Isetan Archives

In Events By Taufulou 5 Mins Read

Live Presentation and Tasting by Keigo Tamura, from Manshige, Kyoto @ Isetan, KL

10/11/2017 No Comments

On and off, there is an invited chef flown all the way to KL to present their skills and heritage all the way from Japan. As for last week till end of the year, there is this Live Presentation and Tasting by Keigo Tamura, from Manshige, Kyoto whom is the third generation in heir of this famous restaurant in Kyoto.

As ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur is celebrating their 1^st year anniversary, most of you Japanese fans might find this interesting, Washoku: Japanese Food for Festivities is a three month three-month fair with the aim to showcase Japanese culture, cuisine and traditions held at the CUBE 1, ISETAN the Japan Store Kuala Lumpur from 27^th Oct 2017 to 25 Jan 2018.

From the cultural and foodie section, we get to attend Live Presentation and Tasting by Keigo Tamuraon 5^th and 6^th Nov, 2017. Besides this, there are series of activities, workshops and events going on for the whole three-month fair.

You get to enjoy classic taste of snacks that is prepared from Japanese chef.

AS part of the recycling program, Japan have created this cute and unique recycle cutleries and plates that is now available to sell at Isetan KL.

Fans of sake, would love this section as they are selling a tester portion for only RM 10 or RM 15 which is quite a decent size of cup. All the sake is being arranged according to regions.

After tasting a few, I personally like this bottle. It is so easy to drink, not too strong in alcohol, yet very fragrant in taste. Recommended!

With a few exchange sips of sake with my friends, we entered into the section to taste special dished prepared by one of Japan’s top chefs; Chef Keigo Tamura the third generation owner and head chef of Manshige, a famous restaurant with a long history in Kyoto.

while waiting for other guest to arrive, nice background classic Japanese music being played to lift up the ambiance.

In Chinese belief, during special occasion we do eat certain items, so does the Japanese as a Whole red sea-bream or Tai fish also known as red snapper signifies a great meaning too in Japanese culture. According to Chef Tamura, Red and White are the auspicious color for Japanese festivities so the ingredients that he used for all his dishes will be most in red and white. Also Chef’s Tamura knives flown in all the way from Japan, do not under estimate the knife, the chef said that the long knife cost about estimated RM 14,000.

We were there on the 5^th to experience and learn about the concepts, techniques, and hidden secrets of Japanese food for festivities and enjoy the special dishes made with the chef’s own hands.

Temari Sushi ~ Maguro and Tai Fish

When you see this sushi does look simple in preparation, and indeed it does need some tricks to prepare it. Tuna and red sea-bream also known as red snapper is prepared in a ball version that top with some gold dusk . I enjoy my one bite sensation that it is burst with flavours in your mouth. Indeed fresh item . It taste even better with a sip green tea, as it does enhance yet give you a nice clean up seafood refreshing end taste.

Manshige Original Braised Auspicious Tai

As mentioned by Chef Keigo Tamura, red and white represent auspicious therefore the Tai Fish is red sea-bream also known as red snapper is great for auspicious celebrations and festivals. Manshige Original Braised Auspicious Tai is the highlight dish of this live presentation and tasting session. I find that the signature of this dish is chef special sauce. Slightly thick yet it works like a paint. Fish is fresh and the gravy give a little hint of soy saltiness, sweetness from Japanese sweet sauce.

Kyoto Specialised Rice Cake Soup

Have never been to Kyoto and find this pretty interesting. Speciality cake soup make with white miso base. White miso base that gives you a hint of sweetness as to compare the brown or darker soy sauce base. For this classic dish, rice cake is prepared right in the center upon serving. Texture wise is like mochi. I like the soft chewy rice cake together with light miso soup with vegetable like radish, carrots, and parsley.

Pear Compote with Ogura Red Bean

For a classic simple ending, red bean (azuki) pair with their pear is interesting. Pear is very juicy and crispy yet azuki cook to perfection.

Dining experience with chef is rather interesting and felt priviallge to dine his food in Malaysia rather than fly all the way to Japan, travel and waited for hours.

As for next month – Cube 1, ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur on 2^nd and 3^rd December, 2017. The guest chef for this round is Chef Jeff Ramsey, head chef of Babe, a fun dining restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. Chef Ramsey love for Japanese and modernist cooking make him earn his a Michelin Star in 2008 and taking the title of Seven Sushi Samurai’s Sushi of the Year Award in 2006.

