CHASING FOOD DREAMS: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Seafood Tasting Trail Kicks Off This May & June!

You would not want to miss the ‘SNAP & SHARE’ TO WIN A 3D/2N STAY FOR TWO IN LANGKAWI with this Seafood Trail!

Seafood aficionados will be pleased as New Zealand Cloudy Bay kicks off their famous Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc wine pairing this year with a Seafood Tasting Trail. In pursuit of last year’s success with a duck trail, this year’s participating outlets are racking a seafood escapade to be paired with elegant and refined white from the world renowned Marlborough region of the land of kiwi. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is ranked amongst the top five in the Drinks International ‘Our World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2013’ supplement for its fresh and light flavors, making it the quintessential accompaniment for seafood. Starting from May 1 till June 30 2014, head over to the participating outlets for a taste of the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Seafood Tasting Trail and you might just win a trip to Langkawi while dining.

An invite to trail some of the participant outlets for a taste of the seafood wine pairing needed no encouragement at all. I took time off from work this round since I missed the duck trail last year. Together with some media, we were chauffeured in a Starex and pampered all the way on the trail with glasses of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Now that’s what I call dining with style!

There are total 13 participating outlets in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya while other states have 5 outlets. My route of that day was to visit 5 restaurants in Kuala Lumpur while some of my other friends took on the Petaling Jaya route.

Our first stop was at Traders Hotel at their exclusive Gobo Upstairs Lounge & Grill where guests dine with an amazing view of the city’s skyline.

We started off our seafood gastronomy journey with a gorgeous Atlantic Cod Bouillabaisse. The big thick white cod is exquisitely cooked and sits in a puddle of luscious broth filled with seafood essence. Plump mussels and cubes of potatoes accompanied the sweet succulent cod. The flavors are robust and rich, pairing well with the crisp notes of the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

Gobo Upstairs Lounge & Grill

Atlantic Cod Bouillabaisse paired with a glass of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013, RM124++

Gobo Upstairs Lounge & Grill

Gobo Upstairs Lounge & Grill, Level 6, Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

T. 03- 2332 9888

Our next stop is a personal favorite of mine, Tujo Bar-sserie & Grill. My soft spot for the retro cool restaurant and its fusion cuisine is further enhanced by its ambience. Set in a busy spot in the city, Tujo makes a great hang out after a long’s day of work.

Tujo is featuring a Platter of Pan Seared Scallop with Marinated Konbu, Medium Rare Crusted Tuna & Salmon Duo to go with the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy this whole platter to your heart’s content as a main or simply share. It’s a sea of delicious pieces of barely seared tuna crusted with spices and herbs and top with alfalfa sprouts, barely seared sweet scallops crowned with pickled seaweed and salmon with juicy salmon roes.

I was particularly fond of the scallops for its sweetness and juicy flavors and the salmon for the salty vibrant flavors. It was a clever dish as the three seafood compliments the Sauvignon Blanc’s vibrant citrus aroma really well.

Tujo Bar-sserie & Grill

Platter of Pan Seared Scallop with Marinated Konbu, Medium Rare Crusted Tuna & Salmon Duo paired with a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013, RM260++

Tujo Bar-sserie & Grill

Ascott Kuala Lumpur, 9, Jalan Pinang 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

T. 012-210 3055

We hit some traffic as we moved on to our next destination at Starhill Gallery. Our first restaurant was Shook! Walking into Shook!, we were immediately attracted by its spacious décor filled with quirky fun décor with a touch of elegance. There are various stations spread all over serving up different cuisine.

Shook! chose to serve a beautiful and light course of Seared Yellow Fin Tuna Salad with Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette with the wine. Echoing the wine’s tasting notes, we were delighted with thick quality lightly seared tuna nestled among a mix of greens, asparagus, onions, green beans, sundried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, olives and artichokes all dressed in a vibrant tangy grain mustard dressing. The dish is light, fresh and very enjoyable.

