Il Lido In The Spring

I wasn't really aware that we celebrated the Four Seasons here, and if it wasn't for reminders like these, that Il Lido was launching their new spring menu, I'd probably say we were somewhere between Summer...and Hotter Summer, in our local season. Actually, someone should for the sake of variety, create four seasons for our equatorial weather, with interesting names. In Malaysia, we probably have The Moist (rainy season), The Oven (Chinese New Year Time), The Haze (once a year sure one!), and December. December seems to be a season all on its own, everyone winds down, there's a holiday feel...yeah, it's my favourite season.

I digress as usual. When the inimitable Lyla of Il Lido (she reminds me of an energizer bunny, so full of energy) asked us to pop over to taste the new Spring Menu, I was unabashedly delighted, coz I really do like Il Lido, and all my dining experiences there have been above par. For the uninitiated, its located across the Australian High Commission on Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, in a building that must have been someone's house before. The company was sterling as well, with the famous Boolicious, (Masak Masak), Alison Victor (Aly's Wonderland), Ciki of Cumi & Ciki, (that famous international travel and food blog), Famed Food Writer and Culinary Guru, Marian Eu Hooi Khaw... indeed, I was amongst the glitterati of the food literary world. And of course our charming hostess, Lyla Lin. From Singapore. But is very nice.


I made a conscious effort not to fill up on the bread, which is utterly delectable. Bits and bobs of herbacious goodness in a light, moist bread that suits our Asian palate to a T.


The Elegant amuse bouche. I always marvel at teeny weeny Amuse Bouches are served in huge plates...there's something fascinating about that concept. It's like a person occupying a large palace, alone. On the one hand, it shows the importance and grandeur of the person, but on the other hand, there is a sense of loneliness about the whole thing. Anyway, one should NOT overanalyze the emotions and mental health of an amuse bouche. Deep fried camembert, if I remember correctly. One pop in the mouth and its gone. Yummy.


The Family Set Menu comes with 5 Classic antipasti, (I am assuming antipasti is the plural of antipasto, and not a relative of Paranoid Android's whom he constantly refers to), starting with a Vine Ripened Tomato Crab & Tuna Tartare. I cannot say this was my favourite, as I am not really a fan of raw tuna, even sashimi. (I do like certain varieties though like hamachi and all the bellies).



Buffalo Mozarella Cheese, absolutely yummy, and guess what? Made within our own shores. Some of you might remember that this fella started making cheeses in Langkawi.


Parma Ham with Rockmelon. Thinly sliced, and almost melt in the mouth slices complemented with sweet cantaloupe.


The elegant menage a trois.


I loved this dish of Crispy Calamari, which is also part of the antipasti platter. The batter is not heavy, and the squid is not tough. Makes for a lovely accompaniment with alcohol.





But this has to be the bomb. Eggplant Parmigiana. Something like a lasagna, and a mousakka, combining the best of both, yet not too rich, (I can never finish a whole serving of lasagna), and the egg plant is absolutely delicious and smooth.





Seafood Casserole With lobster Broth. Its like they took a section of the ocean with abundant marine life and made it into a reduction... fabulous prawny bisquey flavours, but not overly thick or creamy. This is an additional ala carte item, not part of the family menu.


Crispy Codfish & Mashed Potatoes. Well, I am not sure what kind of "FAMILY" this FAMILY menu is targetting, but this is certainly NOT your ordinary fish and chips that you'd feed your screaming toddler. Flaky but firm pieces of codfish in a light crisp batter.


Stuffed Quail With Goose Liver and Roasted Carrot Puree.... my favourite of the night I think. I recently attended a friend's birthday dinner and found out the strangest fact about another friend. He absolutely cannot get himself to eat small birds if the head etc are served intact. As is often the case with quail. Well, no such problems here. The quail is deboned, rolled up into lovely bite sized pieces, and the gaminess of the quail and the richness of the goose liver, mmmm, heavenly. And who'd have thought that roasted carrot puree could be so palatable.


Garganelli Pasta With Fava Bean Cream. Now, Fava beans are only in my vocabulary because my kid has G6PD, an enzyme deficiency apparently very common amongst Asian boys, and Fava beans are one of the items they are not supposed to eat. However, that doesn't stop the father from indulging. Actually, its very creamy, I guess just like any kidney bean that you may mash up, but the pasta, superb.


Knock knock who's there? Potato Gnocchi and White Wine sauce. What's with the Silent consonants in front of all these knocking gnocchi sounds? If it were up to me, I'd spell it noki. Like a nokia without the A. Lovely texture, but really very filling. I would never be able to finish a whole plate of this by myself.


Grilled Prime Beef With Rucola, Parmigiano Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar. This was the least favourite of mine, mainly because the beef was not particularly flavourful. I don't like beef drenched in gravy, but this naked beef did not have the usual lovely juiciness that accompanies a good piece of steak.


Homemade Spaghetti With Cod, Artichokes and Mint. Lovely flavour, though we commented the spaghetti was a bit on the soft side. Turns out its meant to be that way, as the spaghetti is homemade and cant be al dente per se.


By this time, of course we were like stuffed up to our noses. But the desserts are just too good to miss. Tiramisu, well, if an Italian restaurant like Il Lido doesnt get it right, then there's hardly hope for the rest of the world. Great stuff.


Molten Lava Chocolate Cake. Not really my favourite. But that's just me, its obviously a hit with the others.


Now this, the Panna Cotta, THIS I LOVE!!!! YUMMMMY. I could finish the entire thing myself. Lovely wobbly texture without being gelatinous, creamy, melt in the mouth...mmmmmm, ah, naughty thoughts naughty thoughts!


