth it!



Miharu,
1 Nanson Road, #01-11/12 Gallery Hotel, Singapore 238909
Tel: +65 6733 8464

Wine Connection Cheese Bar, Singapore

Wine Connection was definitely the place to be in Singapore this Valentine's Day.
Most tables were pre-reserved for loved up couples, ladies carrying rose bouquets and nervous first dates.
This was also where I was taken for my Valentine's date - no roses for me though just lots of cheese, cheese, cheese and wine, what more could you want?!

Located on Robertson Quay, Wine Connection is the perfect escape for expats, or locals, wanting to pass on the noodles and rice for one night and try some European culinary delights.
Consisting of three bars in total, Wine Connection is made up of a wine shop (the cheapest one I've found in Singapore so far), a buzzing tapas bar and, my personal favourite, the cheese bar.

 AJ surprised me with a booking in the cheese bar and as we took our seats with an old wine barrel as a table it felt like we had been transported back to Paris for the evening...oh la laaa





The cheese menu is split between hard, semi-hard, soft, blue and goats cheeses with all but one of the cheeses coming from France.
We went for one of each type which was served to us with condiments and a selection of breads - there is an option for cold meats as well.
I washed this all down with a glass of South African Cabernet Sauvignon.



 

 The perfect date restaurant with a calm and relaxed atmosphere and a touch of Parisian chic.
You can find more details about Wine Connection here.
What did you do this Valentine's Day?

Restaurant: The Hamborough by Robert Thompson

 

 

It's not every day that you get the pleasure of dining in Michelin Star opulence but two weekends ago we were lucky enough to be staying in the fantastic boutique hotel, The Hamborough.  Located on the clifftops of Ventnor, Isle of Wight, this luxury retreat is renowned for its culinary credentials as it is home to the only Michelin Star restaurant on the island.  So, as hotel guests, we thought it was only right to try the special treats on offer downstairs.

Set-up by chef Robert Thompson, the restaurant is a nice size with a relaxed atmosphere.  The menu has an awful lot of thought behind it, as would be expected of one with such credentials, and credit must go to the sommelier for creating one of the best wine lists I have tried in a long time - if you're still trying to get your head around food and wine pairing, they have it down to perfection at The Hamborough.

After some delicious cheese balls, we had a creamy mushroom amuse bouche.

Following current trends, Robert Thompson brings a taste of India through his clever starter of seared Scottish scallop with courgette "en fleur" with scallop moouse, tandoori spices and onion bhaji.  This was matched perfectly with a glass of Macon Pierreclos, Domaine Marc Jambon et Fils 2010 from Bourgogne.

 

Slow cooked leg of rabbit with locally caught lobster, peas, broad beans, baby onions and romaine lettuce sauce were served as the main course. This was matched with Clos Beylesse, Domaine de l'Abbaye, Cotes de Provence.

We followed this up with the epic cheese board additional course which included a local soft cheese from the Isle of Wight, Waterloo and Wigmore.  The wine list recommended Port to go with this but as I'm not a big fan, the sommelier suggested a red Rioja which, just as the other courses, very much complemented all the different cheese flavours.

By far the highlight of my meal was the dessert - a delice of valrhona chocolate with a lavender milk sorbet.  Literally chocolate heaven....it was amazing.  This course also had the best wine match and it was the first time I've ever tried a wine from Uruguay.  The chocolate notes and balance of the Alcyone, Tannat, dessert wine were again an extremely pleasant match.

Presentation was key with this dish and myself and other people around the room who ordered the same couldn't help but let out a 'WOW' as it arrived to the table.

 

After four hours of mind-blowing food, a range of fabulous wines and fantastic company it was time to toodle back upstairs to our room and collapse into a massive food coma whilst reminiscing about each course.

The Hamborough, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1SQ (www.robert-thompson.com).