Shook! @ Starhill Gallery

Seared Yellow Fin Tuna Salad with Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette paired with a glass of Cloudy Bay

Sauvignon Blanc 2013, RM196++

Shook! @ Starhill Gallery

Feast Village, Starhill Gallery, 181, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.

T. 603 - 2719 8535

After Shook!, we moved on to another restaurant, Fisherman’s Cove in the same location. It’s my first time and I must express how unique the interior is. Designed to seat guests in two levels and with an interior completed with lots of wood, the whole ambience exudes certain exoticness about it. Lightings are low and guests are treated to open kitchen and tanks of aquarium filled with live seafood.

The dish of Pan-fried Fillet of Coral Grouper, Pipi Clams and Blue Mussels with Citrus Butter Sauce was my favorite of the lot. It has such finesse and the flavors are magnificent. Bold citrus butter sauce takes the sweet crispy seared coral grouper to new heights. Succulent Pipi clams and blue mussels are cooked to tenderness. What accompanied the fish was a thick wedge of grilled Portobello mushrooms to give the dish a nutty earthy flavor. It is a dish perfectly executed and brings out the Sauvignon Blanc tasting notes beautifully.

Fisherman's Cove

Pan-fried Fillet of Coral Grouper, Pipi Clams and Blue Mussels with Citrus Butter Sauce paired with a glass

of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013, RM146++

Fisherman's Cove

Starhill Gallery 181 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Starhill Gallery, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

T. +60 3-2782 3848

The journey ended at French inspired Brasserie Enfin located at Oasis Ara Damansara. There was an evening drizzle and it was a lovely way to end our day. Brasserie Enfin takes on the European touch in its menu, also including the interior and ambience. The restaurant is richly decorated with bold colors, wood, checkered floor and soft warm lightings. We love how guests can enjoy the scenic evening views of the plaza and the sky.

It was a very pretty dish at sight. Pan seared mackerel with beurre noisette of walnut and almond served with crispy roots was created with lots of thoughts and effort. A stronger flavored fish, the mackerel was rendered with a crispy skin and soft firm flesh. It was a cleverly mix of various flavors and textures. Fondant potatoes and beetroots together with a tempura batter chrysanthemum and herbs mingled well together with the lightly burnt butter sauce. I also spied walnuts, almonds and caper with a crispy parmesan wafer in the dish. It’s a complex dish that showed much thought goes into every little ingredient to ensure a well-balanced dish. As the dish is quite rich, the Sauvignon Blanc’s crisp and fresh notes balance it well.

Brasserie Enfin

Pan seared mackerel with beurre noisette of walnut and almond served with crispy roots paired with a

glass of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013, RM50++

Brasserie Enfin

Lot R-07, First Floor, Central Piazza, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/ 7A, Oasis Square, Oasis Damansara 47301 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

T. 03-7832 2969

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Seafood Tasting Trail Instagram Contest

The Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc & Seafood Tasting trail features an exciting Instagram contest from 1^st May to 30^th June 2014. This is a chance for wine lovers to taste the perfect pairing of wine with seafood at participating restaurants and win a 3D/2N stay for TWO at an award winning 5 star hotel in Langkawi.

Follow #cloudybaymsia on Instagram and simply share your best Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 and paired seafood menu. Remember to hashtag #cloudybaymsia and tag @cloudybayseafoodtrail. The instagrammer with the most photos of paired seafood menu from as many participating restaurants WILL win.

Log on to: www.facebook.com/cloudybay/app_571885416178049

It’s a yearly affair that one should not miss. For more information about the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc Seafood Tasting Trail, please visit their Facebook: www.facebook.com/cloudybay

Listed below are the other participating outlets in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur with their own seafood creations:

Signature @ The Roof

Sky level, 1 First Avenue, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

T. +6016 229 1505

Las Carretas Damansara

Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant 10 Jalan Semantan, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Damansara, Malaysia

T. +60 3-2093 0380

Black Market

Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

T. +60 17-321 8686

Caffeinees

16 Jalan Kampung Pandan, Desa Pandan, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

T. +60 3-2144 8686