Mushroom lovers unite! Served in truffle oil, Ribs' Grilled Portobello Mushroom came beautifully served. It wasn't exactly a piping hot dish, but eating it at room temperature was good. The portobello mushroom had a certain taste and texture to it, not found in our usual button mushrooms and whatnot.If you're a pasta person, then try their Chef Pasta. I personally didn't fancy much of this dish. It was basically a tomato-based spaghetti pan-fried with Taiwanese sausages, bacon mushrooms and pork croutons. The taste didn't really appeal to me probably because it was a tad too sweet for me. The Rosemary-baked Baby Iberico or in simple layman's term, rosemary-baked baby oink, came in a rather long dish together with baked potatoes and garden vegetables. Honey glazed, the rosemary herbs really brought out its flavour. Pretty good dish if you asked me. Another Rosemary flavoured dish, Ribs by Vintry's Rosemary Baked Chicken was a no frills basic chicken thigh with chanterelle mushroom cream. The chicken thigh is baked to tender perfection, literally melting in our mouth. The Braised Beef Ribs that was served next got me thinking it was lamb instead of beef because it was so tender. Braised and infused with red wine herb sauce, the heavy lamb taste was lesser in this dish, which is a good thing. Vintry's Sakura Pork Steak was a dish not yet in the menu, something I loved to bits. With cut apples on top of the meat, it tasted like any beef steak, but was made from pork instead. I love the fatty parts which went well with the lean portion of the meat.

Still in the mood for the upcoming Chinese New Year 2014 celebrations, I had the opportunity to try out Chicago Rib House's Porkalicious Joy Luck Set the other day. It was a western twist on the usual chinese cuisine spread. Even the complimentary Yee Sang which came with the joy luck set had a different flavour, look and feel to it. Read on below on my take of the festive menu. Part of the Chinese New Year Porkalicious Joy Luck Set is their Signature Platter, a rather large platter overflowing with some really nice noms good to be shared up to four diners. In fact the set menus are meant to be shared, as there is no way I think one person could finish all these good food. Filled with Chicago Rib House festive offerings, it comprises of juicy spare ribs, pork sausage, grilled fresh water prawns, grilled mussels and vegetable sticks served with creamy cheese dips. Now that is indeed a mouthful just to spell out here.

The spare ribs were good as always, sweet and juicy without being overdone. I am not a fan of mussels, hence I skipped it, and took the grilled fresh water prawns instead. My personal favourite on their Signature Platter would be the pork sausages, two lovely huge pieces of it. Love the way they prepared it, with the skin having a different harder texture than the soft meat inside. When the Braised Pork Belly was served, I literally gasped for air, even before I digged in. Not for the health conscious, the many layers of fats on this sinfully delicious dish had to be my favourite that afternoon. It was a savoury dish, with a caramelized top skin which I love on top of the meat. I wasn't that keen on the fats though, which I carefully separated before having the meat. Served with an Asian inspired tangy sweet sauce of passion fruit, spices and wine, this is a must have dish if you asked me. For the ultimate indulgence, add on the Drunken Prawns dish, white wine steamed prawns, flambeed with brandy for a sweet price of RM68.80. It was indeed really drunk prawns if you asked me, as the taste itself had the signature bitter alcohol infused flavour. The taste wasn't exactly to my liking as I preferred my prawns sweet, but I do love the way they prepared this dish, flambeed with blue flames, and pouring it unto the prawns. The perfect partner for the Chicago Rib House signature ribs would be their unique range of sauces. Specially made just for Chinese New Year, the Chinese-style plum sauce was used to serve up with the Baby Back Ribs. Coming in full long slabs, the ribs were succulent to the bite, and it wasn't enough for me. Fortunately I already had so many dishes before this, hence it sufficed. The tender baby back ribs chargrilled with plum sauce is acompanied with 2 sides of your choice.

Mumbai Delights, a restaurant serving northern Indian’s vegetarian cuisine, with their specialty being Mumbai's street food open recently at Plaza Mont Kiara. I had the chance to dine there with fellow foodies the other day, and it really gave me a new perception on what Indian dishes have to offer. Check out what we had that day, Mumbai Street Food @ Mumbai Delights, Plaza Mont Kiara

Mumbai Delights

Block E, 01-04, Jalan Kiara 2, Plaza Mon’t Kiara

Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel : 603-6206 2008

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MumbaiDelightsSimple, comfy decorAl fresco area for those who prefer open spaces

The location itself is pretty strategic, in Plaza Mont Kiara. Mumbai Delights is an ideal place for great healthy meals and casual get-togethers with its simple yet cozy and warm dining setting. For a more relaxing ambience, diners can dine in comfortably at the al fresco beer garden section over a wide selection of alcoholic beverages. Yes, they do serve alcohol at their bar section. Watermelon Juice to kickstart our meal

Mumbai Delights has a rather extensive menu, catering for everyone's needs from light dishes, to heavier complete meals. This includes Mumbai’s delight special, sizzlers, Mumbai’s chowpatty, kebabs, bread, naans, all sort of dal and gravy, as well as Chinese and western foods with a twist of Indian flavor prepared skillfully by their Head Chef Abhi.Vada Pav - RM5.50

I was told the Vada Pav is a popular grab & go street food in India. Made from homemade soft unsweetened bread roll (pav), it had a deep fried spicy potato filling with a heavy taste of coriander and green chili. Sprinkled on the top is this rather flavourful chutney powder, which I like as it enhanced the taste of this dish. Served along with tamarind (made with tamarind and jaggery sugarcane) and green (made with coriander, green chili and yogurt) chutney at side, each bite promises you an explosion of taste and textures.Bhurji Pav - RM18

Another new to me dish, the Bhurji Pav is simple yet full of flavour. Pan fried, with grated cottage cheese, green chilies, onion and spices thrown into the mix, it does go well with the accompanying laacha paratha on the side. Savoury, yet spicy enough to tingle your tastebuds. Himachali Kumbh - RM18

Fresh button mushrooms were used in Mumbai Delights' Himachali Kumbh dish. Not your usual button mushrooms, they were stuffed with cottage cheese in tikka style cooked in a hot tandoor oven. Served with malai sauce, it is indeed a tempting dish. Thai Curry Dal and Garlic Naan - RM14

A comfort Indian food with a twist of Thai flavor. Chef Abhi paired these garlic naan, a flat leavened bread of northwest India, with his unique creation of Thai curry dal that has a mixture of greens such as broccoli, red pepper, green pepper, pak choy, carrot, onion and lastly the dal to add in a nice texture of creaminess. Love the garlic naan. Parizza Layered Pizza - RM24

I can't imagine myself ever enjoying a vegetarian pizza, but here at Mumbai Delights they surprised me with the Parizza Layered Pizza which quickly became my favourite for that evening. Different from the normal pizza dough, Chef Abhi uses laacha paratha, layered flat bread that made with whole wheat flour, as the pizza base. To ensure its crispiness, the chef prepared the laacha paratha in tandoor first before placing ingredients like fresh mushroom, capsicum, cottage cheese, cheddar and mozzarella cheese on top, then oven baked it till perfection together with chef’s special BBQ sauce.Chili Garlic Sizzler - RM24

Now this Chili Garlic Sizzler dish this is an acquired taste, at least to me. Fill your palate to the brim with this sizzling dish that served a variety of sumptuous dishes in generous portion. Diners can choose rice, noodle or both mixed as the base, and then it will be topped with wholesome items like corns, carrots, French beans, cherry tomatoes, fries, mixed greens and cottage cheese cutlet with appetizing chili garlic sauce.Chocolate Samosa - RM18

Crispy samosa filled with sweet chocolate brownies, drizzled with really rich warm chocolate sauce, this had to be a first for me. Served with ice cream on the side, this sweet dessert was just too sweet for my liking, but it is indeed a very special and unique end to a good night out with friends. Do drop by Mumbai Delights for some nice authentic Mumbai street food the next time you're at Plaza Mont Kiara.

Part of NEXUS Bangsar South's new Chillin' At Nexus campaign brought me to SOULed OUT Nexus Bangsar South. Now I've been to their other outlet in Sri Hartamas a number of times, but haven't had the chance yet to dine and drink at this outlet. Check out below on what my fellow foodies and friends had that evening.SOULed OUT Bangsar South @ NEXUS Bangsar South KL

SOULed OUT Bangsar South

G11-12, Ground Floor,

Nexus Bangsar South,

No.7 Jalan Kerinchi,

59200 Kuala Lumpur.

Opening Hours: (Mondays – Sundays)Noon till closing

Website: www.souledout.com.my

Reservations: 03 – 2242 3308 / 013 – 613 1663

General: 03 – 2242 3309

Fax: 03 – 2242 3307

Email: burp@souledout.com.my

Catering & Events: 013 – 613 1663SOULed OUT Bangsar South @ NEXUS Bangsar South KL

Almost two decades in the competitive F&B business and SOULed OUT is still rocking the dining scene in Kuala Lumpur, drawing patrons from near and far to visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner or late night drink.Interesting dance moves by their waitress, performed once a week

SOULed OUT latest outlet in Nexus Bangsar South KL continues to be one of the best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, proudly driven with SO lip-smacking food, SO thirst quenching drinks, SO fabulous theme parties and SO personable service.Lychee Mojitos - RM28

SOULed OUT Bangsar South is a restaurant showcasing a cozy, relaxed ambience during the day, churning out dishes such as Crumbed Fish Sandwich, Classic Homemade Beef Burger, Caesar Salad, etc. for casual dining. As evening falls, soulful spirits arise to keep the night going.Lychee Martini - RM28

Mojitos, Sangrias, Margarita, Cocktails start to take the centerstage (though you can start ordering them from 12PM onwards), accompanied by a complete ” SOULed OUT Bangsar South menu ” featuring an array of Western, Northern Indian, Asian delights to satisfy the hunger.Cheese Nachos - RM23

We kickstarted our feast that evening at SOULed OUT Nexus Bangsar South with a rather large platter of Cheese Nachos. Strictly meant for sharing, unless you have a really big appetite. We got layers of crispy corn chips, towered up with cheese, jalapeno peppers and Mexican salsa. I was told this dish is a favourite with patrons who come to chill out and drink with fellow friends after working hours.Mango Prawn Salad - RM23Summertime Salad - RM23

Two very different salad, yet equally delectable, the Mango Prawn Salad and Summertime Salad served by SOULed OUT has that cocktail of taste that delights the senses. The Mango Prawn Salad is made of succulent prawns, plump mangoes, avocado slice in a zesty dressing while the Summertime Salad has grilled seafood, orange segments, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, croutons tossed with homemade vinaigrette dressing.Deep Fried Calamari - RM25Satay - RM18

Snacks and bites that delights the senses. Deep fried to a crisp at the sides, the Deep Fried Calamari is made from these bouncy, chewy squid rings jacketed with secret batter recipe that results in crispy texture contrast. Satay! My all-time favourite no matter where I have it. Here it comes in a dozen of chicken satay, beef satay or mix of half dozen for each, your choice. I found it to be a bit too lean for my enjoyment, as I always love some fats in between the skewered meat.Prawn Aglio Olio - RM28Sake San Pizza - RM34

Pasta and Pizzas, both having the same 'P' alphabet, but are in two different worlds. SOULed OUT whips up decent pastas, be it a traditional Italian Prawn Aglio Olio or pasta with a creative twist like the East meets West Soft Shell Crab Pasta with curry leaves and chili flakes. That evening we had the Prawn Aglio Olio with fresh prawns served with al-dente spaghetti. The Sake San Pizza is something very unique to me, with ingredients made out of salmon sashimi, roe, cherry tomatoes, lollo rosso, Japanese mayo and and wasabi.Fried Beef Noodles - RM16Pad Thai - RM16

Some of the Asian cuisine off SOULed OUT's menu which we had that evening was the Fried Beef Noodle and the Pad Thai. The Fried Beef Noodle tastes like what I use to have back in Penang, the 'wa tan hor', with plenty of egg thrown into the mix. Pretty good taste to boot. Their Pad Thai is a cross between Thai-style Pad Thai with local char koay teow. Not as sweet as the Thailand version, but it has that slight 'wok hei' flavour to the dish.Chicken Cordon 'Blurr' - RM26

Not sure why the name has the 'Blurr' word in it, but the Chicken Cordon 'Blurr' is a must-try dish off their western menu. The dish is a wonderful combination of melted cheese, smoky ham and sausage wrapped together with a wrap of succulent boneless whole chicken leg.Lamb Shank - RM39

Lamb shank lovers would like the version that is served here. Braised till fork-tender, dressed in a bed of creamy, flavouful brown sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes and vegetables, it's a nice dish. I was pretty glad it wasn't too big though, as I've had giant ones which took a huge effort to finish.Chicken Makanwala + Pulao Rice - RM24

SOULed OUT serves some rather good Northern Indian cuisine as well, with the Chicken Makanwala being one of them . Chicken cubes stewed in spicy creamy onion gravy, it's great taken with the pulao rice on the side. I mush preferred the next dish though.Sizzling Lamb Cutlets -RM35 and Garlic Naan - RM3

I truly love the crowd favourite, which is the Sizzling Lamb Cutlets. Strong tasty flavours hit your tastebuds the moment you bite into each piece of meat. Each piece is flavoured with Indian herbs which goes very well with the accompanying Garlic Naan. Truly recommend this dish. Tiramisu - RM16Lava Cake - RM16

We ended our feast of good food at SOULed OUT NEXUS Bangsar South with their sweet desserts. It was a sweet treat with the Lava Cake and Tiramisu literally coating our tastebuds with sweetness. Lava Cake is the highlight, but other selections such as Ice Kacang with Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Apple & Guava Tart, Rocky Road Brownie with Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, and Tropical Palvova should be tried out as well!Spicy Lemon Drops - Single (RM20) A tray of 6 (RM90), shots for that extra kick

Remember to check out SOULed OUT at NEXUS Bangsar South the next time you're in the vicinity and need a place to chill out with friends and family.

The next outlet in my quest to explore NEXUS Bangsar South so happened to have a fellow Penangite as its owner. Part of NEXUS Bangsar South's new Chillin' At Nexus campaign brought me to Chili ESPRESSO Nexus Bangsar South. Located on the ground floor, with brightly coloured facade, they do have some really friendly staff welcoming you in the moment you pass their eatery. Check out what we had that evening.Chili ESPRESSO @ NEXUS Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur

Chili ESPRESSO

G6, Ground Floor, Nexus Bangsar South

No 7, Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 603-2242 2632

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chili-Espresso-Nexus/1591171401108904

Website: www.isthmuskl.com

Business Hours:

Sun – Thurs & Public Holidays 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ; Fri – Sat 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.Comfy InteriorSimply, bright decor of Chili ESPRESSO

Opened in May 2014, Chili ESPRESSO at Nexus Bangsar South is the second outlet to open after its first successful outlet that started 8 years ago in Sooka Sentral. We were briefed on the inspiration behind Chili ESPRESSO by its owner, Robert who hails from Penang.

“Being born in Penang, he would like to bring back the popular street art back here. The design is based on old pre war shop houses alley or “lorong” with children eating noodles under a frangipani tree. It flows to a more recent colonial styled building where their coffee bar is", he says. Serving up great comfort food at affordable prices, Chili ESPRESSO provides both local and Western dishes with a spicy twist. Interesting art adorn the walls of Chili ESPRESSO

Taking its inspiration from Penang’s heritage city, the restaurant has art murals hand painted by Drew Funk, an Australian based artist on its walls. Inspired by the old pre-war shop houses in Penang, the bright bold red walls had cute art renditions of children and nature in a cheerful mode enjoying a cup of coffee or slurping noodles. A beautiful frangipani tree stood out at one wall. The art is further emphasized by the addition of 3D fixtures all over. Premium French Fries - RM6.80

An appetizer to kick start our night out, we were treated to some rather nice premium French Fries, served with their home made tomato sauce. What's unique and nice about their fries is the fact that each of it has some skin leftovers which added to the flavour, something I won't be able to get at other fast food outlets. It added that extra texture and bite. Mango, Chicken & Jicama Salad - (RM9.80 Small RM14.80 Regular)

Salad lovers will love these two variations whipped up by Chili ESPRESSO. Now I'm not usually a salad guy, but I did like the Mango, Chicken & Jicama Salad. The very sweet mangoes make up the bulk of my enjoyment of this dish. Add in a mix of grilled chicken, crunchy jicama batons, mixed greens with pea shoots, crispy tofu pok, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, aromatic sesame seeds and a sweet and tangy hoi sin sauce and you have a good fun starter dish. Apple, Chicken and Rocket Salad - (RM7.80 Small RM13.80 Regular)

The Apple, Chicken and Rocket Salad has exactly what its name dictates. To be found inside were crunchy apples with grilled chicken, rocket leaves, mixed greens, Kalamata olives, walnuts and a citrus dressing. Chili ESPRESSO's salads come in two fun sizes, so you could enjoy it as a side dish, or a meal on its own. Mexicana Char-Grilled Aussie Beef Burger - RM17.80A closer look at that beef patty

Ah, my favourite beef burger, super sized by Chili ESPRESSO to become this delectable Mexicana Char-Grilled Aussie Beef Burger. The well seasoned grilled beef patty was really thick, making it almost impossible to bite down into the burger in one mouthful. The beef patty itself uses Aussie Beef which had a good bite in texture. Served with fries on the side, go for this with an empty stomach and it'll satisfy you fully. Double Cooked Duck Linguine - RM18.80

An addictive pasta dish, with flavourful double cooked duck and chili flakes, this signature Duck Linguine is a must order from Chili ESPRESSO's menu. Sauteed with oven dried cherry tomatoes, garlic, and light spicy sauce, I do think it makes a rather good main dish. Herbal Nasi Cina Kampong (Ulam Rice) - RM16.80

A Kelantanese dish, the Herbal Nasi Cina Kampung requires a lot of preparation to cook the rice with around 8 different herbs used. Served with red chili pickled green papaya and sambal belacan long bean, diners can choose to have either the the ikan tenggiri with tamarind kaffir lime leave sauce or the fried kunyit chicken with tomato rempah sauce. We tried the chicken version and it actually tasted pretty good! Penang Fried Mee Mamak - RM15.80

My favourite dish of the night from Chili ESPRESSO would be their Penang Fried Mee Mamak. Hailing from Penang myself, I always love the taste of a good mee mamak, and here their bestseller hits all the right notes. The taste was akin to the ones I've had back in Penang, being more lavish in the ingredients used. Lots of seafood of prawns and squid were added together with cucur and boiled potatoes making it really good. Apple Banana Crumble - RM9.80

We ended our meal at Chili ESPRESSO NEXUS Bangsar South with their sweet Apple Banana Crumble. Simple, yet satisfying, the pairing of apple and banana in a dessert is a rather surprising mix. Do remember to check out their outlet the next time you are at NEXUS Bangsar South!