Chef Jeff Ramsey will be demonstrating his fusion culinary skills using Marukome, a Japanese miso pasete in his signature Japanese styled tapas or Japas. There will be 3 sessions per day ( 12pm – 1pm | 5pm – 6pm | 7.30pm to 8.30pm ). And it’s limited to 40 guests per session, if you are interested you can register at https://washoku-babe.eventbrite.com

For more information about Washoku Japanese Food For Festivities and Live Presentation and Tasting at ISETAN The Japan Store, please visit Cube 1 KL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cube1kl/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cube1kl/

In Featured By Taufulou 4 Mins Read

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison @ Eat Paradise, Isetan, 1-Utama

26/04/2013 6 Comments

I always satisfy my craving for Ramen (Menya Musashi) inside Isetan as this new Japanese Eatery,area EAT PARADISE was added since Isetan open its door in 1-Utama. I only always walk on the customer service side wing and never did I even bother to walk on the other side, till I read Bangsarbabe’s blog on this restaurant, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison, I was like why did I never walk to that area.

Before you walk into the outlet, they have a huge cabinate located at the near entrance that feature all their food and what you can expect when its been serve. I must say the portion is pretty huge.

This cozy little area hidden in the back corner of Eat Paradise house this Tonkatsu by Ma Maison. Ambiance is cozy and all staff are friendly.

Open Kitchen Concept. .

Menu are pretty straight forward as they only serve Tonkatsu series and there are a few types for you to choose from. I am quite impress that they design the menu and order of food like steak. Small portion with about 180-250G of meat(your choice of selection chicken or Pork), or large with 250g and above if not mistaken. All order comes with rice, soup and unlimited refill of cabbage. For rice we get to choose White rice or Multi grain rice for healthy selection.

Before you dine, we are given a little ball of Oroshi (white reddish) with tamari dressing to eat before the main course. I read on the pamplets, the reason of this is to help refresh the palate and digestive process. Interesting.

On the table itself, they have special sauce, soy sauce, sesame, sesame dressing.

On the table there is a guide for you to show how should we eat our meal.

I ordered extra with Potato Salad @ RM 5.90 Something simple, not to heavy mayonnaise and its a perfect balance. Love it~

Here comes my Nameton Set @ RM 32.90

Its a mix with fried prawn, pork loin & Pork fillet. Both the prawn and pork were fried to perfection with crisp on outlayer and pork is still moist and juicy. Prawn is very fresh and pressing lemon brings extra taste in it.

Dipping with Mayonnaise is not one of the best option for pork but goes well with my prawn.

The miso soup is way too salty for my liking.

On my set also comes with Tonjiru, noodle is cook well, warm enough to finish the whole thing in seconds.

My healthy multi grain rice.

On our tray we have a sauce tray that we follow on the instruction for our pork cullet dipping area.

with Salt, spicy sauce and original sauce.

Jumbo Rosu Katsu Set @ RM 28.90

Jumbo means you have your pork loin in bigger cutting.

and look at how the pork is being fried, will still pale red meat left behind and with well balance of fats in between makes it yummy!

Love the wasabi mustard that pairs uniquely with the tonkatsu.

as all our set comes with finely cut vegetable and of course dressing for it is to enhance the flavour and I ended up refill twice. The sauce is perfectly good~

Since our sets doesnt have Tonkatsu house special miso sauce I ordered it and try. I prefer their house special sauce. @ RM 2.

It looks pretty decent when it was serve and Anna end up cannot finish her jumbo Rosu which is about 300g of pork.

Tonkatsu is not bad but certainly one of the best I have come across so far. Price I think its slighlty expensive compare to the normal ones. Worth to give it a try.

NON-HALAL

-= KA CHING =-

Food rating 8/10 , nicee, for a tonkatsu! -Stamped-

-WARNING –This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison
2nd Floor, Eat Paradise, Isetan 1 Utama
Bandar Utama
Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03 2096 2888

In Featured By Taufulou 6 Mins Read

Menya Musashi (麺屋武蔵) @ Isetan, 1-Utama

27/07/2012 8 Comments

When comes to food, it is always very subjective and it seems that recently there is a big boom in Japanese Ramen industry where is start to mushroom everywhere. One of our latest findings is this outlet hidden inside Isetan 1-Utama, where I found my new love of ramen shop Menya Musashi.

[Update 2.1.2017 – found out they have change operator. Taste is different now-no longer best]

A famous ramen chain that is very famous in Japan finally reach Malaysia shore which is Menya Musashi, is one of the latest outlet that open its door to public since 6 months ago, me and my friend have been constantly returning to this shop for its perfect quality of ramen and only now I decided to blog about it. hehe~ Not only me, as many bloggers have been raving about this place and its actually good quality food being serve.

For the first round we went 3 months ago, we gather 7 of us to attack on this place with possibility try to order the whole menu and guess how it turn out. There are stretch of chairs line up outside of this very small outlet that can be seated max 50-60 pax at one go. .

and amazingly the turn over of this outlet is fast. People just get up and go off when finish their meal.

not only this as you will be enjoying purely Japanese Ramen shop experience as the kitchen is very busy and you will constantly hear them yelling to motivate each other to move faster.

