I was with a group of people, enjoying ourselves at a bar when we were all hankering for a bit more to drink before leaving. Suddenly one of the guys insisted that I chose the next drink - specifically a bottle of whisky. Now I don't know this guy very well, but he was part of the group and we had just met that day. Further, this bar isn't particularly known as a whisky bar, so you can imagine the whisky options were rather sparse.. and even if they had any single malts, they were entry level whiskys.
I couldn't make myself to choose anything that I was willing to drink and pay a ridiculous sum for, and asked someone else to do it instead. However, this guy was insistent that *I* chose a bottle. I insisted that I couldn't. This went back and forth for awhile until I literally forced someone else to choose. Later that night, the guy who insisted I chose a bottle suddenly showed me his phone to reveal my blog on his screen.
I'm not sure what that was about. Until today, it still boggles my mind. It was all very odd, I thought. How would you have managed that situation?
Anyway - a lot happened last week!
1. Kaffir limes
I had to "balik kampung" on a family errand and nicked some of these kaffir limes and leaves from the kampung house. I learnt 2 things from making (rather, spoiling) my daiquiri with the limes:
- Kaffir lime juice is very acidic. While the fruit is very fragrant, the bite is very unpleasant. Reading more, I discovered that the fruit is never used for consumption, rather more for perfumes, cleaning or as medicine. People generally use the LEAVES instead, like how one would bay leaf - sparingly. OOPS.
- Kaffir limes are very politically incorrectly named. Evidently the word "kaffir" is an insulting term for a black African. SO WHY WOULD THE PLANET NAME THE LIME LIKE THIS? Evidently, it's also referred to as makrut lime - a term I have NEVER HEARD BEFORE. I only learnt about this when an English friend told me off. I really didn't know. :/ I AM SO SORRY! :(
2. Glenglassaugh Single Malt Whisky launch
We fellow Malaysians have a bit to brag about now - Glenglassaugh has chosen Malaysia as one of the first Asian markets to launch its single malt whiskys!
The distillery was founded in 1875 but mothballed for years before it finally started production again in 2008. More about its history and the whisky in a separate feature post but very quickly:
- It's considered a Highland whisky but located close to the Speyside river.. you'll find the Speyside characteristics quite evident in the Evolution expression.
- 3 NAS expressions were introduced: Evolution (easy drinking), Revival (sherry) & Torfa (peat).
- 2 aged expressions also available from before the distillery was mothballed - 30 & 40 years.
3. Tom, Dick & Harry's Live @ Oasis
TDH is one of the very few bar chains that I know of which is doing very well. Owned by the same guys behind Crazy Crab, Ali Ah Hock & Muthu, Durian King, Royal Flush and Hoofed, the original branch in TTDI was so successful that they replicated the formula and took it to Scott Garden, Oasis @ Ara Damansara and Pavillion. Then they took it a step further with the last 2 branches by adding a huge stage to feature live bands.
My family loved their pork knuckle at the TTDI branch and their beer snacks (spam fries! fried chicken skin!) are very addictive. It's a Carlsberg branch so expect to see the usual suspects - Carslberg, Hoegaarden, Somersby, Blackthorn and Tennents (last one is a bit unusual).
These guys aren't just money making machines - they also actively contribute to the community around them. They've running groups, cycling groups, hosted various charity events.... I've personally never seen these places empty during happy hours until late - but it's not much of a surprise to see why, right?
I'm not sure why they don't have a proper website, but here's their FB page for more.
These guys aren't just money making machines - they also actively contribute to the community around them. They've running groups, cycling groups, hosted various charity events.... I've personally never seen these places empty during happy hours until late - but it's not much of a surprise to see why, right?
I'm not sure why they don't have a proper website, but here's their FB page for more.
4. 44 Bar feat. Guest Chef Chester Low
Chef Chester Low of Wonder Mama & Bait (Bangsar) was invited to concoct an experimental alcoholic food+drink menu with 44 Bar on 28-29 Aug & 18-19 September that looked like a work of art. With just RM88, the following 4 pieces of gastronomical treats on a polished, rustic, wooden were served:
- Oyster with yuzu jelly & edible flowers (FREAKING DELISH)
- Cigar smoked old fashioned with heering jelly & citrus caviar
- Jungle bird cocktail with rooibos vanilla foam & hibiscus caviar
- Godfather cocktail ice cream with chocolate trimmings & crimson amaranth.
