32 Bistro.Bar

32 Bistro Bar, which opened late, last year, was quite an impressive sight. The restaurant takes up two whole floors of a corner lot, with the ground floor allocated solely to dining; and the modish bar, wine cellar and cigar cabinet occupying the upper floor. With its classy dark wood furnishing contrasted with creamy latte walls, and relaxing music playing in the background, Kenny Heong, the Chef and Operations Manager of the restaurant, revealed that the interiors of the restaurant were originally designed after mixed and match idea’s. This was also evident in the colourful African paintings that hung on its walls. However, the design had taken a more classic elegance direction as they improvised on it, with the finished product now reminiscent of the elegant bars found along the trendy in Klang Valley. Kenny works closely with his kitchen crew to constantly add new dishes to their menu, which currently comprises of fushion cuisine, drawing influences mainly from Western, Asian, Italian . He shares that he gained his knowledge on a wide variety of food through his years of working in well-known bistros in the Klang Valley. The well-travelled chef is also passionate on adopting culinary techniques from cultures of the various countries he travels to. Armed with the love for good food and the art of cooking, Kenny says he maintains a high standard for the food that he serves to customers. And I had the first hand experience of sampling them. Tapas, a Spanish cuisine fast gaining popularity among the many bistros sprouting in the Klang Valley, was one of the first additions to his menu. For starters, we were served four exotic-named Tapas dishes - the Champinones, Pollo de Jamon, Berejenas Salsa de Pimientos and Gambas con Chili, which came in the form of sautéed button mushrooms, buttered chicken cubes with smoked ham strips, long brinjal with toasted capsicum sauces and fresh tiger prawns in olive oil. Each dish comes in small portions and is usually gravy-based or drenched in olive oil. “Most places serve their Tapas with baguettes but here, we serve assorted breads because it is softer in texture,” shared Kenny. I thoroughly enjoyed the creamy capsicum sauce that came with the mushrooms and buttered chicken cubes that were delectable when taken with the absorbent and slightly sweet. The prawns, cooked just right, were fresh and meaty. Each dish is priced reasonably between the ranges of RM 8 to RM 18. The next dish, Chuletas, a single lamb rack topped with white, creamy garlic sauce and a slice of lemon, completely bowled me over. The lamb, which was beautifully seasoned, was divinely succulent and pink in the middle, with just the right amount of fat for the melt-in-your-mouth sensation. Coupled with a spritz of tanginess from the slice of lemon and the slightly sourish cream sauce, the strong taste and aroma of lamb was further enhanced. It is definitely worth a try at the price of RM 11 each. Some of the lighter dishes are such as the Pincho de Pollo grilled chicken skewers and the Seafood Salad. The grilled chicken skewers taste akin to our local satay except that they have a juicier and smoother texture since they are all made from chicken thigh, and are served with a sourish white cream sauce. The salad is pretty standard fare with a combination of various fresh vegetables, squid, prawns and mussels,white tuna drizzled with a light balsamic or lemon dressing. Both dishes are quite reasonably priced at approximately RM 15, with the skewers served in quantities of threes. Patrons could also choose to delight in some of their soups such as the 32’s Roasted Fungi Soup, a delicious blend of four types of mushrooms, while for those who favour tomato-based soups; the Pomodoro Seafood Soup would be a perfect choice. The Pomodoro soup, which is not too sour and slightly spicy, is a worthy try since it comes with mussels and prawns the size of fifty cent coins. Soups range between the prices of RM 13 to RM 15 each serving. Those who must have rice may opt for the Chicken Madras and Vegetables Braised with Pilaf Rice, a thick chicken steak grilled with Madras curry sitting on top of a hill of rice. The chicken was tender and juicy, and extremely flavourful, although not at all spicy. I particularly enjoyed the accompanying chunks of stewed potato, eggplant and carrot that were soft and succulent. A healthy choice can be found in the Pan-Fried Black Sea Fish served with Tarragon Tomato Sauces. Served with tomato, capsicum, beetroot and broccoli, it exuded the delicious oiliness of deep sea fish. Kenny also revealed that the fish was pan-fried and then baked to seal in all its juices and flavour. Larger appetites would revel in the Chicken Pisa Tower, a looming three-tiered burger with double chicken or beef patties and generous layers of cucumber, tomato, lettuce, cheese, onions and mayonnaise. The tasty burger is served with an abundance of crispy fries on the side. On the whole, prices are quite standard at the bistro, with most main meals at the restaurant ranging between RM 20 – RM 35. One can definitely expect to have quality food served up amidst an elegant setting at 32 Bistro. And after a deeply satisfying meal, one could enjoy a good social by the bar upstairs, along with a glass of wine, and perhaps a cigar or two accompany with good selection single malt