Set Lunch and A La Carte Menus at Bref by Darren Chin TTDI (May 2020)

[Premium Dining]

My partner in crime and I recently headed over to Bref by Darren Chin in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, to try their new set and a la carte lunch menus which are available between 11am and 2.30pm from Thursdays to Saturdays.

The menu includes Bref’s signature dishes as well as a number of Northern Thai specialities from Darren’s mother-in-law, Madam Nuanta, including the appetising and spicy khao soi (noodles in a rich coconut-based curry broth), and the hearty Australian wagyu beef green curry served with traditional Chiang Mai sticky rice.

The a la carte lunch menu with notable items such as the Wagyu Burger, as well as croissants and pastries which are made using real French butter are also available. As the restaurant has limited seating due to the SOP, reservations are highly recommended.

The value set lunch is available in either two courses (main + starter/ dessert) for RM 60++, or three courses (appetiser, main and dessert) for RM80++.

We tried all the dishes on the menu plus a few extra dishes from the a la carte menu. 

Starters

Isaan style beef salad “Laab Neụ̄̂ x (100% Pure Australian angus beef)”, shallots, mint, chilli and lime.

This very refreshing salad which is a recipe by Darren’s mother-in-law really whets the appetite!

Bens Garden Salad (Vegetarian)

Crispy portobello, pickled shi meji, button, cep, grilled king oyster, seared split gill, toasted pine nuts, ricotta cream, chives oil

I loved the earthy flavours of the various mushrooms which were complemented by the creaminess of the ricotta cream, and balanced with the chives oil. The toasted pine nuts provided a nice contrast in textures.

Soup of Jerusalem artichoke with black truffle paté, buttered croutons

Oh this was lovely and very heartwarming indeed! The aroma of the black truffle pate made gave this starter a very luxurious feel! I normally don’t really fancy artichokes, but this soup was so good that I finished it!

Mains

Khao soi – A northern Chiang Mai staple. Expect fresh ground chilli boh and fresh coconut milk broth. Topped on fresh egg “wantan” mee noodles. Both crispy and blanched.

Another dish by Darren’s mother in law, this time a very hearty AND SPICY one so go easy on the chili which is served on the side. Add it little by little until you reach your desired spiciness! The a tender chicken drumstick hidden below the noodles. The true star of this dish was the incredibly flavourful and rich broth which we finished to the last drop!

Thai green curry with Australian wagyu beef and aromatic saffron rice

Another dish by Darren’s mother-in-law, this time a rice dish for those of you who must eat rice. Another incredibly addictive dish with a flavourful green curry with tender wagyu beef. 

Pappardelle “Umami XL” with black truffle and salted kombu

If you’re having this pasta for lunch, ensure that you have a cup of coffee before you head back to the office! It’s a hearty dish that provided lovely whiffs of black truffle while the salted kombu provided a wonderful umami taste! Portion wise, it was just nice because any more and you’d be nodding off at your desk!

Ham-cheese-truffle “sandwich”

Flaky onion pastry, premium turkey ham, emmental cheese, black truffle pâté

So good that these were gone in six bites! Don’t order this if you’re a big eater like me though. The various ingredients worked well together (truffle goes well with pretty much anything, with the exception of certain more delicate ingredients where the truffle might cover the taste) and I wouldn’t mind having this for breakfast every morning!

Berries & Meringue

Strawberry sorbet, panna cotta, macerated summer berries, soft crunch meringue

Most girls will love this dessert! I thought that the various tastes and textures were put to good effect here.

Coffee & banana mille-feuille

Caramelised banana with spices, bitter coffee ganache, crème pâtissière

I preferred this one as I love coffee! This is what I classify as a really indulgent dessert so save some calorie quota for this. It’s really worth it and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t really fancy desserts!

A La Carte Items

Signature Wagyu Burger – RM60.00

100% Australian Wagyu beef, emmental cheese, pickles, local heirloom tomatoes, “croll” (brioche-croissant hybrid), triple-fried chips

This item was not part of the lunch sets but rather part of the a la carte lunch menu. Being a person who loves wagyu beef and cheese, this burger was right down my alley! Absolutely delicious burger which really sets the standard for all premium burgers, accompanied with triple-fried chips which were really crispy!

Pain aux raisin (Raisin bread with creme pâtissie) – RM10.00 per piece

Classic French Croissants – RM6.00 per piece

Don’t visit Bref without trying their delicious pastries! In fact, takeaway a few and have them for breakfast (put them in the oven at low heat for a couple of minutes) the following day! Thank me later.

If you haven’t yet visited Bref by Darren Chin and would like to taste the food before going for a full fledged dinner there, I highly recommend that you pop by to try the lunch sets which are really good value for money, and provides a little taste of what the restaurant is capable of. 

Bref by Darren Chin is located at:

26, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1,

Taman Tun Dr Ismail,

60000 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia.

Telephone: 03-7731 5032

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brefkl/