Revisited Elegant Inn after they had renovated their outlet in Taman Connaught for the first time in perhaps 2 years tonight. Earlier in the afternoon, my wife and I had visited a good friend, LCW, who's a champion rottweiler breeder. While we there, we were introduced to Jo, a fellow foodie and a waisikkai reader. So my wife decided to invite LCW & his wife and Jo to join us for dinner at Elegant Inn, a place that Jo had mentioned was on her "want to do" list before she dies. OK, I exaggerate on the "want to do" list before she dies but she did say she would love to try the food there.
I first visited Elegant Inn in 2005 after hearing about their amazing fried rice from a friend, Jack, and I had loved the food there. Since that first trip, I had visited in 2 more times. Yes 3 visits in 4 years is not that many times, but you know I can't afford to repeat restaurants too often, otherwise I would just not be able to get around to hundreds of restaurants and eateries available in Kuala Lumpur.
The food came, we ate and after we finished, started a discussion of
the finer points of the meal for the next 2 hours. OK, we didn't really
speak only about the meal for 2 hours. It was interspersed with
discussions on food in other places and travels and our football club
but we managed to squeeze in our thoughts on what was good and what was
not about the meal.
The braised "lung tan" fish served in a claypot, while good and
flavourful, did not bring out the full flavour and the freshness of the
fish. Jo, who is an accomplished cook herself, thinks too much corn
starch was used - thus masking the taste of the fish.
The "yau mak" vegetable was forgettable and something even Bernice
could produce. The vegetable was overcooked, something we would not
expect of a place like Elegant Inn.
The fried rice while fragrant and firm, did not look as good as the
first time we had it. Then it had looked like every grain of rice was
covered in egg. This time it did not. The visual letdown was not the
end of it. It was let down by the quality of the salted fish used. The
salted fish was too hard and therefore made the fried rice dish overall
to be somewhat less desireable that what it had been.
However, there were two dishes that saved the day. The stir fried pork
neck was very good and we absoultely loved the salted vegetable and
pepper pig stomach soup, which was still very much to die for. Not too
much pepper that it leaves your tongue numb and overpower your
tastebuds nor too little that it makes you wanting to add pepper to it.
However, LCW had a comment that the soup was not served hot enough,
which we all agreed. But I guess, that was due to the process of them
pouring the soup into our soup bowls from the main bowl.
It was however a wonderful dinner as the dinner conversation with
others who have such a deep appreciation of food and are able to say
which parts work and which part don't. LCW, MH & Jo - I look
forward to having dinner with you guys again.
