Fat Spoon in Damansara Utama (pork free)

Heard about Fat Spoon from pals working around Damansara Utama. Finally decided to try it out after my facial at Celmonze (Yeah this was last year). So here it is...I remembered only when someone asked me how to make popiah!

Tucked in the middle of a row of shops is this place called Fat Spoon. The name itself is cute. And not knowing what to expect, I opened the door to a place that's quite filled with happy diners. The warm cozy feel inside took my breath away. It was as if I walked into someone's dining room.

Was in for my next surprise when the menu arrived. I was given 2 Lady Bird books. I blinked. Lady Bird Books? I don't have any kids with me. I certainly don't look like a kid. The lady walked back and smiled at me. Gently she said "That's our menu." Hmmmm.

Looked through both books and ordered our food and drinks. I can't resist books. So requested that I could hang on to the book because I wanted to read them (and yes learn new terms - if you remember your Lady Bird books, you'll be learning new terms and words).

Service is quite fast. My Ulam Fried Rice arrived shortly followed by Dennis' Chicken Curry. I loved my Ulam Fried Rice. It was flavourful with an assortment of herbs and vegetables - nothing overwhelmed each ingredient. The Kunyit Fried Chicken that came along with it was also fabulous flavourful. It was very close to how my Goon family grannies and aunties did it. The only complain perhaps was that the Ulam Fried Rice was a tad wet and oily for my liking. I've always liked my fried rice dry and one of the ways to achieve such effect is to cook your white the day before (granny shared this cooking tip with me).

Hubby ordered the Nyonya Curry Chicken. It tasted OK. Wasn't anything out of the extraordinary except the long beans was cooked just right. Not too soft neither was it hard and raw.

Now the fun part. We ordered the popiah and the lady asked if we wanted to roll our own popiah? "Roll my own popiah?" Yes yes yes...I'll love that. So when it arrived, I was all super ready to play with my food. Spread some of the sweet prawn paste on the popiah skin. You can spread a thicker layer if you like the prawn paste. This would be a good time to spread the chilli paste for an even taste. Put in a slice of lettuce and then a little of all the ingredients. Read "a little" of else you'll have an overstuffed popiah that will not fold nicely. Hehehe. Hubby certainly went a wee too enthusiastic and his looked a wee bloated.

All in all, Fat Spoon is a lovely place to return too. I did not try the coffees then as it was dinner time. Soon, we shall return to try more items and the coffees that many pals told me that I must try. And since I can bring my furkid Shalom along (sit outside of course) this place sounds like a new haunt for us (only if the weather does not hit 39C as it has been the last couple of weeks).

And the receipt was also served in a book. This time a romance book. Yeah from kids learning to read (t order our food) and a romance book (for our bill), I certainly have grown a lot over dinner at Fat Spoon:D

Check it out:

FAT SPOON

73, Jln SS21/1A,

Damansara Utama,

47400 Petaling Jaya.

Tel: +603 7728 3323

OVO Kitchen. Bistro. Club: 7000 sq ft of party and dining space

Mike invited us for a review of the newly opened OVO in Uptown 2.

7000 sq ft sounds good for a "party and dining" experience in PJ. I was excited. And I was hungry (again since when am I not hungry?)

Arrived nice and early at almost 630pm. Just in time to shoot a little with my humble Lumix LX3.

Went up the escalator...the place looks promising. It was spacious. And being in Damansara Utama, I reckon this would be a good place for people to chill before they head home after work. There is the comfy indoors with couches, sit at the long bar or hang around the pool table. Alternatively head out for fresh air with your drink.

Started taking pictures of the food. Honestly they look good. Serving portion looks impressive. And they looked like they would taste good.

The outdoor area is a nice place to chill after work. And perhaps a nice candid shot of a pal too. Like this of Andrew.

Drizzle begins...

Chef comes out and commented that we left the good food in the rain and of oysters drowning in melted ice. He bitches on and on and on. Now that makes a horrible first impression of him. Admittedly the food was in the rain. But no need to repeat again and again and again.

In that midst of bitching, he says the scallops are fresh scallops from Hokkaido. Hmmm, that sounds awesome.

We head in and while some wonder around taking more pics. Some have a game of pool. 7 plus...I'm hungry and thirsty. Still no sign of any food. I take a couple of pics of OVO and continue people watching.

When we're finally seated, waiter comes up to us and asked us what we would like to drink. "Coke or Sprite". That's it. Coke or Sprite. Excuse me, didn't someone just tell us to order whatever we wanted to drink? Miscommunication perhaps from the management to the waiters? My pals ordered Coke or Sprite. Hehehe this is one strange place. They serve Coke and Sprite at room temperature! I don't think we look like we're having coughs or were kids who are not allowed cold drinks at night.

Then Mike orders Guinness that sounded awesome to me. I order the same. A bomb is dropped. We have to pay for our own alcohol. Hmmm what happened to "order whatever drink you want"? I ordered nevertheless. Strange thing is Mike and Marcky's Guinness arrive. So did the next table's. But where is my Guinness? I order again. And I am not sure if I looked underage or ladies are not allowed to have an alcoholic beverage because waiter ignores my order. Marcky repeats my order and it finally arrives. Gerammmmmmss

Mocktails arrive first. I've never been a mocktail fan. They did look vibrant and colourful. Some interesting but corny names e.g. First Love. Took a sip from each mocktail that was served. Hmmm I just didn't like them. Reminded me of the syrup medications that I took as a child. A few pals felt the same. To be fair, we're probably all not into mocktails?

Food finally arrives. First dish was lamb, pasta and salmon on a plate. Pasta was OK tasting but a tad salty for my personal liking. Mouthful of salmon could hardly tell me anything.

But the lamb was good. This dish receives a full thumbs up!

Dish 2 arrives. 2 plates of sushi. 10 pieces and there's 12 of us:-( This avocado one looks promising but turned out dry inside.

I love cabbage and was looking forward to the cabbage one. Alas 10 pieces for 12 persons. You can work out the maths easily. I didn't get to try it and obviously can't tell how it tasted.

Dessert arrive. Didn't look promising. Neither did it taste good. Ice cream was a wee frozen that you can bite into bits of frozen ice bits. Cake was chewy.

When we sat down, they asked us to raise our hands if we ate oysters. Strange thing we were never served oysters. Or did the oysters all drown in the melted ice outside during the shoot?

We're ushered out to join them (management and other guests for the night) at the lounge area. We declined. Had to have our hungry stomachs fed elsewhere.

Summary?
• OVO is located in a nice place if you're working in or around Damansara Utama.
• Food is so so only (well from the items I tasted) with the exception of the lamb that I declare 6.5/10. Warm food needs to be served warm. And cold food to be served cold not room temperature or frozen.
• Service needs some fixing from the chefs to the waiters.
• I'll return to OVO only if friends want to go there. Sorry OVO but after the bittersweet experience, I'll not want to return on my own accord.