In August of this year I sat down to dinner at a restaurant called Max@iHaus to celebrate my friend, Reiko’s birthday and I must say that it is was one of the best meals I ever had.  It was a night of excellent food, great conversation and friendship; we shared laughter, tears and joy in one meal and it was unforgettable; I must say that a lot was attributed to the ambience although you would agree with me that when you are with friends, a roadside stall can give you a similar experience.

But that night at Max’s and in his cozy private room ,which was designed to give the impression on dining in a friend’s kitchen, it all seemed so right. Of  course, that is probably also due to the vibes that Max the owner sets. Most everyone who has dine at his restaurant ends up being his friends.  Regulars drop in with just a call,…” hey just got back in town , dropping in tonight…kind of call. And no, this is not some pricey fancy dancy restaurant just catering to the  expatriates, although many of the patrons are.  It is not unusual to learn that a lot of them eat there at least once a week, local or otherwise.

So what  makes Max’s so special is his excellent food and in one of the best deals in town for  a degustation menu or chef’s table. Degustation must surely be the  new trend in town for the food connoisseur, gourmet or not. Degustation basically means that the chef will cook what ever he can rustle up  ie get really creative,  in the kitchen and historically to be invited to dine at the chef’s table is a great honour.  A lot of famous restaurants with well known chefs do it and one of the most coveted one must be    Ferran Adria’s restaurant,elBulli, which boasts of a  2 year waiting list because the restaurant is also only opened six months of the year and very, very expensive- I believe at almost RM2000 not including your fare.

My first degustation experience was at another  cozy restaurant called Embers in Singapore which boasts of  a  two month waiting list at RM220 a  meal and  wine not included if I remember correctly.

But at Max@iHaus at RM12o+  a meal, with five dishes and a glass of sparkling wine, it is an absolute steal for the food and price wise.  It was also an awesome experience. Every morsel was delectable and a gastronomic delight, simple and yet sophisticated at the same time. It was surely dining at its purest experience, no pretensions needed. The portions are not too big or small but just nice …

What we had…

1) Pesto Marinated Mushroom Potpourri with Crisp Haloumi Cheese

2. Pan Roasted Sea Scallops in Chive - Lemon Chardonnay Cream Sauce with Salmon Roe

3. Ling Fish Fillet Seared in Pernod Laced Fisherman’s Broth

**4. Shiraz Braised Wagyu Beef Cheeks/Lamb Roulade with Cabernet /Thyme Gravy

and Oven Roasted Codfish with Pommery Grain Mustard Seed Cream

5. Baked Phyllo Pastry Pastilla with Prunes and Creme Anglais

**Max usually lets the customer get in the game a little by allowing in choice of meat at 4).

Max @iHaus is situated in an unassuming bungalow off Jalan Tun Razak, just follow the flags to get there. And dining at Max is to get the full works, serving modern European cuisine, Max’s which opened only 6 months ago was operating a humble restaurant of Jalan Tengkat Tong  Shin called Max’s Kitchen for the last three years. And over a glass of wine and  a handshake , Max and his new  partner, owner of the premise decided to start up Max@iHaus. iHaus  is  a range of modern furniture from Germany.  It was as he said time to move up. (Read our full interview with Max )

Max was kind enough to share with us a  sneak preview of his  Festive Xmas Eve menu.

Max at iHaus

Festive Christmas Eve Menu Degustation (RM120+)

First …

Tartare of Smoked Salmon, Lemon Oil Tossed Fresh Herbs Salad

with Icelandic Shrimp - Green Asparagus Remoulade and Ratatouille Emulsion

Second …

Pan Seared Sea Scallops and Cajun Spiced Crisp Soft Shelled Crab

on Chardonnay laced Leek, Sea Trout Roes - Lemon Cream

Choice of Mains …

Herb and Mustard Crusted Grilled Filet Mignon

with Fresh Broccolini, Shallot - Horseradish Cream and Cabernet Syrup

OR

Char grilled Cajun Spiced Turkey Breast with Poached Stuffed Leg

Beef Bacon Braised Red Cabbage Roll, Fresh Thyme - Port Wine Jus

OR

Cod Fish Fillet, Poached in a Chive - Shimeji Mushroom Broth

on Borlotti Beans with Sugar Snap Peas  and Truffle Oil

Cheese …

Warm Kataify Pastry Wrapped Goat Cheese

with Almond Biscotti and Four Berry Jam

Sweets

Christmas Pudding

with Gratinated Poached Fruits  and Cranberry Ice Cream

illy Coffee or Flavored Tea

Christmas Goodies

Max@iHaus, located at Lot 32, Jalan Jati,  Off Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 603 2142 9720 for reservations

Possible related posts...

• Interview with Max Chin-Restaurateur
• A Spanish Gastronomical Delight at Max’s iHaus