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Tourism Malaysia

Sushi Q @ Publika

August 29, 2012 at 5:50 pm

A good meal is always something that most people would willingly skip or sacrifice if they are pressed for time. I should know this, because I am also guilty of the same crime. Therefore, it is a relief to know that there is now a tastier and healthier alternative if I ever find myself in a rush and need to grab something fast as a meal – Sushi Q.

Sushi Q at Publika is a great place to grab some fresh and tasty sushi to go!

The cozy interior of Sushi Q. The company started out with a kiosk concept but later added in a dining area for its newer outlets.

Sushi Q has been in operation for over 2 years now and has grown from just owning one kiosk at 1 Utama Shopping Centre to four outlets and kiosks combined today. Sushi Q’s latest addition is its outlet in Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya. When the business first started, the management wanted to maintain the kiosk-style concept. Later on, as the business’ clientele started to grow, the management decided to add on more items to the menu including hot and grilled food. Much attention is given to all the items on the menu, especially the quality of every ingredient used for their dishes. And unlike some other restaurants which remove certain food items from their menu, Sushi Q believes in maintaining and adding in new and exciting dishes to satisfy even their fussiest customers!

An assortment of sushi awaits you at Sushi Q

The beautifully crafted Japanese dishes – lobster mayo yaki flanked by the mango lobster maki and unatama maki

At the heart of every Japanese dish lies the concept of simplicity. Most of the basic ingredients used in making any kind of sushi requires minimal or no cooking at all. Though it may sound very simple, it is this very same point that makes it a challenge to combine and make everyday ingredients taste wonderful in one bite. Sushi Q not only manages to make every single mouthful of its sushi taste delicious, they have also taken a brave step in coming up with new and funky sushi dishes that sees a marriage of food items not normally used in Japanese cuisine.

A close up of the unatama maki, with green avocado and tasty eel

The lobster mayo maki, one of Sushi Q’s interesting creations

I was lucky enough to be part of the Dining with Moola experience, which brought us to the Sushi Q outlet at Publika @ Solaris Dutamas recently. When the manager brought out some of the dishes for us to sample, I was intrigued by their choices of ingredients used. One dish that really caught my eye was the Mango Lobster, a maki roll with mango slices and succulent lobster meat right in the center. I must say that this is the first time that I have seen such a combination. How does it taste? Well, as you take a bite, you not only taste the tanginess and the slight crunch of the layer of mango flesh wrapped around the rice. When you start tasting the lobster at the center, the sweetness of the lobster’s flesh combined with the sauce tastes absolutely wonderful.

The intriguing mango lobster maki. The mix of flavors are simply delightful

Another specialty that Sushi Q has is their Duck Ramen. It is just a bowl of ramen noodles with miso soup, but instead of using chicken or pork meat, it is slices of duck meat that you find in the bowl. The slices of duck meat taste tender and juicy with a thin layer of fat, which somehow adds to the taste of the meat. So what’s the great deal about this dish? The simplicity of it of course! And the fact that most Malaysians love duck meat with their noodles doesn’t hurt either.

Sushi Q’s Duck Ramen, a tribute to local tastes

For those who are looking after their diet but want something fancy, my vote goes to the Seafood Salad. Thinly sliced slivers of crabstick meat mixed with slices of salmon sashimi, carrots, slices of cucumber and a wedge of lemon makes this simple looking meal a really tasty one. Don’t be fooled by the simple presentation, the mixture of tastes and textures blend together for a delightful and thoroughly satisfying gastronomic experience.

The Seafood Salad – a tasty yet light offering

The finely sliced crabstick acts as a lovely substitute for glass noodles

The sheer variety of sushi, maki and temaki on offer at Sushi Q can be quite surprising, especially when you consider that they began primarily as a kiosk concept. Sometimes it is best to let the food do the talking, so I’ll leave you with a few photos of the delights that Sushi Q has to offer.

