Jalan Besar is a place full of hustle and bustle. But tucked away in a little unassuming corner, is a place where many head to for a bit of chillax and definitely (more than) a bit of great food. In case you have never been there before, please allow us to introduce you to the amazing Butter Studio.
Butter Studio has actually been around for years. They’ve been churning out brunch favourites and sweet treats galore! Now, they’ve done a bit of a revamp to their menu and it is AMAZING ?
There are plenty of dishes that we’d consider local but Butter Studio has managed to put a bit of a modern spin.
One of the reason they’re able to come up with these fantastic ideas is thanks in part to Chef Wong (Ex- executive chef of Ah Hoi Kitchen Trader’s Hotel) . The name may ring a bell with some – he’s the genius behind the famous line-up of makan at Hotel Jen Tanglin (used to be known as Traders Hotel) and with more than 40 years of experience, he definitely knows a thing or two about local flavours!
Okay okay enough chit-chat and on to the food!
So a great start to your meal would be the Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Spring Bao. Its actually listed under the ‘Mains’ section of the menu but come to think of it, this could even something you could share as a starter with someone. (This means can order another main each :P)
In this serving, you get a taste of both worlds – East meets West and they compliment each other on one single platter.
You’ve probably had these mini-baos before but I’m guessing it was most probably the steamed version right? Well, these babies are given the deep fried goodness treatment (think Fried Mantou) before getting stuffed with some Asian-style Pulled Chicken and a generous load of shredded cucumber for a fresh bite.
The bold Roasted Pumpkin Soup is the perfect pairing to the milder Spring Bao. I know Pumpkin gets a bad rap most of the time but I quite fancy it and this is perfect example of why.
Creamy and silky, this soup has hints of spices like star anise. But while it is full-flavoured, it’s still light which means it’s a great way to start your meal. The Pomegranate bits and Pumpkin seeds garnish do more than just make this dish visually appealing.. they add a bit of texture and more flavour to each spoonful.
Aha this one is a MUST HAVE! It’s seems like a simple dish but WOW you do not want to miss out on this. I mean, what’s better than dipping fried buns into a delicious chili crab sauce am I right?
Chef Wong’s skills in local flavours is undoubtedly behind the amazing flavours of this Chili Crab Sauce. It’s got the right balance of everything and, as they say, it’s a party in your mouth with every bite 😀 Even after the Fried Mantou were gone, I found myself going back with the spoon just for that sauce!
Anyways, more on this amazeballs Chili Crab Sauce a little later okay…
Here’s a dish that needs no introduction lah right hehehe Salted Egg Yolk Calamari is always popular at our table. We’re obviously big fans of #SaltedEggAnything and don’t you DARE say that Salted Egg is so last season LOL
Crispy fried Calamari rings smothered in Salted Egg Yolk Sauce? Yes please!
You cannot go wrong with more fried stuff and Tempura Golden Enoki is sure to appeal to a lot of you. The kitchen team has worked hard to prepare their Tempura batter formula to give you maximum crisp here. And although it remains crisp for an extended time, our advice is to whack it all ASAP for maximum sedap-ness!
The Tempura Golden Enoki also comes with a Sambal Mayo that’s more creamy than spicy. But it does accompany the crispy Enoki very well 🙂
If you’re looking for something a bit more ‘classic’ then the Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Plum Dip would be a good choice. Personally, one of the best things about the Butter Studio serving is that the fries are cut into long, thin strips which means they get a nice crisp going on (as opposed to thicker cut).
The Sour Plum Dip has a very subtle hint of tang but it’s mostly creamy goodness which is great with the Sweet Potato Fries.
We’re on to the mains now and starting off with a really interesting one! Yes, it’s true – the Nasi Lemak Craze is still ongoing and Butter Studio has come up with a pretty interesting version here – the Squid Ink Nasi Lemak ?
Hahaha relax relax.. the squid ink is actually incorporated into the rice! It doesn’t drastically change the flavour so you still get to enjoy your rich ‘lemak’ flavour with your rice which is now a blackish-purplish hue. A very generous accompaniment of sides come with this dish!
As you swivel your dish around to take a closer look, you’ll see some traditional accompaniments to Nasi Lemak such as your chicken wing, ikan bilis and peanuts, Otah-Otah and even some crispy Calamari for good measure. But check out these other special items that definitely take this Nasi Lemak to the next level.
In place of your traditional fried egg, you’ll appreciate a 70° sous vide egg instead! Kang Kong is given a special treatment with a light batter fry and it’s really GOOD! Excellent crisp and gives a contrast of texture as you chomp down on a mouthful of Nasi Lemak. Let’s not forget one of the starts on this plate – the Sambal! The right amount of spicy and a really good flavour. Try it for yourself!
ZOMG THIS DISH IS THE BOMB!! ???
