[New Menu] Porkilicious Meal in MARCO Creative Cuisine, 1 Utama

Welcome to the heaven of creative food! ❤

After our first visit to MARCO Creative Cuisine for its value-for-money 7-course menu last year, now we are back here again to try out its all-new ala carte menu which boasts a complete selection of entree, pasta, main courses and desserts; each of which comes with creative injections of food elements from around the world. 

Surrounded by white walls with gold ribbons, the elegant ambiance in this 62-seater restaurant has never failed to exude a sense of class and comfort which enhances our dining experience here. 

Not forgetting to mention that there is a jellyfish glass display at the entrance which is also 

the center of attention among patrons who walk past MARCO.

I am sure you would love to drop by for a photo or two too.

Wanna have some porky treats? Find them right here in MARCO!

I notice the menu invented by Chef-owner Daren Leong, is very much inspired by the French cooking style. However, with Chef Daren's strong commitment in experimenting with flavours and textures of food, every dish served in MARCO is full of creativity and unique on its own.

ENTREE

Aromatic Chicken Consomme (香浓鸡汤) @ RM20

To begin with some flavours closer to our root, we savour the warm consomme of chicken broth served in a coffee plunger. To my delight, this classic French-style clarified soup tastes more intense than our usual chicken broth. 

In fact, every sip of the chicken consomme yields delicious sweetness

with refined taste of aromatic herbs and spices. Simple yet soul-comforting!

Ratatouille with Kimchi Puree (法式泡菜泥炖菜) @ RM25

Another entree we have is again, a traditional French offering, but now it is infused with Asian touches. The mosaic arrangement of thinly-sliced zucchini, eggplant, tomato, and confit in piperade sauce is a hearty appetizer on its own, but it is the tangy kimchi paste that spices up the overall flavours and keeps us craving for more. 

MAIN

Pork Loin Steak (低温烹调猪排) @ RM40

with choices of sides (truffle fries, roasted vegetables or salad)

and sauce (olive and butter, blue cheese or thick sauce)

When it comes to the mains, of course we would not miss the new porky dish! Unlike many rock-hard pork steak out there, MARCO's sous vide pork loin steak comes in a perfect ratio of lean meat and fatty layer, and feels extremely tender and juicy on the mouth.

The olive and butter dip is great to enhance the overall savoury taste, but for those with more adventurous taste buds, try it with blue cheese dip and you'd be surprised by the synchronicity of flavours!

Bacon & Egg Spaghetti (培根鸡蛋意大利面) @ RM33

While new dishes are worth trying, we don't mind coming back for MARCO's No. 1 signature pasta -- a very well-portioned Japanese-inspired spaghetti cooked in bacon dashi (Japanese-style stock), accompanied by streaky bacon, shimeiji mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and 75°C egg. 

Don't forget to mix all the condiments together for a more balanced taste.

I personally enjoy the blend of gooey egg and bacons which make the dish so savoury and filling.

DESSERT

Sticky Date Pudding (马六甲黑糖枣蓉布丁配雪糕) @ RM19

As a finale of our sumptuous meal, we opt for the house-made sticky date pudding which sits boldly on a base of salted Gula Melaka sauce and is crowned with a crisp sesame almond tuile, and generous scoop of rum and raisin ice cream. Lovin' its irresistibly rich sweetness and subtle hint of saltiness in it.

Brulee Cheesecake (available from October 2018 onwards) 

As a special treat before we call it a night, we get to sample the latest creation in the house which combines our two favourite desserts -- Creme Brulee and Cheesecake -- into one. 

Cracking into the crisp burnt sugar topping of this creamy cheesecake will get you into the light and fluffy center of sweetened cream cheese and crumbly base. Don't forget to pair it with the dollops of lemon cream for a refreshing touch. 

French Press @ RM9 / Americano @ RM9 

Finally, let's wash down the meal with a cup of single origin French Press coffee. 

Apart from the above ala carte dishes, MARCO also serves weekday value lunch sets (main + soup + salad) from 11am to 5pm. And the price is only from RM19.80! Great for those working in the vicinity of Bandar Utama. 

