Malay Mail - First look at The Artisan's Playground: A dining haven and culinary workshops at Jalan Ipoh

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First look at The Artisan's Playground: A dining haven and culinary workshops at Jalan Ipoh

Link [2022-03-30 15:54:33]

Cookhouse's Huen Su San with her latest F&B venture, The Artisan's Playground. — Pictures by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Opening on April 1, The Artisan's Playground by Cookhouse will be a place to not just savour but also learn more about food.

The various concepts will be spread over an ample space measuring 33,000 square feet and also includes an event venue that can cater up to 200 people.

Located at The Riverwalk, Third Mile Jalan Ipoh, the place is easily accessible and just 15 minutes away from Mont Kiara.

It is designed as a "playground" for chefs and artisans by the people behind Cookhouse who are known for their hybrid cloud kitchens that also offer on-site dining experiences and event spaces.

With ample seating for up to 400 people, The Artisan's Playground will be a place to dine and kick back with 'live' music, coffee and desserts.

Expect Italian pizzas made in a wood-fired pizza oven by Italian Stefana Ferrara or coffee beans roasted in a Giesen coffee roasting machine.

Your cup of coffee will be brewed using a Black Eagle coffee machine from Italy. There are various ovens too ranging from Kolb and Unox brands to Josper Basque grills and ovens.

For those in the F&B industry who are looking for a cloud kitchen space to work with, they also have that option where you can share the equipment and cold room facilities.

Tucker by Cookhouse will be offering an Australian-style brunch with small sharing plates. For something unusual, try this Jerusalem bagel with a comforting chicken chilli con carne lightened up with yoghurt and grilled lemon (left). Don't miss out on fluffy hotcakes with creamy, slightly tangy orange curd, berries compote, crushed pistachios and drizzled with maple syrup (right).

Even with their micro restaurants concept, the operator can just focus on cooking without the burden of managing the front of house operations.

An important element is also the learning experience as The Artisan's Playground will play host to various workshops. As Cookhouse's Huen Su San explained, "We want people to learn about food and not just eat it."

Look forward to the espresso sensory experience and latte art workshop by Drum Coffee Roaster in May. For June and August, Langit Collective will hold workshops for people to experience heirloom rice, Sarawak pepper and Bidayuh dishes.

If you prefer an open air space to kick back, there's a lovely spot behind that offers views of the river as you enjoy your coffee. Catch the roasting of coffee beans at Drum Coffee Roaster from 10am to 12pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The place will also feature items you may want to equip your kitchen with like Japanese knives from Thailand's Cutboy. These handmade knives are prized by home cooks as well as professional chefs.

Anchoring all these unique dining concepts are well-known names in the culinary circle such as Chef Raymond Tham of Skillet@163 and Beta fame. You also have the Sri Lanka experts from Aliyaa and Chef Diego Reali of Natalina Italian Kitchen.

Extra Super Tanker will also be offering halal roast meats, a first for the Chinese restaurant. For sweets, there will be beautiful creations by Chef Otto Tay and Chef Loi Ming Gai, who hail from the winning team that was awarded the World Pastry Cup in 2019.

You can get all your caffeine needs at Drum Coffee Roaster.

There will also be Drum Coffee Roaster headed by Gan Junqi who hails from Kota Baru. She will be roasting coffee beans, serving her coffee creations and also teaching workshops for people to appreciate the finer art of coffee.

If you're looking for a place to host a cook-out for friends or family, there's a private dining space that can seat up to 20 people for hire. It also features a show kitchen with all the equipment to whip up Western or Chinese dishes.

You can also hire the existing chefs from The Artisan's Playground to create a special menu for your intimate party.

Bored of your latte? Try the Oj spresso that is a refreshing mocktail with lime, orange and double espresso to keep you awake.

Make plans to visit Tucker by Cookhouse for their Australian-style brunch. You can graze on tapas-sized sharing plates that will let you enjoy more variety. The food has an interesting mix of Asian and Middle Eastern flavours.

Snack on fluffy eggplant tempura given a punchy hit from the tangy Indian inspired tomato kasundi, while you enjoy corn fritters with paprika yoghurt, couscous tabouli, poached egg and sumac.

Mabel by Cookhouse's onion mousse served with toast is simply addictive with its sweet flavour and creamy texture.

There's also a quinoa and barley bowl salad with roasted pumpkin for light eaters. For a decadent creamy treat, you can enjoy the mushroom fricassee with barley or the comforting chicken chilli con carne with their unusual Jerusalem bagel.

Don't miss out on the tender pulled spiced beef brisket served on their house made potato hash, poached egg drizzled with a miso hollandaise.

It is topped with pickled fennel and apple that lightens and refreshes the palate. You will also want to order the fluffy hotcakes served with a creamy orange curd and berries compote. Tucker will be open from 8am to 6pm. Prices range from RM15 to 25 for the dishes.

Nibble on this bruschetta with pumpkin puree topped with roasted mushrooms and sage leaves from Mabel by Cookhouse. Enjoy Mabel by Cookhouse's fork tender beef eye fillet with a touch of cashew cream, chimichurri and 'gula Melaka' soy sauce burnt butter.

