We already really liked the few dishes at Krapow, which took the taste buds on an express tour of Southeast Asia. Now, owner Kevin Larken and his team have us jumping into Indo-Malaysian cuisine. You’ll say “Satu Lagi” (meaning “another”) from the first bites!
The new address on Mont-Royal Avenue East offers all its dishes in reasonable portions, which allows you to taste a good number of them and test the best pairings. Here, all the basics are homemade, whether it’s fresh and cooked sambals (hot sauces), peanut sauces or marinades. Gluten has been banned from the kitchen, which allows intolerant, even celiac, customers to enjoy a meal at the restaurant without hassle.
Sourcing ingredients from Indonesia and Malaysia isn’t straightforward, but the kitchen, led by chef Jerome Villarasa, nevertheless manages to get its hands on fresh kafir lime leaves, bancoule nuts and potato chips. melinjo, a slightly bitter nut, to dip in sambal terasi (with prawns), among others. One of the cooks of Indonesian origin ensures the authenticity of the tastes. So does Kevin Larken, having lived in several Southeast Asian countries for a number of years. It was in Thailand that he and his partner Kimberley Bridle met.
Behind the bar, Tom Carney also borrows ingredients from the kitchen, such as pandan, jasmine, sesame, tamarind and chilli, to create cocktails that pair well with the menu. He chooses wines that can stand up to the powerful flavors of the cuisines of this corner of the world. Thrills guaranteed! Open Wednesday to Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