For more: www.facebook.com/44Bar
5. Paired @ Toastina, Sheraton Imperial KL
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| New food menu features: Spicy Sardine & White Egg, Gorgonzola Mash, Beef Pastrami with Pickle, Chili Chicken Tortilla Roll, Baby Lamb Ribs Soup, Baked Chicken Wing, Cherry Tomato Salad, Salted Anchovies Cigar with Peko De Gallo Dipping and 3 NEW CRAFT BEERS! |
With the launch of their new Paired campaign, Sheraton Imperial KL's Toastina has extended their cafe/bar menu to include 3 craft beers - Mountain Goat Hightail Ale & Two Step Apple Cider as well as Hitachino Nest's Red Rice Ale - to pair with their new yummy food menu that features 8 new dishes. My top 3 favourite combinations had to be:
- Sardine & white egg (open faced sandwhich) + Hitachino Nest
- Baby lamb ribs soup + Mountain goat ale
- Gorgonzola Mash Potato + Mountain goat ale
6. Oktoberfest @ Brotzeit
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| Oktoberfest: Eat and drink ALL the German food & beer |
Brotzeit marked the start of Oktoberfest with their yearly customary "barrel tapping" last Saturday.
From 19 September they'll be featuring Oktoberfest beers - Paulaner and Hacker Pschorr and LOTS of PORKY GOODNESS in the form of big juicy German sausages and a MONSTROUS serving of pork knuckle with ALL the trimmings to feed 4-5 pax a sitting (RM230) to death! Also what's celebrating a Bavarian holiday if not with their many types of shandies (beer + soda mix) and pint-sized Schnapps, ja?
For more: www.brotzeit.my & www.facebook.com/brotzeit1516
In conjunction with their 20th anniversary, Souled Out hosted the ASEAN Jazz & Percussion Festival last weekend. Giant setup, dazzling light displays, awesome, awesome, awesome live jazz music. When I finally made my way there on Saturday night I had the privilege of catching Koh Mr Saxman and The Sound of Siam from Thailand who mixed jazz with Thai influences - LOVE. Unfortunately, I missed The Steve McQueens and the Steve Nanda Group featuring Dasha Logan who played earlier. :( Did you catch it? Both days? How did you enjoy it?
The festival kick starts an entire month's KL international music festival so if you have any ounce of love for jazz, you might want to check out www.diversecitymusic.my for the other activities lined up at Alexis and No Black Tie. On the website, you'll learn that their budget was slashed - WHY THE TRAVESTY DBKL & TOURISM MALAYSIA? WHY?!?!?!?!?!
From 19 September they'll be featuring Oktoberfest beers - Paulaner and Hacker Pschorr and LOTS of PORKY GOODNESS in the form of big juicy German sausages and a MONSTROUS serving of pork knuckle with ALL the trimmings to feed 4-5 pax a sitting (RM230) to death! Also what's celebrating a Bavarian holiday if not with their many types of shandies (beer + soda mix) and pint-sized Schnapps, ja?
For more: www.brotzeit.my & www.facebook.com/brotzeit1516
7. ASEAN Jazz & Percussion Festival
In conjunction with their 20th anniversary, Souled Out hosted the ASEAN Jazz & Percussion Festival last weekend. Giant setup, dazzling light displays, awesome, awesome, awesome live jazz music. When I finally made my way there on Saturday night I had the privilege of catching Koh Mr Saxman and The Sound of Siam from Thailand who mixed jazz with Thai influences - LOVE. Unfortunately, I missed The Steve McQueens and the Steve Nanda Group featuring Dasha Logan who played earlier. :( Did you catch it? Both days? How did you enjoy it?
The festival kick starts an entire month's KL international music festival so if you have any ounce of love for jazz, you might want to check out www.diversecitymusic.my for the other activities lined up at Alexis and No Black Tie. On the website, you'll learn that their budget was slashed - WHY THE TRAVESTY DBKL & TOURISM MALAYSIA? WHY?!?!?!?!?!
More of such awesome activities in the future perhaps, Souled Out? Please?
Until next week, drink safe!
Until next week, drink safe!
Insta Weekly is a weekly summary of boozy updates from my Instagram.com/fireangel80 with the hashtag #angeltini. Feel free to follow me if you enjoy daily updates on booze, food and other random stuff by a girl from Malaysia. Cheers!
