Doraku @ Life Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

If your table at Doraku isn't overloaded with dishes, you are doing something wrong. Start with standout cold dishes like Shiromi Shiso Carpaccio, followed by Ahi Hawaiian Poker and move over to the hot side and be dazzled by the Doraku Wafu Burger. To end, order your choice of ice cream and leave the table with a satisfying smile =)

Now I have an answer if anyone asks I know of any good Japanese Fusion style restaurant in KL. The answer will be Doraku. 

When you are here, expect nothing but a vivid palate of flavors, heightened by fresh ingredients and generous portions meant for sharing. 

Hiyashi Wakeme (RM8) - Served chilled, this marinated cold seaweed played well as an appetizer. 

Shiromi Shiso Carpaccio (RM30) - Thinly sliced Shiromi got extra layer of flavor from the shiso leaf, topped with marinated cucumber, sweet onion and tomato. The fresh ingredients and Kabayaki sauce was an instant flavor bomb.

Ahi Hawaiian Poker (RM36) - This dish started out as Japanese but ended with Hawaiian accent, thanks to the fresh ahi tuna, sweet onion, seaweed mix and nuts - all doused healthily in a Doraku Special sauce. We can't stop thinking how all these wonderful ingredients can sit together so well. 

Sashimi Moriawase (RM60) - It's always nice to complement the culinary journey with simple fresh sashimi, designed to accentuate both seafood and Japanese game.  

Doraku Wafu Burger (RM36) - The burger was a standout! Luscious greens and a fried egg draped across the juicy hamburger patty, held together by soft buns and flavored with special Japanese sauce.  We will definitely be back for this umami rich burger! 

Doraku Roll (RM30) - Unlike the typical rolls that can be found anywhere in KL, the Doraku roll was dressed with crabmeat and avocado, topped with seared tuna, daikon radish, shiso leaf and crispy garlic chips. To top it off, it was drizzled with special wasabi yuzu citrus sauce, giving it a sweet and spanking fresh combo. 

Sakura Ice Cream (RM12) - There is always room for desserts. A sweet sakura ending accompanied by azuki and a touch of Japanese sweets.

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

SMITTEN DISHES:

Doraku Wafu Burger 

Shiromi Shiso Carpaccio

Ahi Hawaiian Poker 

Gudhjem Rogeri @ Bornholm, Denmark (Smoked Herring)

Bornholm is a tiny fishing port located 200km east of Copenhagen. It is officially the sunniest part of Denmark, blessed with picturesque streets, sandy beaches and glorious food. 

After our visit to the Baltic Sea Glass and Round Church, we travelled back to the town center where we were treated to a sampling of smoked mackerel before returning to our ship.

Built in 1910, Gudhjem Rogeri is the oldest smokery in Bornholm. Here you will find herrings hanging over an open alder wood fire, smoked for a good three to four hours. 

 The golden smoked herring was served with rye bread, chopped radish, onions and chives, along with some coarse salt and butter. The texture of the herring was firm and crisp, packed with smokey and delicate flavors.

We concluded that the herrings were well worth sinking our teeth into, despite all the tiny fish bones that occasionally find its way into our mouth. 

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Gudhjem Rogeri

Address: Ejnar Mikkelsensvej 9, Gudhjem, Bornholm 3760, Denmark. 

Phone: +45 56485708

Website

Ramen Kimama @ Birger Jarlsgatan, Stockholm, Sweden

I'll be lying if I told you that we did not crave for any oriental food during our trip to Scandinavia. In fact, all my family members started petitioning to have Asian food on our second day in Stockholm.

Yaki Soba (SEK 140) - My uncle was smitten by the large batch of Yaki Soba, studded with cabbages, onions, carrots and bite sized pork. This was merely the beginning of a wonderful meal at Raman Kimama.

Nabeyaki Udon (SEK 145) - The Nabeyaki Udon was heart warming and delicious, thanks to the chewy udon noodles, vegetables, poached egg, tempura shrimp, kamaboka (fish cake), bean curd and chicken. My auntie had no trouble slurping it up - all by herself! 

