I practically grew up with Indonesian Food. So yeah I love it. There are however different ways of making a dish depending on which part of Indonesia a person is from. So the Indonesian Food Fair @ JP Teres, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur was a really good way to try some new dishes. It's currently on until 14th September.

Before trying out what the Indonesian Food Fair had to offer I was treated to an Indonesian Food Demonstration by master chefs from Grand Hyatt Jakarta - Chef Gatot Tristano and Pastry Chef Abraham Alex.

*diesss...* What more can a chick who lives on chocolate ask for. The Chocolate Buffet at THIRTY8 Grand Hyatt  Kuala Lumpur is almost like being in heaven. Here's the clincher, each chocolate dessert is made using luxuriously velvety Valrhona chocolate, dark, milk and white. If you're a true chocolate/dessert freak, that statement needs no explanation. As I have mentioned in my previous dessert at THIRTY8 posts, the desserts are amazing and the choices you will find at this Chocolate Buffet are no exception.

Wishing I could have more of the Almond Friand with Salted Caramel from the Afternoon Tea I had at THIRTY8 Grand Hyatt KL. I had the sudden urge to paint hearts on my nails on Saturday. A tad late for Valentines but it just looked too pretty not to do it. Surprisingly it was a lot more simple than I thought it would be. How very un-rock chick of me. I really need to get back to dark colours soon!

This isn't really the best time to put up this post since it's past 11pm but I'm craving for this. I had this on Saturday after my afternoon tea and dessert feast, must have been all that sugar. The Seafood Linguine at Thirty8 Grand Hyatt KL hit all the right spots. It was tomato based pasta heaven.

I'm not going to start by going on about how difficult it is to find a good afternoon tea in KL. That would be so predictable. Instead, I'm going to start off this post by saying, "Afternoon Tea at THIRTY8 Grand Hyatt KL was amazingly lovely to say the least.." You all know how I've raved about the desserts at THIRTY8 in my previous posts, the Afternoon Tea did not disappoint!

Oh hello there darling, we finally meet!

Lemony desserts are another one that I go crazy for. Lemon Meringue Pie, Lemon Tart, Lemon Slice with Lavender sugar icing, Lemon Souffle, Lemon cake, as long as it's lemony I'm all for it. I haven't really found a place that serves a lemon dessert that I really fancy other than the homemade Lemon Meringue Pie by aunty dearest, until now...

Not only is the Lemon Tart @ THIRTY8 Grand Hyatt KL good, it's simply ace! I expected it to taste like a traditional lemon tart, a more tangy lemon custard and everything that comes with it but talk about being wrong about something. When the Lemon Tart and I met last Saturday, it threw a party in my mouth!

Lemon Tart served with Chantilly cream, blueberries and lime. Needless to say the Lemon Tart looked enticingly fab on the plate. Beautiful colours, especially with the finely grated lime rind adding that pop of green on the blueberries. 

So the base and lemon custard just melts away in my mouth. Just like the Chocolate Tart, it didn't require any chewing at all. Do chew the blueberries though, it wouldn't go down too well swallowed whole despite the size. The lemon custard is a tad on the sweet side with a hint of tanginess. But eating it together with the blueberries and lime juice, it suddenly hit me, 'Oh wow!! Now that's what I'm taking about!'. The lime juice took the tanginess level up a notch.. or two. The bitterness of the finely grated lime zest cuts through the sweetness of the lemon custard, sourness of the lime and the slight tartness of the blueberries. Not only was the bright tang of the lime refreshing, it was dancing on my taste buds for the longest time. The Chantilly cream gave it that touch of light creaminess it needed.

For a dessert that looked really simple, there was a lot going on there but it all came together like a dream! And you guessed it, another dessert that's Chocolate Cats approved. :)

For Chocolate Tart @ THIRTY8 Grand Hyatt KL click here. For THIRTY8 Signature Cake @ Grand Hyatt KL on Opening Day click here.

THIRTY8
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumour | website
12 Jalan Pinang
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 6am-11pm
Reservations: 03-21821234 or email kualalumpur.grand@hyatt.com

A good Chocolate Tart is so difficult to find in KL. What more a really good one. I finally managed to try the Chocolate Tart @ THIRTY8, Grand Hyatt KL after missing out on it during my previous visits because it wasn't tart of the day. It didn't manage to get away from me this time. *evil laugh*

Now isn't that just picture perfect! Chocolate Tart served with Chantilly Cream and Berry Compote. I was fascinated at how beautifully the berry compote cascaded by the side of the tart as though hanging from an invisible branch. That is one photogenic tart.

There is a certain lightness to the intensity of the chocolate. It's a chocolate custard centre topped with chocolate ganache. The thickness or should I say 'thin-ness' of the crust was just nice so as to not interrupt the smoothness of the chocolate. It just melts in the mouth.                                 

The tinge of tartness in the berry compote lends a wonderful varied taste to the chocolate and the richness of the double cream. You would think the whole dessert sounds a tad heavy but it really is very light.

