Utara Coffee House,
Armada Petaling Jaya,
Lorong Utara C,
Section 52, Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7954 6888 ext 4557
Business Hours: 6.00am to 2.00am daily
UTARA Coffee House at Armada Hotel does not only serve local fare. Diners will also discover that executive chef Chew Teik Chye has prepared a special menu of classic and popular Mediterranean favourites.
With 38 years of experience in the kitchen as well as from his extensive travels, one can look forward to savouring an authentic spread from Chew, who has even cooked for Bapa Merdeka Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
“Mediterranean cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, Italian and Greek cooking. Olive oil and herbs are lavishly used, and feta cheese, which is milder in taste and aroma, is common,” Chew said.
Special flavours: Chef Chew proudly showing one of his Mediterranean creations.
There are also elements of Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and France in the cuisine. It is a potpourri of cultures, so one should savour the dishes slowly to appreciate the myriad tastes.
He said another common and interesting ingredient is the Arborio rice, used in risotto and paella, which is more gooey in texture.
“The dishes are not too spicy, and many of them are tomato-based, I think Malaysians will find it easy to accept Mediterranean dishes,” he added.
Chew has drawn up a special menu of eight dishes for the promotion. Among them, the Turkish Lamb is a must-try.
The lamb is marinated overnight with lemon, rosemary and olive oil. It lures with a mild tang and is served with cinnamon raisin rice.
Asparagus and Cheese Risotto is something different for rice lovers, it is rich but not cloying.
The Crustacean Platter is great for those who want to try a little of everything, the variety of flavours is indeed a culinary adventure.
Best of both worlds: Salmon Ratatouille is a unique combination.
Salmon Ratatouille, which is tomato- based, is a light and appetising delight while Grilled Romesco Tiger Prawn lures with a heady aroma.
Spanakopites, or spinach pie, is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Feta cheese also lends this dish a tempting texture and aroma.
This the writer’s personal observation and not an endorsement by StarMetro.