Menu is pretty straight forward that you choose what types of Ramen follow by flavour broth on the right side.

Shiro (white) – Onion flavoured oil/Original flavour
Kuro (black) – Special oil from Fried Shallots and Garlic
Aka (red) – Housemade Musashi Chili Oil

Yeap, this is the whole menu, pretty easy to see right.

this is the usual extra ingredient that you will get in a ramen shop as now they have fried garlic and chili powder at the side along. I love mine adding those 3 ingredient including chili oil to stir up the taste abit more.

In Japanese restaurant its hard for us not to order Gyoza @ RM 9, as till date I have still get to eat nice gyoza in Malaysia, its being panfried perfectly on the base yet the ingredient in it just lack of the extra umph. If they add a bit more ingredient in it, then it would be just perfect.

Next is Takana Gohan @ RM 7. A bowl of Japanese rice filled with sourish veggie (Mui Choy) and a bit of spicy taste after that. For me, I could not finish this by myself as it will be too sour for me.

Teriyaki Chasu Gohan @ RM 9 something light for you if you do not prefer something heavy, rice is fragrant and soft top with seasoned chasu in small chunks and slices. If it comes with ramen broth along on the side then it would be a superb combination. 😀

If you love your soup base with garlic taste then this is a bowl of broth that you should not miss. First impression of Ajimata Chashu Tsukemen @ RM33 – Ramen with ‘kuro'(special oil combined of fried shallot and garlic oil) that serve along in black colour soup like squid ink doesnt look impressive at all, yet it looks a bit weird like eating charcoal.

When you start to taste on the soup, you will be amaze on how good the broth is with garlic taste is not so strong even I like mine a bit more strong.

Musashi Tsukemen will be the most prefer choice to start off with cuz its the orginal flavour broth, its milky thick that is just yummy! Then if you find that the taste do not suits your liking you can DIY the soup with the chili oil, chili powder and other ingredients that is available on the table. REcommended to start off @ RM27

This would be my favourite among all as Chashu Men @ RM30 with homemade Musashi Chili Oil. – REcommended!

why is this so good as the broth taste is definitely a steal, follow by the springy thick ramen is just perfect to pair along in this bowl of ramen.

If you decide to eat this dry ramen, please follow the step 1-3 on how to enjoy eating experience. you have to Slurrrrrpppp it~ Seriously!

ChasuaTsukemen @RM 31 would be the dry version of ramen..serve along with broth soup at the side and some bamboo strips.

All bowl of ramen are smack with this huge ass charsu

The egg is so good that we decided to order extra. . That I would always add one more additional to my bowl of ramen.

This brand is so famous in Japan that all their bowls and spoons have the cut little samurai icon

Master Chef Daisuke Yamaguchi

chef is always there at the counter and you can see him walk around, as we manage to capture his picture on that night. According to the 29-year-old Master Chef Yamaguchi, the secret lies in their broth – known as “tonkotsu”, (not tonkatsu, ok!) which he explained is “boiled for many hours, 10-12 hours and pork belly and chicken feet are the main ingredients, seasoned with Japanese wine and shoyu”. But why chicken feet, I asked. Well, the good chef merely gave an enigmatic smile and said “ahhh… it’s good for the collagen!”. OK, so collagen is good for your skin and all… and also for ramen. (Quoted from Pureglutton) full details about the brand drop by at her blog.

This is the total bill that came out with 8 pax and we are totally satisfied at that round. Since that, we have return numerous round for ramen and often can crave for it!

If you are a fan or ramen then this is one of the shop that you must not miss and for first timer, it is definitely worth a try. It is slightly expensive but then its good!

Highly Recommended Ramen shop!

*Non-HALAL

-= KA CHING =-

Food rating 10/10 , highly recommended! -Stamped-

-WARNING –This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Menya Musashi
Level 2, Eat Paradise
Isetan @ 1-Utama
Bandar Utama City Centre
Petaling Jaya

In Desert By Taufulou 5 Mins Read

Famous Hong Kong Dessert Hui Lau Shan (許留山) @ 1-Utama (Old-Wing)

16/05/2012 27 Comments

Over quite sometime there are many Hong Kong dessert that open and close down to the extend some of it are very good ones and I often wonder how come no one took this franchise Hoi Lau Shan that serve superb mango dessert in many version. Guess what?!! Finally one of the best Hong Kong dessert Hoi Lau Shan had put a step in Malaysia and 1-Utama being their first outlet.

