Amy Heritage @ Melaka Raya & Limablas @ Mesui

Brace for a bumper crop of Nyonya food at two very different outlets: Amy Heritage, one of Malacca's most-recommended eateries ...

... followed by KL's Limablas, a newbie in the increasingly eclectic Mesui neighborhood off Changkat Bukit Bintang.

First up, Amy Heritage, where the food steals the show, not the plain, sparsely furnished setting. Soup lovers should home in on this peppery bowl brimming with fish balls, fish maw & quail eggs.

Ayam buah keluak is a should-order here. As great as it gets, absolutely.

Tamarind prawns. Fleshy crustaceans, a tangy treat for kids of all ages.

Sambal jantung pisang. This fragrant banana flower salad is spicy, sourish stuff _ reminiscent of Thai recipes, but still unmistakably Malaysian somehow.

Ayam pongteh, thick & creamy, nicely brimming with potatoes.

Ikan asam. Everything is cooked only on order _ even the veggies won't be chopped beforehand. Expect a wait of at least 30 minutes at peak hours.

Kangkung kobis keledek masak lemak. A total vegetarian recipe, with plenty of crunchy leaves & creamy sweet potatoes to relish in a rich coconut milk broth.

Cincaluk omelet. Amy Heritage is run by Amy Koh, a relatively well-known cook whose family seems passionate about cooking. Amy's cousin is celebrity chef Florence Tan, whose recipes we've tasted at The Tranquerah in Kota Damansara.

Sambal belacan. Too bad Amy Heritage is no less than a two-hour drive south.

Kuih ku oh, a calorie-laden, stomach-stuffing dessert.

Kuih koci, no less sinful. But we prefer the savory items to the sweet ones here.

Next up, returning to Kuala Lumpur to visit Lima Blas, graced with a gorgeously ornate interior & eye-catching details in every corner.

With outlets like Lima Blas, The Establishment, Pisco Bar & Table 23 surfacing on Mesui in recent months, this street _ home also to Palate Palette & No Black Tie _ is becoming the cooler, calmer alternative to Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Lima Blas' fare is commendable, though understandably less extensive than Amy Heritage's; start with the shrimp-topped 'pai tee,' nearly as lovely as these surroundings. At RM3 for two, it ranks among the most wallet-friendly food in this vicinity.

Chicken pongteh (RM10), fantastically fragrant & flavorful, possibly the best we've had in KL.

Cincaluk omelet (RM10), irreproachably fluffy, proving that Limablas isn't a tourist trap.

Eggplant (RM12), for some veggie nutrition. It was either this or lady's fingers.

Wait, there's kangkung too, but skip the run-of-the-mill belacan preparation & check out the amazingly addictive recipe served in "lemak keledek" (RM12).

Alas, Lima Blas serves no wine, but have no fear: every other outlet at Mesui is booze-soaked. Our current choice for potent & pleasurably priced cocktails: Pisco Bar, a 15-second stroll from Lima Blas.
Earlier entry on Pisco Bar: January 21.

YuGin (vodka, yuzu, ginger-mint syrup) & Masi Modello Delle Venezia.

Pisco Punch (pisco, lemon juice, pineapple syrup) & Honey Bee (vodka, honey, lemon juice).

LimaBlas Nyonya Restaurant @ Jalan Mesui, Kuala Lumpur

Amy Heritage Nyonya Cuisine,

75, Jalan Melaka Raya 24, Taman Melaka Raya.

Tel: 06-286-8819

LimaBlas @ Mesui,

15, Jalan Mesui, Off Jalan Nagasari, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2110-1289