Huck's Cafe @ Bangsar

Back to Huck's for mainly Mediterranean meals.

Earlier entries on Huck's @ Bangsar: July 5 & July 19. Huck's @ PJ: Nov. 24, 2010.

Perfectly prepared appetizers: luscious portobello mushrooms, topped with spinach, cheese & a creamy, sweetly tangy pomodoro sauce made with tomatoes, carrots & basil leaves. Excellent enough to totally fit in at any of KL's best Italian restaurants.

Basil pesto salad. A hearty, healthy concoction, creatively topped with mango strips, oranges & pomegranates for a zesty zing.

Huck's take on seafood paella is a pleasure, brimming in a black pan with flavorsome rice and fresh prawns, mussels & squid. We believe he uses turmeric instead of saffron for the rice, so this isn't the purist's Spanish paella, but it's still sumptuous.

A mouthwatering masterwork: Moroccan whole roast chicken, marinated with cumin, coriander, fennel & various spices, stuffed with couscous & surrounded by shredded sweet potatoes, almonds, cashews & cranberries.

Beautifully juicy meat (even the breast section), blanketed in amazing aromas, thanks to a wealth of ingredients poured into this single recipe. Beware: the portion is humongous, so make sure there are at least four people at the table to finish this.

OK, this one isn't strictly Mediterranean, but it's a remarkable representation of Huck's penchant for kitchen experimentation. Dubbed "Ocean Deep," it's seafood spaghetti like no other, with a rich, intensely scented topping of dried shrimp sambal, belacan, bunga kantan (torch ginger buds), santan & kaffir lime leaves.

Heading north of the Mediterranean to the U.K.: Guinness steak pie, done just right, from the golden, buttery pastry to the thick stew of tender beef. Ideal for rainy nights.

Moist, crumbly ginger-&-apple pie, fresh from the oven, accompanied by vanilla ice cream for a lovely blend of hot & cold sensations.

Melt4U: dark chocolate lava cake, with a bittersweet edge.

Henry Martin Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot.

U.S. Wild Vines blackberry-flavored Merlot.

Huck's Cafe,

22, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

D'Ceilo

Hoping that Bangsar can sustain another spaghetti-serving sanctum, D'Ceilo has taken over from Tea For Two on Jalan Bangkung.

Smoked salmon bruschetta. This satisfactory starter fairly symbolizes D'Ceilo's philosophy of providing hearty, fuss-free Italian fare.

Spaghetti Gran D'Ceilo, a remarkably flavorful mountain of noodles with (deep breath) mussels, scallops, clams, prawns, broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, capers & black olives, cooked in aluminum foil & topped with smoked duck breast & mesclun. On paper, this sounds pricey at RM123++, but three or four people can merrily share in its wealth of ingredients.

A kilogram of mirepoix-poached Red Sea prawns _ 24 air-flown crustaceans, all in all. Plump and juicy, but probably too much of a good thing. Suitable for, say, six to eight diners.

Keeping up the seafood streak: pan-seared salmon trout with vanilla pod tahitensis cream, butter basil, balsamic tomato & herbs. Moist and flaky; a relatively healthy reminder that Italian cooking isn't always a guilty affair.

One misstep: scallop, prawn & broccoli risotto. Closer to mushy than al dente.

Canadian cod, oven-baked with paprika & wild honey to enrich the fish's delicate flavors & garnished with tomato salsa to ensure a zesty zip.

Complimentary dessert: a twist on the traditional molten chocolate cake, set like pudding at the base of a bowl & topped with vanilla ice cream. This photo depicts the delicious hot mess that remained after we pierced through the gooey chocolate lava.

Double trouble: Lychee Mojito & Apple Mojito. Rejoice! A full bar serves cocktails here.

Richland Estate Chardonnay (2010, Australia). To quote a dwarf, everything's better with some wine in the belly.

D'Ceilo (or D'Ciello, perhaps; the manager's card spells it one way, the menu another),

Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2095-3729

Heritage Food

Another year, another outlet takes over this address. In 2009, it was Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa; last year, it transformed into Nasi Lemak Tanglin. Now, Heritage Food takes a shot at showcasing Malay street food here.

