What Do You Do When You When You've Forgotten the Camera? Iketeru Revisited

October has turned out to be a surprisingly unhappening month for me, socially. Well, actually it's a myth that I lead a busy social life to begin with, ...I'm usually free as a Malaysian Civil Servant (okay, to be fair, I know certain civil servants are swamped, such as doctors) but October seems to be even free-er. Take last weekend for example, apart from a Raya Open House and Birthday Party on Friday night, I had the WHOLE weekend to recuperate from the hangover that I obtained on Friday. Ain't that great. So, when it comes to these thumb twiddling weekends, nothing like utitizing the hotel discount card, for wife and me, (50% off wor!), and watch a B Grade movie after.

Actually, the same thing happened LAST Saturday (ie, no social obligations), and we headed to Iketeru, KL Hilton, for dinner. Halfway into our destination, after dropping off a large cake order, I realised I had forgotten my camera. Halfway into the meal, I sms-ed AWOL (A Whiff of Lemongrass) who replied I should take pics with my phone camera. But as the sms-es were coming in fast and furious (not from her), I totally forgot to do that as well. I have developed this skill of appearing to talk to the wife while sms-ing....

For a restaurant of Iketeru's stature, I have to say the tables are FAR too close to each other, especially the couple tables. I could've easily stroked the thigh of the lady on the next table, afterall, I was already privvy to their intimate conversations. Speculation, as to whether she was the girlfriend, or the SPG, or the flavour du jour, to the Mat Salleh chap who was paying the bill.

Another observation I made were the rich families, who bring their very bored looking kids to dinner at such establishments. This week, there was a family of four, where one of the kids had his ears perpetually plugged, and the glare of some kind of LCD device illuminated his countenance..., much like a halo. Last week, it was your typical rich taukeh, probably drives a BMW 7 series, with his three daughters, ....who looked as though they were on the way to the Tower of London to suffer the same fate as Anne Boleyn.

So what does one do when one forgets the camera? Go again la.

The lighting at our regular table (regular, coz we sat there for two consecutive Saturdays) is shocking to say the least.





The sashimi Hamachi was superb, and felt like the fish could have been doing the 100m freestyle just a minute ago. RM73 for 5 pieces, before discount. Pretty good, I was doing the mental arithmetic in my head, despite not having the privilege of a Chinese School Education.



Spider Maki, or soft shell crab roll. Of course, all these dishes inevitably get compared with our usual Zipangu, Shangri-la. Well, both are equally good, to be honest. I love that balsamicky sauce that is used to embellish the dish. Being the pleb that I am, I am never very sure which are garnish, and decor, and which are meant to be eaten. I almost ate the yellow flower on the plate of sashimi.

The previous Saturday, we had ordered a Salmon Skin Roll as well, but this time decided not to. Also, we had the Rib Eye teppenyaki, which was SUPERB!!! Marbled fatty meat, perfectly done to medimum-ness, accompanied by a generous serving of garnishing vegetables.

This time round, we only had the seafood fried rice and enoki mushroom teppenyaki. Afterall, the KLSE has dropped by a few points since last saturday, so an austerity drive is called for.

I love enoki mushroom. That chewy slimy feel, gives my palate such a kick. And the fried teppenyaki garlic, oooh, I could eat a whole bowl of that.

The seafood fried rice was also delicious. Fluffy grains of short grained Japanese rice, fried with enough wok hei, (surprisingly), and not oily at all. Fantastic. I should just have this for lunch one of these days. Oh, with the hamachi of course.

Compared with those high class flers who indulge in kaisekis, and other forms of degustation menu, I am but a peasant. I love Tempura, and make no apologies for it. And I love the tempura at Iketeru even more. The batter is light, and almost fluffy. Crispy on the outside, maintaining the moistness and succulence of the fresh prawn within.

Finally, we had the saba teriyaki. I love mackerel, (I told you I am a pleb), but honestly, I think this was too fancied up. I prefer it done the usual way, with skin on, and without all the fancy weave work on the surface. The flesh was tender and juicy, exceedingly fresh.

Usually I would order a black sesame ice cream (as I did the previous week), but I had an Upside Down Pear and Ginger Pudding waiting for me at home.

I had originally intended to bring it with me for karaoke organised by Hairy Berry, but as my head was still spinning like a washing machine, from the hangover of the previous night, I opted to sleep it off instead of listening to Hairy Berry and gang croon away.

Meanwhile, back to observations, I notice the couple next to us going Dutch. The lady opposite me told me that in her heyday, if she was out on a date she didn't fancy, she'd insist on paying for her share too. Hmmm, I should then take comfort that she's never insisted in paying her share while dining with me. Those of you who know her, don't go repeating this.

Apparently Zipangu is having a losbter promo beginning 17th October. Salivating.....any good stock tips anyone?