Ben's at Publika, Solaris Dutamas

This is a dedicated entry for my first visit to Ben's at Publika. Which was also featured in the later blog - here.

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Selection was ok. Dishes were ok. Pricing was a little higher than the standard that was present. I guess, for this kind in Malaysia, you will need to pay a little higher for novelty/pioneering sake.

The staffs were not well-trained in nimbleness and manners expected at such outlet. I felt being shoved to complete my dishes and scram the premise BEFORE all my dishes were served. That was how I would describe their attitudes.

So, for just an ok selection and standard meals, it ain't worth the time and money here for me. Maybe a little peer competition in their proxy market to up their competency AND an investment to train its staves, I may return again in another <5 years?

Food

Elderflower?! Think synthetically derived perfume of elderflower instead of natural one.

Many dishes (name) were forgotten. Yes, it was rather forgettable for me. I didn't eat much because it was that unappetising for me. There was a slight nutty hint (dressing) in the salad but pale in comparison with Chandi's dressing I had.

I am a fan of elderflower and this is one of the natural harvest I looked forward in summer! So, I was offended by being empowered by an artificial one from the drink I've ordered here.

This is a local delicacy dish ordered by the men. Carbo-addict much? Teehee. I had a taste for each elements on the plate. The greens on it was interesting. Reminiscent of North Indian's spices with a good hint of acid in the combo.

That was that. We went on to check out the rest of what this place has to offered. After walking into a few retail shops here and going, "..hey, these from Qoo10/dealextreme (online shops mainly from China)!", I'm done.

An hour left before our booked cabbie is here, we went to another café within. Caffeine first!

This café housed some sort of local barista champion. Unsure. Since I am not into that part of the field this far, I've only came to know about the World Barista Championship and Singapore National Barista Championship in 2010. When a friend chef collaborated with one then, subsequently meeting few other international baristas but still clueless about what maketh a champion in this field. Blushed. I've only started drinking coffee less than 2 years ago, when I need to change my diet from an avid tea drinker, due to health. I took the caffeine and sugar of it on a regular basis. Only ocassionally will I bother to taste it. Yes, I am not a coffee lover. Still not keen to be.

I really cannot recall what this is. I was in the mood for caffeine and dessert. I think this is it. Something caffeine, something (dessert) sweet.

Earlier today, we walked across the hotel to this Chinese Medicinal dessert and concoction outlet. I had a bowl of this steamed egg something something. Not bad. Sorted my protein for the day. An a herbal mix of cooling and energy boosting tea(?).

Second Visit to Publika

This is what I wrote live at the café, in my Google+ post:-

"Ordered two safe dishes ... Cod Fish & Pineapple salad, Lamb & Beef Merguez... So bad. So bad!

+Kenneth Loke stopped me from eating the off smelling cod fish. And there's nothing Merguez about the other dish!"

I hate how lazy the kitchen crews were to cut my salad in cubes!!! To think this cafè has an impressive grocer as its main parent establishment, this is such a disgrace! Add disgusting into that statement when they served me a rotten cod fish! Hey, do you really need to be so obvious to served raw produces that has reached its sellable life on this table?

The staff did NOT even bother to ask us why we left the dishes almost untouched. I left it as that in the photo above.

Kenneth's order of beef and lamb merguez were just as bad. The only edible part was the thin baked dough that came with it. Edible as in not puke-able upon eating. We left this order pretty untouched, too.