Back for a Taste of Old and New…
I was impressed with The Gastro Project (TGP) from my previous visit here and I still am with the restaurant that combines two of my favorite passion of movies and food. Based on the concept of British gastro pubs, The Gastro Pub is the place to dine on great pub food and catch a movie while one is there. The Hollywood themed restaurant has recently had some new dishes added to their menu and so a few of us foodies were invited to have a first taste of it.
We certainly had a feast that evening and the ambience is pretty cool as usual. The Gastro Project is like the neighborhood’s favorite place where one feels absolutely at home while dining. The food has bold flavors and features an interesting list of fusion dishes that has attitude.
We started the evening with their signature appetizer of Mushroom Tart where caramelized mushrooms and onions sit on a bed of golden crispy polenta cake. Earthy and sweet, both mushrooms and onions are the perfect duo to go with the crispy corn polenta. The polenta is very well executed and I really enjoyed the contrasting crispy outside and sandy creamy inside. A little green lightens up the dish. The dish is perfect for those who wish to go meatless and it is quite filling as well.
Our two salads were equally delicious! TGP Mozzarella Salad and Japanese Salad prove that salads can be flavorful and good for you. I had the Japanese Salad before in my previous visit and am still pleased with it this round. Mix mesclun salad has cucumbers, avocado, pine nuts and pomegranate seeds are all tossed with nutty and light vinaigrette. I like the lightness and the texture combinations of the salad a lot. The Mozzarella Salad is a hearty combination of luscious creamy hand torn buffalo mozzarella, basil, fresh tomatoes and pine nuts drizzled with balsamic reduction. I love the creamy mozzarella and the balsamic combination as it yields a beautiful and rich flavor combination.
There was also a Lamb Kebab platter featuring skewers of grilled minced lamb kebab served with a light vegetable salad and a sauce of tasty pesto twist.
The pastas at TGP is really good. Previously, I had their Crabmeat Aglio Olio and love it a lot. This round, I had the Orrechiette and Fettuccine Grilled Chicken. Both pasta dishes are cooked to a perfect tee! Cooked al dente, the Orrechiette pasta or often called ‘ear pasta’ as it resembles one, is baked with cheese and came piping hot. Underneath the blanket of ooey gooey cheese sauce is pasta with homemade meatballs and tomatoes. The flavors are just so inviting and comforting. The silky smooth cheese sauce makes me want to lick the plate clean. The Fettuccine Grilled Chicken took me by surprise. The spiciness in the pasta sauce is lovely and so addictive. I like how the sauce coats every strand of the fettuccine and keeps the pasta moist and tasty. The chicken is tender and moist too. Extra point to TGP for incorporating spicy flavors into their dishes.
Now what I had also previously raved at TGP was their TGP pizza. Simply unforgettable, the TGP pizza had a spicy pesto sauce that rocks. TGP pizza is still available in the menu so make sure to order that. Indian Pizza and Moroccan Pizza were the pizzas we tried that evening instead. The Indian pizza features spicy chicken perratal sauce with pieces of chicken and cucumber raita. Personally, I love how spicy the chicken perratal is and the cucumber yoghurt that toned down the heat. There are also cubes of paneer cheese and sliced red chilies on it. The Moroccan Pizza is so pretty with its pink jewels of pomegranate seeds. This one has tiny lamb meatballs with mint and pine nuts in a cheesy tomato sauce. We really enjoyed both pizzas as the crust has the perfect thickness with a crisp base while the flavors are really unique and tasty. It seems that TGP has mastered pizza creations to near perfection!
The Hearty Beef Pie was the only dish that I thought could use a little adjustment on the pastry. The short crust pastry was a little hard and didn’t have the melt-in-the-mouth pastry that evening. The filling of the slow cooked beef and caramelized onions in black pepper gravy was good and flavorful though. I also like the fact that they serve extra gravy on the side.
The TGP Cheese Burger features a thick patty of lamb nicely charred. It comes with beef bacon, melted cheese, the regular burger condiments and a side of potato wedges. The lamb patty is very flavorful and well-seasoned. I would love more sauce on this burger to make it even more succulent. TGP is quite generous with the portion and this burger is quite a substantial size.
I love Duck Confit. When it’s executed slowly and beautifully, Duck Confit will win the hearts of many. TGP’s Duck Confit looks a tad shade darker than the usual and comes with mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and a beautiful orange reduction. The meat is tender enough and quite flavorful though I did wished for a crispier skin. The orange reduction sauce is just so good and compliments the duck really well with its sharp sweetness and sourness.
Our Sirloin Steak was delicious too. 220gm of sirloin well grilled to medium pinkness and serve seasoned with salt and pepper. I like the way it is done here as I can taste the beef flavors. If you must have your sauce, try asking for one but a good beef should be enjoyed for its beefy flavors.
Our last main dish was Stuffed Chicken Mascarpone. Looks are deceiving here as it looked rather plain. One bite of the tender moist chicken with oozing mascarpone cheese will surely have you hook… at least I was despite being so full. Rather unique as I have never had mascarpone cheese with chicken. Simply and delicious, I would order this again.
We ended on a high note with Intriguing, a tall martini dessert that really had us intrigue with its combination. Learn something new that day, pumpkin and mango goes superbly well. Add on a big dollop of whipped cream and yes… your taste buds will be intrigue!
I like how we really ended that night. Bubble Yum is the bomb! Fresh strawberries, sparkling wine and elderflower syrup is blended into a delicious fresh and vibrant cocktail. I wouldn’t mind have several glasses of this cocktail while catching a movie.
What I love about TGP is their bold flavors in their fusion dishes. I like how they take local favorites and amp it up like the pizzas and main courses. If only TGP was nearer to my house, I would visit them more often since I really enjoy their food. Of course a movie thrown in would make my day even better…
THE GASTRO PROJECT
No.25, Jalan 17/56, Section 17,
46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: +603-7931 6465
Email: info@thegastroproject.com
Email: info@thegastroproject.com
Ooooo...love the look of that pie, love the woven/braided cover.... Must try to do that one of these days. LOL!!! Food looks great - the floor is kind of hypnotising...or is it just in your photo? Hehehehehe!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it when steak are presented as is, without all the other hassle. :D
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with KY, the steak caught my attention!
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