Nasi minyak hujan panas. Reminiscent of nasi briyani; perhaps not as rich, but commendably aromatic nevertheless. We couldn't tell what went into the rice _ bunga cengkih? buah pelaga? kulit kayu manis? _ but this is something we wouldn't mind munching every Aidilfitri.

Laksa Johor, with spaghetti, bean sprouts, cucumber, lime & other garnishing, accompanied by a thick fish gravy (mackerel? maybe). We like this better than Penang's Assam Laksa, since it seems less fiery and not so sourish.

Lontong. Comfort food, blending sweet, savory & spicy nuances in a warm broth. Heritage Food's offerings are moderately priced by Bangsar's standards; most items cost below RM10.

Nasi lemak. The rice itself was OK but forgettable; instead, order this for the surprisingly tender paru goreng, possibly this neighborhood's best.

Freshly fried cucur ikan bilis, a little less common than cucur udang.

Lempeng kelapa, a fluffy pancake partnered with sambal & gula melaka.

Bubur durian, served with pulut. Hot, sticky and subtly stinky.

Teh tarik, served in mugs like hot chocolate.

All in all, a pleasant place, with well-prepared food and a friendly, helpful service crew.

Heritage Food,

51, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2282-8862

Huck's Cafe @ Bangsar

Back to Huck's for a magical meal that lasted nearly four hours.

Earlier entry on Huck's @ Bangsar: July 5. Huck's @ PJ: Nov. 24, 2010.

Kicking off with little bundles of joy, like birthday gifts to unwrap gleefully.

Tenggiri in otak-otak sauce. Firm, fresh and fleshy fish, well complemented by the Nyonya-influenced, herb-&-spice-laden gravy, together with what seemed like edible "daun kadok." Huck can tone down the fieriness (but not the flavor!) for those of us who are terrified of too much chili.

Spinach cannelloni. A commendable Italian-inspired effort, alluringly presented. Aromatic and addictive, though the portion might be too much for small eaters, since this is richly cheesy. But this dinner proves that even though Huck's chicken dishes are his strength, it's possible to have a fulfilling evening here that's meat-free.

Durian mud pie for dessert. Available only during certain weeks of the durian season, but it's a total triumph. Creamy but not cloying, sweet without being too stinky, enhanced by a nice nuttiness that illustrates Huck's culinary creativity.

Also worthwhile: chocolate mud pie, which ice cream & cookie lovers will adore.

Huck's signature basil seed soda, with fresh mint & pandan leaves.

Equally refreshing: a zesty beverage of lime & sour plum.

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, suitable for both seafood and cheese.

OK, there wasn't that much food, but time flies here, since we're always having fun.

Huck's Cafe,

22, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Huck's Cafe @ Bangsar

Huck moved his popular cafe this month, leaving Petaling Jaya for Bangsar. We're ecstatic, since it's much closer and more convenient for us here!

Earlier entry on Huck's @ PJ: November 24, 2010.

Huck's secret weapon at his captivating new venue: a "Secret Garden," where customers can sup outdoors and surrender slowly to the night's calm embrace.

Ceiling fans swirl overhead to ensure that everybody stays cool. Expect a few insects to pop by, but that adds to the allure of the ambiance.

For air-conditioned comfort, reserve a table inside. This bungalow is more spacious than Huck's former location, with thoughtfully furnished rooms, including one with tatami-like seating.

We can't decide what's our favorite aspect of Huck's: the charming host, his beautiful home or his creative cooking that feels like a genuine labor of love.

Sarawak acar on crunchy keropok, the most addictive appetizer ever.

Two soups: pumpkin & mushroom. Both boasted a homemade touch, with natural flavors and a comforting creaminess, thanks to plenty of pumpkin & mushrooms.

Minced chicken, tinged with turmeric & kaffir lime leaves and stuffed in super-tender squid. As intensely aromatic as anything that we'd encounter at KL's best Balinese or Thai restaurants.

Chicken breast with banana filling (!), wrapped with smoked turkey bacon & served with corn & refreshing mint leaves. Huck calls this "Sweetcorn Maryland;" the mix of savory and sugary sensations turned out to be a real pleasure. It helped that everything was well-prepared, from the tender breast cooked with white wine to the soft but not mushy banana.

French Merlot. Huck's has a fair selection of wine priced between RM80-100.

Huck's Cafe,

22, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Maarof,

Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Closed Mondays.