Familiar taste of home

They listened and heard what residents in and around Iskandar Puteri are asking for and followed these food trails to fine-tune the range of food and beverage items at Gourmet Trails Marketplace & Deli.

Facade of Gourmet Trails Marketplace & Deli at
One Medini Hub, Iskandar Puteri

This is the principle by which Gourmet Trails’ director, Rajiv Chaturvedi, and his partners operate to ensure that the marketplace is stocked with familiar brands and products for their discerning clientele.

Recently opened on the street level of One Medini Hub, Gourmet Trails aim to be the neighbourhood store for residents not only in the property developments in Medini but also to the community in Affiniti, Horizon Hills, Ledang Heights, East Ledang, Puteri Harbour and Leisure Farm.

Rajiv explained that Gourmet Trails is a community-based business that aims to do their best to stock premium items that caters to the community’s requirements.

Some familiar brands and products stocked here

For this purpose, there is a large guest book on the counter for shoppers to write their comments and suggestions for the merchandising team to source for specific items by product brand names, in an attempt to make it available here.

“Tell us what you miss from home,” said Rajiv who encourages shoppers to add their comments into the guest book.  He said Gourmet Trails will follow their suggested trails to seek out and try to supply the required items at the marketplace.

He also encourages shoppers to use recycled bags.  Limited edition Gourmet Trails shopping bags are presented to regulars for use when they come on their next shopping trip.

Loaded crostini: pesto and feta cheese [Background]
and bacon strips with caramelised onions [Foreground] 

The marketplace is stocked with a range of groceries including imported brands of ice-cream, soft drinks, crisps and beer.  As they try to meet shoppers’ requests, this product range will continually change and be modified to match the community’s requirements.

While a sign on its doors announces that the marketplace is Non-Halal, it’s simply because they stock products like liquor and pork.  In fact they also have a range of halal meat products which is stored in separate chillers and freezers.

A choice of beverages including juices, beer and ale are kept chilled and sold at retail prices if shoppers choose to have a drink at the adjacent out-door dining area.

A range of vacuum-packed gourmet cold-cuts in the chiller

While the chiller stocks a range of gourmet cold-cuts like chorizo, salami and sausages from US, Europe, Korea and Japan for sale, there is also a menu on the chalkboard to order gourmet sandwiches and platters for dine-in or takeaways.

The man behind the creation of this menu is none other than Chef Dass, who is applying his extensive culinary experience in this gourmet delicatessen.

As a special opening promotion, orders for all-day English breakfast, panini, crostini, platters or desserts from the deli will entitle diners to buy hot coffee or tea at a special price of just RM4.90 or RM5.90.

Among the popular choices for crostini are the pesto and feta cheese crostini, a vegetarians’ favourite, while meat-lovers will enjoy the bacon and caramelized onions crostini.

Organic Quinoa Burger with feta cheese spread

When asked which sandwiches are popular with diners, Chef Dass did not hesitate to recommend the Organic Quinoa Burger with Feta Cheese Spread which is a tasty, gluten-free vegetarians’ favourite.

Under the grilled panini range, Prosciutto de Parma and Gouda on Ciabatta is a hot pick while toasted sandwiches like Smoked Salmon, Goat Cheese Spread, Dill & Capers as well as their Ploughman’s sandwich layered with Parma Ham, Swiss Cheese, onion and tomato, are popular choices.

Sandwich orders come with choices of side items like fresh green salad, pickled olives or crisps. 

To ensure that the deli serves a distinctive selection of breads to complement their gourmet menu, Chef Dass’ bread recipes are custom-baked for the deli by a local baker.

A serving of walnut brownie with a side of  Bulla mint
chocolate ice-cream, as recommended by President Obama

The deli also has a range of home-baked brownies served with a scoop of Bulla creamy classic ice-cream to savour with a selection of artisanal teas and brewed coffee. 

Rajiv pointed out that the dessert portion served here is just right for one so diners can indulge their sweet-tooth without feeling any guilt.  

The warm brownies and molten chocolate cake are enjoyed with ice-cream in flavours like Cookies & Cream, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip and Mint Chocolate.

Chef Dass explained that their serving of Walnut Brownie with a scoop of Mint Ice-cream was inspired by a documentary film he watched where this dessert pairing was requested by the US President, Barack Obama!

With regulars coming in to shop and dine for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, this gourmet marketplace and deli is fast becoming the neighbourhood destination for expatriate residents who may no longer miss the taste of home.

Gourmet Trails Marketplace & Deli is at unit C-G-06, One Medini Hub, 2 Persiaran Medini Utara 3, 79000 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.  Open daily from 9am to 9pm.  Closed on Tuesday.  Tel: +607 – 509 0585 or email: hello@gourmetrails.com