NadaLama

Nestled on a forested hilltop, this secluded "eco-spa" retreat is scarcely a 15-minute drive from Mont Kiara, but it feels like a hundred miles away.

Customers can treat themselves to a broad range of Indonesian and Thai traditional massages that last between 30 and 120 minutes. Prices seem reasonable, starting from RM35 (note: no credit card payments accepted).

We skipped all that and scurried straight for the food _ mainly Indonesian specialties cooked in a beautifully rustic open kitchen.

Gado-gado, comprising free-range eggs, cabbage, long beans, tofu, bean sprouts & chips with peanut sauce. Meals here take rather long to serve, but that's because they're freshly, painstakingly prepared (even the veggies were only sliced after we placed our orders). Thankfully, we were the only diners on a recent weekday evening.

Tempeh with grated coconut. Hearty and healthy-tasting, without any hint of excess oil or salt. NadaLama claims to use organic ingredients as much as possible.

Bakso vermicelli soup, brimming with super-succulent beef balls. The broth could have been thicker and more flavorful, but that's a matter of personal preference.