NOT a food blog
He told me he had booked the entire restaurant for me. I simply snorted at him.
Of course, it certainly felt like that. The entire restaurant was empty that Sunday afternoon, and all eyes were on us. I felt like digging my nose just to see their reaction.
The latest baby in town, Cafe WIP, brainchild of Fred and Michelle (owners of Souled Out), was our chosen lunch destination. This is what they said on their flyers: “Stripped walls, a hodge podge of chairs and tables and PCK look-alikes? No, we are not a hardware shop nor are we an interior design depot. We are a restaurant and bar that serves some pretty mean food and drinks.” (blah blah blah) Stripped walls? I agree. Hodge podge of chairs and tables? I’ll let you decide. To me, quite a lot of their furniture matched. I mean, they were typical dining chairs and tables. PCK look-alikes? They’re a lot cleaner and well-ironed than I expected. And all of them wore the same coloured overalls, almost as if they were out of a children’s show. Service was excellent. If it were any less than that, I’d have thrown a fit. (Remember, we were the ONLY customers)
WIP is supposed to be a transitionary thing. A temporary endeavour to draw feedback, comments and criticisms to enable the owners to take stock of what the customer wants before “birthing” their new pride and joy. It’s certainly interesting, wanting to know what the customer wants and all that, but it seems like a rather expensive experiment for such successful entrepreneurs. I’m extremely curious what their next baby will turn out to be.
They were having an oysters promotion at only RM24 nett for half a dozen oysters, or RM40 for the oysters and a pint and a half of Guinness. No prizes for guessing which one Bald Eagle went for.
Looking at the menu, we felt that we were transported back to Souled Out but without the crowd. I’m surprised that for an experiment such as this, they’d resort to using a tried and tested menu. The menu consisted of Western, Asian and North Indian offerings.
He had the Cordon Bleu Chicken (RM24), essentially deep fried boneless whole leg wrapped around a sausage, cheese and chicken ham. A mushroom sauce dressed the dish. It’s interesting that chicken breast wasn’t used for this dish, but I’m all for a boneless leg as the meat is less stringy.
I was in the mood for a non-spicy Indian dish (you didn’t know there was one, did you?) and the Chicken Makanwala was a perfect choice. This is boneless chicken cooked in a tangy butter sauce. I’m glad that there was a liberal serving of this sauce which I mopped up with the fluffy naan bread provided on the side. The dish also came with green peas and mushroom masala, raitha, a salad and papadum. All for RM25.
We wanted dessert, but the only item available was the Volcano (RM19), presumably named because of the way the Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream is plopped on top of the moist chocolate cake in praline sauce with cashew nuts. It was not quite a Krakatoa though. I felt cheated for having to spend RM19 on this tiny dessert that didn’t quite do anything explosive to my palate. Yes, it was nice, but two mouthfuls and I was done.
Cafe WIP
Lot G111, Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre,
285, Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandaraya,
59000 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2094 1789/2789
Operational Hours: Daily from 12 noon till “closing” (don’t ask me what that means)
Food, for me, is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
Food, for me, represents the love of family, the fellowship of friends, and the community and communality it brings.
Kenny Mah
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:16 am
Omigosh, it’s so gorgeous your new site that I am absolutely speechless dunno what to say but it’s so cool and clean and the design is mad mad I tell you mad cool but still mad which makes it even cooler o boy o boy sweet am I glad I know you man except you know you’re my lady the Lady and not a man so not a man o swell wait till I tell Kam Raslan about this and did I mention I got you a hot date with the man actually more of a weekend luncheon but still yeah
…phew.
Paprika
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 am
Waaaaahhhhhhhhh. Eh eh Mak Meena sudah pindah rumah ke? Wah rumah baru ni macam fancy condo kat KLCC kan? Really swanky, love it!
Henry Yeo
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 am
I missed your wonderful list of dining venues on the sidebar.
