Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Elegant Inn - Taman Connaught

With the Chinese New Year barely 2 weeks away and since we're talking about one of my favourite Chinese restaurants - Elegant Inn - I think it's quite timely that I share some of their other great offerings.  The few posts I have put up here so far were about their Menara Hap Seng restaurant.

Now, let's take a yummy look at their Taman Connaught restaurant.  Oh before that, did I mention that Elegant Inn is listed in The Miele Guide as 1 of Asia's Finest Restaurant for 2010/2011? 

Elegant Inn had been making waves in the Chinese, particularly Hong Kong-style cuisine scene, in the Klang Valley for a number of years now... starting from their Taman Connaught restaurant.  Housed in a humble intermediate shoplot, this restaurant is only open on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays and helmed by the gorgeous-looking Chef Wesley Ng.  On all the other days, you can catch Chef Wesley in their Menara Hap Seng outlet.  Yes - that's for the benefit of Chef Wesley's legion of fans... which is growing by the day, so I heard :-)

To usher in the Year of the Rabbit, Jeannette Han & her team have come up with 6 special Festive Menus, ranging from RM798++ to RM2,988++ for 10 persons.  The menus go by names like Auspicious, Happy, Blossom, Noble, Wealthy and Supreme ... all very appropriate for the Chinese New Year, wouldn't you say?

Some of the items on these menus are featured in the Standard Chartered Bank Extravagant 8 Menu.

Other special offerings you can find in Elegant Inn... my favourite among the trio below are those wicked Scallops rolled in Bacon - they are out of this world, believe me.

Elegant Inn Cheras-1

In my previous post, I talked about their signature Salted Egg Yolk style of cooking used for prawns.  Their usual offering for this style of cooking is actually their Crabs...

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... and remember I mentioned how Chef Wesley would painstakingly and patiently spend 20-25 minutes just to cook up this dish?  I know, because I have seen him doing it...

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Talking about signature dishes, do ask for their Pepper Pig Stomach Soup... double-boiled with all sorts of goodies like village chicken, pork ribs, dried scallops, chinese ham, pickled mustard...

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Their signature Golden Boneless Stuffed Chicken... something not to be missed!

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On one occasion when we had dinner there, we were served this rather plain looking plate of Noodles... which at first glance, looked rather boring. 

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However, we learned a valuable lesson that night: Do Not Judge Noodles by Their Look

This was where the genius-ness (for lack of a better word) of Chef Wesley came into play.  One slurp of these noodles and we were sold... totally.  For all I could see, there were only mushrooms and Chinese chives used in this dish... so how did Chef Wesley make this one of the yummiest-ever noodles dish I had ever eaten?  This is a must-order item for us.

OK, if noodles aint your scene, then you must... you must really... try this...

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That, is possibly the Best Lap Mei Fan (Rice with Waxed Meats) on this side of the planet.  Read how Masak-Masak describes this - she does a much better job than I ever could.  Jeannette personally goes to Hong Kong and scouts for the best waxed meats there and personally hand-carry them back.  Such is the pride and passion this lady has for the fare served in Elegant Inn.

The goose liver sausage used in this divine pot is from the famed Yung Kee in Hong Kong, no less... my favourite!

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The Lap Mei Fan is featured in some of their festive CNY Menus... else, you can also order this a'la carte... until stocks last!  I'd advise that you call to book this in advance - it is, after all, the Best Lap Mei Fan around here :-))

Elegant Inn Cheras

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Elegant Inn Restaurant
16 Jalan Waras 1
Taman Connaught, Cheras
56000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel:  03-9130-2626
Fax:  03-9132-6577

*Opens Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays only
Operation hours: Fridays:  12.00pm - 2.30pm & 6.00pm - 10.30pm
Saturdays & Sundays:
10.30am - 2.30pm & 6.00pm - 10.30pm

18 comments:

Sean said...

ahhh, i've never managed to venture to their taman connaught original outlet. luckily these days i don't have to, since the hap seng branch is a 10-15 minute drive from my office, phew! :D
am amazed at how ALL the food you've photographed in this entry here looks great =)

J said...

You all never invite me. I oso want to eat. *sob sob* :P

qwazymonkey said...

wah two elegant inn post in a row! how lah u gonna go back to tasting normal food?

J2Kfm said...

Oh dear... the LAP MEI FAN! Very hard to find really really nice ones these days.
Yeah, I'm sounding like an old man now, craving for something of such nature. :)

Oh good that there's another Elegant Inn in town, only was aware of the Hap Seng one.

PureGlutton said...

Sean: Yes, Menara Hap Seng is definitely easier for u! Hehe, thanks - but all the food featured here memang very good!

PureGlutton said...

J: Aiyor, don't la sob sob - we arrange to go togeder-geder soon, ok!

PureGlutton said...

QMonkey: Hehe, ya lor - Elegant Inn has totally spoiled me but no worry, I love all other "normal" food too, LOL!

PureGlutton said...

J2Kfm: U better go & satisfy your cravings soon ;-)
Ahh, this Tmn Connaught EI is the original establishment.

thule a.k.a leo said...

for the same price, I could have the same food in a better environment at their Menara Hap Seng outlet... so normally I'd choose the one in KL and not in Cheras!

ICook4Fun said...

This is my family favorite place to dine. Be it dim sum weekends or dinner. I think they serve the best Chinese food in KL.

choi yen said...

The chef quite leng zai wor... ^^

Andrew said...

wah the Lap Mei Fan looks really good.

Sadly, I have no idea how to get there =.="

Kenny Mah said...

"Do Not Judge Noodles by Their Look!"

I am gonna make this my personal motto from now on, Sifu! :D

Pureglutton said...

Leo: Yeah, go to whichever one that's more convenient for u :)

Pureglutton said...

ICook4Fun: I totally agree with u!

Pureglutton said...

Choi Yen: Yes, he is, isn't he? :P

Pureglutton said...

Andrew: If their Cheras outlet is too "complicated" to get to, go to their Menara Hap Seng outlet. Menara Hap Seng is the former "MUI Plaza", across from Shangri-La Hotel KL.

Pureglutton said...

LFB: LOL! In fact we should not judge anything by their covers, hoh?