SHUCKED, BIG @ Publika: New Fuel For Love with Chef Christian Recomio

Simple Ingredients but Shuckingly Awesome!

Let’s not complicate things! Keeping things simple and letting the ingredients shine is what SHUCKED is all about. From my previous visit here, it was like revisiting an old flame. SHUCKED has recently expanded their menu to incorporate more delish European dishes to their list of gorgeous imported seafood from international waters. SHUCKED is also pleased to have Chef Christian Recomio on board. Chef Recomio, owner for Moonfish Café in UK, has created several new dishes at Shucked showcasing the glorious kaleidoscope of oceanic treasures brought in by Southern Rock Seafood.

Our evening at SHUCKED was indeed a pleasure! Though SHUCKED is literally a bar that occupies a corner in B.I.G market at Publika, I like the concept. The casual and raw concept allows one to enjoy its offering mimicking European marketplace where grabbing a good bite doesn’t mean one has to be in a fancy restaurant.

Oysters are simply a must and one can certainly choose from several varieties from all over the world. To add on to the aphrodisiac oysters, there are beautiful fishes available whole or sliced among some shellfish.  Expect glorious catch of Atlantic Salmon, Scottish Salmon, Ocean Trout, Rainbow Trout, Seabass, Mackerel, Smoked Salmon and more. Shellfish lovers will also enjoy sweet Atlantis Prawns, Australian Kinkawooka Mussels, various caviars and more. The seafood arrives twice a week at Shucked so make sure to head there either on Tuesday or Friday.

Trio of Irish Oyster Shooters

Our evening took off with SHUCKED’s signature item of the much worshipped oysters! In fact, a trio of them all served on ice with shooters.  Trio of Irish Oyster Shooters is one of the latest additions to the menu. Featuring a troika of shooters of Bloody Mary, Passion Orange & Balsamic and Vichyssoise served with Irish Premium oysters, the pairing will ignite your senses with its flavors. Seen here is three servings of oyster shooters.

I never expected to like Vichyssoise but the cold potato and leek soup exuded exceptional concentrated umani flavor notes. Ultra smooth and creamy, the chilled soup enhanced the chilled briny oyster like a dream.  The burst of saltiness in the mouth was finished with a creamy sensation of leeks. Working my way next is a refreshing tangy Passion Orange & Balsamic liquid contrasting boldly with the salty creamy oysters. It’s a brilliant move to use passion fruit as the balance of sour and sweet really harmonized the mollusk beautifully. Finishing off the trio is a virgin Bloody Mary, proving that tomatoes are a classic with oysters. My favorite of the threesome is definitely the Vichyssoise!!

A first for me, Scandinavian cuisine was always on my list to try. When I was presented with the smorgasbord of Smørrebrød, I wanted to sing like Julie Andrews on a hill. The tasting platter was a jigsaw of colors that immediately also caught the attention of many passersby.  Smørrebrød is a Scandinavian open faced sandwich. At SHUCKED, five variations of the rye bread sandwich is crowned with various seafood and condiments. Each Smørrebrød is ordered separately.

Atlantis Prawns

A salad of greens, raw onion and rye bread provides a platform for sweet peeled Atlantis prawns, boiled egg and wasabi aioli. It’s a fairly light sandwich with delicate flavors but leaves a light tingling horseradish sensation at the end. The raw onions also provided a pungent cut to liven up the smoky deep rye notes.

Salmon Tartare

A rich oily fish like salmon is perfect for a tartare. Salmon is minced up and brighten with loads of flavors sitting on luscious cream cheese and rye bread. The omega rich fish is robust in flavors of tingling mustard and salty capers. The soft but lightly firm texture of the fish is jazzed up with crispy bits of aromatic fried shallots, providing a surprising texture to the tartare. It’s creamy and salty all summed up!

Smoked Mackerel Pate

The least pretty of the lot, the flavors more than made up for its look. A rather good slathering of smoked mackerel pate made in house by Chef Recomio dictates what a good pate should be creamy, smooth and filled with a good level of flavors. It is quite ordinary but when paired with sweet intense onion marmalade and tangy small cornichons, the taste is really sumptuous in every bite! This is one of my favorite smørrebrød.

Pickled Herring “Roll Mop”

You’ll have to love tangy and sour flavors to like this one. Definitely a Scandinavian favorite, pickled herring is a delicacy to us but rather common to Scandinavians. The pickled herring is cured in vinegar, changing its soft texture to a rather dense and firm flesh. This smørrebrød has an strong sour flavor punched up with dill and horseradish. Bits of crispy chips are crushed and sprinkled on the sandwich.

SHUCKED Special Smørrebrød

The priciest of the lot, it is lavish by the opulence of creamy salty smoked ocean trout, Irish creamy oysters, globules of ocean trout caviars and a lemon aioli. It is concentrated oceanic flavors that will definitely glamourized your senses. The burst of salty roes are literally heavenly as one gets hit by salty creamy almost fishy note. The plump oysters surprisingly partnered well with smoked ocean trout while the citrusy aioli provides a creamy edge to the sandwich. It is definitely one of the most extravagant sandwiches I have enjoyed! Still drooling at the thoughts of the flavors….

Grilled Fresh Fish of the Day

SHUCKED also offers a simple rendition of Grilled Fresh Fish of the Day with diners choosing their choice of fish in season. Our Grilled Sea Bass served with herb butter and grilled vegetables were as good as it gets as the sea bass had really sweet delicate flesh with a crispy skin. The herb butter did justice by just lightly flavoring the fish and letting it shined on its own sweet original flavors. Grilled Rainbow Trout was also available that day.

Fresh Herring

This one is designed for the bold as raw herring is served with fresh chopped onions, brown bread and butter. The fish takes some getting used to and it unlike other raw fishes we enjoyed as sashimi. It has a stronger fish note and the flesh is a little creamy. I understand why raw onions is served as it cuts into the flavors of the fish to make it less pungent. I think I will still stick to my favorite pickled herring!

Besides the above, there are also mussels cooked in various styles, raw and smoked fish and a beautiful Smoked Haddock Chowder.

Less is more. The team at SHUCKED definitely understand that. Chef Recomio’s creations are clean and enchanting, introducing us to the cold waters of European cuisine. Fuel for Love, the dishes represents an aura of romance, perfect for a little love at the end of the evening. SHUCKED is also introducing lunch specials and one can expect more delectable seafood to show up in its menu.

SHUCKED and loving every minute of it!

SHUCKED OYSTER & SEAFOOD BAR

Ben’s Independent Grocery

Publika

Jalan Dutamas 1,

Solaris Dutamas

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 603 6209 1700

Fax: 603 6209 1701

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

Website: http://www.southernrockseafood.com/

*More pictures available at my Facebook: Chasing Food Dreams