Yet very nice to start the new year with a new look (read: I am jealous)
crunchasaurus rex
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:58 am
Love your new site..! congrats..!! did you just buy a domain from blogger..?? because i see you kept your Page Rank.. 🙂
KennyStyle
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 am
Gorgeous new site you had here^^
and you booked the whole restaurant? that’s was cool!!
Lyrical Lemongrass
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 am
Kenny: Shhhh….Bald Eagle reads this blog. 😛
Paprika: You like it?? 🙂 I do toooo!!
Henry Yeo: It’s still there, but on a different page. It’s much neater now.
crunchasaurus rex: Thank you!! No, didn’t get it from blogger. I haven’t looked at all the technicalities yet, though! Need another month to do that. haha.
KennyStyle: Thank you!! Nah, we didn’t book the whole restaurant. Bald Eagle was just joking about the lack of diners at that hour!
Nic (KHKL)
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
A new look,
Lotsa hardwork it took,
A sure hook,
Makes mine looks gook.
Fu-yoh! Ada “ads” pulak tu…haha!
Seriously, great job!
Barbie
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Wah…. This is like stepping into someone’s newly designed house. Great way to start a new year. But the pics are a bit smaller le… Congrats! *Hugs*
yammylicious*
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
congrazt tat u found another home ya! muaxx!! cool site! in love wif ur newwww home! new year new home!
happies new year =)
babe_kl
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
wooo loved your new funky abode! keep them coming
Ling
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
I haven’t been to Souled Out before so I don’t know how it is like there but the oysters looks damn yummy! Eventhough I don’t really like oysters, it looks really yummy in your picture.
Riz Ainuddin
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
Congratulations on new site. Bravo! Bravo!
lotsofcravings
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
looking good..so i guess being celebrity blogger of the yr is too much for blogspot eh?
cafe wip..i dont see any wip hereas well..
Lyrical Lemongrass
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Nic: Thanks! My husband will attest to the fact that he hasn’t seen much of me ever since I was hit by this crazy idea!
Barbie: Small pics? Noted! Will have to read up on how to adjust the codes. Damn susah, I tell ya! Happy New Year, girl!!
Yammylicious: Glad you like it! There’s more to come! And happy new year!
Babe_kl: Ooo I’m so glad you like it! Thanks!
Ling: The food’s good, and my grouse is that it isn’t different from Souled Out. The oysters were yummy alright! hehe.
Riz: Bravo, eh? hehe. Thanks dude for all your help. Really appreciate it. One round of donuts coming up!
Lyrical Lemongrass
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Joe: I registered this long ago when i started blogging leh. Only recently did something about it seeing that I was paying money for something that I wasn’t using much. No regrets now. hehe.
JOjo
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Congrats to your new site!
Good job so far, i supposed you are gg to renovate the site more is it?
Pretty pretty , for a brand new year!
Bernsy
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
congratulations, happy new year and happy new blog.
The sites really looking good. 😉 would you like to pimp my blog too ? hhehehe
MeiyeN
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Oh wow, congrats on your .com status!!! 😀
think of it, it has been such a long time i last dropped by bsc.. think ever since i find village grocer items cheaper and fresh! would really love to try this place.. perhaps one day when i return to bsc!
*happy new year to you and your hubby!
bhags
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
your new site is wonderful…..congrats…so its a grand start to the new year…..Happy new year to you, your husband and the Makan club….have a fabulous year ahead
teckiee
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
A new year a new domain! Nice!
Precious Pea
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Cool sista. Much organised but your photos so beautiful so make it bigger ok?
Christine
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Congrats on your new domain! Pretty and organized!
New year.. new look! Good job 🙂
kat
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
New year, new look! So stylo-mylo – cantik!! Love the orange curlicues! 😀
Does makanwala actually mean something ah?? There is a dish called Butter Chicken here that’s quite tasty and rich.
Big Boys Oven
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
what a fantatsic facelift. sounds like you had used a really good surgeon. We too need a good face transform, any recommendation…..lol! We love it! Congratulations!
ekeng
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Wow..New home eh…Congratulation for moving to new domain..Happy New Year to u Meena..