Verdict:

1. The wide-ranging unique and creative menu in MARCO makes it a great venue for those seeking for gastronomical pleasures without burning a hole in the pocket.  

2. Recommended dishes: Bacon & Egg Spaghetti, Pork Loin Steak, Brulee Cheesecake

Marco Creative Cuisine
Lot G146, Ground Floor (Old Wing)
1 Utama Shopping Centre,
1, Lebuh Bandar Utama,
Petaling Jaya,
47800 Selangor.

Reservation: +603-7731 8923
Email: reservation@marcocreativecuisine.com
Website: www.marcocreativecuisine.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marcocreativecuisine
Instagram: www.instagram.com/marcocreativecuisine

Business Hours: 10am – 10pm daily

Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant @ 1 Utama Shopping Centre, PJ

Quack! Did you hear the ducks calling?

Have you noticed some of 龙的传人Dragon-i Restaurant outlets look different recently? Being the leading Shanghainese and Hong Kong restaurant chain operator in Malaysia since 2004, Dragon-i has up their game by relaunching “Dragon-i Restaurant” to “Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant” in 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

As the name suggests, you can now feast on the signature dish of China, Peking Duck at this exclusive outlet. What also sets Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant one level above the usual Dragon-i outlets is the exquisite, fine dining inspired setting, along with a premium menu featuring the traditional, authentic tastes of Shanghai and Huaiyang.

Taking the centrestage of the restaurant now is the open-kitchen concept roasting room where we can observe the original way of preparing the specialty Peking Duck. Here we get to see how the experienced chefs roast each and every hand-picked Peking Duck using the specially-built traditional brick hung ovens.

It is true that delicious food takes time and effort. Each Peking Duck is meticulously roasted for about an hour over the fruit-tree wood before it is served. Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant has also flown in some experienced chefs from Beijing to monitor the roasting, ensuring that the restaurant delivers only the most authentic iteration of Peking Duck to the customers.

I bet the smoky floral aroma of Peking Duck is so irresistibly good that almost every table orders a duck to try. Since it is so well-received by the crowd, we can’t wait to try it out too.

DRAGON-I SIGNATURE PEKING DUCK

There are two choices of Peking Duck meal to choose from:

Option 1: Peking Duck 2-course meal @ RM105

Peking Duck + Duck Bone Soup with Soft Beancurd

Option 2: Peking Duck 3-course meal @ RM158

Peking Duck (Whole) + Duck Bone Soup with Soft Beancurd + 1 Duck Dish from the following options:

1. Deep-fried Duck’s Bone with Salt and Pepper

2. Stir-fried Duck’s Bone in Hunan Style

3. Braised Rice Noodle with Black Truffle and Shredded Duck Meat

4. Stir-fried Shredded Duck Meat with Vegetarian Shark’s Fin

When the freshly-roasted Peking Duck is served to our table, the chef skillfully shreds off the skin, followed by breast meat and leg meat of the duck and plates them beautifully right in front of us.

Peking Duck Three Courses (Whole) (京式片皮鸭  - 三食) @ RM158

First Course: Peking Duck 
(一食 - 片胸皮，胸肉，腿肉，青瓜丝，葱丝，蜜瓜条，自创京酱，荷叶饼)

  

Look at those ultra-thin slices of bronze, crispy skin! Every slice gives a nice crunch on the mouth, while the meaty part is tender and succulent without losing its moisture.

Cucumber, Green Onion, Honey Melon are the must-have condiments for Peking Duck.

For the best enjoyment, let’s savour it in the most authentic way: Place a slice of cucumber, green onion, honey melon, and a dollop of homemade BBQ sauce onto the paper-thin popiah skin. Then roll it up with the duck meat and let it burst in the mouth with its rich, juicy flavours!

Second Course: Duck Bone Soup with Soft Beancurd
(二食 - 豆腐鸭架浓汤)

You must be wondering where’s the rest of the duck! Don’t worry, for the 3-course Peking Duck meal, you’ll get to enjoy the whole duck in various cooking styles. Our second course is the duck bone soup, slow-boiled for several hours and punch-packed with savoury flavours of the bird.