Shio Ramen (SEK 115) - There may be many form of ramen soup, but the foundation of a good soup remains the same. The key is to pull out as much flavor as possible from the boned-up stock for a good long time. This Shio Ramen was a testament to the classic bone-based broth - Delicate and Rich! Dad was chirpy with his choice. 

Miso Ramen (SEK 115) - The miso fortified pork bones soup was dominated with shredded pork, bean sprouts, onions and scallions. Needless to say, the bouncy noodles and ingredients built around the flavored soup effortlessly.  It was indeed an excellent choice for myself. 

Tom Yum Ramen (SEK 160) - Mum took an alternative route, where she beelined to the exotic Tom Yum Ramen, treating herself with lip smacking spicy soup filled fresh seafood and vegetables. The result of sipping hot soup during cold weather was sensational.

Gyoza - The covered pan fried gyoza hosted the filling well, helping to end our meal and paused our cravings for the next few days.  

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:

Miso Ramen 

Shio Ramen

Tom Yum Ramen

Ramen Kimama

Address: Birger Jarlsgatan 93, Stockholm, Sweden.

Telephone: 08-155539

Website

Fem Sma Hus @ Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden

The restaurant name which literally means "five small houses" has been in business since 1969, serving classic Swedish food with a French twist. 

The 5 basement houses are connected via exposed bricks passageways, with decors that reminiscent the 17th century.  

Assorted Herrings and Fish: Vendace bleak roe, herring, Baltic herring, marinated salmon, smoked salmon, mackerel and marinated elk (SEK 270). Each items were meticulously handcrafted, making it hard not to scoop everything up in one bite!

Two Kinds of Salmon (SEK 210) - They say good things come in pairs, and this is certainly the case at Fem Sma Hus. Each salmon were paired with compatible other half, be it the velvety smooth tartar or the shrimp with horseradish mix. 

Seared Halibut with Shrimps (SEK 310) - The seared halibut pale against its peers, as it was a tad overcooked and a little too plain. Shrimps, horseradish, melted butter and spinach were served alongside. 

Vegetable Tagliatelle (SEK 180) - The towering homemade tagliatelle were infused with hearty greens, accompanied by some rocket salad and walnuts. This may be a simple affair, but the flavors were rich and dense. 

Roast Lamb Rumps (SEK 320) - The succulent lamb rumps were perfectly cooked, drizzled with rosemary sauce and sided by some vegetables and a potato cake. 

Fillet of Reindeer with Port Wine Sauce (SEK 325) - The lingonberries were as red as rubies, while the reindeer fillets were as tender as midnight moon. Reindeer is a very popular meat amongst Scandinavians, especially during the winter months. Its flavors are best retained when served rare or medium rare.

Raspberry Soup with Lime Parfait (SEK 110) - The all natural raspberry was assertive, creamy and most importantly, not too sweet. 

Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie (SEK 125) - If you are not in the mood for soup, the restaurant also doubles as a good place to enjoy quality pies. To top it off, a scoop of maple syrup ice cream was added - helping to deliver another big smile on my face.

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten Dishes:

Assorted herrings and marinated fish

Fillet of reindeer with port wine sauce

Raspberry soup with lime parfait

Rhubarb and Strawberry pie 

Fem Sma Hus

Address: Nygrand 10, 113 30 Stockholm

Telephone: +46 8 108 775

Opening Hours: Open from 5pm everyday

Paradise Dynasty @ Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya

We wanted two things after a few hours of walking at Paradigm Mall: Food and Drink. Located on the first floor, Paradise Dynasty did a good job in fulfilling our needs.

 Just in case you can't decide what to order, I suggest that you go on a dumpling adventure. You can't go wrong with their signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao, which comes in 8 different flavors. 

Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao (RM23.80) -  Let's break down why this is the Xiao Long Bao you want. To start, the ratio of the skin, soup and meat was perfect. The skin was not too thick and not too thin, the soup was sweet, infused with meaty goodness that was carefully curated. But what really tied this little package together was the final craftsmanship. 