I am very sure many of you that travel to Hong Kong will be familiar with this brand as its nearly available every where, something like our bubble tea Taiwan version. I rarely miss this dessert as everytime I went to Hong Kong upon arrival at the air port I would wallop 2-3 cups of these dessert before I take my public transportation. If you are a dessert lover then you would not want to miss it~

Now most Malaysians need not travel to Hong Kong to take this dessert anymore as it available here now, located at first floor in front of Isetan at 1-Utama Old Wing. Its just a few days old and well, I just cant resist the temptation and faster came here to satisfy my crave hoping that what is serve here would be something similar to the ones in Hong Kong. Besides that, if I remember correctly those branches in Hong Kong do not have the word healthy dessert…hmmm , I guess here they serve healthy ones?

As I was sitting and happily place my order, many of passerby checking out their menu and many are skeptical on their dessert. .

Standing there and stare blankly then walk away.

Its more like a kiosk style that smack right in the middle of the new old wing and its pretty hard for you to miss this huge orange sign board.

Menu are the same compare to the ones in Hong Kong as I have just return there 2 months ago . .

As I browse thru the menu one thing that caught my attention so hard is the pricing here, I would that that it cost a bomb to order and didnt know that it is so cheap here. A simple bowl of these dessert cost from RM9.90 onwards? OMG! In Hong Kong the ones that I usually order cost about HKD 48 = RM 24 per bowl here and I can say its at least 55% cheaper here!!!

Staring at the menu, I happily ordered all my favourites and to my disappointment one of my favorite which is with pamelo is out of stock as according to their waiter, he apologize as they are just a few days old and will restock very soon.

Mango Juice & Mango Cube – Mango Jelly @ RM 7.90. I usually had 2 cups of these that filled with thick freshly blend mango, top with mango cubes and jelly at the bottom, that makes me slurppp non stop of this. Surprisingly, the taste is like 80% similiar just that its not so sweet compare to the ones in Hong Kong.

Mango Icey Sweetie Ball @ RM 11.90 with freshly blend mango puree, mango cubes and glutinous ball. As near to Hong Kong version itself the glutinous ball is near to pretty hard not like our Malaysian version which is soft and chewy. Some of you might not like it.

One of the thing that you must not miss is this Fresh Mango Mochi @ RM 4.90 for 3 pieces

Skin over here is a bit thick yet its still soft that is made from mango and its shove with one huge chunk of mango cubes inside and outer layer is rube with coconut. One of my favourite and for RM4.90 I what 9 of these. Satisfying!

Triple Mango Delight @ RM 9.90

Filled with mango Ice cream, mango cubes, and a layer of mango pudding. The pudding tasted a bit artificial but well, I still enjoy my dessert.

If I get to order my Mango with Pamelo, it would be a perfect order yet nevertheless it is indeed satisfying for the price we are paying.

Upon what I eat today is my recommended list and if you like try others it should be fine, but not too miss these few as I mention to start off with . .

Last round in Hong Kong me and Ken (foodpoi.com) both of us whack this dessert with similiar amount cost us about RM120 which is near whopping HKD 250 just for these dessert itself and now for tonight I pay about RM50 for this whole package! Even my malay friends that went to Hong Kong they enjoy these dessert very much and ta pau mochi back for their parents!

Definately I am coming for more with its price being offered here. Taste is 80% similiar to the ones in Hong Kong as I believe the mango is less sweet and aromatic compare to the ones in Hong Kong. Well, with the price I am paying certainly I have no complain and just to enjoy.

One of the highly recommended Hong Kong dessert now from me!

Remark: After went to this outlet a few times, find that their quality is like roller coaster, sometimes its superb, sometimes it far below par because of the mango quality they have for the day. Its rather dissapointing compare to the first day that I had it. On htis branch, do not put so much high hope yet something to look for. . .

*Updates – 2nd jan 2014 : officially their dessert quality drop from bad to worst

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 7/10, ~ recommended ! -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Hoi Lau Shan Healthy dessert
First Floor, Old Wing
1-Utama Shopping Mall,
(in front of Isetan)

Isetan

Live Presentation and Tasting by Keigo Tamura, from Manshige, Kyoto @ Isetan, KL

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison @ Eat Paradise, Isetan, 1-Utama

Menya Musashi (麺屋武蔵) @ Isetan, 1-Utama

Famous Hong Kong Dessert Hui Lau Shan (許留山) @ 1-Utama (Old-Wing)

Curate Coffee Roaster at SS2

Famous Kavitha Banana Leaf Rice, PJ Old Town

Boston Craft Beer, Perth now in KL

Artbox Malaysia 2023

Curate Coffee Roaster at SS2

Famous Kavitha Banana Leaf Rice, PJ Old Town

Boston Craft Beer, Perth now in KL

Nice Bubble Milk Tea Chatime from Taiwan had landed @ Pavilion

12inch Burger at Cravings Kitchen and Bistro @ Sunway Giza

Hong Kong Disneyland