Third Course: Stir-fried Duck’s Bone in Hunan Style
(三食 - 湖南炒鸭架)

For the remaining parts of the duck, we have it in spicy Hunan style for that fiery kick. But if you prefer something less adventurous, there are 3 other non-spicy options available.

DRAGON-I PEKING DUCK RESTAURANT’S NEW MENU

Apart from the signature Peking Duck, the restaurant’s new menu also entices patrons with various unique flavours from the East. Let’s see what new dishes have we tried...

Signature Appetizer Platter (Five Varieties) @ RM83

5 colorful components beautifully presented in 5 petal-shaped plate, resembling a blooming flower:

Chilled Chicken with “Hua Diao” Rice Wine (醉鸡)

Deep-fried Vegetarian Beancurd Skin Roll (脆皮素鹅)

Crispy Caramelized Eels (蜜汁脆鳝)

Stewed Mushrooms (小冬菇)

Pickled Radish (酱萝卜)

*Each variety is also available individually

Double-boiled Hydrangea Beancurd, Sea Cucumber and Matsutake (Individual portion) @ RM38
(上汤参茸炖绣球)

We are totally blown by the chef’s excellent knife skills when we are told that the beancurd in the savoury superior soup is delicately sliced into 2,800 extremely thin shreds, forming a shape of chrysanthemum flower when it swims in the broth. Overall, the broth is light, simple and comforting!

Braised Pork Belly served with Steamed Buns @ RM88
(宝塔扣肉花包)

Another excellent piece of art you must try here is the braised pork belly. Unlike the usual chunky Dong Bo Rou (東坡肉) served in cubes, the premium pork belly here is finely sliced, wrapped and layered to form a perfect pyramid. What a feast on the eyes before we dig into the meaty goodness!

Cutting through the pyramid, we are delighted to taste the tender and smooth pork belly with good ratio of fat-to-meat. Good to go with dollops of preserved vegetables (梅菜) buried within the pyramid, rich brown sauce and steamed bun. Tastewise, it hits right at the mark without having any ingredient overshadowing another.

Sautéed Diced Chicken with Dried Flower Chili in Szechuan Style@ RM38
(干煸红袍清远鸡)

For those who are up for a fiery challenge, try the Szechuan-style diced chicken and you’d feel your throat on fire. I love how the sesame bits add a delicious aroma to the overall spicy dish.

Sautéed Mixed Vegetables @ RM25
(上汤参茸炖绣球) 

Shanghainese Steamed Meat Dumplings (4 pieces) (上海小笼包) @ RM12

Steamed Egg Yolk Custard Charcoal Bun (3 pieces) (流沙包) @ RM16

While our adventurous taste buds would love exploring more of the new menu, nothing beats the enjoyment of digging into our all-time favourite Xiao Long Bao which explodes in the mouth with hot porky soup, or the luxurious golden custard bun which oozes out a creamy rich concoction of molten sweet custard and savoury egg yolk.

Overall Verdict

1. Be it the time-tested classics or the new innovative dishes, Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant has nailed it.

2. In terms of food presentation, taste, restaurant ambience and dining experience, I have no complaints at all.

3.  Recommended: Peking Duck, Double-boiled Hydrangea Beancurd Soup and Braised Pork Belly

Feel free to visit any of the flagship Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurants here:

❤ Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

❤ 1 Utama Shopping Centre

❤ Sky Avenue, Genting Highlands

❤ Komtar Mall, Johor Bahru

Dragon-i Peking Duck Restaurant
1 Utama Shopping Centre
Lot S313A,
2nd Floor New Wing,
Lebuh Bandar Utama,
Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Outlet contact: +603-7725 8822
Dragon-i Hotline: +603-7806 3188

Website: www.dragon-i.com.my
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mydragoni/
Official WeChat account: dragonimy
Business Hours: 11am – 10pm daily