Gosh..the Oyster are calling my name..Hehe 🙂
ImbiNIthcy
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Newwwwww home, newww space, newwww colour and layout .. niceeee Meena :-). One prob yeah, I was trying to leave comment from my work place this afternoon but I can’t. No prob from home. Strange huh.
Tummythoz
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 pm
*wipe feet*. New home very clean. Sorry, will bring own bucket(s) next time – you know your pix always make me salivate non-stop.
yin
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 am
wah…new blog in conjunction with a new year huh? cantik!!
Trinit-ivy
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hey, first time to you blog. It’s really great. love the photos. Let me know what camera you are using. I am looking out for a good camera to buy. Thanks.
Firehorse
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
Wah keong hee keong hee your new blog very nice 😀
jason
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Uh oh… a new WordPress citizen! Love the spacious layout 🙂
Christy
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
New site….HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!!:D
Lyrical Lemongrass
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
JOjo: Yep, gonna renovate further. Itchy fingers, I guess!
Bernsy: I pimp ur blog on my blogroll mah. What can I say, I really like your blog, man!
Meiyen: I know what you mean. I also do my grocery shopping at Village Grocer – the vegetables are sooo fresh! (Do I sound like an ad?)
bhags: Thanks!! Happy New Year to you too (from me, the Makan Club and the hubs!)!
teckiee: good thing it’s not a new year a new husband. 😛
Precious sista: Noted your comment. Will do my best to enlarge the column. 😉
Christine: Thank you!! So sweet of you! (and that, you are!!)
Lyrical Lemongrass
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
kat: Glad you love it! Stylo milo – hehe. So long since i heard that! I’m not sure about the Makanwala thing. Will find out and let you know, but yeah, it’s essentially chicken in butter sauce.
BBO: Hahaha. Glad you like it. If you need a surgeon, buzz me and I’ll point you in the right direction. 🙂
ekeng: oysters calling ekeng, ekeng, ekeng! hehehe. Go eat! 🙂
ImbiNItchy: Hmmmm…I shall have to look into it (like real only coz I’m all blonde when it comes to techie stuff!).
Tummythoz: Like all things in my life, dunno how long the “neatness” will last. hehe.
Yin: Thankyew thankyew! I like it too. 🙂
Trinit-ivy: It’s a Canon EOS 400D – my baby! Happy shopping for a new camera and do drop by again!
Firehorse: You like? Yayyyy. Now I so happy aledy!
Jason: Not completely a WordPress citizen. Just borrowing ony. 😛
Christy: Happy 2008 to you too, dear!!
tankiasu
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I thought you gave an award to Lianne because she is enlightened and joined the Blogspot gang? 😛 And now you are defecting to WordPress. Booo hooo….
Kekeke 😀
Brian @ dDoinkster
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Hey pretty lady,
Happy new year!
love the new look.
🙂
sc
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
congrats on the new blog..nice! Happy new year!
wmw
January 4th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Thought I left an earlier comment??? Anyways….Happy New Year. Since you have “defected”, you’ll know what you award will be! Hahaha….
Lyrical Lemongrass
January 4th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Tankiasu: This, my dear, is called Nirvana. hahaha. Kidding. 🙂 I guess I know what award I shall be getting next year. 😛
Brian: Hi babe! Haven’t bumped into you in awhile. I guess I should go look for you at Alor, eh? 😉 Happy New Year!
sc: Thanks, and have a wonderful 2008, Ms. Almost A Vietnamese!
wmw: Nope, no unmoderated comments from u. 😛 Defected, eh? Hahahaha. So when u gonna join me? 😛 *hugs*
wokandspoon
January 4th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Love your new site!! Hope you had a good Christmas and Happy New Year!
Brian @ dDoinkster
January 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
hahaha.. 😉
haven’t been there for a while either.
how’ve you been?
Msiagirl
January 8th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Gosh congrats, belatedly! You on the ball girl 🙂 Happy shiny New Year.
Mary
January 18th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Nice blog you have here
Cafe WIP, Bangsar « she, the epicuriousgirl.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
[…] reviews; – lyrical lemongrass – […]