Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie – new restaurant opening

French chef Nathalie Arbefeuille has been quietly creating a buzz with her exquisite cooking – mod French with subtle hints of Asian flavor -at her restaurant, Nathalie’s Gourmet Studio in Solaris Dutamas, in the outskirts of the city. So it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when Natalie opened her second restaurant right in the heart of the city, taking over the premises of another fine dining restaurant called High Tide.

Interesting though is that Nathalie has teamed up with the former chef whom worked the kitchen at High Tide- Chef Onderbeke- and together they are churning out impeccably cooked dishes with the clever use of interesting ingredients. A recent visit to the restaurant proved that dining here was a tantalizing gourmet experience. In fact dishes that appeared on the table were a delight to the senses; colors were vivid, textures were varied and aromas were plentiful and layered. Each dish was presented as a work of art.

Dinner began with a starter, aptly named three finger food featuring delicate morsels of tuna on blini, lightly seared scallop with Szechuan pepper foam and onion jam, and gingerbread and foie gras cremeux. Different textures and flavors mixed and mingled on the palate, shifting from sweet to savory with tiny bursts of Asian flavors. Next was the morel soup with truffle foam. Each slurp revealed a rich yet creamy flavor. Snails in herb lasagna, garlic mousseline, and herb emulsion brought out the earthiness of the dish and for some, this may be an acquired taste. Imagine lamb loin stuffed with fresh mint, roasted garlic and espelette chili, pearl beans in a broth, mint oil – each bite revealed a delicious amalgam of flavors. The lemon and thyme marinated ikan kurau, scallops and oyster tartar, cress emulsion surprised with the unique pairing of a local fish and western ingredients.

Nathalie is renowned for her desserts – her creations are imaginative and clever. The Jivara and orange chocolate tart was immensely satisfying with a crumbly pastry. Nathalie was perhaps the first to introduce and initiate our palates to the delightful French macaroons.

Photo sourced from Cumi& Ciki/flickr

The interior of Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie exudes a more glam feel with Nathalie’s favorite color accents – purple and gray with pendant lighting and plush chairs and white linen covered tables. A glass encased kitchen affords guests a peak into the action that goes on in the kitchen.

There are several menus available – for lunch, one can opt for either the set lunch or the ala carte menu. There are also three specially designed menu; Nathalie’s selection of a 5-course menu, a 5-course seafood menu, or a 6-course degustation menu. Expect monthly menu changes.

Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie is located on the ground floor of Menara Taipan, on Jalan Punchak (off Jalan P. Ramlee). The restaurant is right behind the Shangri-la Kuala Lumpur.

For reservations call 03-2072 4452.