Playing With Fire
Bonfire restaurant and Bonvivant bar at The Starling, flaunts meat cooked via a woodfire oven and creative libations, writes Tien Chew
At the new eco-themed avian-named mall The Starling in Damansara Uptown, a modern Australian eatery and watering hole has recently opened its doors to serve woodfire oven grilled meats, other savoury delectables and interesting alcoholic concoctions. Aptly named Bonfire, the restaurant features floor-to-ceiling glass panels paired with sleek black and wooden furnishings. Situated in the restaurant’s premises is Bonvivant, a bar featuring a creative selection of libations. Before I began my tasting, I was served two cocktails to whet my appetite, the asamboi julep, a local take on the classic mint julep, and the assam laksa. Yes, you heard me right. The assam laksa cocktail was an interesting alcoholic take of our popular local food, using konnyaku jelly to form the drink’s noodles, while a hint of mint, finely sliced red onions and an ice ball made of diced cucumbers help to form the flavour profile of the dish it’s trying to mimic. While I found the drink itself to have a nice alcoholic kick and an interesting take on a beloved Malaysian flavour, it may not be appealing to those who dislike assam laksa to begin with. To start off our dining experience, we were served the smoked lamb tenderloin kerabu salad and a seafood bouillabaisse. Taking a bite of the salad delivered a