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| Facade of Brussels Beer Cafe at the Little Red Cube |
Nick
and his wife June asked me to dine with them at Brussels Beer Café. It’s been a while since we met and I’m looking
forward to seeing them again. Their
choice of restaurant rings a bell because I remember passing it on the
promenade or lower ground floor of the Little Red Cube. Then I discover that since it opened for
business 10 months ago, Brussels Beer Café has become a favourite spot for
regulars to chill out with friends over good food and a wide range of beers!
Brussels
Beer Café is an established brand in the North so fans will be delighted to know
that this is the chain’s first outlet in Johor Baru (with plans to open more!)
in an ideal spot that overlooks the marina at Puteri Harbour.
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| Half-portion of crispy pork knuckle with a side of brown sauce |
Even though it’s a short drive from the city
to Nusajaya, the lovely view and ambiance by night all works well to create a feeling
like we are in some exotic holiday destination.
Maybe it’s because of the mixed group seated around us, with
fast-emptying glasses and plates, who clearly agree that this is just the spot
to relax and retreat from the pressures of city life.
Nick
and June are looking well and as we catch up on what’s happening, Nick
introduces me to his friends, Dave Lim and Hubert Lim (no relation!) the
gentlemen who run Brussels Beer Café. Talking
is making us thirsty so Dave recommends a choice of beers from their 32 types
of bottled and on-tap beers.
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| Bitterballen, a savoury Dutch appetizer at Brussels Beer Cafe |
The
Hoegaarden White brew is a familiar favourite but Dave insists that the
Hoegaarden Rosee comes highly recommended.
Just one gulp of the frothy pint and I can attest to its popularity
because it’s lower alcohol content (about 3%) and refreshing, sweet fruity raspberry
taste, is really rather nice.
Then we
are studying the menu to select our meals to share because I’m ever ready to
have a taste of more varieties of food. We
must of course, have the Brussels’ style pork knuckle with a side of brown
sauce. Our half portion of crispy
roasted pork knuckle is nicely chopped up and served mixed with sautéed
potatoes and mushrooms – and tastes so good on its own that I did not need any dip
sauce. The crackling is super crisp and
a perfect foil for the juicy meat and the tender taste of potatoes and
mushrooms.
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| Mussels Provencale in a pot with a side of bread slices |
We pick
a popular appetizer – Bitterballen, a savoury Dutch meat-based snack. This serving of crispy breaded balls are made
with a blend of mince pork and cheese and served with a mustard dip.
Brussels
is also the place for mussels. Fans can enjoy
their favourite mussels prepared in various flavours with white wine or beer,
served either in half or whole portions.
We decide on a pot of mussels prepared in the Provencale style – cooked with bacon, sundried tomatoes, mixed
herbs and wine – served with a side of bread or fries. These plump Dutch mussels taste fresh and
juicy as we shamelessly dig in with our fingers to savour the tasty gravy to
the very last drop!
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| A serving of Brussels' foot-long sausage |
For
sausage fans, the Brussels’ Foot-long Sausage is a must-try. As its name describes, it is a foot-long sausage
garnished with lashings of mustard and garlic aioli sauce, served on a toasted
baguette with a side of salad and frites – the French way of saying French
fries. Dave says these sausages are very
popular with regulars who often enjoy an entire sausage individually, as a main
course meal!
He told
us an interesting experience where a large group of diners placed orders for
foot-long sausages all around and wanted them served together. This posed quite a challenge as multiple
servings of the same item require advance preparation but the kitchen somehow
managed it. And now to avoid
disappointment and to lessen the stress in the kitchen, Dave recommends advance
orders especially for larger groups of diners.
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| Chunks of roast pork in the Roast Pork Aglio Olio pasta |
Then we
are sampling the braised Pork Belly which June kindly sliced up for us. The meat is fragrant with Fransizkanar sauce,
a delicious flavour that complements the side of sautéed vegetables and Belgian
stoemp. This stoemp is the richer Brussels version of
mashed potatoes mixed with root vegetables like carrots and onions, bacon, herbs
and spices. I must say that I more than
like this dish and made a mental note to order it again when I’m next at
Brussels Beer Café.
For
pasta, our choice is Roast Pork Aglio Olio and I’m delighted to observe that
the chunks of roast pork are reminiscent of the siew yoke from the traditional Chinese char siew – siew yoke stalls. It’s really quite an extraordinary experience
to enjoy pasta with Chinese style siew
yoke!
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| Chef Kong presents a platter of Pork Belly |
Then Dave introduces us to
Executive Chef Kong, the man who ensures that food quality standards are
maintained to the Brussels Beer Café requirements. Food is flying out of the kitchen to be served
to eagerly anticipating customers, so Chef Kong has to hurry back to his work
station.
I know
Nick and June are enjoying the meal as much as I am because we somehow manage
to tuck away our portion of Belgian Classic Liege Salad, Brussels Chicken and Salmon
Ala Meuniere. Another peek in the menu
tells me that there is also a range of appetizers and soups, and main course
dishes like beef steaks, lamb chops and burgers to enjoy. Having discovered more reasons to dine here
again, I’m so glad Nick and June asked me to dine with them at Brussels.
Then
it’s time for dessert and I always have space for dessert. At first, I think it’s a toss-up among the
Crème Brulee, Chocolate Brownie and Tiramisu but when I sample them, I find myself
reaching for the Tiramisu again and again. In the end, I must declare that Brussels’
Tiramisu wins hands down!
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| Mmm... delicious Tiramisu at Brussels Beer Cafe! |
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| View of Puteri Harbour from Brussels Beer Cafe in Nusajaya, Johor |
Brussels
Beer Café, a Non-Halal restaurant, has
outlets in various malls in Kuala Lumpur like Jaya One, Hap Seng, Ampang,
Solaris Mon’t Kiara, Sunway Pyramid, Setia Walk and at Gurney Paragon in
Penang. Its first outlet in JB is in
Nusajaya, located at Lot 5, Lower Ground Floor of the Little Red Cube, Persiaran
Puteri Selatan in Puteri Harbour.
Reservations are recommended.
Tel: 607 – 5095 626. Website: www.brusselsbeercafe.com
/pl
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