*UPDATED with Giveaway: A Treat for the Palate at Wasabi Bistro
One of the things I enjoy most about food blogging is meeting new people – either fellow bloggers, restaurant managers, owners, chefs or the kind wait staff. Recently, I had the privilege to meet with Kevin and Azrina of Wasabi Bistro at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur, who imparted so much interesting information to me regarding Wasabi Bistro. Essentially, Wasabi Bistro is “A modern take on intricate, traditional Japanese fare enjoyed in the quiet elegance of an intimate bistro setting”.
Sushi bar area of Wasabi Bistro
Dated back from as far as 1988, Wasabi Bistro’s first outlet was launched in Hawaii. Now with an outlet in Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, this restaurant is subtly decorated with exquisite Japanese art and artifacts, while the dining areas have been designed to offer guests the utmost privacy without confining them to small, tight spaces. Resplendent with oriental motifs, the silver cushioned wicker furniture accents the marble and wood toned interiors.
Kumi’s #1
Apart from showcasing authentic recipes using top notch ingredients, Wasabi Bistro menu boasts of Californian-Japanese cuisine. Our dinner started with the delicate-looking and golden Kumi’s No. 1 Special, which had crab meat mix and avocado wrapped with white fish and baked in a gloriously decadent secret sauce.
Kumi’s No. 1 (USD4)
At first glance, the appetizer was simply too pretty to be eaten. Even the plate was exquisite and elegant. But the aroma beckoned and I couldn’t resist it. The first bite proved the taste to be as good, if not better, than the looks. Warm and juicy crab meat mixed very well with the secret sauce, and the addition of avocado gave it a creamy finish. Simply decadent!
Kumi’1 No. 1 special – a delightful combination
When the second dish arrived, it took us a while to figure out that it was actually made from a papaya! Yes, a real papaya! The Papaya Motoyaki was a papaya boat filled with seafood and baked with motoyaki sauce. This was another masterpiece that I enjoyed to bits! Chunks of fresh seafood were buried inside the sweet papaya, topped with gorgeous cheese browned to perfection. I would have thought the combination of savoury seafood and sweet papaya to be awkward, but boy, was I wrong! The genius of the chef managed to balance the savoury with the sweet, resulting in a combination that was unlike anything that I’ve tasted before. Yes, it’s that good!
Papaya Motoyaki (USD13)
The first 2 dishes set such high standards for the rest of the dishes that night! The Fillet of Ahi or seared tuna in special own recipe was done just right with just enough of pink in the middle and perfectly cooked at the sides. This was a little on the salty side, not unlike any meat that is smoked.
Fillet of Ahi
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Comments (34)
there are different types of Sushi Roll in the picture which makes me feel hungry right away… the Wasabi Spring Roll seems to be very interesting, i would really like to try it out at there too sometimes.. nice post there =]
wyyv recently posted..Paddington House of Pancakes @ Mid Valley
Crab meat…avocado… I think I’d love that one!
suituapui recently posted..Black or white…
wow… never know the no.1 special is available in malaysia..
had one of my best was at 1 fine dining jap restaurant in melb~
taufulou recently posted..Taman Tun DrIsmail TTDI Pasar Ramahdan 2010
i wanna try out the Kumi’1 No. 1 Special!!!
do love the name. it seems special and mysterious
ai wei recently posted..Dai Be 大鼻 Fish Head @ Taman Connaught- Cheras
OK! First one for you!
aiyoh, too late already, guess somebody has taken that voucher already?? nvm lah, i’ve got your MFM voucher last time, so let other people have this lah.. see i very generous one, hahahaha~~
actually, i think the Fillet of Ahi is very nice lor.. so tempting especially for a carnivore like me~~
[SK] recently posted..31082010 國慶特備
Eh u didn’t read properly leh. I have SIX vouchers to be given away! Still plenty left
u interested or not? 
eh, does that mean 6 of us all got ka?:p
taufulou recently posted..Taman Tun DrIsmail TTDI Pasar Ramahdan 2010
I mean, if you’re interested, you need to state it in the comment. LOL! Coz some people comment but they’re from outstation so the voucher might not be useful to them.
iamthewitch recently posted..UPDATED with Giveaway- A Treat for the Palate at Wasabi Bistro
awww im late! *knock head to wall*
No no, you’re not too late!! Technically, only 1 person commented for the voucher! So I have 5 left!!
If you want I’ll reserve one for you! 
iamthewitch recently posted..UPDATED with Giveaway- A Treat for the Palate at Wasabi Bistro
I WANT VOUCHER, ho ho ho^^
want to try on that Fillet of Ahi~~ thick with nice pinkish at the middle!
mimid3vils recently posted..Winner of the Halia Grill Buffet!
Second one for you!
Oooh bring those kumis to mah mouth! can I have a voucher (if there’s any leftovers)? [/shameless] I haven’t been to Mandarin Oriental in ages!
Third one for you!
Please send me your address ya!
Wow, this is nice! Would be better if you got a voucher for a flight ticket too! Haha…
Jasmine recently posted..Best Open Source Shopping Carts
LOL! Where are you from?
dont let my girl sees this.. she will pester me to go there!
claire recently posted..Independence Day In Pusing
orh, like that is it?? nvm lah, i think i also won’t be going to that restaurant lah, too *exquisite* for a broke guy like me~~ give the chance to other readers lah, i already have the MFM voucher mah, hehe~~~ :p
[SK] recently posted..31082010 國慶特備
I wonder if they are valid for Mandarin Oriental in Singapore
If it is, I would love one! hahaha! But next would be is there that Jap Restaurant in Mandarin Oriental, Singapore? XD
Appetizing…
ladyviral recently posted..So it is dreaded
YES! There’s Wasabi Bistro in Mandarin Oriental Singapore!
The voucher is only for appetizer? Sigh…
khengsiong recently posted..The Gloating Chinese 幸灾乐祸的中国人
Merryn recently posted..Thank you In Tech
Wow, didnt know about this restaurant until you wrote about them. Should give them a try, seems a little costly though.
Thristhan recently posted..Puti Bungsu Batam @ Jalan Yap Kwan Seng
eh I also got some to give! lol!
Big Boys Oven recently posted..Ramadan Yee Sang at China Treasures Sime Darby Convention Centre
Wow! The food look so exquisite and nice!
foongpc recently posted..My Trip To Longji Rice Terraces Part 1
I thought of wanting that voucher. But only for the appetizer? And the rest of the food are so expensive!! Gosh!
foongpc recently posted..My Trip To Longji Rice Terraces Part 1
Hey I like green tea ice cream with red bean. Perfect combination! Dreaming of having that again!
foongpc recently posted..My Trip To Longji Rice Terraces Part 1
If I remember correctly, there’s something almost similar to the Kumi No 1 Special in the menu of Oh Sushi. About RM20 a piece, and I was wondering what the heck was that?!
J2Kfm recently posted..Secret Garden @ Ipoh – A Respite for the Jaded Soul
witch , i want i want!!!! hehehe
vialentino recently posted..Beach & Sunset @ Sepang Gold Coast- Bagan Lalang
OK OK! The 4th one for you!
Hey, you got any voucher from AirAsia?
Jasmine recently posted..Best Open Source Shopping Carts
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hey, nice blog…really like it and added to bookmarks. keep up with good work