Other Dragon-i outlets:
❤ Mid Valley Megamall, KL
❤ Cheras Leisure Mall, KL
❤ Berjaya Time Square, KL
❤ Sunway Pyramid, PJ
❤ The Curve, PJ
❤ IOI City Mall, Putrajaya
❤ IOI Mall, Puchong
❤ Aeon Bukit Tinggi, Klang
❤ Queensbay Mall, Penang
❤ Gurney Plaza, Penang
❤ Ipoh Station 18
❤ City Square, Johor Bahru
❤ Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru
❤ Dataran Pahlawan Megamall, Melaka
❤ Imago Shopping Centre, Kota Kinabalu

*List is updated at the point of publication

Isaac Toast & Coffee @ 1 Utama Shopping Centre, PJ

Do you remember the huge hype when South Korea's best sandwich shop, Isaac Toast first landed in Malaysia at KLIA2 last year? Each time I go travelling, I'd definitely grab a Ham and Cheese Toast and go. Having said that, how often do I get to enjoy this Korean Toast unless I go all way to Sepang right? 

After its second outlet opening in Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, the long-awaited good news is finally here: Isaac Toast now opens in 1 Utama shopping mall, PJ!

Yes, it means that you don't have to go far anymore.

Just grab an Isaac Toast whenever you're in 1 Utama!

Similar to the kiosk in KLIA2, the kiosk in 1 Utama has its full menu displayed on the board.

The menu is simple and straightforward too -- 9 types of sandwiches and a wide array of beverages.

The signature toasted sandwiches come in a variety of fillings such as:

❤ Chicken Bacon Cheese [Popular!!]

❤ Kimchi Ham [Popular!!]

❤ Potato Double Cheese

❤ Turkey Ham Cheese

❤ Kimchi Bacon

❤ Hot Chicken

❤ Shrimp

❤ Pizza

❤ Tuna

You can see all sandwiches are freshly prepared upon ordering at the kiosk

Regardless of the flavour you pick, it contains a layer of soft and gooey omelette that perfects the toast.

My Chicken Bacon Cheese Sandwich is ready! If you have been wondering what makes Isaac Toast SO good, it would be the ultra crisp toasted bread and Isaac's secret sweet sauce that brings every sandwich a right balance of sweet and savoury flavours. 

Filling wise, it is pretty generous. Perfect as a quick bite on the go, and ideal as a main meal for light eaters.

Among all flavours, I find that Kimchi Ham and Kimchi Bacon are the most unique ones that you should give them a try! The kimchi here is surprisingly not as pungent as I'd thought (because I am not a kimchi person), and does not taste spicy too. I am not sure if it has been toned down to suit Malaysians' palate, but this is great even for non-kimchi fans! 

One point to note here is that you can add sweet or spicy sauce to your sandwiches based on personal preference. For the best enjoyment, chomp it down while it is hot!

While the sandwiches are available ala carte, there is always a better deal when things come in a set.

Combo Set @RM20

Create Your Own Combo Set (Toast + Drink)

Only applicable for the following Toast Options:

❤ Kimchi Ham Special

❤ Chicken Bacon Cheese Special

❤ Potato Double Cheese Special 

❤ Kimchi Bacon Special

❤ Tuna Special

Drinks: Choose among Coffee, Ade or Tea 

Potato Double Cheese is amongst the flavours available for the combo set. Need an extra filling meal? Grab this!

One notable thing about this outlet is that, it opens as early as 7.30am. So for those working in the vicinity of Bandar Utama, there is no reason to skip breakfast anymore because Isaac Toast is ready to serve you at 7.30am everyday!

Breakfast Set @ RM10

❤ Includes Ham and Cheese Toast + Yuja Tea

❤ Available everyday from 7.30am - 10.00am

Overall, Isaac Toast is definitely worth a try if you are a fan of Korean toasts with sweet and savoury fillings.

Isaac Toast & Coffee 
(Food Street area, below ISETAN)
Lot LGK113a, Lower Ground Floor,
1 Utama Shopping Centre,
No. 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama,
Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor. 

Website: www.isaac-toast.co.kr 
Facebook: fb.com/IsaacToastCoffeeMalaysia
Instagram: @Isaac_Malaysia

Business Hours:
Sun - Thurs: 7.30am- 10pm
Fri - Sat: 7.30am- 10.30pm