As you enjoy your meal here, grab a latte or even filter coffee from Drum Coffee Roaster Coffee who are using a selection of coffee beans from Colombia and Ethiopia. You can also watch the coffee beans being roasted on site from 10am to 12pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

They will also offer some interesting coffee mocktails such as a refreshing Oj Spresso with lime and orange accents or Estraordiberry with wildberries, lemon and pomegranate.

Try out their one of the kind candied orange peels brioche grissini with the creamy chilli clams and mussels served with shimeji mushrooms from Mabel by Cookhouse.

If coffee isn't your thing, there's also kombucha. Drum will be open from 8am to 6pm. Currently opening hours may be adjusted depending on demand for coffee later in the evening.

You can also dine at Mabel by Cookhouse that offers a casual vibe but sophisticated dishes for lunch or dinner which are ideal for sharing.

Zoom in on the super addictive onion mousse with toast. The sweetness from onions is captured in this spread that one cannot stop eating with the bread.

You can rent a private dining space for your own intimate parties where a chef can cook in the adjoining show kitchen.

Nibble on cauliflower and potato croquettes paired with cumin aioli or snack on bruschetta paired with roasted mushrooms, pumpkin puree and crispy sage.

If you love molluscs, there's a creamy clams and mussels dish served with shimeji mushrooms. If skinny breadsticks aren't your thing, you will enjoy the plumper brioche grissini with candied orange peels to make sure you get all of that creamy sauce.

Enjoy tender beef eye fillet paired with a not overly rich cashew cream, chimichurri and gula Melaka soy sauce burnt butter, or almond and herb crusted grouper paired with clam veloute and freshened up with preserved cucumber.

The chefs from Sri Lankan specialist Aliyaa will be cooking up curries and food in 'thali' sets that cost RM25. Who can resist a freshly made 'appam' made by Aliyaa with a fried egg.

Mabel will be open from 12pm to 10pm. Prices start from RM9 for the onion mousse with toast. The other items range from RM15 to RM38 which is for the beef eye fillet.

There will also be a chance to tuck into the highly popular lobster rolls and lobster dishes from Mobster Lobster by Chef Fhaizal. Started during the pandemic, it has become a crowd favourite for many who ordered during their time at home.

Get spoiled with a variety of 'appams' from sweet to savoury that you won't be able to stop eating. Pair those fluffy 'appams' with a rich tasting crab curry from Aliyaa.

Tucker by Cookhouse, Mabel by Cookhouse, Drum Coffee Roaster Coffee and Mobster Lobster will be available at The Artisan's Playground from April 1 onwards. Oopsy-Icy will also be on hand to serve artisanal ice creams to help you beat the heat.

There will also be classic favourites such as banana split, hot fudge vanilla, peach melba and a Magnolia Bakery inspired banana pudding.

Natalina Italian Kitchen's chef Diego Reali will be baking up pizzas under Pie Guys.

With 400 seats, there's ample space for everyone whether it's right next to the wood fire oven action or just gazing out at the quiet river scene at the back. There will also be "live" music at the venue when night falls.

More dining concepts will be opening later in April. You have fluffy apams by Aliyaa to pair with their famous crab curry. The Sri Lankan food specialist will also be offering thali sets for RM25 where people can enjoy their curry, vegetables and rice together.

Expect wood fire hand tossed pizzas like the Basic B and Garlic Girl from Pie Guys. Extra Super Tanker will be offering their famous sandwich duck that features a crispy skin roasted duck.

There's also the Pie Guys, an offshoot of Natalina Italian Kitchen that offers wood fire oven pizzas. If you love exquisite petit gâteau or little cakes in French, look out for Voila by chefs Otto Tay and Loi Ming Ai. There will also be a bakery, butchery, hidden speakeasy and 15 micro restaurants too.

In May, Extra Super Tanker will be opening their first pork-free eatery known as One Fine Duck. You can tuck into their Sandwich Duck that combines crispy roast duck skin and crunchy popiah with mantou buns. There will also be their one-of-a-kind Wagyu beef char siu.

Chef Chin from Extra Super Tanker assembling the sandwich duck which will be offered under their first pork-free eatery known as One Fine Duck. For a lovely contrast of textures, the sandwich duck marries crispy roast duck skin with a crunchy popiah in a fluffy mantou bun.

You will also be able to catch the hot action at Burnt & Coal by KARLS Group by scoring a seat around their open kitchen. Watch chef Raymond Tham and his team firing up the Josper grill and oven to create magical dishes.

Payment at The Artisan's Playground is made by scanning a QR code at the table. It's a full service place and all the food served at The Artisan's Playground is pork-free.

For something unusual, try One Fine Duck's Wagyu beef 'char siu'.

The Artisan’s Playground by Cookhouse, Level 1, Block H, Plaza Riverwalk, No. 1, Jalan Selvadurai, Off Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Kuala Lumpur. Open: 8am to 10pm. Instagram @artisansplayground.my. To get there, follow Waze https://waze.com/ul/hw2861fere At night, sit back and relax with 'live' music at The Artisan's Playground.