ronnycakes reviews: Crumbs x Luxbite Christmas Macarons, 1U Petaling Jaya

‘Tis the season to be jolly and grow fat from all the food and sweets and because the year-end holiday season mentality is eat first think later next year (or maybe that’s just me hehe). One thing I looooove about the Christmas season is all the imported indulgent sweets and chocolates that come pouring into supermarkets – the other day I spotted mint chocolate M&Ms! But since Wils and I will be jetting off to LA next week, better save our stomachs (and our pockets) by spending over there instead. :D

I recall saying that macarons were probably not my most preferable sweet but recently by some mysterious power I’ve found myself slightly addicted to them... maybe because I just haven’t managed to find good ones in the past. After spotting these Crumbs x Luxbite macarons on Facebook, I immediately had to have Wils get me a box because they were just too damn adorable.

The super adorable Teddy and Santa macarons are 100% handpiped (!!!) and designed by Aleena from Crumbs, whilst the two conventional looking ones are imported from Luxbite Melbourne and are anything but conventional in taste. One box of four costs RM30 and comes in two combinations:

• Teddy Bear and Santa Chocolate Hazelnut Praline
• Watermelon and Guava
• Peanut Butter and Jelly

• Teddy Bear and Snowman Chocolate Hazelnut Praline
• Mandarin Jaffa
• Ribena Lemonade

The one that Wils picked up for me was on recommendation from Luxbite, the Teddy Bear and Santa set.

The macarons are so adorable that I really couldn’t make myself bite into one of them.

 

 
The Watermelon & Guava one was a thick layer of watermelon flavoured buttercream with guava bits (which felt a little bit like coconut bits) whilst the Peanut Butter & Jelly one was a peanut butter ganache with proper jelly. Both tasted heavenly and were crisp and fresh, but I personally preferred the Peanut Butter & Jelly one because of how the sweet and savoury paired together.
The Hazelnut Praline one was as yummy as the Luxbite ones, and I especially loved the chocolate ganache. Adorable and yummy!

These macarons will be available in the booths outside Isetan 1st floor at One Utama until 25th December, so hurry before they all sell out! I’m sure these would make charming and wonderful gifts for all your loved ones. I’m sure I would like another box. :P

Address:
Crumbs x Luxbite booth
Outside Isetan 1st Floor
One Utama Shopping Mall
Petaling Jaya

Map *here*

ronnycakes reviews: Barn BBQ, Bangsar Village

Today when I opened up this blog to take a look at it, I swear I saw some dust blow off my keyboard. It has been that long since we updated this space, and been quite a long while since we’ve actually stepped out of the house to actively seek for new eateries *hangs head in shame*. I’ve recently been bitten by the baking bug and spend almost every weekend at home dressed in oversized shirts and shorts (like a true housewife-in-training) baking up a storm. Soon I’ll share my results and these recipes on this blog too! :D

I think I’ve found my new favourite place for value-for-money gourmet sausages. Barn BBQ is a deli and grilled meats restaurant that is right next to Ben’s General Food Store in BV, and brings with it some deli items that are similar to those at BGFS but a wider variety. On the opposite side of the deli is a fridge chock full of sausages, steaks, lamb shanks that are grilled fresh to order.

 

A butcher-style scale for all the butcher meats you’re going to be devouring.

Yum yum roasted potatoes to go with the rich meats.

Corn on the cob.

A variety of imported spreads and sauces are also available at Barn BBQ (ala stuff you get in B.I.G).

 
Steaming hot Jacket Potatoes with sour cream, bacon bits and chives.

Wils was feeling gluttonous so he ordered us a Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl which was run of the mill, but comfortable to have on a rainy night.

Beef Lasagne, and we were given a huge portion. Wils could barely finish it!

For those who love good solid meaty food, the Black Angus Striploin (RM25 per 100g) is done perfectly by Barn BBQ. Even for someone who doesn’t eat beef (yours truly – a sacrilege I know), I found myself cutting more than one piece just because it tasted delicious.

The steak came with a side of mashed potato, salad and black pepper sauce (you can choose from a range of sauces on the menu).

On to the sausages! The first time I went, I had the Chicken Cheese Krainer and Dynamite Chicken. Barn BBQ serves their sausages by grams, and all varieties of sausages on the menu (be it lamb, beef, chicken) are priced at RM8 per 100g. Minimum order is 200g, and 200g roughly gives you about 4 sausages take or leave a few grams.
The star of the show for me was definitely the Chicken Dynamite, which I found deliciously spicy and flavorful and grilled to perfection. The Chicken Cheese Krainer was good too, but not so good that I would make it a must-have.

All sausages come with a side of salad.

 
Wils also tried the Spicy Lamb Sausage which he also had nothing but praise for.

 

Barn BBQ is fast becoming one of our go-to places when we’re in the mood for something heavy and meaty. My personal recommendation would be to try the sausages (especially the Chicken Dynamite one) but stay away from the more generic chicken sausages as they tend to be average (downsides of not eating beef or lamb). A 3rd return trip is definitely on the cards to try their burgers and more of their deli items.