I would have gone for seconds if I didn't have to rush off for a product launch. *boo* :P I dare say this is the best Chocolate Tart in town. Definitely the best since my trip back to Paris last year. 

The Chocolate Tart is definitely Chocolate Cats approved and a must try. I'm not just saying it because I'm a chocolate addict. I enjoyed it immensely!

The double chocolate soft cookie that came with my tea was also a treat. They should really consider selling those cookies by weight. It's yummy!

For the First ever write up on Thirty8 click here. Featuring the FIRST review on THIRTY8 Signature Cake on Opening Day.

THIRTY8
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | website
12 Jalan Pinang
50450 Kuala Lumour
Operating hours: 6am-11pm
Reservations: 03-21821234 or email kualalumpur.grand@hyatt.com 

Coming up: Final Chocolate Cats Giveaway and It's All About Hair.

It felt like forever waiting for Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur to open its doors and it finally did today! As usual I'm always looking for new places to have desserts and I dare say that this is the first dessert review featuring THIRTY8's Signature Cake. Oh heck it's the first review of any type of food from THIRTY8 Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.*hops gleefully*

 

 

It did occur to me that the view would be amazing having a restaurant on the 38th floor but gosh was it ever an understatement. THIRTY8 has a spectacular 360-degree view overlooking Kuala Lumpur City Centre. I was there for lunch and with clear blue skies I could see for miles. Imagine what it would be like at night.

 

 

 

 

The layout is just so spacious with a great ambience. As you get to THIRTY8 there's a bar and lounge that greets you for pre or post dinner drinks. The restaurant features open kitchens offering western grill, Chinese seafood as well as Japanese and of course the pastry kitchen. How could I leave that out.

 

 

 

 

I had one thing in mind even before I got there. I was going to have two or maybe three types of desserts. As I looked through the menu, I decided on an appetizer and two desserts instead.

 

To start off lunch I had the Grilled Scallops, Ratatouille, Shaved Fennel Salad with Lemon Oil (RM50). Nothing more rustic than a tomato based vegetable stew. I was looking something really simple you see, so as to not "overwork" my palate for dessert.  The three luscious looking scallops were beautifully seared, translucent in the middle with a lovely juicy taste. Great way to start a meal.

 

 

 

Then there it was, THIRTY8 Signature Cake (RM25) which came highly recommended. I have been hearing ravings about it for the past two weeks. It  made a dramatic "entrance" to my table. Placed on stand with a glass cover filled with gas-like cloudiness. Alas I was so captivated by the drama I didn't manage to take a photo of with the glass cover still on. *smacks self*

 

All was revealed when the glass cover was lifted. A cylinder shaped chocolate cake, banana ice cream, raspberries served with chocolate sauce. Yes it was beauty on a cake stand. THIRTY8 Signature Cake is a three layer chocolate cake encased in a hazelnut mousse with finely chopped hazelnuts. It gets even better, each layer is a different treat. The top most is a heavy chocolate cake, the middle layer is a chocolate disc comprised of hazelnut and bits of caramel brittle after that came a dark chocolate disc then the heavy chocolate cake base.

 

 

 

It was a celebration of textures. It is a chocolate dessert which is extremely exciting to eat not only for the variety of chocolate tastes but also for the textures. It is nothing less than intense. *drools* The Banana Ice Cream was creamy and had great flavour. A classic combination, chocolate and banana. It just can't go wrong in any form.

 

THIRTY8 Signature Cake is Chocolate Cats approved and it's something that you have to try on your first visit. ♥

 

For my second dessert, Lemon and Cheese Flan, Graham Cracker with Caramel Sauce (RM18). Since I decided take a break from full on chocolate I went for something less heavy, or so I thought.

 

 

 

When it got to me, I thought "Hang on a minute, that looks suspiciously like a cheese cake". *laughs* I usually associate flan with a pudding-like texture but because this was a cheese flan the texture was a lot more rich and creamy. Along the lines of a whipped cream cheese. It's smooth and I love that I could taste the tanginess of the lemon. The sweetness of the caramel sauce was balanced out by the neutral tastes of the graham cracker base, the crumble and the hint of bitterness of the oven baked sliced pears which was a welcome break in the flavours.

 

I personally feel that the Lemon and Cheese Flan is one to share especially after a big meal unlike the Signature Cake that you should have all to yourself. Biasness alert!

 

So there you go something for the chocolate lovers as well as the cheese lovers. I'm dying to try the tarts next so going back for another visit is a no brainer. In the evening perhaps to see the night view.

 

Wonderful first visit to THIRTY8. The staff were ever so friendly and I got quite a few suggestions on which dishes to try next not only at THIRTY8 but also the JP Terrace. Finished off my visit with a tour of the hotel. I have to say the Poolside has this amazing layout and design but you might just find me lounging around at JP Terrace. *smiles*

 

THIRTY8

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur | website

12 Jalan Pinang

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Operating hours: 6am-11pm

Reservations: 03-21821234 or email kualalumpur.grand@hyatt.com