Fat Spoon, Damansara Utama: The Modern Nyonya’s New Menu!

Simply Homemade with Love by Two Sisters!

Fat Spoon, cheekily coined by two sisters Melissa and Michelle, has been around for a while in the busy Damansara uptown area. Situated on the same row as WonderMilk Cupcakes or next to Hon Kee Porridge, Fat Spoon is a modern take on the much beloved Nyonya cuisine. Run by two sisters and their mother who whipped up all the dishes, this is their take on serving Nyonya food mixed with a dash of modernity while maintaining ‘Grandma’s recipes’!

Walking into Fat Spoon is like travelling back to my childhood days in my home. Despite the reality of the harsh traffic jam and fight to find a parking spot outside, one enters Fat Spoon and travels back in time. Lighted with comfort in mind, the soft lights exuded a comfy feel when one enters their home. Odd pieces of chairs and tables fade in nicely with the rustic and vintage slate walls and floor. A simple bar held many pieces of characters from the past. Yes, it’s definitely like going back in time…

Fat Spoon’s Wall of Nostalgia held many memories. Its pictures like this that spoke a thousand words!

I stumbled upon this nostalgia photo of a gorgeous lady… wondering who she is… J

This is priceless… using Peter & Jane storybooks as their menu. The books are really put to good use though it probably cannot hold up much longer.

Fat Spoon is full of charm! Everything here is what our parents’ era used to be. There is not much fancy technology and lots of things are recycled. I must salute both sisters for their vintage décor down right to the antique larder and knick knacks from the past! Fat Spoon takes reservations as well as walk-ins with a choice of indoor or outdoor while take out is also available.

Menu is also plastered on a chalkboard for a quick glance. Offerings are not many but then again, less is always more. Psst… make sure to save room for Desserts!!

Old school bottles hold pretty blooms while old tea lights provided a lovely touch!

Why were we there? To sample a few new items on their menu! J

While we waited for others to arrive, we snack on Crispy Pumpkin Fritters served with Thai Chili Dressing and sipped on refreshing Ice-Blended Watermelon & Mint (RM8.90). The pumpkin fritters is actually a side for their burgers, nevertheless we enjoyed them for their crispy sweet flavors. The sweet watermelon was really a good thirst quencher while the mint provided a light sexiness to the drink!

First up… a sassy and sexy pairing of Fat Salmon Sandwich (RM16.90) featuring thick pieces of smoked salmon, crisp apple and herbed mayonnaise. Instead of the usual heavy salty flavors one gets from smoked salmon, Fat Salmon was surprisingly light. The sesame bun was a tad dry but had a crisp texture, contrasting nicely with the salty firm salmon while the tangy sweet apple provided much fruity appeal. While some thought this was an odd pairing, I digressed otherwise! I like it for its light texture, salty and smoky flavors… it’s just perfect for a light meal!

The second new item on the menu was Tamarind Prawn Angel Hair Pasta (RM16.90). Twisting up a Nyonya classic, Fat Spoon’s signature tamarind assam prawns crowned a lovely tossed angel hair pasta flavored up with lots of herbs like coriander and gingerflower. The pasta is also sauced up with a tangy, spicy and sweet sauce echoing the prawns while crispy fried shallots completed the deal.

I must say, this is one Sexy noodle that warrants a re-order! Despite all the ingredients, the combination works and the flavors are just bold and delicious. Love the modern twist and the addition of the gingerflower!!

One cannot help to conclude that Moo Moo Rice Bowl (RM15.90) is something one needs for some simple and comfy stomach filler. A hearty bowl of stir fried basil beef tenderloin sat on hot steamed rice while a perfectly round fried egg added more glory to it. Flavors were a mixed of savory with hints of mild sweet basil notes. Beef was tender enough but did not shout out too much to me. For the price and the warmth the dish provided, it’s a good and decent dish. There is one thing Fat Spoon can do though… make sure the fried egg is not overcooked and still had soft egg yolk to coat the whole dish into a lustful treat.

Thoughtful enough, Fat Spoon presented a tasting platter of their three new dishes for us to try!

Other than the new dishes, we cannot help but to dive deeper into their current menu offerings. What everyone seemed to order was Fat Spoon’s Spicy Beef Macaroni Soup (RM11.90)! I finally understand what the hype about this dish was… pure solace. At the end of a weary day, one craves for a comfort dish to retreat and relax. This bowl literally provided the comfort of solace for the tummy and probably soul. Macaroni, minced beef, seaweed, herbs and a piquant light spiced broth is definitely something easy to enjoy and get a good satisfaction after the meal. Need more heat? A side of lime and chili powder is provided for some DIY personalization!

Ulam Fried Rice (RM11.90) is another good dish to order here. Besides being decently priced, one gets a hefty bowl of rice studded with lots of herbs with a fried chicken drumstick, spicy long beans and pappadum. I personally adored the rice flavors with herbs. A little spicy and robust, the flavors are my kind of flavors. The combination certainly makes the whole dish more interesting.

Though some may scorned at the idea of putting fish stomach in their mouths, I am a big fan of Perut Ikan Rice (RM14.90). This dish screamed Nyonya all the way. It is a dish that either makes one a true blue Nyonya or otherwise in the kitchen.

Lots of work goes into this bowl of Perut Ikan. The fish stomach is cleansed and pickled before being cooked with lots of minced herbs and pineapple to characterize its flavors. The version here is sour enough with hints of heat as I enjoyed it with the fried mackerel and salted egg yolk. Texturewise is mushy and soft as it is supposed to be. Fried mackerel is well fried to a nice crisp with moist flesh. Overall, the dish is sumptuously addictive with its salty and sourish flavors!

Dessert was the ultimate point of the night! Another twist to a Nyonya dessert, Sago Pudding with Last Polka’s Salted Gula Melaka Ice Cream (RM9.90) was literally to-die-for. The pairing of soft wobbly sago pearls with icy creamy salted caramel ice cream with bits of crunchy Gula Melaka was heaven in a cup. As I write this post, I can still imagine the sinful sensation it had with every spoonful. I never wanted this course to end…

Rounding up the night, we had a Hot Lemongrass and Pandan Drink (RM6.90) to cleanse our palate and soothe away any final worries of the day!

Fat Spoon is somewhere you definitely want to be for some soul food. Reasonably priced and decent portions, this place comes with nostalgia and warmth. Seek your solace here after a long’s day of work for some good chows and enjoy the ambience and company. Evoke those memories of your grandmother’s precious flavors while enjoying some modern twist in addition at Fat Spoon. I certainly did!

When I return, I will make sure to save room for TWO orders of the Sago Pudding with Last Polka’s Salted Gula Melaka Ice Cream!!

*More pictures at my Facebook @ChasingFoodDreams

FAT SPOON

73, Jalan SS21/1A

Damansara Utama

47400 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

TEL: + 603-7728 3323 

E-MAIL: fatspooncafe@gmail.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/fatspooncafe

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fatspooncafe

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12 noon-9 pm