Address:
Barn BBQ
G17 & 18, Ground Floor,
Bangsar Village 1,
No. 1, Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur

Map *here*

ronnycakes revisits: Wondermama, Bangsar Village I

Remember we said that we would be highly anticipating Wondermama’s new additions to the menu in our last post? So on a night where Wils was craving for burger, Wondermama popped into our mind and we became curious how they would give the classic burgers a twist with their fusion concept.

The day that we went over, Wondermama had already introduced two new burgers into their menu; the Prawn Katsu Burger and the Kimchi Beef Burger (sounds super unique right!), but sadly the kimchi burger wasn’t available so we opted for the prawn one.

 
The Prawn Katsu Burger (RM15) combines Asian and Western together, with fresh crispy deep fried prawns with a hint of tartar sauce on a sesame bean bun. We opted for potato salad instead of fries to go with our burger, and the burger also came with a small serving of sautéed mushrooms. It was no doubt delicious, but a little on the small side for our appetites. :p

Potato salad with croutons!

We were given the chance to try this Clam Vongole before it was introduced on the menu. A soup base of tomato, white wine and here’s the kick: a touch of sambal! Definitely something you don’t see everywhere.

We also tried another recommended dish on the menu, the signature Nasi Lemak 2.0s (RM23.90), served with the basics of nasi lemak: sambal (with petai!!), anchovies, boiled egg, peanuts and crackers. What makes this stand out is the inclusion of deep-fried soft shell crab as a substitute for the classic fried chicken, and this Japanese-Malaysian twist works! Loved it.

 

 
To wrap up another great meal, we had this Chocolate Ice-cream with Beef Bacon. When we first heard it we were like ummm bacon and ice-cream?? Seriously?? We were definitely skeptical with this one but surprisingly the flavours blended well together (even for someone who doesn’t fancy beef).

Once again, an extremely satisfying meal that had us clutching our stomachs and now we can’t wait to go back again for more new offerings!

Address:
Wondermama (the old Outback Steakhouse),
Jalan Telawi 1
Bangsar Village I,
Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur

Map *here*

ronnycakes reviews: Kungfu Paradise, Paradigm Mall

If you’re looking for a casual dining spot with affordable food to hang out and linger at, Kungfu Paradise may be somewhere you should add to your list. Part of the Paradise Group which brought Paradise Dynasty (which we will shortly be reviewing) and Paradise Inn, Kungfu Paradise is the Paradise Group of restaurants’ brainchild for “the young and young-at-heart”.

We were invited for a food review at Kungfu Paradise but thanks to the rush hour jam, by the time I left work and arrived at Paradigm, it was way past dinner time and we missed the first few dishes. Luckily we some photos were provided for us (only watermarked photos belong to us)!

Drinks for the thirsty!

First up, we had the Seafood Chili Crab Pasta (RM18.90) which came with prawns, crabstick and had a spicy tangy tomato based sauce. I underestimated how fiery the sauce was and ended up with some numbed up lips.

The Dry Noodles with Chicken Chipolata (RM10.90) were basically “kon lou mien” with two juicy chicken sausages. Downside of this was it was a litttttle on the dry side. Contrary to the picture, the one we tried at the restaurant was actually made from slightly broader dry noodles.

Kungfu Master Salad (RM9.90) – bits of fried chicken in a bed of vegetables and strong garlic sauce.

The half and half Duo Master (RM16.90) which is perfect for those who can’t make up their mind on what they want to eat. On one side is fried chicken and tomato sauce with rice, on the other half side is fried fish and mozzarella baked rice. Even though it looked a bit weird at first, surprisingly it was one of our favourites of the night.

Stir-fried Beef Hor Fun (RM13.90) had succulent pieces of beef and enough wok hei. Not too greasy or oily which is a plus point.

KungPao Chicken Rice Bowl with Lava Egg (RM12.90). Deep fried chicken chunks lathered in Kung Pao sauce on rice, paired with green veggies and lava egg makes a balanced meal!

The KungFu Bumger (RM7.20) was another highlight (yes Bumger, not a typo and you read that right). Well marinated chicken thigh smothered in garlic mayo and Kungpao sauce was sufficiently tasty.

The waiters helpfully cut it into 4 pieces for easy sharing.

Nippon Power Ice (RM13.90), your classic shaved green tea ice with red adzuki beans and jelly balls. Very smooth and aromatic without being too sweet.

Tango Mango Mousse Cae (RM8.90) was deliciously fluffy and had chunks of real mango between the layers of mousse.

 

Finally, we ended with a Chocolate Lava Cake (RM12.90) which came with a dollop of vanilla ice-cream and was my favourite for the day. The outer layer of the cake was crispy whilst the inside was sufficiently gooey and was not too sticky or sweet at all! In fact it tasted strongly like bittersweet chocolate which makes it all the more easier to have right after a heavy meal.

Overall, the offerings at Kungfu Paradise are pretty alright, with a few dishes standing out more than others. If you’re in Paradigm and looking for a place with affordable food to hangout, why not try Kungfu Paradise?

Address:
Lot 2F-21 Level 2, Paradigm Mall
No.1, Jalan SS 7/26A
47301 Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Map *here*