Oct 22, 2009 02:07 AM
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After so many previous posts on claiming Malaka Spice to be one of my most favorite restaurants, I write this one with a heavy heart. I visited Malaka after a looong time a few weeks ago.
A lot has changed since it has moved to the new location. Lets start with the few Ah!s I had as soon as I went there, and then I’ll move to the Aagh!s.
The first enormously pleasing sight was in-property parking. And very prompt valet service to add. What a delight that is, after the many a time you had to forego a lunch @ Malaka or Arthurs because of the paucity of parking in the old lane.
Then we were met by a very pleasant hostess who immediately seated us at a table with no wait time whatsoever. And the décor of the new property is fairly spartan yet very classic and pleasing.
Here was where the Ah!s ended and the Arrrgh!s started. We notice that the table we were seated at had used covers of freshener served to previous customer littering the table. Hardly the sign of a classy restaurant. But hey, what the heck, lets give them a long leash here, it is after all one of my top favorites.
Next, I read a nice card introducing our host for the afternoon, Dennis. Makes him sound like a dream guy. Lets check out the specials menu…. Very interesting looking stuff… mmmm!, waiting to start… until I hear someone behind my back asking if mineral or regular water was the choice. Thinking the table behind me is being served, I continued reading the menu card, until my lunch partner informs me that the host is asking me for my choice. I turn around and voila…
No other table there, but the host’s station. Wow, I didn’t know they’d started long distance service here. He doesn’t even bother to come to the table. Just asks me over the shoulder what I want. But no, why should I complain? The card says Dennis is a charming host.
Some suggestions on good starters please (the card also says he is Great at recommendations)? The pride the host has with everything on the list is apparent. He recommends some starters distractedly (he’s still not reached our table, still muttering over my shoulder). When we choose the fried rice dumplings he is encouraging and says it goes great with duck meat. Ok, Duck meat it is! And would we like it spicy or medium? No, we don’t like it too spicy, can you please go really easy on the spice? And can we have the satay on the sugarcane stick pieces? Mmm… that sounds good.
Cant wait to start. Here are the dumplings. They look Delicious! The first bite….. Awesome, but Outrageously BURNING spicy. Whoa, if this is medium, wonder what the full spice blast is. Anyway, we somehow get hold of Dennis, and he has it promptly replaced by a not so spicy but extremely OILY version. But it was gobsmacking delicious. Hey Dennis, can you share with us the secret of how the smoked flavour is gotten. Response: It is duck meat!!!