White - Original

Black - Black Truffle

Light Orange - Crab Roe

Grey - Garlic

Bright Orange - Foie Gras

Green - Ginseng

Yellow - Cheese

Red - Szechuan

Beijing Pork Dumplings (6 pcs for RM9) - Unlike the Xiao Long Bao, the dumplings were served on a plate instead of a bamboo steamer. It was meticulously wrapped and sealed with ground pork meat. This classic dish is just about the best thing you can get for RM9.

Smitten Dishes:
Original Xiao Long Bao
Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao

Beijing Pork Dumplings

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Hokkaido Ichiba @ Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur

Hokkaido Ichiba challenges diners with a seasonal menu of what they should be eating during the summer months. You will find interesting dishes such as, Nouryo Somen, Ankimo Ponzu, Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi and Wagyu Sukiyaki on the 2 page seasonal menu. 

Kyuri No Asazuke (RM7) - The selection of delicious starters are perfect for sharing. The homemade Japanese cucumber pickles brought in the conversation of sweet and crisp - a balanced portrait of what a simple salad should be. 

Ankimo Ponzu (RM13) - Monk fish liver served with ponzu sauce was equally noteworthy. With scattering of green onions and seaweeds, we almost forgot that we are eating one of the best delicacy in the world.   

Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi / Japanese Steamed Egg with Assorted Seafood (RM20) - If you like steamed egg topped with generous portion of assorted seafood and lightly perfumed broth, then the Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi will surely satisfy. 

Sashimi Moriawase (RM100) - 8 kinds of seasonal sashimi nestled on a elongated ceramic plate. Perfectly cut and absolutely fresh!

Nouryo Somen (RM20) - Cold thin wheat noodle came swimming in a special broth, crowned with fresh prawns, scallops, tofu and cucumbers. At first glance, the dish appeared simple, but the not so usual noodles brought all the elements together on our chopsticks for the best bites. 

Wagyu Sukiyaki (RM60) -  While the restaurant has a spotlight on fish, it provides beef substitutions for those who are craving for meat. The number was 6, so if you are in an odd numbered dining party, be prepared to fight over the last bite! 

The wagyu beef (shoulder part) was dipped in a sukiyaki style hot pot.

To score extra points, slather a layer of raw egg before putting it into your buds. The splash of vivid raw egg will elevate the dish from "soso" to "wow". A perfect dish for rainy days, even though it has not been rainy for the past few days. 

Smitten Dishes:

Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi 

Sashimi Moriawase

Wagyu Sukiyaki 

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Romanza Le Restaurante @ Terrace at Hock Choon, Kuala Lumpur

When Romanza first opened its doors on Feb 14th, its location was a head scratcher - a high end restaurant on a sleepy stretch of Lorong Nibang, off Jalan Ampang. But inside the well decorated restaurant was a menu that reference a piquant kaleidoscope of flavors and cuisines.

Purple potato bread. 

Beef Carpaccio (RM39) - The beef carpaccio was seared and served on a bed of wild rocket, with sweet slow roasted cherry tomatoes, laced with some balsamic reduction and lemon caviar. We absolutely loved the well sliced beef carpaccio, which was thicker than usual.

Spicy Peri Peri Chicken Liver (RM21) - The creamy chicken liver was well balanced with sofrito, crisp salad leaves and homemade bread. Romanza may have opted for an austere, black and white furniture design, but the menu was definitely in full color. 

Slow braised lamb shank (RM70) -  The braised lamb was tender, served with a carrot emulsion, pomme puree and topped with minted peas finished with a thyme jus. It may not be the cheapest lamb shank in town but the portion was surely huge. 

Line fish of the day (RM52) - The pan seared fish was paired with delicate pesto potatoes and bathed with mildly spiced tomato salsa. The fish may pale against its peers, but it's definitely a healthier option.

Chocolate Landscape (RM42) - For dessert, its hard to go wrong with chocolates that offers light white chocolate mousse, peppermint crisp semi freddo mille fueille, dark and white chocolate set ganache with crisp hazelnut meringues and dark chocolate cylinder filled with hazelnut anglaise - It was indeed a beautiful landscape.

Previous entry on Romanza.

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN