Last weekend we went for a short trip to Kuala Selangor and we had arranged to stay at Apps Hotel, which is a small boutique hotel located within the row of shophouse with the Selangor River just behind it. The Deluxe Queen room we got comes with a pretty comfortable queen bed, equiped with conditioner (though it does take a while to cool down), hot/cold showers, LED TV, mini fridge, safety box, coffee making facilities and toileteries. Although the fact that WIFI is only available in the lobby bothered us a little. And it's a little incondusive when the mini fridge also turns off when the main power cuts off (perhaps a second key would have been useful). Noise level wise, there's unfortunately an outdoor KTV that goes til really late, which would have been fun if we were planning to sleep late, though it wasn't the case when we stayed.

There is a jetti located just behind the hotel providing 2 major attractions for Kuala Selangor: Eagle Feeding and Fireflies watching. We unfortunately missed the Eagle feeding because the bed was calling our names. But we definitely didn't want to miss the fireflies. The trip itself takes around 20-30 minutes and we cruised along the river and marvelled at the sight. The fireflies are all found on the mangrove trees and lit up the whole area like Christmas trees. Along with sky full of stars, it was truly an enchanting experience. Highly recommended.

After the cruise, it was time for dinner. Apps hotel has its own restaurant called Wharf 72, obviously specialising in Seafood. As we visited during Ramadhan month, there is also a Ramadhan buffet and the restaurant was pretty packed. However, it didn't take long for us to be served our food. We left the ordering to the management so I assume these are all their signature dishes. First the Pandan chicken. Interesting presentation, with the chicken already cut up to small pieces for easy retrieval. Each piece well marinated and juicy, this is a pretty good start to the meal. This dish, however, won our hearts totally. I've never had Tom Yam so rich in flavour, yet non-cloying at all. It has a right balance of tang, sweet, savoury and spiceness and has at least 10 succulent fresh prawns. There's a prominent lemongrass note which I love too and I think they probably use fresh coconut juice in the broth for that special sweetness. We couldn't help but finish it to the last drop. The Deep Fried Kangkung is tasty in its own right, with perfectly crispy strands of veges drenched in Thai Chili Sauce. Though both of us tend to shy away from deep fried/oily stuff so we didn't manage to finish this. There were at least 3 crabs on this plate, and each of them full of eggs. I guess crabs are not really in season right now so they were a bit on the small side. But I still enjoyed the lovely sweet flesh along with the heavy seasoning of Kam Heong. Last but not least, our favourite style of Steamed fish (Teochew steamed). Siakap is not the usual choice for Teochew Steamed Fish but this one is exceptionally fresh so it's still lovely. I couldn't resist drenching my rice with the sauce (even though we were supposed to be skipping the rice).

We were really impressed by the food at Wharf 72, although I forgot to ask for the price of each dish (I believe it's inexpensive). We were also treated to a thirst quenching coconut shake after our meal. If there's ever a chance of us returning to Kuala Selangor, we'll sure come to this restaurant again.

Jarrod & Rawlins, or J&R, has come a long way since they opened their first deli bistro (now defunct) in Desa Sri Hartamas, selling British style grub: sausages, English breakfasts, bacon sandwiches, steaks etc to hungry (and thirsty) Malaysian public. Their menu has evolved to be more sophisticated, and now you can find their outlets in Ampang, Damansara Heights, Jalan Bangkung (Bangsar) and even Kota Kinabalu.

Mr Denis Rawlins, who puts the “R” in J&R, is definitely passionate about his craft. In fact, Denis started out as a sausage maker, catering for just friends and family but the production eventually outgrew his home kitchen. Now, you can see his products even in our local supermarkets. At their establishments, he is mostly responsible for the menu with many dishes inspired by his day-to-day homecooking. Most recently, their menu has been refreshed to provide even more delectable dishes and we were invited to sample some of them at their newly renovated Ampang outlet.

The Ampang outlet is relatively easy to locate, situated at Ampwalk Mall right on Jalan Ampang. The most prominent feature here is the large screen TV playing your favourite classic hits, and a cute children corner. Tasteful art decorated the wall and a long bar provides plenty of room for those with liquid needs.We started our party with a decadent Whole Baked Camembert Cheesen (RM42++). The melted cheese oozes, scooped up by torn pieces of baguette. Sinful delicious.There was already a plate of J&R’s popular Char-grilled Pork Belly (RM19.50++) going around the table disappearing like hot cakes. Hard to go wrong with Pork Belly and these are seasoned perfectly with a smoky edge. Very moreish.Of the dishes listed on the blackboard, I most looked forward to tasting the Liver, Onion & Bacon with mashed potato, Onion Gravy and Crispy Steaky Bacon (RM26.80+). It was exactly like I expected, the distinctive metallic hint of the liver is balanced by the sweetness of onion and umami chopped up bacon. Their mash is buttery and smooth, Frank approved it. This is my favourite dish of the night for sure.Next was the Meatballs & Mashed Potato served with Gravy and Mixed Berries jam (RM27.50). Denis told us he often cooks this for his children and it’s a household favourite. We agree too, the meatballs are tender, tasty with thick gravy and sweetened by the berries jam. Give me a side of vegetables and this is a complete meal for me. Yum.The impressive display of carnivorous delight hit the table, inducing pangs of “Oohs” and “Aahs”. The Hickory Baby Back Ribs (Full slab – RM78+) are slightly charred with slight bitter note, characteristic of the smoking method but backed by hint of sweetness. They are also sufficiently tender, best enjoyed with fingers, caveman-style. The coleslaw is decent too.And we didn’t finish there. The aromatic spices accompanying these Masala Lamb Skewers (RM31.50+) drown out the otherwise gamey meat. I don’t normally like lamb, but enjoyed this very much. It’s even better topped with some raita. You might have noticed that there were not a lot of greenery so I appreciated those rocket leaves.

Needless to say, we enjoyed ourselves feasting, drinking, and singing along to the Rock n Roll tunes. What a night!

MIZU Japanese Fine Dining has been in operation for over 9 years. That in itself is a pretty good testament to its offerings. Mizu is the brainchild of Mr Simon M. Sangawa, who hails from Japan. With his rich experience in the Food & Beverage industry (over 40 years), he gathered a few local Japanese food lovers to open Mizu, aiming to provide all customers who step into the restaurant with the best service and the highest quality of Japanese food.

Mizu simply means ‘water’ in Japanese. According to Mr Simon, water is often used to describe the food & beverage industry in Japan, as water is always fresh in the beginning which attracts people, but can deteriorate over time, causing them to walk away to find something new; signifying the challenge for continuous self-improvement to keep the customers excited about the restaurant.

It is quite easy to find Mizu, located just in front of the escalator after coming up from the supermarket downstairs at Bangsar Village. The entry to Mizu is intriguingly narrow, with a lovely water feature at the front to honour its name. The walkway eventually opens up to a spacious dining room surrounded by an impressive display of wines and sake, sleek furniture and a long sushi/sashimi bar where you can watch the chefs in action.

Mizu has a rather large selection of dishes, with one page dedicated to Chef’s signature dishes. The rest of the dishes are also categorized according to cooking methods for the ease of ordering. Prices are on the higher side, although there is also a separate set lunch menu which offers lunch at more attractive prices.

While the food at Mizu is mostly authentic, some dishes contain a little fusion twist, such as the Japanese Cucumber with Salmon Roe, Cheddar Cheese and Olive Oil. The cucumbers are delightfully crunchy and refreshing, and briny salmon roe bursting with umami flavour. Simply delicious. The Baked Fresh Oysters with Garlic flavoured Tomato and Cheese were unapologetically rich with an oriental twist from the spicy tomato sauce, a great match with the creamy oysters. The oysters, which came directly from Japan, were massive and perfectly cooked, providing a great mouth feel.Chef’s signature dishes include the “Tenderly” Braised Ox Cheek with Special Blended Sauce. Despite the slightly vague dish name, this is one dish you shouldn’t miss at Mizu, it’s a winner. The Ox Cheek is exquisitely tender and the sauce is rich in collagen. The chunks of Daikon Radish absorb all that tasty sauce, the snow peas and star-shaped carrot provided a bit of crunch for textural contrast. One important tip for Japanese food lovers, most Japanese restaurants gets their fresh supply of seafood every Tuesdays and Fridays. For the best sashimi experience, make sure you visit on those days. The assorted sashimi for 2-3 comes with Yellow tail, Snapper, Salmon, Tuna and Sweet Shrimps. The portions are generous as the fish are thickly sliced. Bonus point for using freshly grated wasabi for that pungent kick up the nose. Add on a side of Sea Urchin if available. For the uninitiated, the freshest sea urchin should ‘taste like the ocean’, with a slight briny flavour. This is one platter one would remember for days. Die-hard carnivores should give the premium grilled wagyu steak a go. Cooked to your liking, the steak comes with a savoury sweer teriyaki sauce, assorted mushrooms, and best part: plenty of crispy fried garlic. Personally, I feel that Wagyu beef should be cooked to medium for best texture as the fat would have adequate time to melt. The service here is satisfactory, though requires a little prompting at times. There is a sizable wine list, as one would expect seeing the walls are full of alcoholic beverages on display. This is a restaurant suitable for romantic dates, special occasions and corporate lunches. A wonder little piece of Japan on our doorstep. Recommended.

Fresca Mexican Kitchen and Bar is conceived by 2 adventure-seeking sisters who has travelled the world and found themselves falling in love with Mexican food, and the country's motto “La Vida”, meaning “Living the life”. They wanted to bring classic Mexican cuisine to Kuala Lumpur and thus, Fresca Mexican Kitchen & Bar was born, just over a year ago at the prominent Gardens Mall. Fresca, meaning "fresh" or "cool", is a breath of fresh air in Kuala Lumpur's dining scene, since authentic Mexican restaurants are few and far between.

Walking into Fresca, you'll see a mix of distressed brick and rustic timber, exposed ceiling, dark wood furniture, colourful Sombreros decorating the walls giving an overall modern Mexican restaurant look and feel. Mexico's rich cultural heritage and vibrancy are captured by the striking
coloured talavera tiles as well as hand-crafted ceramics and paintings displayed around the restaurant. There is a long bar for guests to kick back whilst enjoying a margarita or two. The lovely alfresco dining area is perfect for guests to soak up the sun, when it’s around.

Fresca Mexican Kitchen specialises in "botanas", meaning small plates, perfect for sharing with family and friends. The kitchen prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, and you will be able to tell that the pico de gallo and guacamole are prepared daily. Also, home-made corn tortillas are used only, hand-pressed the traditional way. The sizable menu has a good balance of carnivorous delights and also caters for the vegetarians.

Our meal started off with a plate of Nachos Grande: tortilla chips topped with refried beans, jack cheese, jalapeno, freshly made guacamole and sour cream. It's an explosion of flavours with plenty of fun textures. The accompanying fiery salsa definitely woke our tastebuds up. Following the same path, the breaded and deep fried Jalapeno poppers are crispy, spicy with delicious oozy Monterey Jack Cheese. The sweet mango chipotle salsa is an interesting pairing which balances the flavours. You can also opt for the meaty version with ground beef. We moved on to the Pescetarian dishes with Tacos Ensanada, which comes with beer-battered fish and homemade coleslaw, and is a classic fish taco originated from Ensanada, Baja California. The fish was excellently done; we loved the crispy batter and the tender, flaky flesh. Once again the flavours were a balance of sweet, piquancy and savoury, definitely moreish. We also had the Tacos Camerones, which comes with sauteed tiger prawns that are bouncy, garlicky with a mild heat. The fish ceviche here is made with raw snapper. Cured with lime juice, this is refreshing and has a great mouth feel when enjoyed with tortilla chips. To round up our meal with even more vegetables, we enjoyed a colourful Ensalada de Jicama y Mango, a refreshing salad with turnip, mango, kyuri, cherry tomatoes and feta, in a coriander dressing. We loved the play of textures and we couldn't get enough of the crunchy turnip and sweet mango. We were quite full at this stage but I did get a pang of food envy when I saw a sizzling plate of chicken fajitas leaving the kitchen. One should not leave Fresca without trying their signature dessert: the Churros con Chocolate. Sometimes referred to as Spanish Doughnut, churros are deep fried choux pastry often enjoyed with melted dark chocolate. There is an option for Cajeta dip; a goat's milk caramel, if you have a sweet tooth. The churros here are superb, perfectly crunchy with pillowy centre and the dark chocolate is only mildly sweet to complement the pastry, totally delicious! We had to order a second portion to share because frankly, one is simply not enough. The staff here know how to make one feel at home, as they are attentive without being disruptive. There is a decent wine list but Fresca is well-known for their cocktail creations. If you are game, try their fiery Jalapeno Margarita. To be on the safe side, the Cinco de Mayo is widely popular. This is a restaurant to visit if you ever crave for Mexican food, or just want to experience an authentic experience. As for me, I shall return to try out some of their meatier offerings soon!
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Tucked away in the hill of Changkat Kia Peng, just a stone's throw away from KLCC, a beautiful abandoned mansion converted into a chic French House, thanks to the vision of owner Sainy Chun. This establishment is truly an urban gem. A little representation of Paris in the middle of Kuala Lumpur.

It's all about details at Maison Francaise, and we are not even talking about the food yet. Blessed with plenty of natural light, the decor is classical French while relatively minimalist, with a monochrome colour theme, fresh roses on the dining tables, elegant chandeliers, and French accordian music in the background. There is also a pool area downstairs which is only open for functions and events. Looking out the windows or balcony, a sea of green with partial view of the sparkling Twin Towers is a sight for sore eyes.

Headed by Chef Franck Lamache, whose accomplishments include his stints at the 3 Star Michelin, Crillion hotelin, Paris (Les Embassedeurs), Alain Ducasse and Le Taillevent to name a few, you can expect nothing but well-executed authentic French cuisine here. Yet, contrary to what we know about French cuisine, Chef Franck focuses on light, refined and healthy cooking style, hence we can enjoy our meal without worrying too much about our waistlines.

Service staff are well-mannered and attentive, without being disruptive, making the dining experience such a pleasure. They were truly on top of their game. Now to the food. Amuse Bouche came in a form of light and airy Monk Fish mousse accompanied by tangy tomato coulis, showcasing Chef Franck's delicate touch with seafood, while the vegetarian Amuse Bouche played safe with several mouthfuls of earthy mushroom soup, elevated by a touch of truffle oil.With increasing numbers of health conscious diners, it's always reassuring to know that there are more than just salads for the vegetarians. The vegetables terrine with kalamata olives and goats cheese struck a chord with my vegetarian lunch company with its vibrant colours and classic provencal flavours.The terrine consists of delicate layer of red capsicum, zucchini and tomato, pairing extremely well with the aromatic chopped olives, peppery arugula, and the rich goats cheese.

The Smoked fish platter is one of the signature dishes at Maison Francaise. Arranged beautifully on a black slate, it was almost too beautiful to eat, a masterpiece actually. Smoked inhouse, the paper thin slices of fish were delicate and less salty than store-bought variety, although the co-star of the show was the refreshing and delightful cucumber salad.Vegetarian Risotto is not actually on the menu but can be requested. Topped with a parsley pesto and supported by tomato coulis, the creamy grains were comforting, to say the least. Simplicity at its best.It's not easy to do justice to black cod as it's such a delicate ingredient. Chef Franck kept it simple by pan frying and finishing in the oven, then pairing the fish with well thought out accompaniments: Heady Lobster Bisque, Quenelle of mash with mushrooms, Vibrant Pesto, Slightly crunchy vegetables for textural contrast. Crispy skin and buttery flesh, the black cod was textbook perfect.Maison Francaise offers very affordable High Tea daily from 1pm-5pm. So instead of dessert proper, we got to sample a variety of teatime treats and the Canele de Bordeaux was a clear favourite with a caramelised shell, fluffy interior and custardy centre. Also superb was the roasted figs, lemon madeleines and the refreshing apricot sorbet.

Whether it's a romantic date for two, a girly hangout in the afternoon, a business lunch, even a wedding dinner, Maison Francaise has it covered. More than its good look, it has the potential to become one of the best French restaurants in Klang Valley.