Remember the Golden Fried Mantou with Chili Crab Sauce we had earlier, well think of this dish as its bigger, bolder, fusion brother LOL It’s seriously good! You’ve got your Lasagna pasta all decked out and layered with real crab meat and Bechamel for added creaminess. They’ve even added some Fried Mantou (for mopping up that gravy!) and some Softshell Prawns for good measure.
Everything is just bathed in that glorious signature Chili Crab sauce… Great balance of flavours here with one of the all-time favourite comfort foods. The end result is something that’s really spectacular. As I type this and look at the pictures, my mouth is watering – I kid you not.
We’re still with the Pasta gang here. If you’re looking for more local flavour – how about Laksa? 😀
Laksa Macaroni and Cheese is a spin on a really classic fave. It’s rich and creamy and the flavours do blend well together because of that. The Laksa flavour is actually quite light here so you’re still enjoying your fave Mac & Cheese with a hint of Laksa thrown in. Oh, you could also go for Fettuccine instead if you’d like.
I’m thinking this is actually a great choice for the kids! It is a very generous serving by the way so it can definitely be shared. There’s a bit of chili bits in there but it’s not really spicy. But if you wanna have those removed for the kiddies then do let the staff know.
And last but definitely not least for the Mains we tried that evening was the Tom Yum Barramundi Rice Bowl!
This dish is one I’d probably place as a healthier choice and I know that goes down well with a lot of our readers. You’re always asking us to feature more healthy food options? This is one of them! 😀
Brown rice is slow-cooked in a Tom Yum broth so all that flavour is infused into the rice during the cooking process. This is then topped off with a freshly poached Barramundi fillet and finished with shiitake mushrooms, french beans and fried Udang Geragau. Quite a light-tasting dish overall but a good choice for something on the healthier side.
And we FINALLY get to the desserts! 😀 And WOW have we got some really interesting ones for you! Here’s a fair warning – they taste as good as the look!
First up is something that Butter Studio is famed for – Waffles!
The Fresh Made Buttermilk Waffles are a classic and pretty much a MUST HAVE. It may seem like something that’s really simple but don’t be fooled.. this one is a classic for good reasons 🙂
If you’re looking for something a little different, try the Matcha Vanilla Waffles. They user a Kyoto Matcha infused in their fluffy waffle and this is topped off with Vanilla gelato, popcorn and some of Butter Studio’s tasty Creme Brûlée macarons (which I ate before the photo was snapped :P)
Next time, I’m going to try the Earl Grey Houjicha! Sounds deelish!!
Time to up the dessert game with a trio of Affogato at Butter Studio, each showcasing differing tastes but sure to appeal to lovers of a sweet ending to your meal.
The Salted Caramel Popcorn Affogato, Matcha Latte Affogato and Midnight S’mores Affogato all brim with flavours that compliment and of course, if you have a sweet tooth like me, these are a simply a magnificent way to indulge. The biggest challenge was deciding which one to choose 😛
Personally, I think I’m leaning towards the Midnight S’mores Affogato 😀
For a limited time only, Butter Studio is turning on the spook factor with a special range of limited edition Halloween treats!
Remember the Midnight S’mores Affogato? They’ve got a Halloween edition that comes with some extras including a chocolate spiderweb and an squishy eyeball (that you can actually eat!). But that’s not all – be sure to check out their cute cupcakes too!
The Spider Web is a Belgian chocolate-orange specialty and the Freaky Monster is a Vanilla Cupcakes with a green (creamy) monster popping up from the top! But my personal fave is the Skull & Brain – a Red Velvet cupcake with frosting that REALLY looks like brains LOL POWER!
Besides these special edition treats, the usual, amazing line-up of bakes, cakes and tarts are still available at Butter Studio of course!
I wanted to end off with a delightful beverage – the Sparkling Lychee Rose Tea!
The flavours are really masterfully infused here and the result is a blend of light and refreshing flavours. It’s not overly sweet which is very welcome (especially with a lot of great flavours to enjoy with the food!) and as you can see, it’s looks really pretty too 😀
Everything you see (and more!) are available now at Butter Studio. As you can see, it’s a really extensive menu (including the regular favourites that are also on the menu. So whether you’re dropping by solo or with friends and family, you’re really in for a treat. Chill ambience and great food – what could be better right?
BUTTER STUDIO
147 Jalan Besar S 208865
Tel: 6294 7115
www.thebutterstudio.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/butterstudio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/butterstudio
Operating Hours:
12.00 – 9.00pm Sundays to Thursdays
12.00 – 10.00pm Fridays & Saturdays
CLOSED ON TUESDAYS
This meal is a sponsored post one okay.
All information (including prices, availability of item on menu and Halal status of establishment) are accurate at the time of posting. All photos used in this site are property of The Halal Food Blog unless stated otherwise.
