Starbuck's Shock Therapy vs. Spring Garden's Gradual Prescription

My reading on Stiglitz’s Globalization and Its Discontent reached the part where he discusses the IMF ‘shock therapy’ prescription for Russian transition towards free-market economy that had failed miserably compared to some successful stories of gradual economic prescription on liberalization, privatization, and stabilization policies.

And in my gastronomical adventure of the day, my evening shock therapy with two shots of black Sumatra coffee prior to my meeting at 7 was then followed (after the meeting) with a satisfying gradual proper dining experience at this one fine restaurant, with my two fine friends whom I must say are very adventurous in trying out variety of foods and new eating place in town. After my first ‘adventure’ with them at the Bon Ton’s Western treat, our pick this time was Eastern.

The Spring Garden is located opposite the Madam Kwan restaurant on the fourth floor of KLCC. It serves a wide variety of Halal Chinese cuisine that did not disappoint my first ever ‘real’ Chinese meal in a Chinese restaurant. Real because I discount the shrimp fried rice that became my usual take away (dine in) order from this fast food Chinese restaurant along the Village of Peabody road; of which all of its cooks were Mexican! And my goodness, flipping through the Spring Garden menu was an experience in itself because there are about 200 different choices from starters, main course, and desert.

So, we decided on a whole Peking duck with the braised noodle. When my friends mentioned the work Peking, I had to confirm them that it doesn’t have the strong Chinese herb that I can’t stand, and I was assured that it was not that herb. For starter, I ordered the seafood with seaweed that tasted so good that I wish the serving were as much as two bowls!

Upon waiting, we chatted while enjoying the cashew nuts and pickled hot chilies simmered in perfect soy sauce. In between we enjoyed the Chinese green tea. It took about ten to 15 minutes for our roasted Peking duck to be served. It was amazing to watch them stripping off the dark brown duck skin that were then put together with the celery stick and wrapped in the egg roll. They then cut the meat in perfect pieces and mixed them with perfectly blend soy (or was it oyster sauce?) together with the Japanese braised noodles. Found out that the noodles were Japanese from the waitress. What a wonderful blend of two Asian foods.

The servings were just perfect that we felt that dessert wasn’t necessary as we were already full. The bill came in about 123 bucks. Not bad, considering the wonderful meal and the priceless great time spent with friends!

My friend taught that if only had the restaurant put on nice orchestra pieces instead of the crappy sentimental tunes they played on, and dim the lights a bit, the entire experience would have been much more wonderful!

Comments

[Jacqueline]

I do not agree

[Adib]

Haxa,
Next time you are in KLCC,sms to me.I love to cubatry Peking duck. My late uncle in Kelantan used to make 'itik golek'-very nice..

[Ohlala]

Good food review and good choice for peking duck.
It is one of the famous delicacy from
Beijing (ie : Peking = Beijing ma!) :)

[Ohlala]

Good food review and good choice for peking duck.
It is one of the famous delicacy from Beijing (ie : Peking = Beijing ma!) :)
Mind ya. me first tasted it in a chinese restaurant in Melbourne! kekeke...
Taste Chinese food in Mat Salleh's country.....

[Najah]

Yummy!