Lobster Mayo Maki – for those who simply adore the taste of seafood

Tazuna maki – a lovely combination of rice wrapped with avocado and sushi, with a delightful center

Soft shell crab maki – fresh deep fried soft shell crab rolled in rice

A selection of Sushi Q’s hand rolls. The hand rolls are freshly made with the best ingredients

Chicken Katsudon – for those who just need a bowl of rice for their daily meal

Guess what? I wasn’t alone during my visit to Sushi Q that day, as Kelly Chin from Miss Sunshine was also invited to discover the Moola Experience. You can read all about what she had to say at her blog, Miss Sunshine!

This Dining With Moola experience is courtesy of Moola, currently the best-kept secret in town. Be elevated to a totally new and exciting lifestyle when you discover Moola!

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Categories
Tourism Malaysia

French Fine Dining

October 20, 2011 at 2:00 pm

A French chef once told me that every individual has his or her own talents. Some can paint like Michaelangelo, some can sing like Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza and some can cook up an unforgettable meal, even without formal cooking lessons. That French chef is Chef Nathalie Arbefeuille, the owner of Cuisine Gourmet Studio and Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio in Kuala Lumpur.

A batch of meringue baking in Nathalie’s kitchen

Scores of blogs and online posts have sung praises of her creations. In fact, it may come as a surprise to some if they knew that Chef Nathalie never undertook any formal education on cooking. Before she embarked on her culinary creating adventure, Chef Nathalie was working in the advertising industry back in Paris, France. Then, she was constantly organising dinners for her close friends on a weekly basis. Every one of her friends was amazed at her talents and they all agreed on one thing – that she should definitely consider starting her own restaurant soon. The only time she trained in a restaurant was when she underwent a three week training with a 3 star Michelin chef back in France.

Roasted Pineapple Tart, Exotic Sorbet

Though she migrated to Malaysia over a decade ago, she only decided to open her restaurant back in 2009, when the family decided to make Malaysia their second home. Prior to this, she was already giving cooking classes and catering from home for 11 years. She started her own cooking classes as she had difficulty finding classes that were suitable for herself when she first came to Malaysia. And in such a short time, she has carved a name for herself in the Food and Beverage industry in Malaysia. Her macaroons have set the standard across Kuala Lumpur and till date, she has come up with more than 35 different flavours for macaroon lovers to choose from. Chef Nathalie was also recently voted as The Best Chef of the Year by Time Out KL.

Salmon Tataki, Celeriac Puree with Salmon Roe

Though running two busy restaurants is a tough and demanding job, Chef Nathalie loves every moment of it. Seeing her patrons enjoy every bite of her exquisite French food gives her all the satisfaction she needs to keep her going. In Malaysia, French cuisine is usually offered at a premium price, something which Chef Nathalie is striving to change. Good food, according to her, need not come at such high a price. It is her dream to introduce French cuisine to the average Malaysian at a price that everyone finds affordable.

Time does not determine a chef’s greatness; passion does

The constant challenge to balance affordability with authenticity and quality is something Chef Nathalie excels in. A dinner for two featuring French cuisine which may normally cost at least RM 500 or more is only RM 300 or less at Chef Nathalie’s restaurants. For those who crave for variety, take heart as there is no need to worry that they will find themselves looking at the same items on the menu every month. Chef Nathalie changes the menu for both restaurants every month; every 1st of the month for Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie and every 15th of the month for Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio.

Lettuce Gaspacho, Marinated King Prawn with Roasted Bread

For the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival, Chef Nathalie has prepared some of her outstanding dishes for all to sample and try. For a price of RM255++ (without wine), patrons can enjoy a myriad of tastes like foie gras, lobster, cod fish, oysters, beef and even caviar in its menu. This is indeed an absolute opportunity, not only for aficionados of French food, but also for beginners to sample these mainstays of French cuisine prepared exquisitely by Chef Nathalie.

Blue Lobster Mille-Feuille with a touch of Caviar

We definitely recommend having a French evening at Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie when you are in Kuala Lumpur.

For those of you who are looking to try French cuisine, Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio at Solaris Dutamas will be open for dinner on Friday, 21st October 2011. Interested parties may call 03 6207 9572 or contact them at contact@nathaliegourmetstudio.com to book your table.

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