S.Wine Cafe

So I have succumbed to peer pressure and finally tried S.Wine at Publika. It is one of the more hyped restaurants in the mall because one, it is owned by BIG group – the same that also owns the highly popular Plan B, and two, the menu is full of pork dishes.

The interior is so quirky and funky blah blah blah, honestly I don’t really care. Anyway here’s a cliche photo mosaic of the restaurant because that seems to be the trend in food blogging.

The biggest disappointment (most expensive too) of the meal goes to the Sticky Ribs with Chip and Slaw @ RM80. This humongous slab of ribs is impressive to the eyes alright but look can also be very, very deceiving. No matter how hungry or big an eater you are, I highly suggest you to share this with at least three people or else you will find this dish a real struggle to finish. Although the meat is fall-off-the-bone-tender, the sauce is plain boring and uninspiring. The three of us basically forced ourselves to finish it for the sake of not wasting food.

Pork Meatballs @ RM19 – Also comes in three, drenched in marinara sauce and topped with cheese. Generous portions, plump and very juicy.

Loaded Potato Skins @ RM14 – Crispy on the edges with a cheesy gooey center, delicious. Great for sharing since it comes in three pieces.

SL’s Chirazo Cheeseburger @ RM26 

Pea & Ham soup @ RM14 was the best tasting dish we had that night and it came totally as a pleasant surprise to all of us. However, the presentation was quite awful, not sure if the chef had a shaky hands or what, the creme fraiche was laced to look like there were tadpoles in the soup – simply unappetizing.

S.Wine Cafe
Lot 1A 83-95, Level UG1, Publika
Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas
Kuala Lumpur

Coffee Société @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

It seems to me that almost every cafe in town (or maybe just Publika alone) has to be Melbourne inspired, Coffee Société included. Their menus are also so similar to each other that nowadays, ambiance comes first when choosing a place to chill over a cuppa.
I usually have little to no expectations on the food when eating at cafes because, well the food always come out ‘cafe standard’. But that does not mean the food is bad, just that you should sort of have an expectation set before you step into any kind of eating place.

Cappucino

Iced-Cappuccino

The coffee here is OK I guess, they taste exactly like how you’d expect them to be. I couldn’t really discern any significant difference like I did with espressoLab. For the ladies, you will be glad to know that there is some sort of happy hours (for coffee though) every Thursday from 6-9pm. As long as you come in a group of three or more, you get free coffee.

Grilled-Chicken

Real food is served here, not just snacks or typical frozen food fry up some places have the gall to call ‘breakfast’. Grilled Chicken @ RM19 – a whole thigh which is crispy on the outside and juicy inside, the accompanying sauce was nice too. The only thing we did not like was the mashed potato, it was quite horrible and lumpy.

Seared-Lamb-Chop

I enjoyed my Quick Seared Lamb @ RM24 very much except for the mashed potato mentioned earlier – they must have been made in the same batch.

Red-Velvet-Cake

For dessert, we had a slice of Red Velvet @ RM12 – gotta love the refreshing creamy frosting on a moist and soft textured cake.

Coffee-Societe

Although it was quite disappointing to learn that they could not even get something as simple as mashed potato done right, I am glad that we were offered an exchange when our feedback was heard. We became very forgiving after that and it proves to say that common courtesy goes a long way, especially for restaurants.




Coffee Société
D4-G3-3A, Jalan Dutamas 1
Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is one of my favourite! How can you resist? They are so delicious! I bet you are feeling hungry now, don't you? Cupcakes, cupcakes everywhere. You too can cake something delicious, give it a try now!

Super Soft Chocolate Cupcakes


Print this Recipe!


Makes about 4 dozen cupcakes… maybe more.. lots of cupcakes!


3 cups sugar

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 Tablespoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/3 cups sour cream

1  cup strong coffee, cooled




Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pan with cupcake papers. Set aside.

Using a stand mixer fit with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating for 1 minute in between each addition. Scrape down bowl after each addition. Beat in vanilla.


Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry mixture to the creamed butter and sugar alternately with the sour cream. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Beat to incorporate.


With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cooled strong coffee to the batter. Add in a slow steady stream to prevent splashing. The batter will become fairly thing and smooth. Scrape down bowl and beat for 1 minute to ensure the batter is completely mixed.


Pour into cupcake papers and bake on middle rack for 15 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.


Remove from oven and set on wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool to room temperature on wire racks.

The Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Adapted from Delilah Bakery

1 1/2 cup (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

4 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream

2/3 cup Ovaltine


Cream together butter, cocoa powder and salt. Butter mixture will be very thick. Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add powdered sugar. Turn mixer on low and mix in powdered sugar while adding milk and vanilla extract. As the sugar incorporates, raise the speed of the mixer to beat the frosting. Beat until smooth. In a 2 cup measuring glass, stir together heavy cream and Ovaltine. Turn mixer speed to medium and pour cream mixture into frosting in a slow, steady stream, until you’ve reached your desired consistency.  You may not need the full amount of Ovaltine and cream.

BRIGHT RED VELVET CUPCAKES

From time time I change up my Red Velvet Cupcake recipe. Sometimes I like the red to have a little more pop, other times I like the Red Velvet to have a sexy chocolate character.

The frosting, as is with most of my Red Velvet creations, is Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.



Bright Red Velvet Cupcakes


Print this Recipe!

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1  teaspoon vanilla extract

scant 1 cup milk

1 Tablespoon red food coloring


______________________________________________________________



Put a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.  Set aside.

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute in between each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture alternately with the milk and red dye in 3 batches, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and beating until just incorporated.

Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes, or until the cakes a pick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean.  Let cool for 10 minutes then remove cupcakes from muffin tin and let cool on a wire rack.

Frost with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.

Welcome To Scrumptious!

Hey there lovely readers! Welcome to Scrumptious! I’m happy you’re here. You can call me Jason, which is one of many nicknames. You should know that I’m totally obsessed with food. I daydream about new recipes. I devour cookbooks. I read up on food policy and nutrition. I love photographing food and hope my photos inspire you to step into the kitchen to cook a delicious, healthy meal.

Above all, I love eating food, especially while in the presence of good company. Good food in good company—does it get any better than that?

I believe that cooking should be fun and recipes, flexible. I believe in eating whole foods, which are foods that are as close to their source as possible. I’m also an avid supporter of the occasional indulgence, and I laugh with friends over drinks as often as possible.

This blog is all about celebrating good food—real, sustainable food that delights the senses and nourishes the body.