And to end, lovely petit fours, elegant and tiny, like the amuse bouche. They must be related.

The family Sets are priced at RM148 per person, but I seriously reckon, for a family of 4, or even for 4 adults, two portions plus a couple of additional alacarte items would be MORE than sufficient.

I look forward to bringing the "FAMILY" (not my own...one that can pay their own way preferably) there for a night of indulgent cuisine and merriment.

Thanks muchly Lyla!

Il Lido

There seems to be a few "Il" whatevers popping up. Il Divo, Il Lido, Il Primo. Now, if the Ministry of Education were to set up a restaurant, it would be called Il Literate, and if MACC were to set up one, it'll be Il Legal. The President of MCA's restaurant is called Il Licit. Of course, if I were to set up one, it'll be called Il Lustrious. Ahem!

Il Lido has been touted as "could be the best Italian restaurant in KL" but food cognoscenti, Sean Yoong of Eat Drink KL. With such rare accolade, of course, I was thrilled therefore to have been able to dine there TWICE so far, once for Bald Eagle's Surprise Birthday Dinner (which I've yet to blog about), and once for an invited review, organised by our Makan- Fairy Godmother, as A Lil Fat Monkey calls her. I'm not sure if that term is endorsed by Marian or not.

We were greeted by the warm and bubbly Lyla, who is the PR Lady of the place. Il Lido hails from Singapore, (and therefore it must be good la right?).


They serve a lovely herbed bread, with olive oil and balsamico, but I being the uncultured peasant that I am, prefer my bread with butter. You have to be careful not to overgorge yourself with this bread, as it's so delicious.


The amuse bouche. I love the way that microscopic piece of salmon is placed on that gigantic plate. It's like how Seri Perdana in Putrajaya is way too big for just the PM. However, the salmon was a lovely teaser to the feast that ensued.


A platter of Parma Ham, Rock Melon and Balsamic. Lovely thin strips of parma. There's something magical about the combination of the sweet rockmelon, and parma. I know its quite a normal combo, but whoever thought of it first, must have been quite a genius.


Rucola Salad with Pecorino Cheese, Walnut and Pear. Walnuts also seem to be the natural marriage partner with pears. Its seemed written in the stars. I'm not sure what Rucola is, but it tasted like some baby spinach.


Crab Salad With Avocado and Bisque Jelly. I love crab, and anything with PEELED crab, provided it doesnt have that freezer after taste, is always welcome. Such a pretty looking starter as well.


Spinach and Endive Salad With Golden Egg & Red Onion Compote. The highlight for me was the fried egg, runny yolk on the inside, while the albumen forms a natural sac protecting the liquid gold within.


Baked Eggplant and Mozarella Cheese...a mini mousakka, almost.


Pan Seared Foie Gras with Saba Wine Must and Sweet Potatoes. I have to say that for RM59, it is a generous slab of foie gras, and seared to perfection as well. Totally melt in the mouth, the subtle sweetness of the saba wine must and balsamic in union with the sinful diseased liver, ah, we are close to heaven.


Porcini Mushroom Cream With Truffle. I've only ever heard about such things, I hear they serve a lovely version in Senses, but with no yardstick to compare, I thought this was divine. I think when I return, I shall just have this soup, the foie gras, and their BREAD!


I didnt take many human pictures this time, as I was totally engrossed in the food, but this particular one, juxtaposed against that unique background, makes for a nice shot. Of course the subjects are also photogenic.


Rigatoni with Suckling Pig, Porcini Mushrooms and Truffle. Oh my gawd, if you like rich stuff, go for this dish. It's simply choking with goodness, but it is really too rich for me. Two pieces and I felt like I was about to do a Cheras Pomelo. Bits of luscious sucking pig, in a rich creamy based sauce fill the rigatoni, the way plaque would fill your artery.


Pumpkin Tortellini with Sage. Lovely homemade pasta, so refined and yet comforting.


Linguine With Jumbo Sea Prawns. The prawns were succulent and fresh, and okay, I think THIS dish, I could eat myself. (But not if I've had the Foie and Truffle Cream).
Good old pasta, this one, though it is gourmet.





Wagyu Beef Cheek with Celeriac Puree and fava beans. The beef was worthy of its wagyu status, tender, but there was one element in the sauce that seemed to overpower the dish, which we couldn't quite place.





For the pork lover, this is a must have dish. Sardinian Suckling Pig with Plum Sauce. If Sardinia itself didn't sound exotic enough on its own, this dish conjures up images of Marco Polo returning from his travels in China, and introducing this palatial dish in his hometown. Crispy crackling, a lovely layer of fat, and the tenderest of meat.


Red Snapper Fillet With Egg plant Caviar. Honestly, by this time, my palate had ceased to function, as the brain cried out to the tummy, ENOUGH ENOUGH. Looked healthy and tasty enough.



But there's always room for dessert. Some gelato...


A gorgeous panna cotta, creamy, firm, not overly wobbly...encased in a picturesque sugar net. Such effort people take to decorate their desserts.



Four types of creme brulee, all good.


Classic Tiramisu.


Molten Chocolate Cakes.

What can I say, but WOW, what a meal. I am inclined to agree with Sean's appraisal of the situation, and having dined here twice, (once as a paying guest...well, I didnt pay, but the hostess paid), and once for an invited review, both times have been beyond expectations.

Thanks Lyla for being a gracious host, and Marian for inviting.

Il Lido is situated right across the Aussie High Commission, on Jln Yap Kwan Seng. Tel: 21612291.